Rimfire PRS Scope

[Adamg_55]

I just shot the Meaford PRS match and ive caught the bug! Im trying to get a rifle set up for rimfire PRS and im trying to pick a scope. On my centerfire rifle ive got a Vortex Viper PST Gen 2 with the EBR-2C reticle (christmas tree).

Im trying to pick a scope that will be the most similair to my Viper without being too hard on the wallet. I was considering the Vortex Diamondback Tactical FFP with the EBR-2C reticle. That way ive got the same reticle and most similar scopes for rimfire and centerfire.

Are there any other options out there for cheap scopes with a christmas tree reticle?

Would i be better off with 4-16x or 6-24x?

 

[mustang979]

I'm stuck making a similar decision. What's got me most concerned is having enough elevation... Cci-sv should need around 15 mils up (assuming a 50 yard zero), that's getting in to 34mm tube territory

 

[adamg]

Probably better off with 6-24x. 24x is not very useful during a stage in my experience, but for zeroing and fine-tuning your dopes it is handy to be able to make really careful shots off the clock. I don't think there's a need to zoom below 6x on precision rimfire. Offhand standing it's probably about right.

Mustang, best trick you can do is to run a canted rail that puts your 50y zero right near limit of down elevation on turret, giving you maximum usable up dial.

 

[mustang979]

Yeah, I've got a 30moa rail milled in to my 22, and the 50 yard zero is much closer to the middle of the adjustment range then I expected

 

[douginont]

The 6-24 only has 65 Moa of elevation, the 4-16 has 85 Moa. I have the 4-16 on my Ruger PRS and with medium rings, it just clears the front rail.
Still waiting for the 300m range to be finished in Bancroft to check that puppy out.
I can see the rounds as they fly into the gong and target at 100m

 

[Adamg_55]

The 6-24 only has 65 Moa of elevation, the 4-16 has 85 Moa. I have the 4-16 on my Ruger PRS and with medium rings, it just clears the front rail.
Still waiting for the 300m range to be finished in Bancroft to check that puppy out.
I can see the rounds as they fly into the gong and target at 100m

Are you happy with the 4-16? Do you wish you went for the 6-24? For elevation I can always get a 20moa rail and then a 20moa mount.

 

[douginont]

I'm happy with it so far, like I've said before I only shot 100m. Strelok says I need 55.9 Moa to go 300m. I'm good for that with my setup.
I would never recommend the Ruger PRS 22lr because the mag is very loose and I have to push up on it to chamber the next round.
Look into using that rail and mount combo, you may not have enough down elevation to zero the rifle. I believe the Ruger has a 30 Moa rail.
One thing the Diamondback doesn't have, which would be nice, is zero stop.

 

[Mystic Precision]

Given the demands put on a scope while shooting LR rimfire like CRPS, cheap is not a place I would want for an optic. You will be dialing much more travel so tracking and repeatability is as demanding (more so actually) vs a centerfire scope.

A great entry point with full features, reticle and glass is the Athlon MIDAS TAC 6-24. This is a new'ish scope that came out early this year. I have been using it all season and has worked great.

If the budget allows, the Ares ETR will do all that you want and has helped me get on several podiums this season.

If you are interested in putting together a rifle for this type of shooting, I have been very happy with the set up I came up with and can offer most of the gear.

Jerry

 

[Alchemist]

Just to butt in...would the Burris fullfield e1 4.5-14 x 42 be an option? I’m just looking at this scope to see if it would be a good fit with a Ruger Precision Rimfire for flexible shooting options up to some distances beyond 100y occasionally.

 

[Adamg_55]

Given the demands put on a scope while shooting LR rimfire like CRPS, cheap is not a place I would want for an optic. You will be dialing much more travel so tracking and repeatability is as demanding (more so actually) vs a centerfire scope.

A great entry point with full features, reticle and glass is the Athlon MIDAS TAC 6-24. This is a new'ish scope that came out early this year. I have been using it all season and has worked great.

If the budget allows, the Ares ETR will do all that you want and has helped me get on several podiums this season.

If you are interested in putting together a rifle for this type of shooting, I have been very happy with the set up I came up with and can offer most of the gear.

Jerry

How about the Argos? Seems a little more budget friendly

 

[rgv]

Given the demands put on a scope while shooting LR rimfire like CRPS, cheap is not a place I would want for an optic. You will be dialing much more travel so tracking and repeatability is as demanding (more so actually) vs a centerfire scope.

^^^^ This

I tested a diamondback on a 10 mil tall target and the tracking was not acceptable and the return to zero was ok as long as you weren’t concerned where the first shot after RTZ went.

The milrad reticle on a mid priced Athlon (forget the name) didn’t even subtend correctly and I gave up the tall target test after five rounds because the windage drift was excessive,

My 22 prs rifle now has a Bushnell ERS that I paid $1200 for used and tracks and rtz like a survey instrument.

My advice is to either spend a bit more and get a quality scope with proven internal systems, or buy the diamondback and learn to hold rather than dial, which you should be learning to do anyway.

 

[Mystic Precision]

How about the Argos? Seems a little more budget friendly

It is a decent scope and has done well for shooters. I believe it was on a production rifle that took the overall in out east at the beginning of the season. But it has older specs and features.

