What Are Your Favorite 22LR Rifle Scopes?

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  • calicojack

    American Sporting Rifle
    MDS Supporter
    May 29, 2018
    5,348
    Cuba on the Chesapeake
    Just curious what 22LR scopes have worked out well for you, whatever the price or use case.

    I like the Vortex Diamondback 2-7X35 which works for me out to 100 yards for general shooting / plinking.

    Another one I like is the Vortex Crossfire 4-12X40. Heavier scope but bright and plenty of magnification and an adjustable objective for parallax setting. Good for informal target shooting.

    Finally, there's the Nikon 3-9X40 Prostaff rimfire, another good plinker if you find one as these are no longer made.

    I have had good results from all three of these.
     

    Baldheaded

    Ultimate Member
    Jan 18, 2021
    1,277
    A.A. Co.
    I prefer a red dot on my 10/22. I use a Bushnell TRS-25 and have had no problems with it. My gun is just a fun plinker. If I were to do competitive shooting then a nice scope would be needed. My gun is very accurate out to 100yds. When I want dead on accuracy I use my CZ457 Varmint with a Vortex Viper 4x16x50. I hit dimes all day at 50yds. and just about quarters at 100yds.
     

    dist1646

    Ultimate Member
    May 1, 2012
    8,758
    Eldersburg
    Leupold 6X HBR with target knobs and AO. That is what I have on mine. Some of the older rifles still have the original vintage 4X scope though.
     

    dontpanic

    Ultimate Member
    Jul 7, 2013
    6,631
    Timonium
    I just switched from the Diamondback 2-7 to a Leupold VX Freedom 3-9.

    I just didn't like the eye box or eye relief on the diamondback. I couldn't use it above 5X without the the image getting blurry.

    I'm actively looking for a deal on a Athlon 6-24 BTR gen2 to put on my CZ 457. I'm going to try shooting it out to 200yds.
     

    BuildnBurn

    Professional Pyro
    Oct 25, 2012
    731
    Frederick County
    I have a Leupold 3x9 rimfire on my Kimber 82 sporter that I really like, clear and bright.
    I have a Weaver T24 on my BSA International MKIII but that's pretty much only for target ( I did shoot a groundhog with it, pretty much what part of the eye do I want to hit him).
    I put a Weaver 2x7 rimfire on my BRNO Model 5, that is a good scope for the money, but Weaver is out of production now.
     

    fidelity

    piled higher and deeper
    MDS Supporter
    Aug 15, 2012
    22,400
    Frederick County
    I like the Leopold VX-Freedom 3-9x 33 with AO (adjustable objective for parallax) ...

    https://www.midwayusa.com/product/102031591

    It's sharp, clear, lightweight, and with a good eyebox. The Winchester Wildcat below has one. The matte finish matches the rifle.

    I do miss their glossy 2-7x and 3-9x scope offerings like the one on the Browning T-Bolt below. They only seem to have a glossy 4x rimfire scope these days.

    Clearidge had an alternative for a little while (a glossy 3-9x with AO for rimfire), but they don't have much inventory these days (only see a silver bodied AO rimfire scope on their website).
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    calicojack

    American Sporting Rifle
    MDS Supporter
    May 29, 2018
    5,348
    Cuba on the Chesapeake
    I just didn't like the eye box or eye relief on the diamondback. I couldn't use it above 5X without the the image getting blurry.

    The Diamondbacks have a less forgiving eye relief then the less expensive Crossfire line. I almost got a Crossfire instead of a Diamondback for that reason. But it's not really bad until you get to the 9X and higher Vortex scopes IMHO.

    I have a Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10X40 that I am not happy with (not on a 22LR). The glass is not particularly bright and the parallax is fixed at 150 yards. I do hear really good things about the VX-Freedom scopes from the rank and file here on MDS though.
     

    Pinecone

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 4, 2013
    28,175
    I have a Midway BSA Tactical 4-14x on my CZ455 VPT. This seems to be the same scope as the Primary Arms and Mueller.

    I ended up with the Leupold on a 10/22 takedown. I am a big Vortex fan, but found I just preferred the Leupold more.

