New Rifle, Need a Scope

H

HammerliSP20

Regular
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Location
Regina SK
I just picked up an Anschutz 1416 D HB in .22LR and I'm looking for a scope; more for targets and gophers than anything else.

I'm currently a handgun shooter so I'm new at the rifle game. I wear glasses. Budget is up to $2k.

Range would be from 20 yards out to a 100 or so? Not sure how accurate this rifle is going to be, but I'll be testing ammo to find out.

Any help/suggestions would be appreciated.
 
There is no need to spend $2,000 on a scope for a rimfire rifle.

Rimfire scopes are built to a different standard, obviously, just as good optics and mechanics, but not designed to take the recoils of high powered rifles.

I would visit the sites of the quality scope manufacturers, and peruse their higher power rimfire offerings.

To me higher power in rimfire is something like 4-12, unless target shooting only.

If no hunting get the highest variable you can.

Leopold has their Freedom line, not rimfire specific, but good, and reasonably-priced.

LEUPOLD VX-FREEDOM 6-18X40 CDS 30MM TRI-MOA

$749.95
 
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Shooting gophers often involves shots at very close range as well as the longer shots. For close range you want a variable that will go down low enough that parallax isn't that critical to focus. What I've found is that if I have a scope cranked up to say 14x and then move to something closer, its so out of focus that you absolutely have to adjust the AO or else you can't even see it. I've switched back to a lower powered scope, a Nikon 3-9 fixed objective, because its just so much more convenient. Who knows, you might want to buy two scopes and swap them back and forth depending on what you are doing that day.
 
I recommend a wide end of 2.5-3, since a lot of gopher hunting is about acquiring the target...and a larger FOV is better, especially 20-50 yards.

I would also make sure the scope has adjustable parallax, giving you flexibility for gopher duty today, and a second (longer range) life on another rifle (or plinking at 100 yards plus).

Bigger scope isn't better scope on a gopher gun. Lighter weight will pay dividends every time you use it.

With all that said, I went with this one for my Dlask 10/22:

https://www.nikonsportoptics.com/en/nikon-products/riflescopes/prostaff-p5-3-12x42sf-matte-bdc.html

Only a half-dozen range trips under my belt with it, but I quite like it. It's bright, crisp crosshairs, and retains accuracy throughout the zoom range.

Full disclosure - Nikon is getting out of the scope biz...but it checked all my boxes and was on sale.
 
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