What scope features do you use for coyotes?

wasa

wasa

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Sat for a few hours in SSW Ontario this morning calling coyotes at the edge of an empty farmer's field. Saw nothing other than birds, but as one sits in the cold wind I couldn't help but ponder on my choice of scope.

I'm shooting (well, holding) a bolt action 243 with handloaded 58gr V-MAX projectiles. Sighted in my rifle at 100 yards so guessing my range is 150-200 yards.

My current scope is a 6-24 x 42mm. My buddy was using a 4-16 x 40mm on his bolt 223. Both of our scopes have adjustable parallax. Neither feature illuminated reticle.

If something popped out at 20 yards, I would have a real hard time getting my 6X scope on target quickly. Even at 100 yards, my field of view at 24X is not great. I think I'm over-scoped.

Now I'm thinking about replacing my 6-24 x 42 with a 4-12 x 40mm. Maybe illuminated reticle for first and last light?


So, I was wondering, what others who are coyote hunting use on their centerfire less-than-270-caliber firearms? Is 3-9x40mm enough? Is the 50mm objective lens the be-all-end-all? Do you care about the lower end zoom or the higher end zoom? Do you like illuminated reticles? Do you care about parallax adjustment?



Thanks!

PS If you don't use a centerfire rifle for coyotes, would also be curious as to what you use on your 22 WMR or other 100+ yard firearm.
 
4-16x42 Vortex on my coyote gun. I use
22 250


With .243 and 58g bullet you could zero your rifle a like 280 yards and still be less than 5" drop at 400 yards. Anything close range like under 100 yards, You will be around 2-3 inches high. Less thinking about bullet drop, can hold on fur at any range out and beyond 400 yards. I found a really good video on YouTube explaining this but can't find at the moment.
 
The last 4 or 5 years I’ve been taking my shotgun with me. I know it’s one more thing to drag around but I find it worth it. I find by the time you adjust your zoom for a coyote that close (even if it’s only a couple seconds) you may have already missed your chance. Give the close ones to the shotgun and leave your scope for the far ones, lol. I know that’s not a answer to your question, but it’s something to think about.
 
2x7 or 3x9 max 4x12 is all you need to kill coyotes to 300yrds. Look for wide field of view, and a simple reticle with good light gathering ability.
Zero your .243 for 200yrds. Then you can kill everything from 20yrds to 300yrds….just hold on fur. Always keep your scope dialed to it lowest power, dial up as needed. High power scopes are for target shooters. They don’t make great hunting optics.
Killing is far different than shooting.


A 58grvmax with a 200yrd zero is 1” high at 100yrds and 4.4” low at 300yrds
Hold on fur and fire away. Even a 400yrd shot your hold would be just over a dogs back to make a hit.
 
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Depends on the day and what I feel like carrying. I have 4x16, 6x24 (2 of them), 5x25 and 3x15 on guns that I have taken for coyote.... to be honest I think the best one is the 3x15 vortex pst I have on my 223. After about 4 years and 6 different scope options this is my preffered. The 3x gives me lots of fov if I want to scan even though I typically do that with my 10x binos. The 15x gives me enough confidence to shoot at the 400+ when then get hung up in the next feild.

To be honest. The 6x24 is a bit over scoped but that's only because I have used less... but I started using the 6x24 and didn't notice. Dec31 did a last day squirrel hunt with buddies. I had a 1x5 on my 17hmr ... I found myself always leaving it on 5.... so I ended up swapping out that night for my 4x16....

Coming from the nrl22/crps/prs game I never regret having more mag. Even though I compete at 8 to 12x all the time... the odd time I can swing up to 25x is nice. I have never lusted for a lower mag when shooting small things quickly.

Having said that. I hunt with buddies alot and typically one of us is back up with the 12gauge and buck shot...

I would imagine that the only hindrance for you with the 6z is you eye relief might be a bit more fickle. I would make sure that is set real good.
 
PS: guns that fit well, with low power,wide angle scopes and great triggers kill the most coyotes.

Fit is number 1. Put you hunting coat on, Close your eyes, mount your rifle…. if you are not looking straight at the crosshair with no scope shadow change something until you are. Most shooters I know are always seeing scope shadow or are looking under their scopes and have to adjust their heads to get a proper look through their scopes.. not good… Cheek pads help as doe having someone help you adjust the ocular distance eye to scope lense.
 