For a few hundred more, you get a scope that does EVERYTHING well, has current specs, reticle, very nice glass, dead reliable tracking, good amounts of travel, easy to use eyebox, zero stop in very user friendly turrets.

the demands of CRPS and similar matches require 'better'... If the scope doesn't return or track to the 0.1mil each and everytime, you are going to cost yourself points and chasing misses due to your gear is not something I would want.

Put it another way, would you want a $400 scope to go on a "centerfire" competition rifle that you will be dialing from 100yds to 1800yds all day long?

YMMV

Jerry



Doing some testing with the scope I am recommending.... it worked great.

 

[Mystic Precision]

Just announced Midas TAC 5-25X56 34mm scope ... Essentially an Ares ETR with HD glass. Expected pricing should be between the 30mm Midas TAC and Ares ETR (ED glass).

32mils of travel. Another excellent option.

PM or email for preorder... Thanks

Jerry

 

[theDuck]

Just my observations/ experiences. I shoot the Rimfire Precision Series in the Production class and not very well I will add. I just finished 6 out of 7 at the Eastern Championship this last weekend. I use a Cabela's Covenant 4-16x44 scope. I like the christmas tree reticle in it. However it doesn't seem to hold a 100M zero though the further elevations on the reticle work rather well. I lose a lot of points at the close range. Production class limits the $$ you can spend on equipment so you pay the penalty in unreliable scopes.
I noticed at Meaford as an RO this year and at other PRS and CPRS matches that shooters who crank elevation for each distance commonly time out before they finish. Learn to use the reticle for hold overs. It is fast and accurate if your reticle is fine enough. I only cranked for the 293M distance this weekend.
The other thing I found is I don't need more than 10 power on the scope. Again as an observation as a RO and shooter, shooters with the power dialed up to like 16x or more wasted time trying to find the target. I need at least 8 power to see the reticle well enough.
As for zero stop, I use a 40 MOA EGW rail. That puts my zero near the bottom of the scope elevations. I can turn down less than a turn and I know where the bottom is.
Just my 0.02¢

 

[Mystic Precision]

If the goal is to stay in CRPS production, I can strongly recommend the Athlon Argos BTR 6-24. I believe it was 3rd overall last weekend at the finale.

I shoot in Open so prefer other scopes from the Athlon lineup but the Argos has worked well for a number of shooters. It just has older specs and features... but very nice glass

PM or email if I can help.

Jerry

 

[Alchemist]

If the goal is to stay in CRPS production, I can strongly recommend the Athlon Argos BTR 6-24. I believe it was 3rd overall last weekend at the finale.

I shoot in Open so prefer other scopes from the Athlon lineup but the Argos has worked well for a number of shooters. It just has older specs and features... but very nice glass

PM or email if I can help.

Jerry

One older review I saw talked about mushy turrets and a drop in clarity after 18x zoom. Is that the case still (turrets) or was that addressed? I’m looking for similar (versatile) approx $500 optics.

 

[Mystic Precision]

This is an entry level scope... but still offers a ton of useable features... and they seem to run quite well.

Clicks on turrets are quite clicky and work well... optical clarity is surprisingly good in the useable range for PRS 10 to 18X... there could be a drop off in clarity at the highest mag. Reticle is functional.. not ideal but not bad.

All new upgrades are going into the newest scopes... The Argos BTR is an older design, it is what it is at a fair price which is over $500.. but still qualifies for production.

Me, I wish the production costing was changed... way too many shooters running optics that may not be up to the task.... just because they want to spend very little.

Optics in LR rimfire will see more demands then centerfire... and no one in centerfire is running out to buy $400 scopes to shoot out to 1 mile.

Jerry

 

[Alchemist]

This is an entry level scope... but still offers a ton of useable features... and they seem to run quite well.

Clicks on turrets are quite clicky and work well... optical clarity is surprisingly good in the useable range for PRS 10 to 18X... there could be a drop off in clarity at the highest mag. Reticle is functional.. not ideal but not bad.

All new upgrades are going into the newest scopes... The Argos BTR is an older design, it is what it is at a fair price which is over $500.. but still qualifies for production.

Me, I wish the production costing was changed... way too many shooters running optics that may not be up to the task.... just because they want to spend very little.

Optics in LR rimfire will see more demands then centerfire... and no one in centerfire is running out to buy $400 scopes to shoot out to 1 mile.

Jerry

Thanks. Does Primary Arms have anything worth looking at? I saw a scope there for circa $500 that looked ok from reviews. Have to admit, this optics lark is way more difficult than choosing a firearm.

 

[Mystic Precision]

Choosing an optic is really simple... it just costs some to get one that does what we want... and for rimfire PRS, the demands are some of the toughest in the competition sports.

I can recommend what I use and that is Athlon... for the limited budget shooter. Got other options if the budget is thick....

Sorry, have no first hand experience with PA so will not give an opinion.

Jerry

 

[douginont]

Jerry, you have me sold. From all your posts I can tell you're a decent guy. I'm interested in the 4.5-30×56 but it's still over the horizon. I'll PM you when I'm ready.