Help Selecting 22LR Scope

[chutinlead]

Before you go and tell me to use the search function, I have, and scoured all over trying to figure out what scope has the combination of features I am looking for.

This winter I joined with some friends and started a monthly match at the local indoor range. They have a max of 65ft and we shoot most targets at 50ft. I currently have a 3-15 PST GenII EBR-2C and the parallax only goes down to 25yds. I've tried to make it work with reducing the magnification, cutting out a card to fit in my scope cap similar to the DFAT system. These work to some degree but have drawbacks.

Features I am looking for in order of priority:
10 or 15yd parallax minimum
MOA
Center dot reticle
Minimum power less than 6
Less than $1000
30mm tube
less than 50mm objective

I've narrowed it down to a few:

Ares BTR GEN2 2.5-15×50 APLR4 FFP IR MOA HD​

This one checks all the boxes. Probably my first choice since it has the most total adjustment


Midas TAC 6-24×50 APLR4 FFP MOA HD
Low end mag I'm not a fan of but its a bit cheaper


Strike Eagle 5-25x56 MOA
This one is larger overall than I wanted but would get the job done


These are the few I've seen that fit what I'm looking for, but would be interested in what you guys use if you shoot inside the 25yds that most scopes bottom out at. Am I missing something more commonly seen in the airgun world where 10yds is more common? Any optical geniuses that could help me find a lense to bring my minimum parallax in similar to the DFAT so I could screw it onto the front of my scope for shooting indoors?

 

[Tiger_Shilone]

65 feet = 22 yards. Tough to get a major brand scope that low. SWFA 3-15x will focus at 6 meters = 20’ and their fixed series focuses at 10 meters = 33 ’ and their tracking is very well regarded. I use a SWFA 3-15x on an anschutz SSP for 10 meter air rifle and have no problem focusing from min to max power magnification. However the current problem is finding one, probably have to go the used route.

 

[straightshooter1]

Before you go and tell me to use the search function, I have, and scoured all over trying to figure out what scope has the combination of features I am looking for.

This winter I joined with some friends and started a monthly match at the local indoor range. They have a max of 65ft and we shoot most targets at 50ft. I currently have a 3-15 PST GenII EBR-2C and the parallax only goes down to 25yds. I've tried to make it work with reducing the magnification, cutting out a card to fit in my scope cap similar to the DFAT system. These work to some degree but have drawbacks.

Features I am looking for in order of priority:
10 or 15yd parallax minimum
MOA
Center dot reticle
Minimum power less than 6
Less than $1000
30mm tube
less than 50mm objective

I've narrowed it down to a few:

Ares BTR GEN2 2.5-15×50 APLR4 FFP IR MOA HD​

This one checks all the boxes. Probably my first choice since it has the most total adjustment


Midas TAC 6-24×50 APLR4 FFP MOA HD
Low end mag I'm not a fan of but its a bit cheaper


Strike Eagle 5-25x56 MOA
This one is larger overall than I wanted but would get the job done


These are the few I've seen that fit what I'm looking for, but would be interested in what you guys use if you shoot inside the 25yds that most scopes bottom out at. Am I missing something more commonly seen in the airgun world where 10yds is more common? Any optical geniuses that could help me find a lense to bring my minimum parallax in similar to the DFAT so I could screw it onto the front of my scope for shooting indoors?

Instead of the Strike Eagle with the 34mm tube, did you check out the Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50 with a 30mm tube?

Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50 FFP

Please Select Reticle | 30mm Tube

vortexoptics.com

 

[chutinlead]

65 feet = 22 yards. Tough to get a major brand scope that low. SWFA 3-15x will focus at 6 meters = 20’ and their fixed series focuses at 10 meters = 33 ’ and their tracking is very well regarded. I use a SWFA 3-15x on an anschutz SSP for 10 meter air rifle and have no problem focusing from min to max power magnification. However the current problem is finding one, probably have to go the used route.

Ill look into SWFA scopes. Thanks!

 

[chutinlead]

Instead of the Strike Eagle with the 34mm tube, did you check out the Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50 with a 30mm tube?

Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50 FFP

Please Select Reticle | 30mm Tube

vortexoptics.com

I've had a 4-16 Diamondback Tactical and the eyebox and I didn't agree. I really want Vortex to release a FFP 3-18x44 Strike Eagle or something in that range. If the Strike Eagle wasn't so huge it would be perfect.

 

[chutinlead]

Another option I guess is get something like the 4.5-27 Athlon Ares and by the time I reduce the power to get the target to come into focus it would be higher mag than with my current scope.

 

[Mr. Wolf]

Before you go and tell me to use the search function, I have, and scoured all over trying to figure out what scope has the combination of features I am looking for.

