Rifle Scopes Scope recommendation for prairie dog hunting?

[huntingmanyeah]

Hey guys, I am putting together a gun for a prairie dog hunt and need a scope. For a budget, I am wanting to stay at or below the $500 mark. Cheaper is better, and I can also go more expensive if it is necessary. Bottom line, I want to spend what I need to spend to get the performance I need, but no more.

I am thinking I want at least 16x magnification, and maybe out to 26x, but I am open to suggestions. I am also curious as to what your thoughts are if I need zero reset turrets and what type of reticle.

 

[702lineman]

Been pdogging numerous times. If 500 is your budget get a 12x swfa or maybe a used vortex viper pst. You dont need 26x for them unless you are really going to air it out. What caliber are you shooting and what grain of bullet? That will make a huge difference.

Buy more ammo is all I can say. 223 is your friend and bring a second rifle. Also bring a 22lr if you have one. In a good pdog town that hasn't been shot much a 22lr is fun fun

 

[patriot07]

I agree - fixed 12x SWFA if that’s your budget

 

[BurnOut]

As the others have said, it really depends on the distances that you're going to be shooting; on my pdog hunts, 100-150 yards is a CLOSE shot, and the average is probably closer to 300-ish. Long shots are 450-ish (which I've done with a 15x), and I've popped a few out at 600-650 with a 25x scope.

That said, if you're not going out that far, then you're more likely to find yourself using 15x-18x than 25x or more.

Obviously, you're going to get more bang for your buck out of the used market than new, so don't forget to check the used optics for sale section here on the Hide as well as samplelist.com, eBay, etc...

 

[carbonbased]

I’m a holdover type of prairie dog shooter (going to try dialing). For $250 or so, the Primary Arms FFP 4-14x44 Arc-2 MOA works well. Not a ton of eye relief is my main complaint. My brother has a Cabelas Coveanet FFP 6-24x50 at $299. It has a better holdover reticle but worse feeling turrets. Both are FFP and moa. I’ve moved towards mil scopes now, but those two I’ve had first hand experience with shooting the dogs. Got one at 380yds laser rangefinded with the PA.

Check this link out. It says “rimfire”, but it applies to any rifle. I shoot a .204, mainly.
https://sageratsafaris.com/2017/03/16/best-rimfire-varmint-scopes-under-400/

The same dude made a HUGE list of all FFP scopes available here:

Master list of all front focal plane (FFP) long range rifle scopes

All first/front focal plane (FFP) long range scopes, with reticles, street prices, merchants, and reviews. Last updated February 07, 2020, 198 optics.

sageratsafaris.com

Labor of love, I guess. Hats off to him!

 

[siscoe308]

Pdog shooting is one of my all time favorite activities. Growing up I shot hundreds of dogs using a 3.5-10 vx3 on a Rock River Arms Predator. From ranges from 6ft to 400-500yds, with most shots being inside 200. Great fun, while at longer ranges I’d wish for more magnification. I didn’t really NEED it.

That being said after I got all grown up, I put a PMii 3-20 on that RRA rifle. It is about the perfect scope for a .223 potgut rifle, IMO.

Then I got bit by the Anschutz rimfire bug. Started with a Vx3 6.5-20 to a March 3-24...and soon to be a Atacr 7-35. There is nothing more fun than watching a lil .22 slug drop in for a perfect head shot at 100-120 yds! Ranging/ calling wind/ dialing...I kill less dogs than with the .223 but I have a ball.

Get the best glass you can afford, and you won’t regret it. Another good piece of kit is a decent range finder.

Oh, and pack a .22 pistol....those lil buggers love to pop up 10 ft away and getting them in focus with a long gun can be a challenge.

 

[M_16_4_REAL]

We go dogging at least 4 times a year for a week or more at a time. Montana, Wyoming, Dakotas, for the last 8 years. I shoot 22lr, 17hmr, 223, 6br, and 243ai.
Anschutz 1416 22lr
Bushnell DMR 3-21 Tremor 2
Anschutz 1517 MPR 17hmr
Bushnell DMR 3-21 Tremor 2
Ruger Precision 556
NF NXS 5-22 Mil-R
Badger 2013 6br
NF Comp 15-55
Templar 243ai
Steiner M5xi 5-25

For prairie dog shooting, I only zero my scope when I get to the dog town the first day. I don’t ever dial in elevation or windage unless I’m shooting past 600y with a centerfire. There’s so many changes in distance, wind, and weather, it makes dialing a hassle. That’s where the fixed or ffp scopes really shine. You can run a scope at 15-18x for 90% of the shooting. If you want to reach out a bit farther just dial the power up and you already know your wind holdover values.
I realize your budget is limited to $500 or so. But my suggestion would be to find a used Sightron S3 or Bushnell DMR. Both can be had for very close to your budget. I paid $600 for my second bushy dmr lightly used. I’m of the opinion you can always dial your magnification down, but you can’t add more if your scope doesn’t have it. The most useful power range for all around shooting is 5-25x or 6-24x imo. That goes for prairie dog shooting also.

