I'm looking for a scope for my REM .223. I'd like an adjustable Objective as this could be used for Prairie dog size targets.

1st, Is an adjustable Objective necessary (figure 250yds + on small targets would be pushing things, with drop and wind)?

2nd, I like the convenience of the Side Focus. But I’d like to stay under $150 so this greatly reduces the possibilities (yeah, I know ya get what ya pay for, but right now, this is how thing are).

I’m leaning toward the Cabelas Pine ridge 6-18X44SF. I’ve used the Pine ridge scopes before and have found them to be great glass for the price.. Honestly would like a lower low end as this rig could/would be used for stand hunting coyotes, and I under stand they can sneak in on ya….

So, let me know what ya’ll think

thanks
Nate

I'm looking for a scope for my REM .223. I'd like an adjustable Objective as this could be used for Prairie dog size targets.

1st, Is an adjustable Objective necessary (figure 250yds + on small targets would be pushing things, with drop and wind)?

2nd, I like the convenience of the Side Focus. But I’d like to stay under $150 so this greatly reduces the possibilities (yeah, I know ya get what ya pay for, but right now, this is how thing are).

I’m leaning toward the Cabelas Pine ridge 6-18X44SF. I’ve used the Pine ridge scopes before and have found them to be great glass for the price.. Honestly would like a lower low end as this rig could/would be used for stand hunting coyotes, and I under stand they can sneak in on ya….

So, let me know what ya’ll think

thanks
Nate
well in my opinon the pine ridge will be a crap shoot. i bought one last summer and had to send it back as it would white out if i so much twitched my eye from it's spot. i would have let cabelas send me another to try but they where on a 3 month back log at the time so i took the refund instead. there have been plenty who have said good things about them but that was not my case. you would stand a better chance for decent glass on that thing for that price range by going with a Mueller or the Bushnell Legend series. i think you can get into that one for 170.00 or a tad less so you are close. the bushnell legend series is some very bright glass and boast 92% light transmision (on par with a leupold vx-II) they are a well kept secret in afordable scopes. to give you an idea the more costlier bushnell Elite 3200 only has 88% light transmision and it is easily over 100.00 more than the legend. the Muellers have very nice glass and good tracking. i just was so disapointed in my pineridge scope that i'm a tad shy of them. if you do go that rout i would be interested in how yours holds up and performs over time. keep us all posted.
Edit: one thing i forgot to mention, the side focus scopes are more expensive to mfr. so for the same $$ you'll get a better scope by going with the A.O. and at that price range you want as good as glass as you can get.

Thanks,

I'll be going to Cabelas, so I'll be able to compre a bunch of scopes side by side..

So, what do folks think on the "do I need AO" for my application question?

Thanks for the tip on the Legend, I would have discounted Bushnell as I had trouble with a Trophy model. I know they make some good economy scopes, I just did know which ones were bottom end.

I think 8X is the point where an adjustable objective is necessary, or at least not a luxury. You'll find that things get out of focus pretty fast with a change of range at 18X.

Bye
Jack

Have had a couple of side focus scopes along with the bell adjustable. I prefer the side focus where possible.

Have had a couple of side focus scopes along with the bell adjustable. I prefer the side focus where possible.
i agree with you 100% but the side focus scopes are harder to mfr. correctly and at a price max. of 150.00 i think i would want as much quality glass for that price as i could get. that being said there are a bunch of folks happy with that pineridge set up, i just wasn't one of them.

Not your kind of scope, but I was in Gander Mountain last fall to pick out a pistol scope for a barrel I'd bought for my Encore. This barrel was mainly for strain guage pressure testing, so I didn't feel like buying top of the line. The only model they had in stock at the time was a nice Weaver Classic 2x28. They wanted $169 for it, which was a little high for my purposes, but was a competative price on that particular scope. I was in a hurry to do some testing, so I decided I would eat the cost and swap it to another gun later and get a cheaper optical sight mail order for the pressure test barrel. When the counter man went to pull one from stock, he discovered the display unit was the last they had, and offered it to me for $99. It was in mint condition, so I quickly scarfed it up.

My point in mentioning this is just that if you want a better scope than the purpose normally justifies, don't forget to ask if the store has a used or a display unit they would like to unload? I've also picked up superceded book editions and other obsolete items that way before.

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I will be checking out the bargain cave at Cabelas ( but will only buy scopes with great manufactures warranties from that section). I guess the Objective mounted AO would be ok. This style seems much slower than SF.. I suppose on a prairie dog town it wouldn't be a big deal... However, If you were coyote hunting could you just set it on infinite and have reasonable clarity (near and far) and marginal parallax error?

Otherwise, what do you do when you can have quick opportunities at unpredictable distances?

Sorry for the ignorant questions, but I’m ignorant of the use of these scopes

We're headed to Cabelas on Sun.. So please answer fast

Thanks

Nate

You just leave it on some intermediate distance.... say 150 or 200 yards. Or whatever is average for your area.

Aren't any worse off than with a scope with a fixed objective, in that case.

Thanks Mike, stopping to think about it, that makes total sense..

I've selelcted several posibilities online, I'll let real world, side by side comparison make the choice.

Thanks

Mike's advice is spot on. Jeff Cooper had us sight at 200 yards with the idea the bullet could stay within a 4" circle from the muzzle out to 230 or 240 yards. Widen the circle to 8” for human hold and rifle accuracy error and you’ve still got a kill to that range on deer size game without changing your sights or holding over or under. As the target gets closer, you need a little less precision anyway, so sight with the magnification at minimum (so a close target doesn’t swamp out the field of view) and the parallax adjusted for the 200 yard range also. Use 150 yards if your game is smaller, but know that you will have to start holding over sooner.

Know from your range tests what changing magnification does to POI, focus, and the parallax adjustments? Ideally, nothing, but know what you’ve actually got so you can compensate as needed.

I'm looking for a scope for my REM .223. I'd like an adjustable Objective as this could be used for Prairie dog size targets.

1st, Is an adjustable Objective necessary (figure 250yds + on small targets would be pushing things, with drop and wind)?

2nd, I like the convenience of the Side Focus. But I’d like to stay under $150 so this greatly reduces the possibilities (yeah, I know ya get what ya pay for, but right now, this is how thing are).

I’m leaning toward the Cabelas Pine ridge 6-18X44SF. I’ve used the Pine ridge scopes before and have found them to be great glass for the price.. Honestly would like a lower low end as this rig could/would be used for stand hunting coyotes, and I under stand they can sneak in on ya….

So, let me know what ya’ll think

thanks
Nate

I have a .308 i bought for Coyotes and range can get to be a "Long Shot", but there can also be some short, quick shots. I did not have much money for a scope so I bought a BSA Contender Target/Varmint scope that is 4-16x with an adjustable objective. You might consider something with those numbers. Not sure how the BSA will hold up, but I have only really had time to shoot to get on paper off hand at 50 yards. Haven't had the time or weather since a friend loaned me his shooting bags to see what the setup is really capable of.