This winter I joined with some friends and started a monthly match at the local indoor range. They have a max of 65ft and we shoot most targets at 50ft. I currently have a 3-15 PST GenII EBR-2C and the parallax only goes down to 25yds. I've tried to make it work with reducing the magnification, cutting out a card to fit in my scope cap similar to the DFAT system. These work to some degree but have drawbacks.

Features I am looking for in order of priority:
10 or 15yd parallax minimum
MOA
Center dot reticle
Minimum power less than 6
Less than $1000
30mm tube
less than 50mm objective

I've narrowed it down to a few:

Ares BTR GEN2 2.5-15×50 APLR4 FFP IR MOA HD​

This one checks all the boxes. Probably my first choice since it has the most total adjustment


Midas TAC 6-24×50 APLR4 FFP MOA HD
Low end mag I'm not a fan of but its a bit cheaper


Strike Eagle 5-25x56 MOA
This one is larger overall than I wanted but would get the job done


These are the few I've seen that fit what I'm looking for, but would be interested in what you guys use if you shoot inside the 25yds that most scopes bottom out at. Am I missing something more commonly seen in the airgun world where 10yds is more common? Any optical geniuses that could help me find a lense to bring my minimum parallax in similar to the DFAT so I could screw it onto the front of my scope for shooting indoors?

Arken SH4 gen1 4-14x44 would fit all except the center dot... It has a fine floating cross that is very precise.
10 yard parallax, MOA, 4x power, $349, 30mm tube, 44mm obj all checks, but I don't think they have any new gen1 on their website.
Maybe post a WTB on the PX? I have it on my 10/22 Kidd build and it is a match made in heaven.
YMMV, happy shooting

 

[Appalachian]

I have the 6-24 Midas Tac. It punches above its weight. I’m considering another.

 

[Poirierpro]

I guess my first ask would be why MOA? Seems like a lot of spinning to me especially with .22lr. My vote is for the Midas Tac or SE. I think you’ll be glad you chose a larger scope with more mag once you decide to do longer distances like most of us gravitate to eventually.

 

[Tim7139]

Get a Bushnell 6x-24x, pretty reliable, focus down to 10 yds.

 

[jinxx4ever]

i'm thinking of shooting these kind of match's in the near future, bought a Bergara with the carbon barrel and a super light chassis from a guy on here a couple weeks ago. I've got a SWFA 10X replacement scope that was sent to me after the first had a little problem after 7 years of use. Thinking i'm going to use that. Damn good scope. 50' shooting distance with no supports so i also wanted something light. Can't see myself needing variable power for that distance

 

[chutinlead]

I have the 6-24 Midas Tac. It punches above its weight. I’m considering another.

I got to look thru one at a gun show last weekend and it was impressive. Just about bought it but this is my only bolt 22lr and plan on packing it around this spring shooting squirrels and am worried 6x will be too much mag.

I guess my first ask would be why MOA? Seems like a lot of spinning to me especially with .22lr. My vote is for the Midas Tac or SE. I think you’ll be glad you chose a larger scope with more mag once you decide to do longer distances like most of us gravitate to eventually.

All my scopes are MOA as well as my spotting scope. Same with all the guys I shoot with. Yeah I can see myself wanting higher mag on the top end for 100yds. Decisions, decisions.

Get a Bushnell 6x-24x, pretty reliable, focus down to 10 yds.

I'll have to look into that one

i'm thinking of shooting these kind of match's in the near future, bought a Bergara with the carbon barrel and a super light chassis from a guy on here a couple weeks ago. I've got a SWFA 10X replacement scope that was sent to me after the first had a little problem after 7 years of use. Thinking i'm going to use that. Damn good scope. 50' shooting distance with no supports so i also wanted something light. Can't see myself needing variable power for that distance

I picked up the sportsman's special B22 Precision. At $500 for a chassis bolt action 22lr, it was too good to pass up. As for matches, you gotta go. It's an awesome way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

 

[chutinlead]

So I did find the Athlon 4-20x50 Helos BTR Gen 2 30mm Riflescope which ticks A LOT of the boxes, but the MOA version has the weird floating crosshair in the center and the MRAD version has the center dot. Am I missing something or what?

Does anyone have experience with the floating crosshair in athlons scope and do you like it?

 

[Fasteddie01]

Hi - Just a suggestion. I bought a Covenant (cabelas/BP) 6-24x50 FFP-SF MOA in 30mm. It has a 'center-dot, but the MOA hashmarks are numbered which helps making 'holds' for diff ammo, etc. Fine hair reticle and FFP variable size. I had a Bushnell Engage Deploy 6-18x50 SFP-SF w/MOA in 1", but the hash was not numbered and I had to 'count' bar to get correct holds. I'm using these on a B-22 SV (Not SR) which is the heavy barrel, that I just have about 500 rounds thru. Still getting used to the 'new' scope, but w/ the Bushnell I could get around 0.5" @ 50yds most of the time with average ammo like SK+.

