Prairie dog scopes

ameridaddy

ameridaddy

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Lost my AR in a deep part of the James River, but had lots of .223 to shoot up, so last week I bought a CZ 527 Varmint with a set trigger.
I chose that rifle because they consistently shoot under one minute accuracy, have a fine trigger and a good free-floated barrel, a handsome walnut stock, all at a reasonable price point.

A friend has the same rifle in .204, and I loved shooting it, but didn't want to get into a new caliber, esp. with lots of .223 to shoot.
I lusted after the 527 MTR version, but it has a threaded barrel, and our legislature has banned threaded barrels on last January's anti-gun package.

A prairie dog hunt is on my bucket list, so can any of you here recommend a scope for my new CZ?
I've read and read, and it looks like the dealio for 100-400 yds is about 3x-15x 30mm, but there sure is a lot of discussion between FFP and SFP scopes, best reticles, pros and cons for each.
I searched our forum, found a few tidbits, but I'd appreciate any new input from those of you who "been there done that" in the past few years.
 

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I have the same rifle in .204 Ruger, and like you said, its accurate and very well made. I mostly use it for coyote, sometimes ground hog.

Biggest difference between a FFP and SFP scope is the reticle on a FFP scope allows you to accurately use the reticle markings to range your target, and allow for bullet drop / wind at all scope magnifications. The reticle changes size as you increase magnification. The only problem with that is the reticle can be hard to see at lower power. SFP scopes usually only allow this at full magnification, as reticle size does not change. Maybe a moot point for your use, as I would think most shots at a small target at longer range are going to be at full magnification.

4x16 and 6x20 are popular. When you start to get above 16 or so magnification, heat and mirage can become an issue, effecting accuracy. The larger the objective lens, the better your exit pupil (the more light it lets in). 30mm tube diameter usually means more W&E adjustment in the scope.

If you want to go FFP, and not spend a ton of money, I can highly recommend the Vortex brand. Last year, I bought a 6.5 Creedmoor chassis rifle, and put a Vortex Diamondback Tactical ll 4x16 scope on it, and I am impressed with both. The scope features a 30mm tube, FFP etched reticle with a rather complex series of hash marks, and an accurate and good feeling set of target type turrets in case you rather account for distance and wind that way. ED glass helps ensure a sharp and clear view. Lifetime warranty. A lot of scope for about $325.00. Color me impressed.

My CZ wears a Nikon 4x14 SFP with a simple BDC reticle, and also works well, but the Vortex is a better long range, small target scope.

Wanted to add that I recently picked up a Bushnell "Nitro" 4x16, 30mm tube, SFP scope for use on an AR-10. It has the "Deploy" MOA reticle. It is a VERY nice scope, bright and clear, with accurate adjustments. Best part is right now Natchez Shooting Supply has them on close out for about $200. Lifetime warranty, and a heck of a deal at that price. They are not the cheap "blister pack" scopes people think about when they think Bushnell. They have the FFP model on sale as well for only a few bucks more. And whatever you buy, make sure it has either a side or front adjustable parallax, an important feature for good long range accuracy.

Larry
 

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I’ve been plinking pdogs for many years and used a lot of different scopes. I finally settled on a Leupold 4.5x14 with a 30mm tube and SFP mil dot reticle.
I shoot a Rem. 700 heavy barrel rifle in .223. I find that the 14x power is adequate out to close to 500 yds. But more power just causes problems on hot days with mirage and distortion. The mil dot is sometimes useful for ranging but I use it more often for holdoff in the wind. A good rangefinder can be really useful as well. Enjoy your hunt when it comes. It’s kind of addictive.
 
Not the same but for ground squirrels, I settled (after several center fires) on a Mossberg 22 mag with a Bushnell 3-9 "big bore" scope with 1" rings.
 
I have been Prairie Dog hunting about 10 times, in mid center SD. I have used 22-250 loaded with 55 gr Nosler Ballistic tips at just over 3600 fps.

For the first several years I used a Nikon Monarch 6.5-20X with fine crosshairs. You want fine as the coarser type will cover up a dog at much over 300 yards. The newer scopes with the side focus anr a much better scope for this use where you are constantly adjusting to different ranges. I added a 2nd 22-250 and put a Leupold 6-18X with Target turrets and had Leupold build a custom elevation Turret dedicated to my actual load. This works fantastic, read your actual distance off your range finder and dial it in your scope, then allow for wind speed using your wind meter and pull the trigger. I have taken 1 shot kills at over 500 yards several times.

You need good glass, as you are spending hours staring through it and eye strain is a thing to consider.

