What Optic Are YOU Running?

[Malum Prohibitum]

There are threads with folks asking, "What optic for 300 yards?" or "what optic do you recommend for under $X?"

I am asking something different.

What optic are you running on your rimfire, and, more importantly, why?

I am hoping for a lot of responses giving a wide variation of scopes for rimfire use and their various features that you find useful. Hopefully, you can add one or two things you do not like about the optic, too.

This can be a good reference for others in the future trying to decide on a rimfire optic.

 

[BigDaddy0381]

ZCO 527 @X reticle.

Great glass, dependable, repeatability, I'm able to see all of my miss's and hits with the 5-27 power range. Great CS "IF" ever needed. the 2X has great aiming point for hold overs.

 

[oldrifleman]

My primary rimfire wears a ZCO 8-40 MPCT 1X. That said the 5-27 MPCT 2X is my second favorite scope.

 

[021411]

ZCO 4-20 3X. ZCO master race.

 

[Jwoo]

Steiner T5Xi 5x25.

Was recommended to me when I started. Got it for a decent price from another shooter and it came with rings. I didn't know a lot about optics at time and the go-to for CF was the NF atacr.. very few guys running ZCOs and TTs back then.

I have since purchased an Athlon ares ETR 4.5-30 and will tell you without a doubt, that the clarity goes to the Athlon but the turrets are lacking in the "tactile" department. I haven't mounted it yet but all these guys running ZCO's today got me feeling like I might be missing something.

Things have changed so much since I entered this hobbie that I'm sure in a few years there will be something that competes with these tier 1 optics at a tier 3 price. I just struggle with the cost benefit knowing that Ill probably be a midpack shooter for a while. I dont want to be that guy with gucci gear who cant hit steel.

The Steiners reticle is simple and functional.. No tree allows for me to view the trace on a good day. It feels robust and setting zero stop is simple.

-Jay

 

[BigDaddy0381]

I have had 840 in hand just not spent time with them like I should have. so, I have a new 527 on the board now and trade options for the 840 2x or 3x to give it a true go.


I also run the element Theos, and love it

 

[roostercogburn98]

NF 4-32 F1, cause parallax and shit

 

[Shootin25]

Mark 4hd
-balance matters, and running a Matrix Pro 2 with aluminum bag rider means the rear is already heavy. The MK4HD is light. Balance point is 4.75” fore of the magwell with a total weight of 22lbs.
-PR2 reticle is easy to read (for me). Good balance of information.
-Cost.
-Not made in china.

All that said…. Really interested in a ZCO, for a second rimfire build..

 

[dscl]

ZCO 527 MPCT2X

I haven't seen anything else that compares to it

 

[LR1845]

ZCO 527 MPCT2X

I haven't seen anything else that compares to it

This right here^^^!

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

Wow, now I did not expect ZCO to be the most popular rimfire scope here.

Keep 'em coming, but don't forget to say something about why, pros and cons.

Thank you.

 

[TahoeDust]

I guess I am the poor guy in here. I have a 5-25x56 Strike Eagle on my T1x rig. I put it together 5 or so years ago when money was a bit tighter. My only complaint about it is the magification and parallax adjustments are crazy stiff. The turrets are not bad at all. The glass is actually pretty damn good for the price.

 

[roostercogburn98]

I guess I am the poor guy in here. I have a 5-25x56 Strike Eagle on my T1x rig. I put it together 5 or so years ago when money was a bit tighter. My only complaint about it is the magification and parallax adjustments are crazy stiff. The turrets are not bad at all. The glass is actually pretty damn good for the price.

I had a LRTSi on my deuce deuce to start with. I came into the NF in a trade somewhere along the way. I hadn’t even thought about putting it on a rimfire gun, but I got skewrly and signed up for a 22 match. I soon realized that the LRTSi didn’t focus down below 50, so I tossed the NF on to shoot a match.

The Bushy was plenty for me

 

[roostercogburn98]

Wow, now I did not expect ZCO to be the most popular rimfire scope here.

Keep 'em coming, but don't forget to say something about why, pros and cons.

Thank you.

I’d be hard pressed to put my 420 on a rimfire gun. I’ve thought about moving it off the gas gun, but that would require me to shoot to zero two guns again. That’s a lot of work

I’m sure plenty of folks are running them though, they are nice glass

 

[Emerson0311]

Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16 Savage MKII, Strike Eagle 5-25 10/22, Razor Gen 3 Duece. I would happily upgrade the Razor to ZCO or TT if I had more $$$.

 

[LR1845]

Wow, now I did not expect ZCO to be the most popular rimfire scope here.

Keep 'em coming, but don't forget to say something about why, pros and cons.

Thank you.

I am a glass whore, I have owned just about every brand scope there is from the $200 dollar amazon crap up to the ZCO. Off the top of my head the only scopes I have not owned a tangent theta or a schmidt and bender but I have looked through a few of both. IMHO Minox is a better scope then the S&B all the way around and also IMHO the closest thing to a ZCO or a TT there is.

The ZCO just checks all the boxes for me and why I own 4 of them and when I need another scope that will make 5 LOL!

 

[TahoeDust]

I had a LRTSi on my deuce deuce to start with. I came into the NF in a trade somewhere along the way. I hadn’t even thought about putting it on a rimfire gun, but I got skewrly and signed up for a 22 match. I soon realized that the LRTSi didn’t focus down below 50, so I tossed the NF on to shoot a match.

The Bushy was plenty for me

The SE will focus down to about 20yds, so no issue there, but I have never shot a match. I recently picked up a Zeiss S3 6-36 for another rifle, now I enjoy getting behind the SE a little less...lol.

 

[zenm@ster]

I was running a Zeiss S3 6-36; this scope has a ton of elevation, which is especially useful when shooting out to 500 yards.

Since then, I have mounted a Kahles K540i for its super wide FOV and very forgiving eye box.

 

[Cowpokey]

Athlon Cronus BTR GEN2 4.5-29x56...because I refused to pry ZCO or Tangent Theta $$$ out of my moldy wallet.

 

[Defender32]

ZCO 5-27 MPCT 2X 10mil & 15mil NLE. Both in Area 419 1 piece mounts.

Clarity is out of this world. I ca see the spall off of most targets inside of 200y. This helps with wind call on the next shot. The ability to swap from Red to Green for illumination is awesome for me. Red causes me issues. The fact my eyes do not hurt after an all day match is also a major plus. My eyes are just as relaxed in the end as they are in the beginning.

I'll add this as well. I started out 4 years ago with a Bushnell RT15 3-15/50. First 2 matches I shot was with it and I was able to make impacts to 300y. Cleaned my first pop can challenge 5 for 5!!! I was amazed.
2nd optic was raw RT25 5-25. it was good as well and used it for the rest of the season.
3rd was the Bushnell XTR2 5-25 .2 mil ret. I shot those for the next 2 seasons.
4th was a Element Titan 5-25 as I started shooting for FX for 1 season. I still have 2 of them on my Air Guns.
5th was Razor Gen3's on my 2 custom builds. They replaced the 2 XTR2's. I did have a couple of warranty issues with the XTR2's. I dumped them when they gave me new optics.
6th is the 2 ZCO's 5-27's.
7th is Bushnell Match Pro ED's as they support the sport so well. They are on my hunting rigs.
8th is a Gen2 Razor that bounces between the other 2 custom builds I have.

I know having 4 custom rimfire builds is out of the norm and all 4 are top tier 1- MCR plus a backup 13t barrel, 2-Rachel Precision 14t & 16T & a Local Benchrest Builder 16T.

 

[LR1845]

ZCO 5-27 MPCT 2X 10mil & 15mil NLE. Both in Area 419 1 piece mounts.

Clarity is out of this world. I ca see the spall off of most targets inside of 200y. This helps with wind call on the next shot. The ability to swap from Red to Green for illumination is awesome for me. Red causes me issues. The fact my eyes do not hurt after an all day match is also a major plus. My eyes are just as relaxed in the end as they are in the beginning.

I'll add this as well. I started out 4 years ago with a Bushnell RT15 3-15/50. First 2 matches I shot was with it and I was able to make impacts to 300y. Cleaned my first pop can challenge 5 for 5!!! I was amazed.
2nd optic was raw RT25 5-25. it was good as well and used it for the rest of the season.
3rd was the Bushnell XTR2 5-25 .2 mil ret. I shot those for the next 2 seasons.
4th was a Element Titan 5-25 as I started shooting for FX for 1 season. I still have 2 of them on my Air Guns.
5th was Razor Gen3's on my 2 custom builds. They replaced the 2 XTR2's. I did have a couple of warranty issues with the XTR2's. I dumped them when they gave me new optics.
6th is the 2 ZCO's 5-27's.
7th is Bushnell Match Pro ED's as they support the sport so well. They are on my hunting rigs.
8th is a Gen2 Razor that bounces between the other 2 custom builds I have.

I know having 4 custom rimfire builds is out of the norm and all 4 are top tier 1- MCR plus a backup 13t barrel, 2-Rachel Precision 14t & 16T & a Local Benchrest Builder 16T.

You must have the older model ZCO's all 4 of mine see into the future LOL!

 

[Dead Eye Dick]

Seriously, I wish I could put a Theta or ZCO on my Vudoo. Being a Veteran, I get a discount from Leupold, which enables me to use a MK5HD 5x25 with a PR2. Both my 6GT’s are using MK5’s same power and same PR2 reticle so whether I am shooting centerfire or rimfire, The scope picture and adjustments are all the same. The only difference between the three scopes is a DI windage knob on the Vudoo’s scope.

 

[LR1845]

@Dead Eye Dick

The MK5 is no slouch they are fantastic scopes, I ran them for a few years.
My problem is I get bored with the same thing and end up swapping to something new.

 

[J_D]

ZCO 527 @X reticle.

Great glass, dependable, repeatability, I'm able to see all of my miss's and hits with the 5-27 power range. Great CS "IF" ever needed. the 2X has great aiming point for hold overs.

Same, I have the 3x and 2x reticles.......great eyebox, and the most forgiving parallax of anything else, with super clear glass.

I sent one in for cust service to check and go NLE, and it was back within a week.

 

[J_D]

Seriously, I wish I could put a Theta or ZCO on my Vudoo. Being a Veteran, I get a discount from Leupold, which enables me to use a MK5HD 5x25 with a PR2. Both my 6GT’s are using MK5’s same power and same PR2 reticle so whether I am shooting centerfire or rimfire, The scope picture and adjustments are all the same. The only difference between the three scopes is a DI windage knob on the Vudoo’s scope.

It's also good to have consistency across rifles......I have a MK5 too on my 22creed. It's a great scope too.

 

[ECK]

Burris XTR Pro w/ SCR2 reticle

It’s been on my Vudoo for the last two-and-a-half seasons and I liked it so much I bought two more for other rifles.

What I like about it:
I really like the SCR2 reticle. It makes sense to my brain and the 0.2 mil increments are easy to see
Glass is decent, not super high-end quality but it didn’t come with a super high-end price tag either
Parallaxes down to 20 yds
24-26 mils of internal elevation travel so good enough to get me out to 400-ish yds w/ a 40MOA base
Easy to grab parallax and elevation knobs
Race dial w/ the white board is really handy
Capped windage knob which I like since I hold for wind and never dial
12 mils per rotation on the elevation turret (vs 6 on my old scope…. that sucked)
Zero stop w/ ability to go -0.4 mils
Don’t need tools to adjust zero
Pretty wide FOV so I can typically run around 16x magnification

What I don’t like about it:
You gotta make sure the tension on the flip lever of the internal turret is tightened down or the turret will free-wheel on you. It’s only happened once to me, but it was during a match and I had to go re-zero.

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

I was running a Zeiss S3 6-36; this scope has a ton of elevation, which is especially useful when shooting out to 500 yards.

Since then, I have mounted a Kahles K540i for its super wide FOV and very forgiving eye box.

You shoot your .22 at 500 yards???

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

ZCO 5-27 MPCT 2X 10mil & 15mil NLE. Both in Area 419 1 piece mounts.

Clarity is out of this world. I ca see the spall off of most targets inside of 200y. This helps with wind call on the next shot. The ability to swap from Red to Green for illumination is awesome for me. Red causes me issues. The fact my eyes do not hurt after an all day match is also a major plus. My eyes are just as relaxed in the end as they are in the beginning.

I'll add this as well. I started out 4 years ago with a Bushnell RT15 3-15/50. First 2 matches I shot was with it and I was able to make impacts to 300y. Cleaned my first pop can challenge 5 for 5!!! I was amazed.
2nd optic was raw RT25 5-25. it was good as well and used it for the rest of the season.
3rd was the Bushnell XTR2 5-25 .2 mil ret. I shot those for the next 2 seasons.
4th was a Element Titan 5-25 as I started shooting for FX for 1 season. I still have 2 of them on my Air Guns.
5th was Razor Gen3's on my 2 custom builds. They replaced the 2 XTR2's. I did have a couple of warranty issues with the XTR2's. I dumped them when they gave me new optics.
6th is the 2 ZCO's 5-27's.
7th is Bushnell Match Pro ED's as they support the sport so well. They are on my hunting rigs.
8th is a Gen2 Razor that bounces between the other 2 custom builds I have.

I know having 4 custom rimfire builds is out of the norm and all 4 are top tier 1- MCR plus a backup 13t barrel, 2-Rachel Precision 14t & 16T & a Local Benchrest Builder 16T.

Wow, 8 generations of scopes! LOL!

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

Burris XTR Pro w/ SCR2 reticle

It’s been on my Vudoo for the last two-and-a-half seasons and I liked it so much I bought two more for other rifles.

What I like about it:
I really like the SCR2 reticle. It makes sense to my brain and the 0.2 mil increments are easy to see
Glass is decent, not super high-end quality but it didn’t come with a super high-end price tag either
Parallaxes down to 20 yds
24-26 mils of internal elevation travel so good enough to get me out to 400-ish yds w/ a 40MOA base
Easy to grab parallax and elevation knobs
Race dial w/ the white board is really handy
Capped windage knob which I like since I hold for wind and never dial
12 mils per rotation on the elevation turret (vs 6 on my old scope…. that sucked)
Zero stop w/ ability to go -0.4 mils
Don’t need tools to adjust zero
Pretty wide FOV so I can typically run around 16x magnification

What I don’t like about it:
You gotta make sure the tension on the flip lever of the internal turret is tightened down or the turret will free-wheel on you. It’s only happened once to me, but it was during a match and I had to go re-zero.

I like the SCR2 reticle, too. I shoot a Steiner T6Xi 5-30 on my centerfire gun, with that same reticle, built in Greeley Colorado at the Burris factory.

 

[oldrifleman]

You shoot your .22 at 500 yards???

There are at least 2 on here who do at least 400-450 on a semi regular basis

 

[Pomyluy]

Athlon Ares 4.5-30x56 on my B-14R, because I wasn't bright enough to buy two Optika6 5-30x56s when EuroOptic had them on clearance for $699 a year or two ago. It's nice, but I do like the Meopta better. Since I shoot rimfire way more often than centerfire I'll probably just swap optics at some point.

 

[zenm@ster]

You shoot your .22 at 500 yards???

I do,

Here is the plate from last weekend. It was 512 yards and I dialed 25 mils on the Kahles and still had to hold over an additional 3.5 mils. I shoot Lapua center-x from a Vudoo.

 

[Franko]

I went with a Zeiss S3 4-25. I like the reticle, I got the optic used here on the PX so saved a little cash, and I occasionally have delusions of participating in rimfire PRS and like the fact that I could dial out to 500+ yards if needed due to to 160MOA of elevation. If I wanted more magnification I'd likely be using a Razer G3 6-36.

 

[darth_ritis]

My main rimfire scope is my Tract Toric 4-25 with almost 50 mils of elevation, crystal clear glass and a solid reticle. Even though I hate money and could buy a ZCO or Tangent Theta, I honestly don't wish for anything with the Tract.

I also run a Kahles 5-25 DLR with SKMR4 reticle on another rimfire, mostly because I'm not using it on centerfire lately and I like the reticle, and the parallax dial location. But, I'm tempted to put it on my AXMC and get another Tract for rimfire.

 

[Alabusa]

Athlon Midas Tac 6-24x50 on my CZ because I suck at shooting long guns and don't want to do that behind a $4k scope.

 

[LR1845]

My main rimfire scope is my Tract Toric 4-25 with almost 50 mils of elevation, crystal clear glass and a solid reticle. Even though I hate money and could buy a ZCO or Tangent Theta, I honestly don't wish for anything with the Tract.

I also run a Kahles 5-25 DLR with SKMR4 reticle on another rimfire, mostly because I'm not using it on centerfire lately and I like the reticle, and the parallax dial location. But, I'm tempted to put it on my AXMC and get another Tract for rimfire.

I wish Tract made black scopes, I'd most likely still be running them, I had their 15x56 Binos too and they are real nice.

