Scope Ideas for Howa Mini action 223Rem

[ozzielee303]

Hi
First time poster here,so please be gentle with me

Just bought myself a (layby but all paid for) a Howa Mini action SS 223 and I am just going to use it mainly to shoot foxes,odd rabbit and feral cats and dogs,I am looking at these scopes and would like your honest opinion on my selection please.
Right we have:
Meopta Optika 6 3-18x56
Vortex Strike Eagle 4-24x50
Nikon Prostaff 7 4-16x50
Leupold VX-3 3.5-10x50
Meopta Meopro 4-12x50
Burris Fullfield E1 6.5-20x50
Zero Tech Trace 3-18x50
HAWKE 3-12X56 VANTAGE 30mm WIDE ANGLE ILLUMINATED RETICLE

So what would you choose?
TIA

ozzielee303

[bladeracer]

Hi
First time poster here,so please be gentle with me

Just bought myself a (layby but all paid for) a Howa Mini action SS 223 and I am just going to use it mainly to shoot foxes,odd rabbit and feral cats and dogs,I am looking at these scopes and would like your honest opinion on my selection please.
Right we have:
Meopta Optika 6 3-18x56
Vortex Strike Eagle 4-24x50
Nikon Prostaff 7 4-16x50
Leupold VX-3 3.5-10x50
Meopta Meopro 4-12x50
Burris Fullfield E1 6.5-20x50
Zero Tech Trace 3-18x50
HAWKE 3-12X56 VANTAGE 30mm WIDE ANGLE ILLUMINATED RETICLE

So what would you choose?
TIA

ozzielee303

Daylight hunting or spotlighting?

[Bill]

HB Grendel with an 4-16 Sightron STAC 30mm tube Talley lows



Sporter Grendel with 4-12x50 Meopta Meopro Talley lows

[ozzielee303]

Daylight hunting or spotlighting?

Hey Mate,mainly daylight,but the odd night time shoot.
Thanks for the reply

ozzielee303

[ozzielee303]

HB Grendel with an 4-16 Sightron STAC 30mm tube Talley lows



Sporter Grendel with 4-12x50 Meopta Meopro Talley lows

Hi Bill
Thanks for that,they both look good scope and gun package.
I still cannot decide on a scope though,bugger!

ozzielee303

[TassieTiger]

You’ve got a number of decent options there.
Depending on your max distance - what top end scope magnification.
Id rate the Leo, meopta, Burris and Hawke - but only because I’ve not really used the others. Of the 4 I’ve touched - meopta and Leo have had the better clarity and if your limiting distance to 150-180m - I’d take Leo.

[ozzielee303]

You’ve got a number of decent options there.
Depending on your max distance - what top end scope magnification.
Id rate the Leo, meopta, Burris and Hawke - but only because I’ve not really used the others. Of the 4 I’ve touched - meopta and Leo have had the better clarity and if your limiting distance to 150-180m - I’d take Leo.

Hey Tassie
Thanks for your reply
My range will be around the 180m,but would like to be able to go out to 200-300m if needed,I do like Leupold,have a few of them on my lever-action rifles,looking at the Meopta Optika 6,but also like the Nikon Prostaff 7,it is hard for it is alot of coin I will be dishing out.

[TassieTiger]

Of those two youve mentioned ? Id take optika - that low end 3 vs 4 WILL make a difference in the field...and Nikon scopes? Hmm...I doubt you’ll find too many peeps on here with a lot of positive to say, but there are always exceptions. I’ve not heard anyone complain RE meopta.
Or maybe consider a 2nd hand vx3 4-14 / 50 ? I’ve seen a few for 6-800 - lifetime warranty.

[ozzielee303]

Of those two youve mentioned ? Id take optika - that low end 3 vs 4 WILL make a difference in the field...and Nikon scopes? Hmm...I doubt you’ll find too many peeps on here with a lot of positive to say, but there are always exceptions. I’ve not heard anyone complain RE meopta.
Or maybe consider a 2nd hand vx3 4-14 / 50 ? I’ve seen a few for 6-800 - lifetime warranty.

Hey Mate
I heard Nikon are getting out of making scopes,so maybe it is wise to pass on that one?

