Rifle Scopes Budget Mil/Mil FFP for rimfire?

[Rerun7]

I need a new scope for my .22 and don't want to break the bank. Trying to stay under $300 and must have a mil/mil setup. FFP would be nice but I could live with SFP on this one.

Right now now the Primary Arms seems to be one of the best options but reviews are hit or miss.

Weigh in if you've got experience with this scope or any others in that price range with similar features.

 

[Big Bo]

One rests on my CZ452 .22 lr. It is an ok scope and has served my purposes.

 

[Muskyjerk]

swfa SS10x42

 

[Rerun7]

swfa SS10x42

Thanks, I should have specified variable power range. I've had the fixed 10 in the past. Decent scope for the money, just a little too much for close shots.

I use this rifle for plinking out to a couple hundred yards and hunting at much closer distances.

 

[Nik H]

I use an SWFA 3-15 FFP with MQ reticle on my Annie but that is double what you want to spend.

I have a couple of buds that went the Primary Arms route and neither of them still own those scopes.

 

[Duffman1975]

how far are you planning on shooting? Mil/Mil FFP for rimfire seems like an overkill.

 

[Rerun7]

how far are you planning on shooting? Mil/Mil FFP for rimfire seems like an overkill.

yes, it is a bit. I just wanted it to mirror the optics on my other rifles from that perspective. I can frequently shoot at 200 yards with it and will be able to stretch to 400 on occasion.

Its mostly from a consistency standpoint. I liked the new diamondback tactical scopes even though they are SFP but they are only MOA.

 

[ICU22250]

yes, it is a bit. I just wanted it to mirror the optics on my other rifles from that perspective. I can frequently shoot at 200 yards with it and will be able to stretch to 400 on occasion.

Its mostly from a consistency standpoint. I liked the new diamondback tactical scopes even though they are SFP but they are only MOA.

Why didn't you keep your 2.5-10x32 PST for that purpose, seems like it would've been perfect for what your wanting to accomplish... Just a thought...

 

[ICU22250]

That's actually what I was wanting one for, my 22 mag...

 

[scudzuki]

4-14 mil/mil illuminated FFP 30mm tube for $300
https://sportsgearoptics.com/home/63-athlon-talos-btr-4-14x44-riflescope.html

 

[Rerun7]

Why didn't you keep your 2.5-10x32 PST for that purpose, seems like it would've been perfect for what your wanting to accomplish... Just a thought...

I got really close to doing that but eventually decided it was too much scope for the use I had on a .22. For that price I can replace with a cheaper scope and still have $ available to replace the stock too. trust me, I thought long and hard about it.

 

[Rerun7]

4-14 mil/mil illuminated FFP 30mm tube for $300
https://sportsgearoptics.com/home/63-athlon-talos-btr-4-14x44-riflescope.html

Im glad you brought that one up. It looks almost just like the PA. Same factory, different name?

My Google fu didn't turn up any good info on it vs the PA and if it's worth the additional $70.

 

[scudzuki]

I got really close to doing that but eventually decided it was too much scope for the use I had on a .22. For that price I can replace with a cheaper scope and still have $ available to replace the stock too. trust me, I thought long and hard about it.

I was in the same position regarding my Savage Mk II a year ago.
I was running a fixed parallax scope and since my target practice is at 50 yards, I thought maybe I could tighten up my groups a little, CCI standard velocity and Norma TAC 22 were printing .6" five shot groups at 50.
I put this one on for $169.
https://sportsgearoptics.com/home/110-athlon-talos-4-16x40-riflescope.html
It's SFP, with capped mil adjustments. The feel of the turrets do not make me want to dial corrections.
I've pulled off a few .5" groups with parallax adjusted properly on the Athlon scope.
I was told by Athlon that the reticle should subtend accurately at 10x but on my unit it's at 11x.
The glass is surprisingly good.

 

[TheBeard413]

I'm using the Athlon Talos on a Rimfire. Does it's job and you can't beat the price. FFP will a mil/mil.

