How much magnification

[Hookturnr]

I throw my .02 in.
I shoot Rimfire PRC with a vortex 5-15x HST ( old midway special)

We shoot from 25yds. to 300 in a ton of different scenarios and varying target sizes and I don't ever feel like I don't have enough magnification.

I will suggest that you get something that the turret adjustments match the reticle. I'm a mil/mil guy but whatever works for you as long as they are matching. Our stages are shot with a typical 120sec. time limit so taking a step out of the math is always a good thing.

 

[sideburn]

I suggest something in the 20-25x range for the top end. Another thing to consider is some RF applications require a near focus precision that is not available on all scopes.

Important consideration here when it comes to parallax. Most scopes resolve around 50m/yds but you’ll want to consider one that is 25m or less. For magnification, there are good rules set around 15-18 power and beyond that is personal preference. You aren’t more of a man/woman if you have less or more, is just whatever you like.

I don’t know of many cost effective scope brands because I’m a glass snob (or better said I can’t stand cheap glass). That said the Nightforce SHV 4-16 F1 is a nice option and great glass. IMHO it is one of the best for the price. The S&B 5-25 PMII is wonderful and has 10m parallax but isn’t cheap. It can be had for around 2.3k from MHSA or call Mike at CS Tacitical.

I went with a NF ATACR 7-35 F1. It’s over the top but I couldn’t care less what people think. It also is the same scope on my main AI-AT.

One thing to consider is beyond ~150 yds it gets really hard to see misses with that tiny 40gr bullet hitting the dirt, so having some magnification helps. It’s also awesome when shooting matchsticks at 10-15 yds

 

[DXT_Shooter]

I ended up buying a Sightron SIII 10-50x60 I had the 8-32x56 but struggled below 40 yards I really liked the glass so figured upgrade and focus down to 13 yards. Once I get it and mount it I will be going out to sight in and start shooting toothpicks and cards.

 

[DXT_Shooter]

I don't think you cant go wrong at the price of the S3's. Good choice. To step up to a noticeable next level you gonna have to shell out some serious coin.

You are correct and I don't really want to spend $3000 on a S&B for the amount of shooting I do.

 

[STS45]

Parallax down to 25m or below is a must for me with a .22. Makes finding scopes a bit of a challenge.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Parallax down to 25m or below is a must for me with a .22. Makes finding scopes a bit of a challenge.

Hawke says down to 30 feet, in some models. I have 3 of them an in reality those 3 are GTG down to about 18-20 feet.

 

[Nik H]

I find that 15X suits me just fine when shooting my Annie to 300 yards. I use the spotter to record hits.

 

[flatland1]

I've got Athlon Cronus (original versions, not the newer BTR) 4.5-29x56 scopes on all three of my bolt repeaters (couple of CMP 40Xs, one Vudoo V-22). Seldom - if ever - crank them up to 29x, and have cost myself some points by leaving the magnification set too high in a few situations. But these scopes have good enough glass to run them at top power if needed. Have a couple of the new Cronus BTRs in the shop - am liking the slightly finer reticle, though I haven't mounted one on a rifle to see if it really helps. I also like the slightly larger numerals on the knobs - from handling these new scopes, it appears that this was a good move, especially for older guys like myself who wear bifocals. No problem getting the Cronus to focus sharply at 25yds.

Also have a few of the Ares 4.5-27x50 scopes on my own & customers' rifles - one of the guys I sold to was running his on a new V-22, but decided to swap it out for a Gen II Vortex 6-24x50 PST - but only because the Ares' windage knob had rotated a couple of time while pulling it out of his rifle case. He told me that the optical clarity was plenty good enough for the 22RF PR matches he's running, even when cranked up to max 27x, and the tracking was good on his. Most of my shooting with the Ares scopes has been on a Howa mini in 6RAT & M70 in 6x47 Lapua, out to 600yds. Mine have tracked just fine, giving me good confidence in dialing instead of holding. Very good glass & a decent reticle, zero stop - makes me wish I'd have had a few of these scopes several years ago.

