Budget under $1k scope and rifle choice

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Alchemist

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Looking for a versatile rimfire rifle as my first (real....I preordered the GSG-16 too) rifle. Something that’s fun to shoot, good to learn on, decent accuracy at decent distances (not after gazillion mile shots with a rimfire), maybe something I can use in competitions.

Is a Ruger Precision Rimfire with something like a Nikon rimfire scope a good choice? Looks like I can get that combo new for under 1k with taxes in.

I do have to be honest and admit to also liking the look of the rifle too.
 
RPR and a vortex diamondback tactical is very popular but just over the $1k mark... Most popular rifle in 'production class' CRPS would probably be a Savage mark 2 with a heavy barrel. I would personally only look at scopes with an adjustable parallax and a real usable reticle for hold overs, in the CRPS the 3x biggest 'production class' scopes (under $500) would have to be Vortex DB tactical with EBR-2C reticle, Athlon argos with APMR reticle, and the cabelas covenant. but the RPR won't shoot in the production class so its not a big deal with what optic you buy if it goes over budget, sky is the limit.
 
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sk8snwmx said:
RPR and a vortex diamondback tactical is very popular but just over the $1k mark... I would personally only look at scopes with a real usable reticle for hold overs, in the CRPS the 3x biggest 'production class' scopes (under $500) would have to be Vortex DB tactical with EBR-2C reticle, Athlon argos with APMR reticle, and the cabelas covenant. but the RPR won't shoot in the production class so its not a big deal with what optic you buy, sky is the limit for CRPS.
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Thank you. I need to look up some acronyms now. Does the vortex diamondback have the features you’re talking about? I’ll do some research on that too. If I can’t stretch to that is there a decent alternative?

Edit: sorry, I see you fully answered that about the vortex.
 
sk8snwmx said:
RPR and a vortex diamondback tactical is very popular but just over the $1k mark... Most popular rifle in 'production class' CRPS would probably be a Savage mark 2 with a heavy barrel. I would personally only look at scopes with an adjustable parallax and a real usable reticle for hold overs, in the CRPS the 3x biggest 'production class' scopes (under $500) would have to be Vortex DB tactical with EBR-2C reticle, Athlon argos with APMR reticle, and the cabelas covenant. but the RPR won't shoot in the production class so its not a big deal with what optic you buy if it goes over budget, sky is the limit.
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Excuse the noob question but I take it that reticle can be used with various calibres with appropriate conversions? What I read initially was that a dedicated rimfire scope would be best for a rimfire rifle, hence the Nikon rimfire mentioned in my first post.
 
Alchemist said:
Excuse the noob question but I take it that reticle can be used with various calibres with appropriate conversions? What I read initially was that a dedicated rimfire scope would be best for a rimfire rifle, hence the Nikon rimfire mentioned in my first post.
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Nikon, bushnell and a bunch of others make a .22 specific 'hold over' reticles in scopes. basically the .22 reticle is set to be a basic bullet drop 'estimation' but the problem arises when you try different types of ammo that shoots different speeds and have different POI (point of impact) at say 100 yard that doesn't corralate to the marks that the manufacturer put in the reticle. If you have a scope that has a MRAD or MOA reticle it is an exact measurement at a yardage that you can adapt to different type of ammo that you can shoot and know the drop numbers of for your rifle and ammo.

for example say you zero your rifle at 50 yards with a faster round like CCI minimags 1200+fps and shoot to 100 and see that the POI is only 3" lower, but then switch ammo to say a CCI SV which is a 'standard velocity' 1050fps type ammo and try and shoot at 100 yards you will see the POI probably 6" or 8" or more low..

**note** I haven't ran the actual #'s, just guessed at the POIs, but these can be pretty exactly calculated and noted for your rifle.

But is all depends on what you want to do with the rifle,
-if you want to just benchrest groups at 50 yards and that's it, you will probably want a very high magnification and a fine lined reticle / target dot usually has an adjustable objective lens so you can tune the parallax, zero and shoot with a specific ammo only.
- most hunters will probably shoot a rimfire specific 3-7 or 3-9 power with HV ammo
 
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sk8snwmx said:
Nikon, bushnell and a bunch of others make a .22 specific 'hold over' reticles in scopes. basically the .22 reticle is set to be a basic bullet drop 'estimation' but the problem arises when you try different types of ammo that shoots different speeds and have different POI (point of impact) at say 100 yard that doesn't corralate to the marks that the manufacturer put in the reticle. If you have a scope that has a MRAD or MOA reticle it is an exact measurement at a yardage that you can adapt to different type of ammo that you can shoot and know the drop numbers of for your rifle and ammo.

for example say you zero your rifle at 50 yards with a faster round like CCI minimags 1200+fps and shoot to 100 and see that the POI is only 3" lower, but then switch ammo to say a CCI SV which is a 'standard velocity' 1050fps type ammo and try and shoot at 100 yards you will see the POI probably 6" or 8" or more low..

