Do i need an AO for a rimfire gun?

[mr00jimbo]

I am looking to buy a used bushnell 3200 for my 10/22...everybody raves about AO...I would be shooting 25/50/100 yards basically...do i NEED a AO? It's considerably pricier but would I go nuts without it? This is a target rifle?
I'm thinking 3x9 power?

 

[Silverado]

You don't really need it, but when shooting little bullets at little targets, I believe it helps.

I've got the 3200 5-15 X 40 with the AO on my .22...

 

[mr00jimbo]

how much did your scope set you back?
what's a fair used price on 'em

 

[manitou210]

A/O you have to have, to shoot small one hole groups

 

[Silverado]

how much did your scope set you back?
what's a fair used price on 'em

I paid whatever list was at Russell's when I bought the rifle 2 years ago... it was mid $300's IIRC. It's a really nice scope, and works great out to 150, which is certainly as far as I need a rimfire rifle to work LOL

My only wish is that it had a thinner crosshair. I'm really getting into this whole aim small/miss small idea lately.

 

[762shooter]

Shooting at varying distances as you say you do, in my opinion you do need AO.

If you are using a scope without AO experiment a bit. Set your rifle in a steady position on bags or some kind of rest, aim at a target, then move your eye from side to side. Now do it again at different ranges. What you will see is quite a lot of movement of the crosshairs at some ranges. This is called parallax error and it leads to inaccuracy unless your eye is perfectly positioned for every shot, which is nearly impossible. AO allows you to adjust out the parallax error.

A good, reasonably priced scope for a .22 with AO is the Bushnell Banner 4-14 AO for about $130 at Wally's.

 

[Eagleye]

Without the AO, You will find it harder to shoot small groups at 25 yards and 50 yards, simply because of the Parallax that is inherent at closer ranges with a scope set to be parallax-free at 100 or 150 yards. The parallax will not be as severe at the lowest power setting, but is still apparent. I find it to be a royal P.I.T.A. to shoot targets at close range without an AO. Regards, Eagleye.