[VarmintGuy]

Ruger 77/17V Scopes

Huck70: I have the same Rifle you have (Ruger 77/17V) and I came by a sweet deal on a used Weaver K-15 some time ago and I really like it for all kinds of day time Varminting. The Fox night Hunting season will be starting for me in a few months and I need to trade scopes for something more conducive to night spotlighting. I am dealing on a Weaver V-16 (variable 4 to 16X) now for it. I have another V-16 and really like them. For the money they are quite a good deal. A couple years back I got a bunch of the Weaver V-16's at $200.00 apiece no tax! I am a Leupold kind of guy though and sold all of them but one. I wish I would have kept more of them back then!
I have two of the Leupold 6X18's on Varminters (a Ruger #1-B in 22 Hornet and another on a Ruger #1-B in 218 Bee) they are great scopes and I like the fine Du-plexes on them. I would not hesitate to put one on your Ruger 77/17V! I am not sure what they are running these days but I am sure you can get a good used one for under $400.00.
My Ruger is capable of excellent accuracy and I would not hesitate to put plenty of scope power on the 17 HMR. Reasons being - headshots on Prairie Dogs when they are peeking out of their holes, long shots on Ground Squirrels and the ability (like I recently did) to place a 17 HMR Remington V-Max 17 grain pill right into the Adams Apple of a large male Badger at 172 yards. Thus killing it with one shot! What ever brand you choose I urge a high top end variable with an adjustable objective!
Good luck!

Landis Fan: You mentioned there are no shooting benches or sand bags in the fields! Funny thing, every time I turn around there is a VERY sturdy, Very steady shooting bench right beside me! No matter how far I am from the VarmintMobile! I wheel it along behind me, effortlessly, as it bumps over large rocks, clumps, pivot tracks whatever and it instantly flips off its wheels and onto its legs! Then, out of my day pack comes three sandbags! BR types, and I have an absolutely steady sight picture for my Varmint shooting. I have 5 Harris bi-pods but there are better set ups for shooting ALL kinds of Colony Varmints. Almost anything is better from using sand bags on your hood, sand bags on your canopy roof (standing on the tailgate), the huge Bucks bags that envelop your Rifles mid section and especially a tri-pod and rear style sandbag are much better set ups for Colony Varmints than the Harris bi-pods. The Harris's are useable and work OK but there are many much steadier setup options than the bi-pod. I use the Harris's almost exclusively calling predators and when night Hunting predators though.

JDoyle: I have the same scope you have. What then is your 100 yard point of impact above your sighting point - how high are you at 100 yards with which ammunition? I use the Remington.

Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

 

[VarmintGuy]

Night Sighting

ReidH: I use the wonderful night illumination products made by those Australian people who make the NightForce scopes. These are outstanding and superbly functional products!
I have both the Rifle scope mounted "Lance" light (Model RMSM 140) and the million candle power hand held Striker light (Model SL170). Both of these lights have interchangeable colored filters. I prefer the red and then the blue filters. Both Models of lights can be plugged into a vehicles cigarrette lighter plug OR connected to the NightForce portable battery pack (Model BPS-2). This battery pack has a rheostat control to smoothly increase or decrease the light beams intensity! Fantastic tool this! You can call at night with the rheostat turned down low where it will just reflect the incoming eyes of predators! Then when the Predator is in a position to be shot the rheostat can be increased in power to fully illuminate the body position of the Varmint!
Great products these - I highly recommend them! Over the decades I have night Hunted no product I have seen or used compares to them! Well thought out, durable, powerful and versatile! The best aids for night Hunting in my opinion!
www.nightforceoptics.com (LightForce U.S.A. for NightForce products).
Also on a few occassions when conditions are just right at night - like a bright moon, snow on the ground and some reflective clouds you can actually (and I have) night Hunt without any artificial illumination! Those conditions are rare and never last all night but it can be done! I have killed Coyotes out to nearly 200 yards under these conditions and you can spot them at distances way beyond that!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

 

[VarmintGuy]

LightForce/NightForce Stuff

ReidH: I used to run with the two guys that did all the importing and distribution for NightForce when they were headquartered on Aurora Avnue in North Seattle. They were above Jim Clowards Guns Shop then. Then they moved to Kent, Washington and I was to that facility many times. I traded Guns and Varminting stuff with them back then. I have shot through several of my friends NightForce scopes and shot them both in the field and at the range! They are superb performers and reliable. I just can't push myself over the edge of that cash cliff! Loto bucks for them. I like the styling of the new models over the older style and they have lots of reticles to choose from.
If you have a Hunting buddy then the hand held can be operated easily by him if you Hunt alone then get the scope mounted light. I have both and the lights are not that expensive. The battery pack is where the rheostat is located. Great equipment I feel. I have not been to the new facility in Orofino Idaho. That is fantastic country!
I may get down there this winter and renew acquaintances. They were the best of folks - they are Hunters and eager to please their customers.
Ron Kesselrings sells their stuff in Burlington, Washington call them first to make sure they have some in. 360-724-3113.
Good luck if you get some of their gear and if I win the Lotto I will try a couple of their scopes to let you know more about them. My friends with them all love them! The new models all have the three turrets - side focus for parrallax adjusting at the turret position! Neat looking scopes also in my opinion.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy