Need advice on a riflescope for a 223 that I will hunt coyotes with and wondering what power to look at? I have a Hawkes side focus I won a few years ago - any experience with this scope?

Are there decent scopes in the $300 range to consider?

No need to go over 9x on a .223

Vortex any of there scopes even the cheap ones like the crossfire line are as good as or better IMO then more costly big name brands line leapoll

Leupold Rifleman should be under $300. Depending on range a 2-7x33mm may be adequate.

Vortex cannot touch Leupold for quality and clarity. I have used a number of Leupolds over the years with 0 failures. I owned a Vortex for 3 years and had 3 failures in 3 years. They made good on their warranty and customer service was great but after the third failure I got my money out of it and bought a Leupold problem solved.

At around $300 the Leupold Mark AR series is worth a look.

If you shop around the Nikon M223 in a 3-12 has been a good one for me as well. It has 223 55gn turrets and side focus.

https://www.amazon.com/Vortex-Optics-Crossfire-3-9x40-Riflescope/dp/B00794LK5Y/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1528049706&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=vortex+optics+crossfire+ii+3-9x40&psc=1&smid=A30DGGRQPDAP9Y


FOR THE MONEY the vortex can't be beat. If you are spending 300 get the vortex top of the line.... Best to go into sporting goods look thru vortex then a loopho . Even a redfeild vortex clearer.

I like higher powered scopes on varmint rifles. Just personal preference. 14 16 18 power. Varmints in general are pretty small. Also I am a fan of vortex. I would buy the viper line, but do have a diamondback and crossfire. Scopes are no different than trucks, boots, and guns. There is good and bad from every brand. Buy what ever brand you like and works for you.

Read the web reviews on the Vortex Crossfire line and you will know to stay away from them. Viper and Diamondback HP get much better reviews and are excellent for the money. Leupold's are more expensive but the image is superior. I have both in the 300-500 price range and the Leupold is definitely better. I don't believe you can really make a fair assessment between two good scopes by looking through them inside a store. It takes time using them to discern the difference. I thought mine were pretty much the same until I picked up the rifle with the Leupold after shooting nothing but the Vortex for several months.

If it were me, for shooting varmints in good light I would buy a Vortex. I particularly like the side parallax adjustment they have. For a high dollar hunt I would go with a Leupold.

I have a 4x12 Nikon on my 223 with this BCD turret setup. It works quite well.

Buy the right scope the first time. Cheaper in the long run. I have three Leupolds I have owned since the 70s. Bunch more since then. Still as good as when they were new. My oldest cant be dated by a serial number but Leupold upgraded the parts for free and it is still perfect. Leupold once made an LPS in the 80s. It was their top off the line 30mm scope. Had some bugs and they stopped. They replaced mine for anything I wanted.

I learned about 40 years ago to only buy Leupold scopes. I have never been disappointed.by their quality.

the Vortex or Nikon 2-7x32 you can get them for about 150

Leopold makes a 2-7x32 also for about 230

3-9 or 4-12 on a 223. I own both vortex a leupold and can assure you the glass clarity especially in low light is much better with the leupold. Durability of both vortex and leupold seem fine. You will have to get a $600 vortex to even compare clarity of a $300 leupold. Also leupold eye relief is alot better, don't get me wrong both quality scopes.

Leupold vx1 4x12x40. About 300 bucks. About perfect for a walking varminter / Predator rfile in .223. I even put one on my 300 Win Mag to see how it would hold up and 4 years later and several hundred rounds it still hold zero, and functions perfectly.

Coyotes ain't a varmint!
Would rather shoot a coyote at 400 yards at 4x than a 30 yard coyote at 12 x

Get a Leou, Vortex,Bushnell,NIkon.

Don't know nuttin about Hawke optics?

Been a Leupold an Burris guy for 45 yrs with no failures. And just like Gary I had three vortex and three failures with them. 2×7 would be fine or 3×9 at the Max. It is only 300 yard cartridge

Thanks everyone. I am going to look at a Leupold VX-1 or VX-2 to put on the rifle.

The vx 1 4-12 would be great I agree with that

I bought a used Hawke to help a buddy out. 6-20 power. The turrets were smooshy but repeatable, the glass is not half bad with a hallow reticle that took some getting used too. I have it on a .223 rem RPR loaded with 75gr ELD-M's gets out to 750 yards fairly easily.

Wind was killing me the .223 rem gets there but wind can be unkind. I need to try some 80gr ELD-M's next.

Now I have a Vortex PST Gen II that's really clear and I love the reticle and the turrets are outstanding, but it's not quite as clear as My leupold MK4. I also have a 6-18 Leopold MKAR that's a great budget scope. But for calling coyotes I think Id go 4-12 power leupold MKAR.
Plus Leopold customer service is Great!!! They have took care of me more than once with absolutely no complaints. I felt really bad when my wife bought me the Vortex.

And there's some load development on the progressive press throwing the powder from the powder measure. I think I could shrink the groups switching from CFE223 to Varget. But the main thing is buy as good a quality glass as you can afford. Will the Hawke last with my Loupe's who knows. But you can still shoot some decent groups with economy glass if you work at it.

glenn sterling senior use to be a dealer for scopes,try glenn. Saw him drop many a coyote at 450 yards.