22 optic choice
- Thread starter rrflyer
- Start date
Vortex Diamondback 4x12. Decent enough glass for a trainer. Stretched it out to 375 yrds with holdover. Wouldnt hesitate putting this on a rimfire anyday.
I just bought the Bushnell to use on mine and find it much better than the Nikon 2-7x32 I had previous. Especially since I am using it as a trainer. The mildots are better than the BDC reticle on the Nikon and familiarity transfers over to the centerfire gun with the same scope.
Last edited:
My buddy uses the Bushnell 10x and it is a good scope. The cross hairs are a bit thick for me to use on a .22. I use a SS 12x or Falcon Menace on mine. The Primary Arms 4-14 as suggested by Texas, seems to be a similar scope to the Falcon, however I have never used one.
Depends on what Rim Fire Events you shoot.
When I use to shoot a lot of NRA & ISU 3/4 position and English matches I used a Remington 24X scope (pictured below). Great for position shooter but it would suck for rabbit hunting.
I use a CZ 542 Trainer in NRA Light Rifle and CMP Rimfire Sporter, I use a fixed Weaver K-4. Works great.
When I use to shoot a lot of NRA & ISU 3/4 position and English matches I used a Remington 24X scope (pictured below). Great for position shooter but it would suck for rabbit hunting.
I use a CZ 542 Trainer in NRA Light Rifle and CMP Rimfire Sporter, I use a fixed Weaver K-4. Works great.
The quality of optics shouldn't be based on rimfire vs. centerfire. If you wouldn't put it on your centerfire rifle why would it work better on a rimfire? Too many people have the mindset that 22's are different or "beneath" centerfires. The price to build or buy a truly accurate rifle , or good optic, has nothing to do with RF vs. CF. The price of a quality barrel or action isn't contingent on RF or CF neither should the optics. Buy the best you can afford for either and down the road you won't regret it.
I've got a Simmons WTC 6.5-20x50 w/ AO on my Savage and a Simmons Prosport 4-12x50 w/ AO on my Mossy 44. Both great, both under $100.
Don't think a bolt action 22 acts as a good trainer for my FAL, but I've got a 22 conversion kit on the way for it anyway
Irons only there....
Don't think a bolt action 22 acts as a good trainer for my FAL, but I've got a 22 conversion kit on the way for it anyway
Irons only there....While I don't have one on a .22, I've got one sitting in the closet as a spare scope incase I ever have one go south on a hunting rifle or similar and need a quick temporary replacement. Honestly, it's got pretty good glass, and seems to be a good all around scope. I think it would be a good choice for a rimfire. I only wish it had target turrets. I like the older Philippines made 44 Mag series with target turrets better in 6.5-20x44, but it's hard to find them. The older Japanese Simmons were also good choices. If building a target rifle, they had some good choices with good turrets and a target dot reticle in the past. I'd love to have one of those for my rimfire. A buddy has several, but won't let any of them go.
I currently have a Burris FFII 4.5-14x42 on my rimfire, and I like it, but I wish it had a little more power, and I think I'd really like having a target dot reticle.
Anything in the Virtex Viper or Viper HS line. The newly announce and "soon" to release Viper HS T 4-16x44 would make an awesome trainer scope. It's available in MOA and Mil/Mil.
Weaver 40/44 it is one of the best scopes I have ever seen for the money I use a fixed power sightron now I wanted the extra power , but truth be told the weaver was brighter with great definition.
Very true....you're not going to shoot your rimfire at 1000, but just read through a bit of the rimfire threads and many people do shoot at 300-400. My only point is that if you consider your RF rifle to be lower class and put lower class optics on it (vs what you would use on your CF ) then is it really getting you to the maximum potential for the rifle or it's use as a "trainer"?
