Bushnell

[soutdere]

I am looking to put a scope on an AR-15 that will reach out there and touch varmints at 600-800 yards. Bushnell makes a 6-24 x 40mm. Any suggestions or info? I have about a $500-$600 budget. Any help is appreciated.

derek

[Rich Z]

Check Ebay for a Leupold 6.5x20. You should easily be able to find one in your price range, and no one can argue that a Leupold will be insufficient in the quality department.

[Aztec]

Forgive me for saying this but I don't think which scope is your problem. The AR is really not up to working in the range you are talking here.:unhappy:

[RIKA]

I agree with Aztec. Most AR15's are 300 yard varmint guns max - and on a still day.

My .02

RIKA

[neolithic hunter]

pay attention to rika she knows what shes talking about. .223 is good for punching paper to 1k but has only about 200 foot pounds of energy at this range. not you best for killing things that are alive and you want dead. at 800 yrds with a 75 gr target bullet made to be shot at these ranges, it only has 355 foot pounds of energy. :cool:

[soutdere]

All of that makes sense. Maybe those ranges should be the maximum. What kind of energy do you need to kill something at that range, and I am talking about a well-placed shot. Not just a hit in the big toe. And what rifle do you reccommend for something like that? Thanks

derek

[RIKA]

What kind of varmints are you wanting to kill? Groundhogs ... coyotes ... ?? Rifles firing heavier bullets with good BC generally handle the wind better. Most of the people I know who varmint hunt manage to get in closer without spooking the game and consider 500yds a long shot.

RIKA

[themadride]

When you are talking about a target of 3 inches or so in diameter it's important to have a realistic goal. When you are shooting at a target that size at a range of 800 yards you have to realize that more things go into a successful shot than simply your gear and a steady hand.

Frankly, I will go out on a limb and say there are ALMOST NO stock manufactured rifles (without modifications) that will consistently shoot a 3 inch group at 800 yards.
There are a couple of models that should do well at that range, but they are PRICEY!!!!
I HAVE THIS SAVAGE .308
http://www.savagearms.com/10fpxp-hsprec.htm
But it's suggested retail is $2,500....cough...cough.
I would have never bought it, but was lucky enough to get it free through my company.
Anyway, EVEN this rifle I have my doubts about. I've shot great groups out to 400 yards, but have not begun to test it at 600/800/1000 or 1200 yards.
Remember a 1.5" group at 400 yards will NOT be a 3" group at 800. After a certain point, the decline in accuracy is generally exponential.

So, basically, if you want to have ANY chance at knocking the head off of a groundhog at 800 yards you will need a bolt-action rifle (.308 is my pref) with a heavy barrel, heavy stock, sweet trigger, nice optics, probably needs to bedded, etc etc. And...you will still have to be one heck of a good shot to do it consistently.

Having said all that, I have met plenty of people who can shoot a fence post at 1000 yards consistently, but even that is probably 5" or 6" across. On the other hand most people couldn't hit my truck at 1000 yards :-).