**note** I haven't ran the actual #'s, just guessed at the POIs, but these can be pretty exactly calculated and noted for your rifle.

But is all depends on what you want to do with the rifle,
-if you want to just benchrest groups at 50 yards and that's it, you will probably want a very high magnification and a fine lined reticle / target dot usually has an adjustable objective lens so you can tune the parallax, zero and shoot with a specific ammo only.
- most hunters will probably shoot a rimfire specific 3-7 or 3-9 power with HV ammo
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Thank you for the detailed explanation. That’s why I like this site. I’d like some flexibility with the rifle as I don’t think I have the budget to buy multiple rifles. I enjoy target shooting, I’m not a hunter. I like a challenge too and my guess is that I would shoot from various positions, prone, standing etc. I’m not as interested in bench shooting but perhaps I’d give it a go as I’d love to see how far out I can hit a target.
 
Another option may be the Sightron STAC 4-20x50. I have this on my CZ455 and have taken it out to 200 yards with no problem. The MOA reticle is nice as is the scope. While not set up as a BDC for a 22, you can certainly spend some time with your ammo of choice and determine what the hash marks equate to for your gun. The parallax range is from 9 yards and up which is nice for some close in shooting. New they are about $750 plus tax so meets your budget.
 
mineguy said:
Another option may be the Sightron STAC 4-20x50. I have this on my CZ455 and have taken it out to 200 yards with no problem. The MOA reticle is nice as is the scope. While not set up as a BDC for a 22, you can certainly spend some time with your ammo of choice and determine what the hash marks equate to for your gun. The parallax range is from 9 yards and up which is nice for some close in shooting. New they are about $750 plus tax so meets your budget.
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Do you really need a scope for 9 yards....
 
chanrobi said:
Do you really need a scope for 9 yards....
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Don't knock the scope for being versatile. It doesn't make the scope less useful. The bigger, more expensive SIII 10-50 goes down to 13 yards. I don't shoot it at such a short range with my BR rimfire rifle, but on an air rifle used for indoor practice, scopes with a close focal adjustment would fit the bill. The Sightron SIII 45x45 fixed power scope goes down to ten yards.
 
Alchemist said:
Looking for a versatile rimfire rifle as my first (real....I preordered the GSG-16 too) rifle. Something that’s fun to shoot, good to learn on, decent accuracy at decent distances (not after gazillion mile shots with a rimfire), maybe something I can use in competitions.

Is a Ruger Precision Rimfire with something like a Nikon rimfire scope a good choice? Looks like I can get that combo new for under 1k with taxes in.

I do have to be honest and admit to also liking the look of the rifle too.
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I agree with those who recommended a CZ45X bolt action with some mid-quality scope. I don't have Sightron or Leupold quality scopes but my old Japanese or Korean made Bushnell Banner 4-12X with Adjustable Objectives have been good enough for me to see (given the right lighting conditions) my bullets on their way to the bulls-eye at 100 meters.

For $1000 budget, I'd get a used Cz452 American or Varmint and top it with a decent scope like a Nikon rimfire 4-12X with Adjustable Objective. You'll have enough leftover for a lot of ammo.
 
I have a CZ 455 lux with a mil dot reticle Bushnell Ultra Legend 4x14 scope. I can hit shotgun hulls on the 100 yard stand off a front rest on the bench.

Not a lot of $ for a decently accurate quality rifle.
 
Alchemist said:
They are attractively priced too I see but I don’t mind admitting that I’m drawn to the tacticool look.
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Here's the bonus, you can buy a chassis for it afterwards, and the rifle will actually be worth upgrading, unlike the PRR.

This is why I don't dump any money into my ruger american rimfire, I know i'll be buying a cz for long range and competition use in the future.
 
chanman said:
I would expect adjustable parallax; often down to 10 yards. Kinda like air rifle scopes minus the need to withstand the dual recoil impulse of spring guns.
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Which funny enough, can be found on a bunch of regular scopes as well not marketed specifically as "rimfire". The sooner you realize that the better and more optics choices you have.

Check this out: https://youtu.be/B2zmbB3iAhs?list=FLFNmhcf26ZKN4C4lZCaCFww&t=1583

Nightforce 7-35 x 56 F1 ATACR. ~ $3600 USD
 
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