I have seen a bunch of rimfire or .22LR specific scopes. Is there any benefit to these rimfire scopes, or would I be better off just buying a high quality scope with the specifications I want? I hope I am not opening some kind of a can of worms, because I am not trying to do that. If I am, please ignore or delete this thread. Thanks folks!
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.22LR Specific Scopes
- Thread starter Cmkaco
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Before I knew any better, I bought a 22 specific scope. The last few scopes I've bought have not been 22 specific. Get the specs you want.
By the way, so far I'm really liking the Athlon Midas TAC 6-24×50 APRS3 (Xmas tree reticle) I picked up from Camera Land (a Sniper's Hide sponsor) on my latest 22 rifle.
By the way, so far I'm really liking the Athlon Midas TAC 6-24×50 APRS3 (Xmas tree reticle) I picked up from Camera Land (a Sniper's Hide sponsor) on my latest 22 rifle.
When talking fixed parallax scopes, a rimfire one will have the parallax set at a much closer distance than a centrefire one.
Typically 50 yards vs 100 or 150 yards for a centrefire scope.
Most important factor for a specific 22lr scope is parallax that is adjustable to the ranges you will be shooting.
If shooting 25 yards (or less) with high magnification you need to be able to adjust to those distances, not so important under 10x magnification but becomes an issue very quickly above 10x.
Other than that, just get something that meets the needs/specs that you want.
Typically 50 yards vs 100 or 150 yards for a centrefire scope.
Most important factor for a specific 22lr scope is parallax that is adjustable to the ranges you will be shooting.
If shooting 25 yards (or less) with high magnification you need to be able to adjust to those distances, not so important under 10x magnification but becomes an issue very quickly above 10x.
Other than that, just get something that meets the needs/specs that you want.
That Athalon scope looks pretty nice, and has all the specs I was looking at (in my uneducated newbie mind). It even has 30 mm main tube. I was looking at a Vortex, but it had a 34mm main tube. I read something that said rings for scopes with 34 mm main tubes are a lot more expensive than 33mm rings. Is that true?
For what purpose will you use the .22 and scope platform you are assembling?
Keep in mind most of the "population" on Snipers Hide is thinking about PRS/NRL competition and activities similar to it - that is, for .22, shooting from 25 yards to 300 yards or even more. If all you want to do is plink tin cans at 25 yards and never shoot past 100 yards, a .22-specific scope might work. Similarly, if you're using a really inexpensive rifle, mounting an expensive scope is likely to yield a poor return on your investment.
With all that said - in consideration of the .22's rainbow-like trajectory, most of us want at least a 30mm tube, with scope mounted on a 20- or 30-MOA rail. This combination enables reliably dialing the scope from 25 to 300 yards, plus or minus. You get more elevation range with larger tubes, but larger tubes often come with more expensive optics.
Don't cheap out on rings. $80-120 is mid-range. I've been pleased with the Vortex (Seekins) PMR rings which are $120-140. If you mount the scope yourself, and especially if you intend to pursue rifle much at all, spend another $50-60 for a Wheeler FAT inch-pounds torque wrench to insure mounting screws are tightened evenly. There are ample posts here about leveling scopes and tools aiding that effort. I've found the compass on my iPhone, which includes an inclinometer, works just fine.
So, with all that in mind, the best value for the money I have personally seen and used for .22 is the Athlon Midas TAC, as mentioned above. Call Doug (@gr8fuldoug) - on the phone - at CameraLandNY; tell him you're a Hide member and describe what you want. He may have other suggestions, but the Midas TAC is hard to beat for the money.
Keep in mind most of the "population" on Snipers Hide is thinking about PRS/NRL competition and activities similar to it - that is, for .22, shooting from 25 yards to 300 yards or even more. If all you want to do is plink tin cans at 25 yards and never shoot past 100 yards, a .22-specific scope might work. Similarly, if you're using a really inexpensive rifle, mounting an expensive scope is likely to yield a poor return on your investment.
With all that said - in consideration of the .22's rainbow-like trajectory, most of us want at least a 30mm tube, with scope mounted on a 20- or 30-MOA rail. This combination enables reliably dialing the scope from 25 to 300 yards, plus or minus. You get more elevation range with larger tubes, but larger tubes often come with more expensive optics.