 

[steve123]

I just ordered 4 more Talos BTR's for myself and two friends. The parallax knob is a bit hard to turn but other than that they've been excellent scopes for the price. This will be my third. They have pretty good glass and have tracked well. They also focus down to 10Y. Super .2 mil reticle too. My go-to cheap scope now.

 

[mrtoyz]

Looking for the same scope same idea.

Bought the kid an Athlon scope for for his Tikka. Turrets are mushy, glass is ok, worry about tracking but haven't tested it.

Talos the best option fora rimfire?

 

[NewsShooter]

I've got three of the midway special BSA 4-14 ffp scopes on 22's. They have worked well and I prefer the reticle to the PA option. Had a PA and sold it to keep the BSA. I've dialed to 300 meters and back and they have been great for the past couple years. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/4...il-adjustments-first-focal-mrad-reticle-matte

 

[steve123]

Looking for the same scope same idea.

Bought the kid an Athlon scope for for his Tikka. Turrets are mushy, glass is ok, worry about tracking but haven't tested it.

Talos the best option fora rimfire?

Which one?

It's hard to say which I like better, the Talos BTR or the Argos BTR??? I like both and there isn't a huge difference. If FOV and weight is of concern, like for hunting, I'd get the Talos. Target mostly, I'd get the Argos. The Talos is less expensive so we've been buying those. Hard to beat for the money.

Unfortunately the reality is to get more distinct turret clicks we have to upgrade, it's either pay more money for a higher tier optic, or go to the SWFA fixed power scopes which I for one have gotten away from because I would rather have a variable FFP. The SWFA 3-15 FFP is a step up in quality compared to the two scopes I mentioned but it's nearly double the price. It has some things I don't prefer and find myself using the Talos instead. As a matter of fact I traded my 3-15 last wednesday, preparing for my Ares 2.5-15x50 to arrive.

When I was at the Athlon booth at Shot Show I noticed the 6 mil knobs on the Helos BTR's were more distinct than the 5 mil Argos and Talos knobs, they also lined up much better, or about as good as the SWFA. It's $200 more than the Argos at $569 MAP but it has locking turrets and is a upgraded scope.

 

[ICU22250]

I just ordered 4 more Talos BTR's for myself and two friends. The parallax knob is a bit hard to turn but other than that they've been excellent scopes for the price. This will be my third. They have pretty good glass and have tracked well. They also focus down to 10Y. Super .2 mil reticle too. My go-to cheap scope now.

I stopped and looked at one of these at a retailer, the parallax knob was so damn hard to turn you almost needed channel locks to turn the damn thing, and I'm not exaggerating... The glass was meh, alright but not very good in my opinion.. I guess I'm just too picky when I'm spending my money, not so much when it's someone else's. Lol... Maybe the one I looked at was a dud, I don't know...

 

[steve123]

I stopped and looked at one of these at a retailer, the parallax knob was so damn hard to turn you almost needed channel locks to turn the damn thing, and I'm not exaggerating... The glass was meh, alright but not very good in my opinion.. I guess I'm just too picky when I'm spending my money, not so much when it's someone else's. Lol... Maybe the one I looked at was a dud, I don't know...

Yes the quality varies a little from unit to unit but it does so with all the less expensive scopes. To put it in perspective, imagine what it costs to build one of these if they MAP for $300, I'm guessing less than $100 to build?! It's amazing these scopes work as well as they do and they are relatively feature rich to boot!

Then it gets back to the "there is no perfect scope" thing, I always make reference to. Now for further perspective for us regulars here in the optics forum, we've seen all the brands of scopes costing from twice as much to over 10 times as much have problems of one sort or another. Like your old T5xi for example and recently in that PST2 thread, not to mention continual returns for repair of the G1 PST's, and I could go on and on. Heck the SWFA 5-20 has been known for having a stiff parallax knob and it's 4 times the price of the Talos.

I know if I buy a Athlon scope and it breaks I'll get a brand new one. That should be a "enough said" statement alone.

I'll tell ya, I don't feel too bad when I'm hitting the same steel with my Talos on my 6mmFatRat as I do with my $3850 S&B on the 6x47!!!