 

[DXT_Shooter]

Got it all mounted up and I am loving the 10-50x60

 

[dlrflyer]

Got it all mounted up and I am loving the 10-50x60

View attachment 6894128

Which reticle did you choose?

 

[DXT_Shooter]

Which reticle did you choose?

I have the MOA 2

 

[JG26_Irish]

Skok,

There has already been a lot of good input here, some of which I will echo. For precision matches, I use a 6-25x - 56 FFP with side focus down to 10y. These matches required the flexibility to shoot in close (35y) and way far out (almost 300y). We also usually have a tight time limit for each stage so fast tgt acquisition is important. If you are using an 8-32x or a 10-50x you will be handicapped on the run and gun stages but will have better precision on the prone or bench stages. Just keep in mind that at 200y your 22 is only going to be shooting 2-3" patterns and not cloverleaf groups anyway. So how good is good enough may depend on how good your rifle is also. I only used the upper mag settings on the prone/bench stages and usually ran the scope in the 10-12x range most of the time. With that in mind you would not be handicapped with a nice 3-12x or 4-16x optic. FFP is not the hot ticket for benchrest shooting since the recticle grows with the increased magnification hurting the ability to precisely aim which is the main reason for high mag optics. After all, the rifle's accuracy is not affected by the scope but the shooter's is. FFP helped me on the PRS matches but I could have just used hold over more with a 2FP optic. Most of my non-hunting 22's have either 4-18x or 6-24x 2FP scopes on them and I am happy with that. I am not prone to spending tons of money on my rimfire scopes. That is a budget thing. If you have the dough, better is always better. The advice to have mil mil or moa moa recticle/turrets is good. Not a deal killer if its not but good nonetheless. The time you spend verifying your DOPE will help you more than the final difference in the scope selections. Keep that in mind and do the homework.

For what you described, I would go with either a 4-18x or a 6-24x 2FP scope. This will get you the best precision on the long range stuff and enough magnification while still being able to dial it down for 90% of the shots. If your budget was $800ish, that will buy a lot of scope. The only scope I have worth that much is the old vintage Unertl on my tgt rifle. It is a fixed power 20x and is killer good but very non-practical for varied distances. Too unwieldy. Makes it a handicap except for fixed distance matches like 50y bench. I have used Hawke, BSA (cheap), Zeiss, Sightron, and others. BSA was the bottom of the barrel but it was good enough for what I was using them for. The last one I bought seemed that the quality was not the same as the ones I bought 4-5 yrs ago. I have about four of them anyway. I guess I would buy as much as I could afford and if faced with choosing better glass at lower power or more power at the same pricepoint, go with the better glass as long as you have at least 16-18x on the upper end.

Irish

 

[Greg Langelius *]

I first ran into these while shooting my first intro club IR50/50 Match. They allow up to 32x with 1/8 MOA clicks in all but the lowest daytime light conditions.

Specifications

Part # MT83244 Eye Relief 4.0″ Length 16.25″ Weight 26.0 oz. Tube Size 30 mm Color Matte Black Lenses Fully Multi-Coated Magnification 8 – 32 × power Objective 44 mm F.O.V. 9.3 – 2.5 feet @ 100 yards Parallax 10 Yrd Min Click Value 1/8 M.O.A. (40″ @ 100yds over-all on both W/E)

I was using a souped up 10/22, single feeding with ten separate magazines. not legal strictly, but they let me anyway since the 10/22 is such a beyotch to feed through the port. I won the match, but was using an even cheaper Tasco 6-24x42 Varmint/Target Mil-Dot. That's still on the 10/22, but I got the light bulb over my head and tried one on a .223 for FV300. The rest is, as they say, (personal) history.

If you want to know how well they hold up, I have been using what has grown to be three of them for going on a decade for strictly centerfire shooting with years of 1000yd .260 F Open, down to a swan song 600yd .223 F T/R (Bolt and AR both), and including years of 300yd .223 FV300 Shooting. They are all still up and running full speed.

$259.99 at Midway.