MOst important items, other than the rifle are: 700-1000 rounds of your custom crafted ammo; Rangefinder; Wind meter; bench rest (mine was home made); Binoculars (good glass) of a minimum of 8X42 and better off at 10X42, (I used 10x42 Nikon Monarch); good hearing protection; cleaning materials; back up rifle (to shoot while your primary rifle is cooling off, don't fire more than about 20-30 rounds within a half hour or will over heat and possibly damage your barrel; bench rest that is quickly movable about 100 degrees as targets will present randomly and a rear bag for a really steady rest; Wide brimmed hat for sun protection; sun glasses; sun screen; a 4 wheel drive vehicle with good ground clearance.

Hope that is helpful, I have probably left out a few items but plan well and you will have a ball.

PM me if you have other questions I can help with.
 
prairie dogs

I've shot & shot at prairie dogs for the past 10 or so years. I use a bench rest table & a Caldwell lead sled.

I have only 1 eye. Binoculars don't work for me. I use my spotting scope set at 20 power to glass the fields.

I use a 22-250, 220 swift, & a 223. I have put 6x24 power scopes with a 30mm tube. the scopes are NightForce, Swavorski, Ziess. I have used Nikon, Burres, and others. I think a good scope is one of the most important things you can have on a prairie dog shoot. If you are not sure you'll like shooting the prairie dogs, a 6x24 Nikon Monarch is a good way to get started.
 
Rolled a lot of the little critters over, here in Nevada but we do have wind and heat to put up with, and I use a 22-250 bull barrel bolt action, to do my work with.
On hot days my 20/40 spotting scope is useless so you need a power that is from 4 up to 16 power if you have good eye sight.

Mirage is the #1 killer and as mentioned, thick scope wire can also be a problem, so you do need to check out the scopes in the store before you buy one.
As a note, you might find a used or "Blemished scope" if you get lucky and save a bundle.

Good luck.
 
ameridaddy said:
Lost my AR in a deep part of the James River, but had lots of .223 to shoot up, so last week I bought a CZ 527 Varmint with a set trigger.
I chose that rifle because they consistently shoot under one minute accuracy, have a fine trigger and a good free-floated barrel, a handsome walnut stock, all at a reasonable price point.

A friend has the same rifle in .204, and I loved shooting it, but didn't want to get into a new caliber, esp. with lots of .223 to shoot.
I lusted after the 527 MTR version, but it has a threaded barrel, and our legislature has banned threaded barrels on last January's anti-gun package.

A prairie dog hunt is on my bucket list, so can any of you here recommend a scope for my new CZ?
I've read and read, and it looks like the dealio for 100-400 yds is about 3x-15x 30mm, but there sure is a lot of discussion between FFP and SFP scopes, best reticles, pros and cons for each.
I searched our forum, found a few tidbits, but I'd appreciate any new input from those of you who "been there done that" in the past few years.
Click to expand...

One thing for sure is VA has NOT banned threaded barrels or suppressors.

I have hunted prairie dogs for the last 10 years and tried about every high end scope out there from Nightforce, Leupold and Burris. I tried one of the FFP Burris 5-25 one year and did not care for it and promptly sold it after that trip. The Leupold varmint reticle scopes are nice and making a reference click chart or a hold over chart for a Leupold duplex or MOA Nightforce has been a good choice. I just got one of the Burris Eliminator scopes for next spring and in testing, feel it will be a fun toy. As far as magnification, with the mirage you get in the prairie, 15 - 20X is about all I care to use.
 
My favorite prairie dog scope is the Leupold 6.5-20 with the plain ol' fine duplex. I shoot most of the time with it set on 16x. I wanted a straight 16x Leupold for years, but never found one when I had the money. There is a plethora of optics out there today that will work well with your CZ 223. You just have to figure out which reticle and what power will work for you.
 
I have killed thousands of prairie dogs since 1982 using a S&W 1500 in 222 Rem with a 12X Leupold. I added a Rem 700 rebarreled to 25-06 with another 12 Leupold. Now I use the 1500 rebarreled to 223 and an AR 15 in 223. Both have Athlon 2nd focal place scopes.

I suggest max magnification at 20X. I've used 6.5X to 20X scopes, 8X to 32X, 6X to 24X. Leupold is the best scope, Athlon, Sightron, then Burris. I've had several Burris scopes, and most have not met my expectations.

If I had to chose just one scope it would be the 12X fixed Leupold.
 
I shot literally hundreds of ground hogs in Charles City VA, in the 1970's,,

I used a 22-250, as the guy that reloaded our ammo recommended it.
That Remington Varmint Special was my first gun,, so I needed simplicity.

Again, the guy that did the reloading, recommended a 4X12 scope.

With that combo, and the way he had sighted it in, I simply did what he told me to do,
If the groundhog was standing up, aim for his eyeball, at any range up to 350 yards, and the gun would drop the groundhog..

I think the .223 will be going a LOT slower than a 22-250, so you are gonna need to deal with bullet drop, ranging, and hold-over.
I think you will need a scope with some sort of markings that will help with hold-over, IMHO,,,

I have wanted to buy one of those for my rimfire rifle, recently.
I bought the last one Sportsman's Warehouse had on sale,
I got it home, and the elevation would not change,, so I simply returned it. I did not want to deal with repairs, especially since Nikon is going out of the scope business.
That broken scope put a bad taste in my mouth, so I kinda put the scope purchase on the back burner.

There is a guy near Wytheville that literally has hundreds of nice used scopes like what you need,,

He advertises them on GB and eBay,,

I am seriously considering riding up there, and picking one out, and buying it,, from him. DANG he has some nice ones,, The Leopold's have a lifetime warranty,, so I ain't to worried about buying used,,

Maybe you should consider on of those?

PM me, if you want is name,,
 
Like several posters above, I've shot thousands of the little buggers and worn out .223 barrels doing it.

My favorite scope? Well for the first 20 years or so, it was a Weaver T10 with fine cross hairs. Superb scope with very repeatable click settings, but they are now worth their weight in silver.

Now? I now like a scope with a mil dot reticle as that is about the fastest way to allow for trajectory and deflection hold offs when shooting without dialing in the dope on the turrets. Currently I'm using a Leupold 3X9 with target turrets.
 
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ken158 said:
One thing for sure is VA has NOT banned threaded barrels or suppressors.
Click to expand...

Thank you, that's good news for now. I could have sworn that was on the atrocity list from last January; that must have been one of the few proposals on the anti-gunners' laundry list that did not pass.
 
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Started out with a Mohawk 600 in 222 Remingtonand a 3x9
Then a Ruger heavy barrel in 220 swift wuitha 6x18 Redfield when that barrel was toaast made it into a 6mm Remigngton with same 6x18 Redfield,

added a Heavy barreled Ruger 223 with a 6 1x18 Redfield
then a Ruger heavy barreled 25-06 with 6x18 Redfield

See a pattern on scopes
 
I have a late friend that loved the combo of Perrier Dogs, a 40x in 222 Remington, and a 10x Unertl. (When he died he had 43 of the set-up) He consistently nailed at 400 yards with his longest shot with a 22 being 675 yards! Most dogs on a single round; 3! at around 375 yards.

For medium range varmint hunting, I like 4.5-14x40mm, for long range I like 6.5-20x40, and for "extreme range" I have a few different 8-32x 50mm.

Good and inexpensive practice for Prairie dogs, is to use pop cans at the longest distance you will be shooting. Standing is good, in the round end is better! In the 1970's, We saved up the junk diet pop mom would buy on sale and use full cans on end and cans refilled with water upright.

If practice distance is a problem; use a 22RF at 150 to 200 yards, you will learn the wind for 223 at 400! I've shot a lot of M&M's at 100 with 22RF and at 200 with 223 (6.5-20 scope), that makes you read the grass for the wind, and develops patience to wait on the wind to calm! Necco wafer candy hot glued to dark construction paper at 200 is good for ranges that don't allow cans! (Aspirin at 50 and 100) After you are sure of you rifles zero, use short pieces of 5/8 OD pipe to hold 69 caliber paint balls (like a golf tee). You have to figure out on your own where a miss went! Start at 50 yards and work further out as your skills increase.

Lastly, one target that has been more fun than any other is Cheese-it crackers thrown on the dirt berm at 50 or 100. With scoped 22's the first hit breaks the 3/4" cracker into 4 to 8 pieces. Then hunt down the pieces. Then hunt down the larger crumbs! A hit on a 50 yard crumb is harder than a PD at 400!

Ivan

Remember this formula: A good rifle + good ammo = good times!
 
Ivan the Butcher said:
Lastly, one target that has been more fun than any other is Cheese-it crackers thrown on the dirt berm at 50 or 100. With scoped 22's the first hit breaks the 3/4" cracker into 4 to 8 pieces.
Then hunt down the pieces.
Remember this formula: A good rifle + good ammo = good times!
Click to expand...

Even better than the crackers is honey,, and raw chicken,,

smear the honey and raw chicken on a piece of cardboard the day before you go shooting,,

By the next day, you will have flies coming to the target,,

The fly is alive, and you now have to deal with the target randomly moving, :D

There is nothing much more satisfying than taking a fly at 100 yards!! :eek:
 
I used a Remington VS in 223 with a Leupold 24X Target scope for closer dogs on calm days. Once the distance increased or the wind came up I switched to my Remington VS in 22-250 with a Redfield (old) 16X with fine cross hairs. The 22-250 really improved my hit ratio over the 223 on long or windy conditions. Now I only have a Leupold 6.5 x 20 X 30mm LRT scope on a Remington VSF 223. I had a Leupold 8.5 x 25 x 30mm LRT with the Varmint reticle that I liked a lot but that one sold with my 300 mag Sendero.


I like the flies at 100 yds too.
 
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