 

[MarinePMI]

This is where an SWFA fix power scope with a tree reticle would eat up the market. An inexpensive scope with the ability to accurately perform holdovers.

 

[SageRatSafaris]

I’m a holdover type of prairie dog shooter (going to try dialing). For $250 or so, the Primary Arms FFP 4-14x44 Arc-2 MOA works well. Not a ton of eye relief is my main complaint. My brother has a Cabelas Coveanet FFP 6-24x50 at $299. It has a better holdover reticle but worse feeling turrets. Both are FFP and moa. I’ve moved towards mil scopes now, but those two I’ve had first hand experience with shooting the dogs. Got one at 380yds laser rangefinded with the PA.

Check this link out. It says “rimfire”, but it applies to any rifle. I shoot a .204, mainly.
https://sageratsafaris.com/2017/03/16/best-rimfire-varmint-scopes-under-400/

The same dude made a HUGE list of all FFP scopes available here:

Master list of all front focal plane (FFP) long range rifle scopes

All first/front focal plane (FFP) long range scopes, with reticles, street prices, merchants, and reviews. Last updated February 07, 2020, 198 optics.

sageratsafaris.com

Labor of love, I guess. Hats off to him!

That dude here. Thanks for the appreciation.

I updated the list of rimfire varmint scopes for 2019 with way more scopes.

https://sageratsafaris.com/2019/02/23/best-rimfire-varmint-rifle-scopes-under-500-2019/

That said, for p-dogs, I'd recommend sticking to FFP (because they're often at longer ranges and varmints don't give you time to dial adjustments).

 

[Codiekfx400]

A reticle with windage marks and a exposed elevation turret that can be set to zero. Dial the elevation and hold the windage is my favorite method.

 

[stilesg57]

...on my pdog hunts, 100-150 yards is a CLOSE shot, and the average is probably closer to 300-ish. Long shots are 450-ish (which I've done with a 15x), and I've popped a few out at 600-650 with a 25x scope.

Only done it once and the furthest shot I took was in the high 3s, but otherwise this sounds about right.

In your price range you’re going to get more for your buck with a fixed than a FFP variable, and the best fixed powers under $500 are probably the SWFAs.

I have a 10x SWFA and I’d rather have the 12x for anything past 200yds, but I admittedly like more mag than most on this forum. Since 100yds may be the closest shots you take, I’d lean to the 16x, though most who have had both agree the 10x and 12x are the sweet spot for that scope’s glass and exit pupil.

 

[MTETM]

Go get an Athlon with reticle..
Search for a used Midas Tac to meet you budget.
You will be pleased...

 

[Dantrom]

Like siscoe308 said get the best glass you can afford.
I like variable power though because it's easier for me to scan for movement in a bigger area while I'm trying to spot em.

Took this one Monday evening with my 6.5 creed with a bushnell dmr on 21x at 580 yrds (my longest kill ever!). The head shot was by luck, mirage was heavy and I couldn't tell which end was which. I dialed and held end of body. What a blast!!

 

[steve123]

Shop around for a Midas TAC, can be had just near the top of your budget.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

It would be our pleasure to assist you. Please give us a call, 516-217-1000, to discuss options
Doug

 

[Sieg]

When scanning for victims it's nice to have 6-8x field of view.

I've shot sage rats (Coors Light can size) for 25+ years with a couple Leupold VRX-III's 4.5-14 and typically find most of my 80-200yd shooting is done at 8-10x and 14 is adequate at 400.

I've switched to Vortex Diamondback HP's 4-16's with BDC reticles on my .17HM2, .17HMR, and .17WSM and they've been fine. As noted, due to constant variables I never dial, just use hold over/offs.

This year I'll be taking my Vudoo with a Athlon Ares ETR 4-30 so it will be interesting to see if my perception changes. The Ares glass is better than the others and the more detailed reticle should be a benefit...… won't know until I apply it under fire.

Eye fatigue at my age is a major issue especially after 6-8 hours in the scope so the ETR may win for that reason alone.

 

[Bender]

Field of view is more important than magnification. I use a SWFA fixed 10x. But I really would rather have a Tree reticle. They present so fast at different yards, dialing is a waste of time. Find a FFP that holds zero and has a tree reticle. Primary Arms, Athlon, Vortex all have FFP and tree reticle under $500. Or watch here for a Bushy with a G2 or something similar.

That said, my SWFA fixed 10x has dropped them out to 650yds.