10/22 Scope Suggestion

.22LRGUY said:
Most people would say that

I was going to type basically the same thing.

If that's the distance you're shooting, it's a rimfire scope you want. Most scopes have a parallax setting of 100 yards plus, "rimfire" models are usually set @ 50-60 yards. Adjustable objective scopes are my top pick for 22s, you can dial those in real close. Airgun scopes will work too, you could consider a budget brand like HAWKE, there are dealers in Canada. One in BC comes to mind. (D&L)

It's easy to looks at scopes without looking at the application/distance. Scopes can be very application-specific or at least, distance-specific if you want everything to work the way it should.

If I was scoping a 10/22 on a budget, I might consider an older Bushnell Banner AO, newer Sightron S1 4-12 AO. I've had several Banners and still have a Sightron S1. Lots of interesting AO/used options. In fact, about every week or two I just plug in "AO" to the search bar in the optics EE as there are always a couple I'm after.
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This makes tons of sense to me.

For under $200 and 50y you want to keep it simple and get a rimfire specific fixed parallax - no monkey business, just glass that looks good through your eye.

Turrets whatever, just set and forget. Magnification would be nice at 9 or 12 power, but just because I like to see the holes in paper really clearly. My 7 power Nikon rimfire is also fine at 50m.

I have a couple Bushnell scopes and they would be my first stop for a scope in your price range - but I would check out whatever else was around. Would check out all the local stores and look through them in person!
 
I shoot a fair bit, do at least a bit almost every day, and it's probably realistic to say that I shoot 100 rounds of .22lr for every single centerfire round. For that reason, I want a rimfire scope to have excellent optical quality; I'm gonna be looking through it a lot and I want to enjoy the experience. It makes absolutely no sense IMHO to buy some cheap POS Chinese garbage scope on a rimfire...just because it's a rimfire. I'm not saying that Chinese scopes can't be good...but they can for sure be very, very bad.

Recoil isn't an issue...low light performance isn't likely a huge concern...so you can concentrate on a nice clear image, with a reticle you like. A "rimfire" scope is parallax set for 50 or 60 yards...but an adjustable parallax will let you shoot at any range without worrying about parallax, and nowadays everybody seems to be terrified of parallax error, so being able to dial to the specific range in question is nice. I do almost no shooting at less than 100 yards, but if I did I'd probably want to dial in for the range.

And, yes for $200 or a little more, you should be able to find a used scope on the EE that gives you what you need; some patience will likely let you locate a nice older made-in-Japan Bushnell or Tasco or a used Leupold or Burris that will last as long as you want it to and serve you well the entire time. Something like a 2-7x, 3-9X, maybe 4-12x will be perfect.

Just my opinion, money cheerfully refunded if you don't think it's worth what it cost you! :)
 
I know this is double your price range but I run this on one of my 22's. Super fun!

https://www.rdsc.ca/primary-arms-slx-1-6x24-sfp-rifle-scope-gen-iv-acss-nova-fiber-wire-reticle.html

1X with the super bright reticle is super fun for close shots. Just like a red dot with both eyes open! The 6x will get you out to 100 yards no problem too.

Whatever you decide make sure you budget for a set of rings also. Make sure they are LOW rings if your 22 is in a standard stock.

It may "just be a 22" but in my opinion you should spend a bit more and get something decent. Wasting $200 on something you will probably end up not liking and replacing is a waste of time and money. Do a bit of research and buy something decent. If you don't like it you can sell it for almost what you bought it for. Or transfer it to a different firarm you get in the future.
 
I have the same requirements that the OP indicated - plinking at about 50 yds and I have a 10/22 sporter with a 4X weaver rimfire scope (and weaver mounts) that I am quite happy with. It is well balanced, light, tracks well with good glass clarity. Its size is not overpowering on the rifle.
With this combo I can keep 10 shots (CCI SV) inside a loonie - prone off the bag at 50 yds.

Any good manufacturer (like Leupold, Weaver, Bushnell etc) will work fine provided it's rimfire designated for parallax. Spend a little extra on a reliable brand name and you'll have something nice for the rest of your shooting career.
 
Thunderhog said:
Vortex is Chinese garbage, do not buy a Vortex!......:(
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I respectfully disagree. It maybe Chinese but in my experience with the 5 vortex scopes I have had(4 I still have). They have all functioned as advertised and work well. I did have one of those 5 scopes fail and it was replaced no questions asked. (If Bushnell would bloody warranty the rimfire scope of mine maybe I’d have purchased more of them instead).

As is I do like vortex for the fact that they sell in my books a decent product at a relatively fair price. They stand behind and support their product. Additionally they support the sport at all the Local matches I have been too in a big way with many prizes and such.

Vortex Scopes I have or had in order of oldest to newest.
1. Crossfire II 2-7x32
2. Crossfire II 6-18 V-Bright (this one failed was replaced and sold)
3. Diamondback SP 4-16x42
4. Diamondback Tactical 4-16x44 MRAD
5. Crossfire II 2-7x32.
 
