Spend my money on a varmit scope...

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Willie Sutton

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Or at least help me spend mine.

Advise me on picking a good fairly high power variable varmint scope for a .22-250 with intended use to 500 yards. Have a very nice Savage 12V heavy varmit rifle (pre-accutrigger, sadly) handicapped by a BSA scope that's about worthless. I already have Leupold base and rings installed.


Price: Let's say.... someplace between $500 and $750.

Use, "in theory". is critter-shooting out in the desert, Coyotes as a hypothetical, however I happen to admire the skinny buggers and prob wouldn't actually shoot one. Let's *really* call it a setup for steel poppers between 200 and 500 yards while pretending to be practicing for 'Yotes.


Be nice to retrofit with the accutrigger as well... any observations on this? Savage play the retrofit game or not?


Willie

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Dunno what the price is or if they even still make it but Google search leupold vx L extreme varmint.
Sfp 6.5-20x 1/10moa turret (not a typo) and the concave bottom of the objective that lets you mount the large bell very low. I absolutely loved mine on a 220swift
 
$1600+ for Taliv's choice. Looks great, but out of my price range though for this rifle.

That Vortex looks good, worth studying. Basically a $grand for it, not too far over budget. I've got another cheaper Vortex that's shot loose optically and needs to go back, that'll be a test of what is supposed to be good customer service.


Others?


Willie

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Wille, I have a Bushnell Elite 6-24X on my Kimber 84M .204 and shoot prairie dogs out to 400 yards. It will cost you about $400, so is well below your budget. It also has a lifetime warranty. You can probably find a good Leupold for about $700, but I would suggest spending the difference on a good trigger. By the way, the Accutrigger is not that great. I have one and am looking to replace it. Before spending much money though, be sure your new rifle is a shooter. Not all Savage rifles of that model are shooters. Friend of mine had one and sold it after lots of effort to get it to shoot.
 
willie out of curiosity where'd you get that price? i paid maybe $1000 for mine years ago. I think MSRP was only $1100. when i looked online for them, they were listed at $1100 but none were in stock anywhere. i figured you could pick one up used on gunbroker or something for well under $800. have they appreciated?
 
^^ Those look good. The Leupold price came from their website at MSRP, I didn't actually look for a supplier with them available.

Sniper66, thanks for the advice. I've the budget to do both scope and trigger, so no worries. This rifle shoots well, it's just handicapped by the scope. I'ma "bit" of an optics snob I guess you would call it. Leica cameras, etc... so I am quick to see resolution drop off at higher magnifications etc. I'll look thru the Bushnell though.


Willie

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Willie, I have Leupold 6.5-20's on all of my pdog rigs. You can get em used on Ebay for around $5-600 usually. Mine are the old Vari-XIII models 40 mm objectives. Fine duplex reticles. I have 5 of them. My buddy has a couple of B&L Elites 6-24x and he likes them too. I have one older Weaver straight 24 target scope that I use as my load work up scope. I put it on new guns to do load work ups, then switch to whatever scope I am going to leave on the gun. It is not as user friendly as the Leupolds though, eye relief and eye strain mostly. But I like the magnification for serious target work.
 
^^^

Thanks all, guys... keep the info coming!


"Vortex has excellent customer service as well"

Thanks Tim. I'll find out about that soon enough, as my only Vortex shot loose internally when almost new. It'll go back to them soon for repair.


Willie

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Willie,

Since you have the budget for it, look at the SWFA site at the Zeiss scopes on the Sample List. They have some a very nice scopes that would certainly fill the bill for you for $799. I went with Bushnell because I wanted more magnification and my budget would not allow $800 for a scope. My rifle club gets 40% off MSRP for Bushnell scopes, so I bought 3 of them and so far they seem OK. I'm getting Elite 6-24X for $350. and they are adequate for long distance prairie dogs. I've looked through better scopes and own several Leupolds, but they are OK for the money.
 
If I were buying one primarily for hunting 'yotes today, it would be this one:
http://www.opticsplanet.com/leupold-vx3-65-20x40mm-adj-obj-rifle-scope.html Excellent glass without a lot of bulk.

If it was primarily for range work and shooting squirrels off a table or bench at 500+ yards, and practicing for 'yotes, it would be http://www.opticsplanet.com/leupold-vx3-65-20x50mm-riflescope.html
The larger objective and tall turrents are nice on the bench.

My primary varmint rifles are four .22-250s, three of which are hefty. The fourth is a Tikka T-3 Lite - which is a lot easier to lug around and shoot well off-hand. I doubt you'll be taking long walks with that Savage, so the second one might be a better choice.
 
