opinion on 6x scope for gophers
- Thread starter Brocolt
- Start date
I use a Bushnell 6-18x50 AO scope for gopher shooting and targets. For gophers I occasionally zoom it down to 6X for close ones, and have to refocus with the AO. However, most of the time I leave it on 18X. I do end up using the AO a lot and it is my first check to estimate distance. If I question that, I then use my Bushnell rangefinder to get a closer check.
We shoot out to about 120 yards on gophers, and kind of take accuracy and hit % seriously. I like to see my gophers large and in focus. My friend on the other hand uses a 3-9x40 scope, that is non AO. There is no doubt he shoots more gophers than I do because he spends less time finding them, and of course never needs to focus. Sometimes on 18X it is hard to get a gopher in a scope even when you can see it with binoculars and your naked eye. And of course he never has to focus.
A fixed 6X will be fine for gophers if you can live with the low power. I think a better choice is a 3-9x40, although 9X is not much more than 6X. One of the issues in gopher shooting is estimating drop and wind drift. I don't use a mil dot, but it could be very helpful. There is also a number of scopes that have ballistic reticles which could work quite well too. My suggestion would be a Sightron SIH 3-9XMD, to not break the bank. Or Sightron has a number of higher cost/quality scopes if you do feel the urge to spend!!
We shoot out to about 120 yards on gophers, and kind of take accuracy and hit % seriously. I like to see my gophers large and in focus. My friend on the other hand uses a 3-9x40 scope, that is non AO. There is no doubt he shoots more gophers than I do because he spends less time finding them, and of course never needs to focus. Sometimes on 18X it is hard to get a gopher in a scope even when you can see it with binoculars and your naked eye. And of course he never has to focus.
A fixed 6X will be fine for gophers if you can live with the low power. I think a better choice is a 3-9x40, although 9X is not much more than 6X. One of the issues in gopher shooting is estimating drop and wind drift. I don't use a mil dot, but it could be very helpful. There is also a number of scopes that have ballistic reticles which could work quite well too. My suggestion would be a Sightron SIH 3-9XMD, to not break the bank. Or Sightron has a number of higher cost/quality scopes if you do feel the urge to spend!!
My 17HMR gopher gun has a 6-18 AO, my 22LR gopher gun has a 4-12 AO. On the 22, I leave it @ 12x but admittedly...I have had to dial it back to 6-8x on closer ones. Sometimes I'd forget I did and shoot them out to 100 yards for a couple of hours~and that scope is a Sightron S1. My guess is your fixed 6X L3 probably has nicer glass (I've never looked through a fixed 6x Leopold) so I'd say you're probably good on gophers out to 75-100 yards as others have mentioned already.
What gun is it going on? Reason I ask...if it's a really accurate 22LR bolt gun, it is very possible to whack gophers well past 100 if that's your thing. Takes some practice, but hey...they're mostly willing targets.
If it's something like a bone-stock, Ruger 10/22...my experience with them is that they lack the accuracy/good trigger to make shots beyond about 50-75 yards more luck than anything else. You wouldn't ever realize the advantage of more magnification with a rifle like that.
Either way, the scope is a good one...so I'd say mount it...practice at various distances..and see what it does for you!
What gun is it going on? Reason I ask...if it's a really accurate 22LR bolt gun, it is very possible to whack gophers well past 100 if that's your thing. Takes some practice, but hey...they're mostly willing targets.
If it's something like a bone-stock, Ruger 10/22...my experience with them is that they lack the accuracy/good trigger to make shots beyond about 50-75 yards more luck than anything else. You wouldn't ever realize the advantage of more magnification with a rifle like that.Either way, the scope is a good one...so I'd say mount it...practice at various distances..and see what it does for you!
I forgot about the rifle info. of course I'm into CZ 452/455 customized rifles. In this case it's going on a 452 Varmint 17hmr Yodave kit, DIP 20MOA rail, & looking to get the large bolt handle installed at this time.
the scope I have is linked below. FX-3 Competition Hunter 6x42mm Adj. Obj.
https://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/scopes/competition-riflescopes/fx-3-competition-hunter-6x42mm-adj-obj/
Oversized Bolt handle
the scope I have is linked below. FX-3 Competition Hunter 6x42mm Adj. Obj.
https://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/scopes/competition-riflescopes/fx-3-competition-hunter-6x42mm-adj-obj/
Oversized Bolt handle
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For gophers? Fixed power 6X With AO? With a target dot reticle? For $615? 20 MOA rail? For gophers?
This scope certainly will work. Not ideal, but an extremely expensive choice and no really useful features for gopher shooting. I would sell it, and go with a much lower end mil dot, and pocket the cash. 3-9 or 4-12 much more suitable for gophers. Go 3-9 to avoid the hassle of AO adjustment. Go 4-12 for more power and accept the AO. For what it is worth I shoot about 2-4 bricks a year at gophers. My buddy does about the same or more...
For gophers, fixed six, sure, but why put limits on such a fine gun? Mine run from 3-9 up to 6-24, all with AO. Most of my gopher shooting is between 4 and 8, most shots being inside 80 yrds. For the long attempts, a variable can always be dialed up. The fixed six would suck big time at the target range.
Guys first of all, I only use Leupold scopes, I bought my first Sightron SII scope a few weeks ago and it's a 24X44 AO target.