Tinybear said:
I respectfully disagree. It maybe Chinese but in my experience with the 5 vortex scopes I have had(4 I still have). They have all functioned as advertised and work well. I did have one of those 5 scopes fail and it was replaced no questions asked. (If Bushnell would bloody warranty the rimfire scope of mine maybe I’d have purchased more of them instead).

As is I do like vortex for the fact that they sell in my books a decent product at a relatively fair price. They stand behind and support their product. Additionally they support the sport at all the Local matches I have been too in a big way with many prizes and such.

Vortex Scopes I have or had in order of oldest to newest.
1. Crossfire II 2-7x32
2. Crossfire II 6-18 V-Bright (this one failed was replaced and sold)
3. Diamondback SP 4-16x42
4. Diamondback Tactical 4-16x44 MRAD
5. Crossfire II 2-7x32.
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A lot of Chinese scopes actually work.

Tasco, cheap Bushnell's, Scorpion Brand, Vortex, and others still work, even though they are made in China.

It still makes them cheap Chinese $hit......:)

I'm glad you are happy with your Chinese optics, and I'm happy they work for you.

But for $200.00 and maybe a little more, there are better options........:)
 
Suther said:
Anything the OP buys in his price range is going to be made in China.
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Actually not true. There are some Japanese and Philippines' glass that can be purchased for $200.00.

Under $200.00, not so much. But the OP wants a good scope that can be purchased for his 22 plinking.

I suggest buy a better quality scope the first time and do not keep upgrading until one is happy. Especially in the pre-owned Gunnutz, Gun-Post, or Town-Post optics sections.

In saying this, Suther, your statement is partially correct as if he spends $100.00, or $150.00 it's going to be a Chinese optic which usually brings a poor quality.

I wish there was someone with knowledge to teach me when I started hunting/shooting in 1978. I could have saved a lot of disappointment and time constantly up-grading and switching to better quality glass on my firearms. One can buy pre-owned and get good quality if you know what you are buying.

47 years has taught me that buying anything that is a little better quality to start with, is better than buying cheap $hit and trying to up-grade........:)

;)
 
What non-chinese optic can you get for $200 these days? Seriously curious. I thought you're looking at twice that to get anything non-chinese at this point, but I could absolutely be wrong on that.
 
I've had a bunch of Vortex scopes; I've only actually purchased two, but they kept breaking and getting replaced, breaking and getting replaced, breaking and getting replaced...

There are two philosophies regarding how to build and sell a product. One is to build a good quality item and price it high enough to make a decent but not exorbitant profit; the other is to build a cheap piece of crap and then price it much higher than its construction merits, so that you can afford to replace it over and over without losing money. IMHO Vortex is the master of the second method. They offer a terrific warranty...and there's a very good chance that you will need to use it. I'm sure that their premium lines, like the Razor series, are awesome optics...but I know that their low and mid-low lines are simply not worth the money they cost. You're buying that wonderful no-questions-asked warranty, which means that the money you spend is largely going to future replacements rather than to a product that is good enough not to need replacing.
 
Suther said:
What non-chinese optic can you get for $200 these days? Seriously curious. I thought you're looking at twice that to get anything non-chinese at this point, but I could absolutely be wrong on that.
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I used to sell Burris Droptine Rimfire 3-9X40mm scopes for $200.00 before taxes in my shop. They are made in the Philippines and are excellent quality scopes for the money.

I currently still own three of them.

Keep in mind, I have been retired since March of 2024, so I do not know what they cost now. They could be more money with our dollar being so poor. If the OP researches Gunnutz EE, Gun-Post's optics section and Town-Post, I am certain he can find a great quality scope for $200.00 that in fact isn't China made.

In my shop, my motto was sell a lot, make a little. Our mark-up was 30% over cost on ammo, scopes, accessories, etc. Firearms were 25% to 30% depending on the actual cost. We sold over 3.2 million dollars in gross sales most years, I was there for close to four years. Made my boss a more wealthy man than he already was to begin with.

Most local gun shops run a mark-up of 40% to 60%, it ends up costing you the customer more. Maybe they do not sell in huge volumes, but we certainly did.

Every city and town have different gun shop owners and different ideas on how to make money. I know places like Vancouver, Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary, Prince George and others have gun shops where prices are extremely expensive. This makes it difficult for new hunters/shooters to get started.

In saying all this, I hope the OP can find a decent scope for the budget that he allows........:)
 
Probably sound like an old relic but I ran a 10/22:for years with a little bushnell rinfire 3-7x Custom with integral dovetail mount. Parallax set for 50 yards. Only 22mm tube but very good Bausch and Lomb glass and very clear and sharp. Can be found on the EE now and again for $100 or so. Look nice on a smallish rifle as well.
 
Jay said:
Bushnell Banner 4-12x40AO
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I'd second this, I've had this scope for a few years, for this price range it's a solid choice.

Shot a mapleseed/winterseed with it, worked great, been on my small game 22lr since then, no problems. Overall quality was a step up over a Vortex Crossfire I had prior to it (glass, build quality seems better, turrets markedly better, etc.; and it's cheaper). Also made in Korea vs. China (the newer ones at least) if that matters to you. Nothing against Vortex though
 
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