I like Meopta,have looked through them(not the one stated though) and they are very clear,will think on it
Ta

[solarpak]

Why not look at the Hawke Endurance 30 in the fixed power 8x56 with the illuminated LR-Dot Reticle.
I have one in the cupboard which i am contemplating putting on a 223 in due course (once we get back to normality!!) - probably on a Howa Mini like yours or a Tikka T3 .........

They retail around the $500 mark when i last saw them advertised and many pro roo shooters in QLD/NSW use this exact scope with very good results indeed.

C.

[ozzielee303]

Why not look at the Hawke Endurance 30 in the fixed power 8x56 with the illuminated LR-Dot Reticle.
I have one in the cupboard which i am contemplating putting on a 223 in due course (once we get back to normality!!) - probably on a Howa Mini like yours or a Tikka T3 .........

They retail around the $500 mark when i last saw them advertised and many pro roo shooters in QLD/NSW use this exact scope with very good results indeed.

C.

Hey Mate
Thanks,will look at one,thanks for the heads up

[ozzielee303]

To all
Just a quick question or two?
Are the Meopta Optika 6 3-18x56 suited to a centrefire or is it more for an air rifle?

What are the warranties on them?
Just thinking(that is dangerous)

[Bill]

Meopta Optika are CF scopes, be aware they a big and heavy.

Id personally lean toward a Leupold, Meopro, Hawke in the 4-12 or 4-16 range. Over scoping by going to 20 or 24 x with a 223 mean more critical eye relief, bigger and heavier optics which will make the outfit cumbersome.

id suggest going to you local gunshop and trying to handle a few of the scopes, see what your eye like

[ozzielee303]

Meopta Optika are CF scopes, be aware they a big and heavy.

Id personally lean toward a Leupold, Meopro, Hawke in the 4-12 or 4-16 range. Over scoping by going to 20 or 24 x with a 223 mean more critical eye relief, bigger and heavier optics which will make the outfit cumbersome.

id suggest going to you local gunshop and trying to handle a few of the scopes, see what your eye like

Hey Bill
thanks for that,I am also looking at the Meopro 4-12x50,will have a look at some,I should have just bought the Leupold VX-3 3.5-10 x 50,I had chosen that first off before asking the questions

[ozzielee303]

Okay,been looking on the web,any thoughts on the Hawke Endurance 30 WA SF 4-16x50 LR Dot,it seems okay????
Thoughts?????

[solarpak]

OzzieLee,
I have the scope you mentioned (Hawke Endurance 4-16x50 LR Dot ) and cant fault it in any way at all. Great for the money.
I also am a fan of the Meopta marque and the old Meopro range were very nice scopes and well priced - but they have now gone over to the Optika 6x mag range - which by all accounts are good too. But their flagship in Meostar is a super buy but naturally more expensive than the Meopro and Optika.


I still have that Hawke Endurance 8x56 which i could be swayed with parting with if your interested - PM me if your are.

Cheers,
C.

[SCJ429]

Would the budget stretch to a Nightforce SVH?

[ozzielee303]

OzzieLee,
I have the scope you mentioned (Hawke Endurance 4-16x50 LR Dot ) and cant fault it in any way at all. Great for the money.
I also am a fan of the Meopta marque and the old Meopro range were very nice scopes and well priced - but they have now gone over to the Optika 6x mag range - which by all accounts are good too. But their flagship in Meostar is a super buy but naturally more expensive than the Meopro and Optika.


I still have that Hawke Endurance 8x56 which i could be swayed with parting with if your interested - PM me if your are.

Cheers,
C.

Hey solarpak
I am going to go and look at a few scopes first mate and go from there.
If I decide on that Hawke 8x56 I will get in touch,but I am not going to rush into buying the first scope,for it is a lot of coin to be splashing around at the moment.

[solarpak]

Ozzie - i agree totally - its not the time to splurge on anything i say .

Cheers
C.

[ozzielee303]

Would the budget stretch to a Nightforce SVH?

Nah mate,I wish
Just out of my budget,some of the one's I listed are too,I have around $700-$800

[ozzielee303]

Ozzie - i agree totally - its not the time to splurge on anything i say .