I have played with many different variables and so far have found that 9out of 10 coyotes will be killed within 200 yards so there's no reason to be scoped for 500.
The last 2 years my main rifle has worn a simple 3x9 and there was no issues seeing and engaging coyotes at all ranges. Recently just switched to a 4x16 and find myself keeping it on 9x anyways haha.
It all comes down to what you know. If you don't know your rifle/drop/drift/scope your going to have issues no matter what.
I'd rather hunt with an iron sight rifle I know than a scoped one I don't.
 
My go to scope has always been a 3-9x because the vast majority of the coyotes I have killed have been either called or shot over bait about 200 meters away at first or last light with a .222
I have killed them at longer distances but most were inside 200 and even at approaching 300 the 9x was fine
Cat
 
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I also hunt Ontario farmland. Shots could be anywhere from 20-350 yards. I suppose there is the odd massive cornfield I could shoot further but I don’t bother with long long shots. I use a 3x9 on my .223 and a 3.5-10 on my .243. Big scopes and heavy barreled rifles have no place for my purposes, and believe me I tried it. I had a Winchester heavy barrel that would put 55 grain vmax through one hole constantly. It weighed 12 pounds scoped. No thank you, I learned quickly that it sucks to carry that around.
All of my hunt rifles for any purpose are now 8lbs and under and I don’t have any scopes over 12x. All of my rifles are sighted in roughly 2 inches high at 100 yards. In my part of Ontario nothing more is required. I may think differently if I lived in tobacco country or out west. Our part of Ontario still has fence rows and wood lots between agriculture. Just my 2 cents!
 
You are Over-scoped. There is no need for more than about 10x to hunt coyotes, no matter where they are hunted. I live in the wide open plains. I have shot most of my coyotes with scopes on 4x-9x magnification, and have never felt a practical need for more. Target shooters have influenced the hunting activities of far too many shooters who don't know better. High magnification comes with critical eye relief, dim views, slow target acquisition, fussy body and head positions, and shaky reticle on target. Real hunters know better. Good luck in your future hunts.
 
iron cat said:
My go to scope has always been a 3-9x because the vast majority 9f the coyotes I have killed have been either called or shot over bait about 200 meters away at first or last light with a .222
I have killed them at lo her distances but most were inside 200 and even at approaching 300 the 9x was fine
Cat
Click to expand...
Wisdom from experience!
 
I currently carry a 4x12 on my .223 but I find it too much scope. For me, I find it hard to find the coyote in the scope on 4x when they are coming in hot and get close. I need to change to a 3x9 or even a 2x7..... Since most of my coyotes are shot at 100 yds or so, I sight dead on for 100...... The reticle I am currently using is Multi X
 
I appreciate all of the comments. Think I'll try my 4-12x40mm that currently in its box. I think I'll like the lower 4X vs my current min 6X. Hey, another morning at the range sighting it in is better than a morning working, right?

Surprised no comments on parallax or illuminated reticle.

Cheers!
 
Not that I’ve hunted coyotes but I’ve hunted deer with a 4-12x40, I’ve yet to shoot a deer past 100y in the last 5-6 years. The closest I shot one at was 15-20y and I had a hard time finding my intended point of aim at x4 power, was nothing but fur and I had to do a double take. Luckily I surprised the buck and he stood still love enough for me to get on target, 4-12 was fine out past 50y for quick acquisition and nice to have at the range shooting to 200y or more at higher mag.

I’ve since gone down to 2-7X32 and 2.5-10X40 for hunting as the 4-12 was more magnification than I needed, it I was sitting and hunting open fields it would probably be just fine.
 
There are a lot more options nowadays for 1-7 or 2-8 type scopes. I’ve got a 1-7, but it’s not on a coyote gun. An illuminated dot in the middle and clear picture looking at your feet.
 
Im kinda surprised by most the comments. I guess I'm different, My gun rarely goes below 12 power.

If he's standing 100 yards like the other day, Gun was in 14 power from earlier. I Shoulder my rifle while looking at the coyote and it's usually right there. I don't scan through the scope until he's in view then try to shoot. I can't remember shooting any in 4x power, ever lol
 
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