Vortex or Weaver

Both will be over powered for your stated purpose. Coyotes are quick and you will be better off with something in the 2-10 range, like the Viper 2.5-10X44 HS 30mm. Coyote can sneak in close, The 5X on the low end will be too much for the fast close shots. The Vortex does a better job standing behind the warranty (if it is needed) than Weaver.

My eyes are still working because of surgery on each. They are far from perfect but better than before the cataracts. I have found my accuracy is improved by reducing the magnification and putting the price difference into better quality glass. I wasted money chasing the same issues as you. More magnification is not the best answer.

When I coyote hunt, which I do a lot of, I use either a shotgun with an aimpoint-no magnification, or an AR-15 with a Leupold VX-R 2-7X33 with an illuminated #4. In South and West Texas Ive had chances to make long shots, but by the time I calculated bullet drop, it wasn't needed, they had already closed the distance. If you hide good and play the wind, you hardly ever NEED to take a long shot, but I can see the attraction in doing so. If you want to use them for long range target practice, get the scope you like. If you want to be productive, get something with a bold reticle and a wide field of view, the lighter the better.

darb wrote:    We have low rolling hills, treeless with some low lying brush. Stalking is not much of an option. Going to have to call them in.

I had assumed you were calling them. You'd have to be an Indian to sneak up on a coyote.

With the exception of the Classic Rimfire series Weavers, I would pick any equivalent Vortex over a Weaver counterpart.

Vortex has the same or better quality scopes within the same price point, while providing a MUCH superior warranty and customer service. On top of that, Vortex doesn't change ownership as often as the weather changes like Weaver has.

I also echo the consensus on power range. I coyote & general predator hunt a fair amount, and I've never needed more than 10X for shots well past 400 yds, and most often, they are much closer and my scope is set at 4X or 6X. I promise you don't need as much magnification as you think, and you will get better optics for the same money if you drop down in magnification.

But, to each his own.

Southhogger wrote: I got a 1-4 and a 3-9 thats got an extended eye relief I use for this exact purpose! Never had to use the 9 power , just use the bottom end for its speed

As others have said, just get a 3x9, put it on 4 for calling, you will only crank it up for a lucky time you actually see one at a distance and they are hung up.