Cheers
C.

I hear ya
But I do need a scope,just what I will see.

[SCJ429]

A pity you are not able to try the Nightforce. I have a few Leupold VX3 and they are not bad at all. One is a 8.5 to 25 long range which has been an awesome hunting scope. One of the members,Ziad is selling one. Perhaps you should make him an offer. I wouldn't mind buying it myself.

[solarpak]

The Nightforce and Leupy VX3 are both quality optics - you cant go wrong with either!

C.

[Deadeyedick]

Hi mate,
I have the Howa 223Rem SS Varmitter heavy barrel, mounted in the MDT Oryx Stock and have mounted the NF 12-42×56 Precision scope on her. It is an awesome combination but very heavy, I am getting under 1 MOA at the 300m range and 1/2 MOA groupings from 100 - 200m range, the only mistake I made was choosing the wrong reticle, the ND-2PP there's no markings to help with holdover if required, but none the less this is a great vermin setup.

[SCJ429]

Hi mate,
I have the Howa 223Rem SS Varmitter heavy barrel, mounted in the MDT Oryx Stock and have mounted the NF 12-42×56 Precision scope on her. It is an awesome combination but very heavy, I am getting under 1 MOA at the 300m range and 1/2 MOA groupings from 100 - 200m range, the only mistake I made was choosing the wrong reticle, the ND-2PP there's no markings to help with holdover if required, but none the less this is a great vermin setup.

Do you have a NF BR scope with the NP-2DD retical? The one with two horizontal lines and one short vertical line and a dot in the centre? You can use the gap between the centre dot and the horizontal and vertical lines for windage and elevation holds. There is also an additional dot underneath the vertical line to give you another reference. I would say this is an excellent retical for a hunter.

[ozzielee303]

A pity you are not able to try the Nightforce. I have a few Leupold VX3 and they are not bad at all. One is a 8.5 to 25 long range which has been an awesome hunting scope. One of the members,Ziad is selling one. Perhaps you should make him an offer. I wouldn't mind buying it myself.

Yeah mate,it is a pity,they are a good scope going by reviews and what I see.
Tomorrow,I have to go to the big smoke(Specialist appointment) will go to the three gunshops I know of and have a look at some different scopes,just to get an idea.
Cheers

[ozzielee303]

The Nightforce and Leupy VX3 are both quality optics - you cant go wrong with either!

C.

Yes mate,they are,I am not in a hurry,for I have to wait for my permit to acquire,had it but the LGS forgot to let me know and it ran out and they did not put it in my name,awww well
Cheers

[ozzielee303]

Hi mate,
I have the Howa 223Rem SS Varmitter heavy barrel, mounted in the MDT Oryx Stock and have mounted the NF 12-42×56 Precision scope on her. It is an awesome combination but very heavy, I am getting under 1 MOA at the 300m range and 1/2 MOA groupings from 100 - 200m range, the only mistake I made was choosing the wrong reticle, the ND-2PP there's no markings to help with holdover if required, but none the less this is a great vermin setup.

Holy Heck
That is nice grouping,that is bloody accurate,I'm envious
Have fun with it mate,at least you have a gun to shoot in 223,I have to wait for mine
Cheers mate.

[Deadeyedick]

Thanks mate,
I am very happy with the .223Rem, but I would like to sell her and get the new Weatherby Vanguard HSP in the 240 Weatherby Magnum, and use the NF Scope on her, as I would like to achieve the 1000m target range, and the .223Rem just doesn't have the Legs.
If anyone might be interested in the Howa M1500, SS Heavy Varmit Barrel, mounted on the MDT Oryx Stock for $1700 please let me know, I live WA.
Good hunting

[ozzielee303]

Thanks mate,
I am very happy with the .223Rem, but I would like to sell her and get the new Weatherby Vanguard HSP in the 240 Weatherby Magnum, and use the NF Scope on her, as I would like to achieve the 1000m target range, and the .223Rem just doesn't have the Legs.
If anyone might be interested in the Howa M1500, SS Heavy Varmit Barrel, mounted on the MDT Oryx Stock for $1700 please let me know, I live WA.
Good hunting