 

[cs700]

I feel like a Dollar General shopper among all these scopes listed but since I don't compete but just shoot for fun. My choices are DiscoverOPT. I have both 5-25x56 & 5-40x56 and are very happy with both, IMO for my shooting it's hard to beat the price point & they work well for me. Farthest I've shot with them is 400 yards & seeing impacts was no problem at all.

 

[Criver600]

2-Nightforce 7X35 ATACR MilC, 1-Nightforce 7X35 ATACR MilXT. 1-NX8 4X32 MilC, all focus just under 10 yards.

Next scope will be a ZCO.

That said I mostly shoot with my scopes at 18X. I cannot tell enough difference to matter between the ATACR's, NX8, and the ZCO's I've looked through.

I can and do shoot 400 yards at my home range. Longest shot at a match was 415 yards at Frontline Defense off the tower.

 

[Moose]

I run a ZC-4X20 on my Vudoo and out to 400 yds it is outstanding.

 

[ironpony52]

Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50mm FFP Riflescope - EBR2C (MOA) Reticle​

it is the shooter not the equipment.

 

[Masojoh]

I ran a tangent for about 2 years on my rimfire guns. I purchased a Nightforce ATACR 7-35 over Christmas, and now I shoot it most of the time. The extra magnification can be very helpful (my tangent is 5-25) on the NF when spotting impacts. Both give me the ability to see rounds in flight if conditions are right. But the tangent reticle is less forgiving to me than the NF, and that is why the NF has gotten the nod here lately.

When shooting past 500 with my center fire, the tangent shines. But under 300, I don’t see a big enough difference these two.

I shot athlon Cronus scopes for a couple of years with both MIL reticles (APRS-1 and APRS-6) before getting the Tangent. The Cronus works great, with the exception that the parallax is stiff. I have out throw levers on all of my scopes to make that a non issue.

 

[Hoser]

I am using S&B scopes. I like the quality of the optics and the reticles. Just as important as that, I can get them with CW instead of CCW knobs.

 

[Dantrom]

Bushnell pro match

 

[Dantrom]

I feel like a Dollar General shopper among all these scopes listed but since I don't compete but just shoot for fun. My choices are DiscoverOPT. I have both 5-25x56 & 5-40x56 and are very happy with both, IMO for my shooting it's hard to beat the price point & they work well for me. Farthest I've shot with them is 400 yards & seeing impacts was no problem at all.

a guy in our local matches uses the 30x and I can tell you it doesn’t hold him back.

 

[NCStaccato]

ZCO 8-40 MPCT3X

 

[Jagerwerks]

Running the strike eagle 5-25 currently and I really like it but I’m about to take the plunge and order a G3 razor.

 

[Varmint-Hunter]

Aimpoint T1 on an ADM SOCOM

 

[TahoeDust]

Running the strike eagle 5-25 currently and I really like it but I’m about to take the plunge and order a G3 razor.

I'll be interested in your honest comparison.

 

[Memberberries]

Athlon Cronus BTR gen 1 4.5-29x56 ffp on a tikka t1x for NRL22 Open class in a chassis because it's great, not chinese, and was in budget(used for $800) when I built the rifle 5 years ago. it doesn't have the optical quality of some of the current production high end glass but it's good enough that it hasn't held me back, I have no complaints about the turrets, some people claim they're mushy but they click positive enough I don't have to look at what I am doing.

Arken EP5 5-25x56 ffp on a cz 457 mtr for NRL22 base class because when I built the rifle in December it was within base class budget for 2025 but they raised the price on both rifle and scope at new years so I'm going to be looking for a new slightly cheaper sticker price optic. Glass leaves quite a bit to be desired, the zoom and elevation rotation directions are backwards from all 7 other scope brands that I have which is stupid and annoying and the designers should be flogged. reticle is nice and tracks well

Vortex diamondback 4-16x44 ffp on a squirrel rifle, it's probably gonna go on the CZ to get it back in base class until I buy something with more power that's still within limits

 

[Hookturnr]

I have a Bushy DMR II on the Vudoo. Plenty of glass for PRS Rimfire over the last several seasons. I ran a Vortex PST 4-18 and a PST 6-24 before that. Commonality is my real reason for this. I had Vortex on my LR hunting gun and my PRS CF gun starting out, then switched to Bushy and changed all 3 out. I have another DMR and an XRS on my gas gun and on my CF Bolt gun. The DMR and XRS were proven reliable scopes and an upgrade from the Vortex I had been running prior.