4-12 power for 300-350 yds.

[Stickman]

I'm taking delivery of a TC predator .204 tomorrow , I am an extreme newbie to this caliber but can't wait to get my hands on it. My question is I have a leupold 4-12 already do you guy's think it would suffice for the 300 -350 yd. range ? Or should I go stronger. I've mostly been a short range hunter eg. 150 yds is a good poke in the territory I hunt. Any insite would be great .

Thanks Stickman

[ryutzy]

Depends on what you are hunting. What are you hunting? You will be fine with that for coyotes and groundhogs. You would probably want more power for little things like praire dogs etc. If you are doing a lot of paper shooting you will want more power also. It all depends on what you intend to do with it. What reticle do you have in that scope?

[Stickman]

I would be doing exactly that ,ground hogs and coyote with paper mixed in, seeing as we don't have praire dogs in southern ontario. Would be fun if we did though!
Sorry about the double post that was unintentional. Thanks for the insight
Stickman

[GaCop]

A good 6.5X20 with adjustable objective would work fine. Take a look at the Vortex Viper, good quality for the money and their warranty really is no "BS".

[Jim White]

I just picked up a Leupold VX-3 6.5-20x40 E.F.R. scope. Haven't tried it on a rifle yet but unlike a non E.F.R. model, this one will focus down to 30-40' on 20X. Just trying to figure what she's going on.

But, the smaller the critter the higher pwr required to some degree.

[Arizona Hunter]

Stickman, I went throught the same questioning as you are now. Are you mostly shooting at p-dogs or coyotes? One of my 204's is heavy stocked, and heavy barrelled and is only for p-dogs. the other is light and is can easily be carried for coyotes/fox etc. or used for p-dogs it only has a 4-12 x 40.

The first 2 years I shot a 204 with a Bushnell Elite 3200 in 4-12 x 40 on it (nice scope) and killed p-dogs regularly at 300-350 yds even some at 400. Now I have a second 204 and a True Glo 8-32 x 44 on it (inexpensive & specially built in the Orient for Natchez shooter supply) the glass is "average", no way is it as sharp as the Elite but I get a closer look at p-dogs...but still very seldom shoot beyond 400 yds! Oh, one thing, when the temp heats up and "mirage" is messing with you, the higher magnification does not help much. If I had to do it again I would most likely get 6-20 x 44 or 50.