Look into the Sightron Big Sky series. I have sold many of my Leupold VX lls and bought these. You can get 4-16 x or 6-24 x. There are more options, but that is what I have been buying. Amazon sells them at a resonable price and you may be able to do better if you look around.

Check out their website and the reviews on Amazon and Google them up also. I love mine. The price also fits your budget. Stick with thr Big Sky series or for a bit more look into the Sllls.

Optics planet may also carry them. Check pricing B-4 you commit. QM
 
Willie,I'd say go with a Sightron SIII series 6-24x50 MOA-2 scope and never look back. I own 6 Sightron scopes,and have been thoroughly pleased with them for many years. The glass is really good,tracking is excellent,and they will repeat your zero every time you turn the turrets.

http://www.longrangesupply.com/stor...x50mm-moa-2-reticle-1-4-moa-clicks-25127.html

As for your trigger on your Savage,You should have the factory 3 screw trigger in that rifle.That trigger can be safely adjusted to very light pull weights,with almost zero creep or over travel. I have several of them on my long range rifles.
If you want an aftermarket trigger,go with a Sharp Shooters Supply Competition trigger.They are very good triggers,but you can adjust the 3 screw trigger almost as good,safely.

http://www.sharpshootersupply.com/Triggers.html
 
Thanks, Guys.

^^ To the above, I've been eying that trigger and it'll be ordered soon. Cheap enough upgrade.


Willie

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Willie: I am shooting a Savage model 12 HD just like yours befor the pre accura trigger. And My Son shoots model 12 HD with the accura trigger, both in 22-250 and have for several years. Both rifles are scarey accurate and 2 of the most accruate rifles we own. Both rifles out shoot any of my Sako`s and will hold their own with our CZ`s. To be real honest We both really like the Bushnell 4200 Elite Scopes, and have several of them. And have an 8-32X40 AO 4200 Elite on both of our 22-250 Savage Model 12 HD rifles. I don`t know if this is still the case but I was told by Savage a few years ago that they could not put a accura triger in my old model 12 HD Varmint Rifle. The load we shoot in both of our rifles is 36.5 grs of Varget with a 50 gr V-Max Bullet. and like I said it is just plain scarey accturate, way less than an 1/2 inch at a 100 yds. We shoot a lot of PD`s, Ground Hogs, Rock Chucks, Jack Rabbits, Coyotes and a few Badgers with these rifles. Steel Poppers out to 500 yds should not be any real problem if You find a load your rifle shoots well. We have several Savage Rifles and every one of our`s are top of the line (( SHOOTERS)). If I could be of any more help to You, I would be proud to help You any way I can.
ken
 
^^ Excellent, thanks. I'll stay in contact by PM as I evolve this rifle. It's been decades since I did any .22 caliber centerfire boltgun work, my last one being an old tang safety Ruger in .220 Swift. Loading for it is obviously the next step.


Willie

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WILLIE: I for got to say I had a local Gunsmith friend do a trigger job on my old model rifle and all the other old model savages we have, and we now have very light useable triggers on all of them. Might give this a try. IMHO I really like the triggers we have now.
ken
 
You don't have to break the bank to get good varmint glass. I run a Weaver V16 UFCH dot 4-16x on my 700 VLSF .17 Rem and a Nikon Monarch 6.5-20x UFCH on my KM77VT .220 Swift. I have taken prairie dogs at just shy of a half mile with the latter.
 
^^ Ouch... and I thought I was a champ at 300 yards last weekend.

I'm headed overseas on Sunday, and will be off the grid for about two months, so as I fade away for a bit I'll figure out what I'll stick on. Methinks a study of what EBay has to offer will give me whatever from the lists above turn up at a reasonable cost. I'll play with the trigger before I replace it, and get some dies for it. Looking forward to getting this rifle shooting. Back in the Mojave in May, so that'll be my next opportunity to play with it. The next thing I want to contemplate is exploring barrel changes on the Savage, just to give it a try and to expand my knowlage base.


Willie

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Willie: Well keep your head down and just remember all thoes Hero Buttons, can hurt like hell. And most people you meet have no idea what are even for and could care less. I envey You on your new advanture. I always really enjoyed going and being with my old friends. The Air, Food, and the Whiskey always tasted better on thoes little outings. The old saying that, To really live You must almost die. For Life has a sweetness that the procted shall never know. Is really very true, and very hard to explain even to your own familly. But coming Home to the Land of the big PX, and being under Uncle Sugar`s Flag , and being with Your family again was always a big trip for me. You Take Care Now.
ken
 
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