It is lower class to a point. Much of the cost of nicer scopes are lowlight ability and durability. I don't care if my 22 scope fogs in the rain or is really great in low light. Those are not the conditions it gets used. A broken 22 scope will never cost me a several thousand dollar hunt or even the entrance fee to a local match. It needs to be able to track well, look good during the day, and stand up to the recoil of a 22.
If money was no object everything would get a $3500 optic. Until then I match the equipment to the use.
Generally I agree with the conclusion that you shouldn't put anything less than what you would put on a centerfire on a rimfire. (I'm not saying you need to match your main centerfire rifle, but you shouldn't put anything less than what you would be happy with shooting on your centerfire)
In fact, some scopes that I would put on a centerfire, I wouldn't put on a rimfire... parallax! Many have a minimum of 50y, which just won't do for a lot of precision rimfire shooting.
Therein also lies the dilemma of "cheap" scopes vs. very high-end scopes. I don't know very many medium priced scopes (up to say: $1000) that have the optical clarity AND low parallax I want.
I've been using the SWFA SS 10x on my rimfire, and have been perfectly happy with it so far.
Would love something like the vortex pst, but with a 10y parallax setting...
In fact, some scopes that I would put on a centerfire, I wouldn't put on a rimfire... parallax! Many have a minimum of 50y, which just won't do for a lot of precision rimfire shooting.
Therein also lies the dilemma of "cheap" scopes vs. very high-end scopes. I don't know very many medium priced scopes (up to say: $1000) that have the optical clarity AND low parallax I want.
I've been using the SWFA SS 10x on my rimfire, and have been perfectly happy with it so far.
Would love something like the vortex pst, but with a 10y parallax setting...
And that is your opinion and with your use load. I could very easily say the very same thing the other way around... I have to have low-light capability/illumination in a rimfire scope because I usually don't get to shoot until later in the evening, etc...
rrflyer is looking for a scope for a trainer. IMO, at the very least the scope he uses should share at least some of the features of his centerfire. If you use a mil-dot, train with a mil-dot. The biggest things for me on a rimfire scope is parallax adjustment and variable power. Both items come into play with closer shots (20-50 yards) and the necessity is amplified with "live" targets. I also like enough power to not have to use a spotting scope at 100.
If lower priced scopes meet the particular needs of the owner; great. But generally you can't get every feature needed in a lower priced optic.
I picked up the BSA tactical 4-14 for my Savage Mk2. It is Mil/Mil, FFP, adjustable parallax, adjustable turrets. I have dialed from 50 yards through 400 yards (actually dialed to a little less, had to hold 3 mils to get to 400) and it tracks very well. It is fairly clear. I was shooting it next to a Viper PST and IOR 3.5-18 and during the day with the sun out there was no noticeable difference. It has stood up to 2000 rounds of .22 so far.
I went ahead and picked up a SWFA 16x mil/mil since they're having a deal right now.
Mainly this is to use for positional practice at fixed distance of 125 yards(my backyard range length.
If it sucks ill return it but 16x seems to be what I run big scopes on most of the time and I wouldn't be opposed to having it on my 223.
We'll see!
Mainly this is to use for positional practice at fixed distance of 125 yards(my backyard range length.
If it sucks ill return it but 16x seems to be what I run big scopes on most of the time and I wouldn't be opposed to having it on my 223.
We'll see!
Last edited:
Most of the higher end manufacturers will adjust parallax for you for a small fee... of course, thats why I got a scope with AO so I could change it on the fly. Helps with focus as well as parallax for me.
I have a midway exclusive weaver tactical 3-10x44 on my savage. I am pretty impressed with the mechanics and clarity. Though it doesn't have an ao, it has allowed me to terminate pesky vermin from the family garden. All ranges from 10m to 50m without any trouble in various lighting conditions.
Quoted from another thread. I see you already went with the fixed 16x but this might be something to look into in the future.
Nikon Prostaff Rimfire 3-9 BDC is a great RF scope in my opinion. Run it on a couple of .22s and reccomend it to anyone looking for quality optics.
Similar threads