 

[Natureman]

So I did find the Athlon 4-20x50 Helos BTR Gen 2 30mm Riflescope which ticks A LOT of the boxes, but the MOA version has the weird floating crosshair in the center and the MRAD version has the center dot. Am I missing something or what?

Does anyone have experience with the floating crosshair in athlons scope and do you like it?

View attachment 7560522

This is the scope that I am saving up for. I shoot 50 and 100 yards.

 

[Natureman]

This is the scope that I am saving up for to go on my Bergara. I shoot 50 and 100 yards.

 

[chutinlead]

I might have to give @gr8fuldoug a call and see if he can steer me in the right direction.

 

[6gunner]

You can’t beat the Midas TAC5-25 or an Arken. I have an Arken SH4 4-14x44.

 

[chutinlead]

You can’t beat the Midas TAC5-25 or an Arken. I have an Arken SH4 4-14x44.

The arken maybe, but the midas tac 5-25 has a minimum parallax of 25yds.

 

[Appalachian]

The arken maybe, but the midas tac 5-25 has a minimum parallax of 25yds.

The Athlon Midas Tac 6-24 has a 10 yard minimum parallex.

 

[x2cross]

The Primary Arms SLX series parallax goes down to 15yds. It goes up to 18 power, so might not be quite as powerful as what you're looking for. I have one, and its ok, but not as good as Vortex

 

[chutinlead]

The Athlon Midas Tac 6-24 has a 10 yard minimum parallex.

Its on the short list. I had a chance to handle one last weekend and it looked and felt great. Still trying to decide if I can live with 6x on the bottom end.

The Primary Arms SLX series parallax goes down to 15yds. It goes up to 18 power, so might not be quite as powerful as what you're looking for. I have one, and its ok, but not as good as Vortex

I'll have to go check it out. I had one of their scopes years ago and it worked, but my first diamondback tactical was better.

 

[MarkCZ]

Ill look into SWFA scopes. Thanks!

Look in to the SWFA SS fixed power 10X, 12X, 16X, and 20X. Great scopes, they can take the recoil of a 50BMG. Great scopes at any cost. they are $299.

 

[Natureman]

Look in to the SWFA SS fixed power 10X, 12X, 16X, and 20X. Great scopes, they can take the recoil of a 50BMG. Great scopes at any cost. they are $299.

The SWFA fixed power scopes are only available about 2-3 weeks a year then sell out. Usually around the end of November. The rest of the year it shows backorder.

 

[DownhillFromHere]

I might have to give @gr8fuldoug a call and see if he can steer me in the right direction.

You really risk leaving good options and $$ on the table if you don't call Doug.

 

[chutinlead]

You really risk leaving good options and $$ on the table if you don't call Doug.

That is probably what is going to determine what I end up with is which one he has the been deal going on.

 

[DownhillFromHere]

Also, I urge you to consider getting your scope in mils if there's any possibility at all you'll do any competition like NRL22 or whatever. I too was a tried&true MOA guy due to many decades of being familiar with it. Then I shot a .22 match wherein I had to dial from 80 to 300 yards on an MOA Vortex Razor 4.5-27x56 - 4.2MOA to 46.2MOA, or 1.2mils to 13.4 mils. Leaving the mechanics aside, dialing the same elevation change requires about half a turn more "up" on the MOA scope than on its otherwise identical mils version. That was the tipping point for me. Doesn't seem like much, but on the clock it's another two or three or four seconds.

I just sold my last MOA scope. Look at my pre-2020 posts... said I wouldn't do it, no need for the change, MOA was fine and I was used to it. Old guys can (sometimes) learn.

 

[chutinlead]

Also, I urge you to consider getting your scope in mils if there's any possibility at all you'll do any competition like NRL22 or whatever. I too was a tried&true MOA guy due to many decades of being familiar with it. Then I shot a .22 match wherein I had to dial from 80 to 300 yards on an MOA Vortex Razor 4.5-27x56 - 4.2MOA to 46.2MOA, or 1.2mils to 13.4 mils. Leaving the mechanics aside, dialing the same elevation change requires about half a turn more "up" on the MOA scope than on its otherwise identical mils version. That was the tipping point for me. Doesn't seem like much, but on the clock it's another two or three or four seconds.

I just sold my last MOA scope. Look at my pre-2020 posts... said I wouldn't do it, no need for the change, MOA was fine and I was used to it. Old guys can (sometimes) learn.

Yeah I get the whole speed aspect. I shoot some guns where switching to mils would be a huge pain and not much for NRL22 in NE WY. Mostly small matches locally and they use MOA almost exclusively. Plus I have an irreplaceable MOA reticle in my Razor Spotting Scope.