Don't cheap out on rings. $80-120 is mid-range. I've been pleased with the Vortex (Seekins) PMR rings which are $120-140. If you mount the scope yourself, and especially if you intend to pursue rifle much at all, spend another $50-60 for a Wheeler FAT inch-pounds torque wrench to insure mounting screws are tightened evenly. There are ample posts here about leveling scopes and tools aiding that effort. I've found the compass on my iPhone, which includes an inclinometer, works just fine.
So, with all that in mind, the best value for the money I have personally seen and used for .22 is the Athlon Midas TAC, as mentioned above. Call Doug (@gr8fuldoug) - on the phone - at CameraLandNY; tell him you're a Hide member and describe what you want. He may have other suggestions, but the Midas TAC is hard to beat for the money.
Thanks Downhillfromhere! I am looking to put together a Vudoo V22 for some long range benchrest shooting, and perhaps NRL matches (never done that before). This will be my first rifle. I have had extensive experiens with handguns, but I am, by no means, an expert at that either. I just have never purchased a scope before, and I had to Google what most of the terms where when I first started looking at them.
I've got several Ares BTR 6-24x50 scopes on rifles of my own, and so far one Midas TAC 6-24x50 on a V-22 Ranch. I'm not completely sure, but to my eyes, the TAC has slightly better optical quality than the Ares. The TAC's turrets definitely have more distinct clicks, and its parallax can be focused down to 10yds, while the Ares is limited to 25yds. The illumination feature of the Ares winds up costing $150 extra, relative to the price of the TAC. I like both scopes, but is illumination worth that much to you? I'm going with Midas TACs on several of my .22RF rifles to keep the weight & bulk down compared to the bigger Cronus 4.5-29x56 scopes I have on my 40X & V-22 comp rifles. Here's a pic of my little V-22 Ranch with the Midas TAC 6-24x50.
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Ok, if you're starting with a Vudoo, you're doing it right! So you'll want a scope to match the rifle. The Midas TAC will get it done. Full disclosure: I'm a Vortex guy. I've already sent the $$ on Viper PSTs for my .22s and Razors for my centerfires. But, since those purchases, I've spent a little time behind a Midas TAC on my buddy's .22 and it's a great optic for about half to two-thirds the price I spent on my Vipers.
If you're that new to current-generation optics, I just don't see how you can go wrong with the Midas TAC on a Vudoo. As good as that rifle is, it's still a .22 and you don't need to see into deep shadows 1000 yards away. Be sure to call Doug at CameralandNY to discuss and order. When I ordered from him (Athlon Argos for my nephew), he wasn't selling rings. Again, buy good rings. Your Vudoo-to-be deserves them.
Also - Take some time to learn about cleaning your rifle. If you pursue the subject, you will read that more rifles are damaged by improper cleaning than about anything else. You'll need a bore guide and a good cleaning rod, and/or a bore snake. You really don't want to cobble up a Vudoo chamber, bore, or crown with ham-fisted cleaning.
EDIT: Also, as I said, make sure you mount the scope correctly. It isn't hard. My first big-$ scope was mounted by a competent smith while I watched. After that, I bought a Wheeler FAT wrench and did all mounts myself.
EDIT 2: If you haven't ordered yet, be sure to tell Jill, Paul, and/or Jay at Vudoo you're new to rifle. They are all awesome and will help you put together a great .22.
EDIT 3: Pay attention to what @flatland1 writes about Vudoo. It takes awhile but going through the 40+ pages on the Rimfire --> Vudoo forum is useful.
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hey me too! my first gun ever will be a vudoo as well. go big or go home i guess. i would avoid the rimfire specific scopes if you can, i read around and the general consensus seems to be theyre not as good as other scopes. the midas tac ffp would work great. i kinda regret getting the diamondback tactical and not going with the athlons scopes tbh.
Thanks all. I really appreciate all the great advice! Initially, I was going to put together a Kidd Supergrade 1022, because I thought that might be fun, as a gateway drug to the .22 rifle world. However, the more I thought about it, while I still want to build a nice 1022, what I would really like to start with is the Vudoo. The bolt action will force me to slow down, and work on the fundamentals with each shot. I am afraid that if I start with the 1022, then I will get into the habit of just sending a lot of lead down range, without concentrating on the fundamentals with each trigger press.
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