 

[ICU22250]

I hear ya Steve, if you get a good one it might be a good cheap scope for a rimfire.. That almost stuck parallax knob was a no go for me though... I am seriously thinking about a Cronus BTR for my 223 though, not much more expensive than the gen 2 PST.. I'm just a little leery of Athlon right now, they haven't been around for very long and I wanna know that they will be around for a while before I get in too deep...

 

[PistoleroJesse]

SWFA has a fixed 6x...

 

[Deleted member 10043]

Why mil/mil ffp with .1 mil turrets with a .22LR? Clearidge makes some nice RM and XP scopes within your budget. They've been around for some time and way before Athlon took it a step further. Same type of badged Japan stuff.

Anyway, I don't mind window shopping....

https://samplelist.com/catalog/product/view/id/121216/

 

[Rerun7]

Why mil/mil ffp with .1 mil turrets with a .22LR? Clearidge makes some nice RM and XP scopes within your budget. They've been around for some time and way before Athlon took it a step further. Same type of badged Japan stuff.

Anyway, I don't mind window shopping....

https://samplelist.com/catalog/product/view/id/121216/

As I had mentioned a few posts ago I'd like it to mirror similarly to my other optics so I'm not switching from moa to mil. FFP would be nice if I can find it but not a deal breaker and I do want it to be variable.

Im starting to consider a SFP with capped turrets because I could probably hold correction for 90% of my shooting.

Anyone tried the Weaver Kaspa scopes? They have listed on their site a 3-12 mil/mil. However I can't find any reviews on them and can barely find one for sale.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

Just sayin'. You said it is for plinking and hunting. Mil/mil is not conducive with the ballistics of a .22lr. All you need for Rimfire is a fine crosshair and a nice return to zero quality scope. You keep going the way you are than your going to end up realizing it on your own. I've only been shooting Rimfire since 1971.

 

[Rerun7]

Just sayin'. You said it is for plinking and hunting. Mil/mil is not conducive with the ballistics of a .22lr. All you need for Rimfire is a fine crosshair and a nice return to zero quality scope. You keep going the way you are than your going to end up realizing it on your own. I've only been shooting Rimfire since 1971.

haha. If we are being truthful (you included) and only bought what we needed then we wouldn't have half the gear we use. I don't need precision rifles at all. But they sure do make me smile.

And while I haven't even been alive since 1971 I've learned what makes me smile over the last 30 years of my shooting. To each his own.

 

[lou400a]

Which one?

It's hard to say which I like better, the Talos BTR or the Argos BTR??? I like both and there isn't a huge difference. If FOV and weight is of concern, like for hunting, I'd get the Talos. Target mostly, I'd get the Argos. The Talos is less expensive so we've been buying those. Hard to beat for the money.

Unfortunately the reality is to get more distinct turret clicks we have to upgrade, it's either pay more money for a higher tier optic, or go to the SWFA fixed power scopes which I for one have gotten away from because I would rather have a variable FFP. The SWFA 3-15 FFP is a step up in quality compared to the two scopes I mentioned but it's nearly double the price. It has some things I don't prefer and find myself using the Talos instead. As a matter of fact I traded my 3-15 last wednesday, preparing for my Ares 2.5-15x50 to arrive.

When I was at the Athlon booth at Shot Show I noticed the 6 mil knobs on the Helos BTR's were more distinct than the 5 mil Argos and Talos knobs, they also lined up much better, or about as good as the SWFA. It's $200 more than the Argos at $569 MAP but it has locking turrets and is a upgraded scope.

Any of the new Atholon FFP scopes come with a zero stop knobs or only locking and where can I get one?

 

[SubOptimal]

Why people think a cheap scope is good for a 22 and no good for a custom gun is beyond my ken.
Within the limitations of the cartridge, the 22 is dead nuts accurate and deserving of all the scope you can afford to put on it. Now if we are talking about a 10-22 or some other mass produced sub $200 gun, yeah, go ahead. A $3000 Anschutz? Not so much. Of course, the really high end guns are fitted with open sights that cost more than that 10-22 to begin with.

