Range finding scopes for hunting

[drsquall]

Hello,
I am a long time coyote hunter with centerfire. I have never had to worry about ranging called in dogs because I shot a 22-250 or 243 and it was hold on fur out to about 300. Now that I'm am trying with air rifles distance is huge for ethical kills and the loopy trajectory. I limit my shots to about 125. I usually range dog and then get on gun. I have my dope on wrist coach for reference. I use hold over. It works but it could be quicker/more efficient. I was entertaining getting a range finding scope like a pard to solve this problem. This is for a daytime hunting gun mostly and was wondering how well the pard works mostly in the day or if there is any other choices? No Burris eliminator please.

Thanks
Jon

 

[MAUMAU]

I have a Leica Range Finder, but I rarely use it while hunting. For me, it is just one more thing to carry and I can generally estimate distances (during daylight) with my eyes alone. You may find that once you have a few hours behind your PCP, that you may not need one.

If you are hunting with a thermal scope however, an internal range finder can be helpful.

 

[drsquall]

No thermal just a regular rifle scopes. My concern is that I zero at 50yds and my drop at 100 is 2mils and 125 is 3.3mil. Needs to be accurate. I don't trust my ranging skills on live animals.

 

[Rob_in_NC]

This may sway you a bit... it did me. Pard.com is running a sale now and their DS35 (more scope like in appearance and function than the NV008) is on sale with the LRF for 699. I've watched several reviews and the daytime image looks really good. My NV008 is ok on image quality, but not spectacular and my model doesnt have the LRF. The other thing that is annoying to me with the NV008 is that the eye box is quite limited.

Supposedly, that limited eye box is a non issue on the DS35. I've got it on order, but it's not in yet so I cant give a first hand account of how well it does.

 

[drsquall]

This may sway you a bit... it did me. Pard.com is running a sale now and their DS35 (more scope like in appearance and function than the NV008) is on sale with the LRF for 699. I've watched several reviews and the daytime image looks really good. My NV008 is ok on image quality, but not spectacular and my model doesnt have the LRF. The other thing that is annoying to me with the NV008 is that the eye box is quite limited.

Supposedly, that limited eye box is a non issue on the DS35. I've got it on order, but it's not in yet so I cant give a first hand account of how well it does.

I will go look

 

[Rob_in_NC]

I will go look

PARD | Official Site

Discover top-quality thermal scopes and night vision scopes for target detection. Shop a range of reliable, high-performance scopes designed for hunting, security, and outdoor exploration at PARD official site.

pard.com

 

[dizzums]

i think that kindof range is iffy on an airgun ... but im quite impressed with the atn system, abl1000+ a 4kpro or thor ..ive used it a couple of times at longer ranges and its surprisingly dead nuts on lol ... it does take a bit of setup to get it all going though, and id set the gun up with an ideal baseline zero to start with instead of just hacking off a number you pull out of a hat like 50 ..

 

[drsquall]

My gun is dead on at fifty and shoots 1"groups for 12 rounds with slugs. It has plenty for for head shots at 100. Lung shots is limited to 50. I have verified drops every 10yds out to 120. I had an atn and had nothing but problems with it. I got rid of it and swore that company off. I just want to be able to range and I will hold accordingly. I will not be using the built in drop compensator or ballistics it applies. I need to find out if you can turn that function off. If not it will not work for me.

Thanks
Jon

 

[huntr]

On the PARD, the first click on the button gives you range and the second click gives you the solution. So you could just stop at one click. Plus, on the setting, it continually ranges as you pan the scope

 

[drsquall]

On the PARD, the first click on the button gives you range and the second click gives you the solution. So you could just stop at one click. Plus, on the setting, it continually ranges as you pan the scope

That's awesome. Now so do I get the higher power but lower field of view or the lower power bigger field of view.

 

[Ezana4CE]

@drsquall I’ve found that ranging landmarks in the daytime is helpful when hunting coyotes.

 

[drsquall]

@drsquall I’ve found that ranging landmarks in the daytime is helpful when hunting coyotes.

I agree and always try to but I hunt a lot of open wheat fields and if the terraces are tall enough I range them for reference. Also, if I take an electronic caller I will put it out about 50-75yds and range it as well. I might have to start putting it 100yd and that way I know that's my limit. I just hate walking out and exposing myself in the field. Most of the time I just hand call.

Jon

 

[Ezana4CE]

I agree and always try to but I hunt a lot of open wheat fields and if the terraces are tall enough I range them for reference. Also, if I take an electronic caller I will put it out about 50-75yds and range it as well. I might have to start putting it 100yd and that way I know that's my limit. I just hate walking out and exposing myself in the field. Most of the time I just hand call.

Jon

Have you tried to ghillie your head and torso? Breaking up my silhouette in open pasture and on fence lines helps. I try to position myself to bisect open spaces.

 

[drsquall]

I use a ghillie long pullover with hood it's long enough to cover to my shins. I sit in a stool and shoot off sticks. I like to see and some places if you sit on your bum you can't see but 40 yds. To be honest I usually kill more with my shotgun each year than my rifle. I will have to look at my records for last year but I think it was over 50% were killed with the 12 gauge. I know last year I killed 67 from Nov to Feb. not a great deal but it's always a blast.

Jon