I bought a SWFA 16X Mrad as I heard good things about SWFA SS for the money as some long range guys in the US are using them as there budget scope still an SWFA landed here is about $575 cdn.
I have the FX3 6x42 as a spare scope which is just sitting. So hence the question. I won't use Bushnell, Nikon, Simmons, BSA, Tasco, Vortex & Weaver products just don't like them Period!!!!!
I asked the question as I wanted to know if the 6x will do the job & what is most used for gophers it seem that a variable 4-12 AO would be most used.
note: I do have a 4-12 Vortex Diamondback BDC which I got on a rifle package a few weeks ago. but that is going bye-bye do to it being a Vortex. if I only have a $50 gun I still wouldn't put a Vortex or Bushnell on it.
I bought a SWFA 16X Mrad as I heard good things about SWFA SS for the money as some long range guys in the US are using them as there budget scope still an SWFA landed here is about $575 cdn.
I have the FX3 6x42 as a spare scope which is just sitting. So hence the question. I won't use Bushnell, Nikon, Simmons, BSA, Tasco, Vortex & Weaver products just don't like them Period!!!!!
I asked the question as I wanted to know if the 6x will do the job & what is most used for gophers it seem that a variable 4-12 AO would be most used.
note: I do have a 4-12 Vortex Diamondback BDC which I got on a rifle package a few weeks ago. but that is going bye-bye do to it being a Vortex. if I only have a $50 gun I still wouldn't put a Vortex or Bushnell on it.
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At 5-10 yards I'll use a 9 iron or shotgun
Fair enough smart a$$
seriously though, I think 6x is likely what my 3-9 stays on most of the time. I say use it. And advice that rimfire scopes need to be cheap is kinda crazy to me. Targets are smaller and round count is higher. Why strain your eyes on cheap blurry glass if you don't have to.Fair enough smart a$$
Yep... I had a very bad day at work yesterday, real bad! & I plan on taking it out on the internet.
I've shot over 500 gophers this year. Most of the time I had my 3x9 set on 6.
It is a good compromise. Gophers tend to move around so there isn't much time to be fiddling with setttings.
With a fixed power parallax will not be a problem and you can get down to the business just aiming and shooting. You will learn to estimate hold off for distance and wind age more predictably. Enjoy your 6 power
It is a good compromise. Gophers tend to move around so there isn't much time to be fiddling with setttings.
With a fixed power parallax will not be a problem and you can get down to the business just aiming and shooting. You will learn to estimate hold off for distance and wind age more predictably. Enjoy your 6 power
I'm using 4-12x, which serve me well for target shooting and maybe for harvesting gophers too.
I'm looking for a large bolt handle too and tried to contact those guys from RFC but no luck. My 455 came with less desirable hallow bolt handle.
I'm looking for a large bolt handle too and tried to contact those guys from RFC but no luck. My 455 came with less desirable hallow bolt handle.
Oversized Bolt handle
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I have used a 6x fixed Olivon AO milldot scope for years on my 10/22 gopher gun. It is a perfect gopher scope, that's why I leave it on, even though I do have better scopes. I liked it so much I bought a second one. The only time it has a small disadvantage is for 100 yard and beyond shots because I can't always see where I'm hitting. It is very sharp and clear and the AO works great. Unfortunately, they stopped importing them years ago.
As the Leupold scope is an even sharper/better scope, I expect you'll be very happy. Last time out the other gopher shooter was very impressed for it's performance in the 20-80 yard range over the 6-24 AO on his rifle. The nice thing was the AO hardly needed adjusting (leave it at 40 yards), and one could scope the field very effectively in search of more gophers.
As the Leupold scope is an even sharper/better scope, I expect you'll be very happy. Last time out the other gopher shooter was very impressed for it's performance in the 20-80 yard range over the 6-24 AO on his rifle. The nice thing was the AO hardly needed adjusting (leave it at 40 yards), and one could scope the field very effectively in search of more gophers.
I don't think there is a gun smith around here that can do a seemless bolt handle job like these CZ handles done in Texas by el gordo2 / dubbleA
This guy charges $137usd includes the complete bolt handle he supplies in your choice of bolt handle that he offers & option of aluminum or steel your choice at no extra cost.
He does really nice work but like I said, he can't do any for a while He told me he would call me back when he's up & running again. I'm impatient & wanted it yesterday...
So if I can get one done here in the same quality of work then I do it now. But I don't think any smith will do this work for $175cdn and they supply the handle.
el gordo2 on snipershide / dubbleA on RFC is the same guy. But like I said He can't do them for a while, So I'm waiting.
w w w.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=574824
anyway moving on from this as this is about gopher scopes....
There is nothing wrong with the better quality Bushnell Elite line of scopes. I believe some of them are still made in Japan, not China. The problem with Leupold is that they are very overpriced for what you get, and they really are only assembled in the US with Asian parts.
For me, my Bushnell Banner 6-18x50 does just fine on my Savage BTVS:
And the Sightron SIIB 6-24x40 AO does very well too on my Savage LRPV in 6BR:
I have a vintage Redfield fixed 6X from the days when they were a highly respected made in the US company. I wouldn't even think of putting it on my gopher gun. Like I said my scope very seldom leaves 18X on gophers. If price was not a consideration I would put my Sightron Big Sky 6-24x40 on it in a heartbeat.