 

[steve123]

I used to use my S&B on my $2000 PCP air rifle a couple years ago and before that a 45x Leupold comp and various B&L. Then changed to SWFA 3-15, then to Athlon's Argos BTR 6-24. I won top score at state in 2016 with the later. I didn't feel any disadvantage using that $369 scope.

Not totally disagreeing with you. I have the S&B on the tactical rifle because...

 

[Manning5R]

+1 for the Talos BTR. and it's currently on a QB78 air rifle for trigger time in the backyard. I'll probably get another for my 10/22. Midway has them for $255 at the moment. .

 

[lancetkenyon]

I have the SWFA 3-15×42 SFP on my two squirrel guns. 6m parallax actually let's me focus as close as 8' on 3x, and 15x focuses as close as ~20 yards very crisply. If you watch the sales, you can get them for $400ish with sunshade and Butler Creek caps.

 

[NewsShooter]

Just sayin'. You said it is for plinking and hunting. Mil/mil is not conducive with the ballistics of a .22lr. All you need for Rimfire is a fine crosshair and a nice return to zero quality scope. You keep going the way you are than your going to end up realizing it on your own. I've only been shooting Rimfire since 1971.

I dunno, my plinking and hunting includes shooting targets at over 200 yards, regularly practicing holdovers and hold unders on targets from 25 yards to 225. Seems like it might be a bit difficult with a fine crosshair reticle.

 

[flyfisher117]

The SWFA SS3-15 are on sale for $399 right now..

 

[BoilerUP]

The SWFA SS3-15 are on sale for $399 right now..

SFP only...

 

[SuperSneakySniper]

I gotta be honest i am unable to find a better sub $400 scope than the Primary Arms 4-14 FFP Mil/Mil. Ive had the Athlon Argos, and the PA had better glass to me, and a far more forgiving eyebox/relief. I informally tested tracking on both scopes and they were even. Ive had my PA now for several years and its been a solid performer. The fact that it costs a good deal less makes it even more enticing.

 

[jLorenzo]

I have a primary arms 4x14x44 rgrid. Use on my .17 hmr and .22. Nice having 13 mils of hold with the .22. Gets out around 400y. Low end works great for busting varmints at 100 and in. I'm happy with it, hold zeros tracks fine. Looking at an Athlon Argo btr soon. Seems like for the price they can't be beat.

 

[G17C]

Clearidge makes some nice RM and XP scopes within your budget. They've been around for some time and way before Athlon took it a step further. Same type of badged Japan stuff.

I'm using their Ultra RM 3-9 X 32 Duplex Dot on my Savage, IMO they're perfect for a .22 LR rifle: objective bell focus down to 10 feet, capped target turrets, locking diopter eyepiece, good quality both optically and mechanically (made in Japan), not too big and heavy. Look on the specifications tabs for info on the reticles.

Zero complaints with mine, not inclined to replace even if I had the $$ to spend. They also make a Mil Dot version. In all honesty, I've been pleasantly surprised with this scope.

 

[steve123]

I used to use my S&B on my $2000 PCP air rifle a couple years ago and before that a 45x Leupold comp and various B&L. Then changed to SWFA 3-15, then to Athlon's Argos BTR 6-24. I won top score at state in 2016 with the later. I didn't feel any disadvantage using that $369 scope.

Not totally disagreeing with you. I have the S&B on the tactical rifle because...

For the first time in 22 years, I'm elated to report!!! On Saturday I shot a perfect score in our Field Target air rifle match - 48/48. With the Argos mounted on my Mac1 USFT.

Plinking late in the afternoon we were hitting .6" steel circles at 47Y shooting my 6 ftlb/"that's twice the power of a BB gun", Steyr LGB1 biathlon trainer with a Athlon Talos BTR 4-14x44 mounted. A 22 rimfire is typically 120 ftlbs just for comparison.

These scopes really do perform well! Hilarious, my best score ever was with a inexpensive scope.

 

[Will Fennell]

With respect to the OP.....for my CZ455 Trainer, I have been extremely happy with a SWFA 10X SS Mil/MilQuad on top. YMMV.


Best,

Will