Greg

 

[Hairy Biker]

I haven't had a chance to write about my run in 22lr Tactical with the March 5 - 40x.

Firstly, I am pleased to have tried such a high power range on the rimfire during an actual Course of Fire - never die wondering.

We shot at 50m (3P), 100m (Rapid) and 200m (Forced Deliberate).

At 50m I ran mid-range (25x ish) for the Prone and Sitting segments of the 3P then dropped power to 10x for the Standing. Needless to say the 5 shots standing were where I dropped 3 points but that is down to muscle memory and practice (both missing).

At 100m I ran the 25x range again and it was too high. It was too high because I shot on the wrong target and I was more interested in watching the holes appear than confirming my target. The seven shots were all V Bulls so the shooter next to me was happy.

At 200m, it was as much a zero confirmation as a shoot for score. Lesson learnt from 100m I spent serious time confirming my target between shots and used 40x off the bipod to go effect.

So the March worked across the power band. I am still not convinced 22lr Tactical is worth the effort but if we are to run comps like this in the future, I will seek to use a Butts range and use Fig 14 targets with a variety of movers, Snaps and the like at ranges from 100 to 200m.

 

[Marinevet1]

I ended up buying a Sightron SIII 10-50x60 I had the 8-32x56 but struggled below 40 yards I really liked the glass so figured upgrade and focus down to 13 yards. Once I get it and mount it I will be going out to sight in and start shooting toothpicks and cards.

That is a good looking scope.....I put a 5 X 25 S&B on my Annie......but I'm gonna have to look at this one

 

[DXT_Shooter]

That is a good looking scope.....I put a 5 X 25 S&B on my Annie......but I'm gonna have to look at this one

I really like it a lot and I am glad I bought it. They are a lot less expensive there is a guy selling one on classifieds for $700 but it has the fine crosshairs.

 

[6gunner]

I have a Vortex PST GEN II 3-15.

 

[Rate_of_Twist]

Sorry, but to hijack but....

What about fixed power scopes?

I am setting up a 455 Tacticool. I either need to a. Get a scope on a budget (i.e. SWFA SS fixed) or b. Swap my S&B PMII between my rimfire and center fire setups.

My apologies to the OP

 

[Hairy Biker]

I'd think a 10x would be a useful compromise position.

 

[flatland1]

While I'd most certainly prefer to stick with a variable like the Cronus 4.5-29x56s I have on my 22RF bolt repeaters, if I had to go with a fixed power scope, I think it'd be a 16x. The downside to that much magnification is when engaging multiple targets at close range, but the upside is having enough power to more easily see your hits & misses at longer range. After shooting several matches with the variables, it makes it clear to me what a compromise going with a fixed power scope would be. A 4-16x variable would be much less of a compromise.

 

[steve123]

Sorry, but to hijack but....

What about fixed power scopes?

I am setting up a 455 Tacticool. I either need to a. Get a scope on a budget (i.e. SWFA SS fixed) or b. Swap my S&B PMII between my rimfire and center fire setups.

My apologies to the OP

That's exactly what I did for a couple years, it get's old swapping them back and forth, and I'm so happy leaving my S&B's where I prefer them now.

I tried the fixed power scopes too before that, basically just because they were cheap and decent quality, for me they were too much of a compromise, either FOV was too small, 20x and 16x or 10x was not enough and the glass in them fell behind.

Then Athlon came to be, nothing is perfect but the inexpensive model variables filled that gaping hole in my arsenal! I've gone side by side with my $4000 rifle with S&B atop and a $500 6mmFatRat upper with a $300 Talos BTR 4-14x44 and slain the same steel at distance with the same success. Do I like my S&B better, of course, does the Talos get the job done too, yes. Would I prefer a fixed power scope to either, no way. I need the mag and FOV where I need them right then for that situation.

Saying what I did above, I don't mind upgrading as money allows either, next week a Talos will be back in the safe and a Ares 4.5-27 will be on the FatRat instead. So when my TikkaT1x 17hmr shows up it'll have a scope waiting for it.