New optics on my .22

[Twisted]

Wanted something with at least 12xish magnification down to 5x or so. Need adjustable turrets and really wanted side focus. Didn't want to spend a ton of money, I know you get what you pay for but didn't want to spend a ton on my .22 optics. (I have a Premier Heritage, ACOG, Aimpoint, Ziess, Steiner, etc. etc. so I know what nice glass really is) Picked up a Bushnell AR 4.5-18x40. I really wish it had mildot reticle but it is what it is. I must say that so far I am extremely impressed with the clarity. Just got done shooting at 50 yards and 1/2" circles are easy to center into. My son threw some rounds at a 2" steel plate at 75 yards all hits. Just scoping around out to several hundred yards and it was impressive. I'm not saying it's top quality glass by any means but for a $200ish chinese optic I'm floored. Pretty happy about it on there right now and looks great.

 

[Twisted]

I have same rifle.

I have a 6-18x40mm VX-2 Leupold on mine and its tracked like a champ and has 10's of 1,000's of miles on it and about as many kills.

I run CCI subsonics and standard velocity bullets.

I tried mounting a bipod but the stud just pulled out.

The bipod caused rounds to wonder.

I run an Aviator can.

This rifle has been my right arm for about 4.5yrs.

Right on. I've had mine for dang near 20 years now. Was my first rifle. Bought it with money I earned working in Xmas trees and some Xmas present money when I was in high school. I don't remember exactly what I did to get the stud in for the bipod but I recall threading it in with a nut on the back side with a washer, then filled that entire section with epoxy to make it tuff. No worries on that thing ever pulling out. I've been finding myself setting up the tripod to shoot off of more often though to not tweak the stock at all.

If yours is anything like mine, and any other I've looked at with the synthetic stock, the barrel is sucked in to the stock causing it to throw rounds often. Throw a nice flat fender washer between the action and stock on the forward action screw. It is two flat surfaces that often don't touch anyways cause the barrel jamming in to the stock won't let it. That little spacer takes the barrel off the stock just enough that it floats the whole length unless you force it over in the stock when getting position. That mod with some very slight filing on the stock to clearance it made mine from a 2 moa rifle to a .5 moa rifle nearly instantly. I have a 50 yard 5 shot group recently that was .21" max spread. With SK standard plus it is a pretty consistent .5 moa gun.

On a side note, I have that same tonneau on my Dodge and really like it.