    I have Simmons scopes on a few other .22 rifles. Not rimfire versions, but full sized scopes. But these are Simmons from the 80s and 90s, when I think they made a better scope.

    And on my first ever rifle, a Marlin 99C, I have a Weaver V22 scope. :D
     

    Catch-10-22

    Appleseed Shoot Boss
    MDS Supporter
    Oct 27, 2009
    774
    PG County, MD
    I have a lot of rimfire scopes for Appleseed.

    AO Rimfire scope-wise, I would rate:

    1. Clearidge UltraRM
    2. Weaver
    3. Nikon Prostaff

    My newest rimfire scope is a Leupold VX Freedom 2-7 (https://www.leupold.com/vx-freedom-2-7x33-rimfire-moa-riflescope). I have that on a takedown and really like it - very balanced in terms of size, glass quality, magnification range, eye relief, cost, and reticle for holdovers.

    I have a couple Primary Arms 6X Classics. Very versatile. Glass is not the brightest, but have used effectively to 200 yards. Great for the price.

    Also have a Primary Arms 1-6 22LR ACSS scope - glass and illumination are great but it is very heavy for a 22 with a limited magnification range.

    I also have 3 Nikon 3X P223s - they were my favorite compact, lightweight, simple, flexible eye relief scopes. But one of them now has a reticle issue...and Nikon is out of the scope support business :(

    And finally have an older Bushnell 3-9 that has been very serviceable!
     

    Thwack22

    Member
    Aug 8, 2012
    54
    NoVa
    Depends on the application and budget for me. I have a Nikon rimfire BDC that is great for plinking, and for precision tactial the Athlon and Vortex lines have a number of excellent scopes. A new brand in the tactical arena is Arken - great value under $500. I've also heard good things about Sightron for benchrest and of course Leupold has a great line of optics, especially for hunters.
     

    leomort

    Active Member
    Jul 31, 2020
    199
    I have a Leupold VX-II 3-9x33mm EFR scope on my left handed CZ 452 american 22lr which clears the bolt throw from CZ.

    I bought a Nikon Tactical Rimfire 2-7x32 matte BDC150 but that can't use on my CZ 452 due to bolt throw. Maybe I'll put it on my Ruger 10/22?

    But I also bought the Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9mmx3mm EFR which is replace the original VX-II, so I'll probably but that one on my Ruger 10/22 and see how the newer one compares to the older model.

    I want to try out both my rimfires for Appleseed shooting matches.

    Forgot to add that I also have two Leupold VX-I 4x28mm scopes as well
     
    Last edited:

    Neutron

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Nov 20, 2014
    1,531
    severna park
    Bug Buster for the 10/22 Takedown. Fits in the carry case without removing the scope even though it comes with QD rings.
     

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    toppkatt

    Ultimate Member
    Apr 22, 2017
    1,185
    I use a Leopold EFR 4-9 on my best .22lr rifle. On other I run the gamete (cheap to less cheap to moderate, but the Leopold is my best scope on a .22LR.
     

    FlokiBear

    Member
    Oct 12, 2020
    69
    I picked up a Nikon Prostaff Rimfire 3-9x40 a couple years back when it was on Black Friday sale for I want to say $99... It lives on my Ruger Precision Rimfire and does a good job. Mainly use it for 50 yard IR5050 targets but works just as well for silhouette matches out to 100 meters just fine. I also got the whole rifle/scope a custom battle worn cerakote so it will stay there as long as I own the rifle.
     

    Growler215

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 30, 2020
    2,156
    SOMD
    Recently picked up an Athlon Neos 4-12×40 for a stainless Ruger American rimfire that I bought to give my 11yo daughter for Xmas this year.
     

    photoracer

    Competition Shooter
    Oct 22, 2010
    3,318
    West Virginia
    That BSA 4-14x44 FFP used to be an exclusive MidwayUSA scope in the beginning. Not only is it my favorite .22 scope its also the scope I put on my personal builds and aquisitions first for testing before I decide what to actually use on them. I did NOT however put it on my Interarms Whitworth Express in .375 H&H Magnum.
     

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