Rimfire optics

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spurly

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I have been thinking about getting a new or newer rimfire scope. The 2 I have thought about are
Vx2 3-9x33 EFR
Or one of the Leupold freedom variables in 2-7, or 3-9.
Looking for experience with these models or opinions of these vs. Others
Any input will be appreciated.
 
I have the VX freedom 2-7x32 with the rimfire moa reticle and it's fantastic. Parallax set for 60 yards, super bright and clear and I really like the reticle, nice and fine and really useable.
Only complaints would be it doesn't come with any kind of caps, which seems to be getting more common, and the finish marks up super easy.
But functionality is top notch, and I'm expecting typical Leupold quality and long life.
 
I just this morning finished mounting a Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7x33 Rimfire with MOA reticle - nothing but good to say about it so far - but is way too stupid cold outside to even consider to sight it in.

I have more or less a "full set" here - VX-2 3-9x33 with EFR and AO for rimfire, on a Ruger 77 in 22 Mag. The VX-1 in 2-7x28 on a Ruger 96/22 Mag. A Leupold FX-1 4x28 for rimfire on a CZ Scout. And now this VX Freedom 2-7x33 with MOA on a BRNO No. 1.

The FX-1 4x28 came with latex rubber "bikini" type covers, which is what is on it. The other three are wearing the Leupold scope cover fabric "sleeves". To buy separately, they seem to go for a fairly healthy price - that Leupold "logo" must be very expensive ...
 
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Potashminer said:
I just this morning finished mounting a Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7x33 Rimfire with MOA reticle - nothing but good to say about it so far - but is way too stupid cold outside to even consider to sight it in.

I have more or less a "full set" here - VX-2 3-9x33 with EFR and AO for rimfire, on a Ruger 77 in 22 Mag. The VX-1 in 2-7x28 on a Ruger 96/22 Mag. A Leupold 4x28 for rimfire on a CZ Scout. And now this VX Freedom 2-7x33 with MOA on a BRNO No. 1.
Click to expand...

What’s your opinion between the freedom, and the 3-9 a/0 scope.
Both are getting hard to find, and pricey.
 
You are not kidding about "hard to find" - try to find a fixed FX-1 4x28 Rimfire!!! The MOA reticle appears fantastic - with the big 33 mm front lens, I can not see getting much better for what I use .22 for. The VX-2 will likely appeal to those who like to twirl stuff to set precise parallax, etc. and the extra magnification might sound valuable. Not sure. I grew up shooting 3/4" Weaver on Dad's .22, so these are all VERY nice to me.

An acquaintance has steered me to a couple 4x32 Hensoldt scopes for some deer rifles - the view through them will truly take your breath away, it is so good. But, they require 26 mm rings, not 1", and one does not have a windage turret, and neither is adjustable like we North Americans think a scope adjustment should be. But, my goodness - those 1950 or 1960 German guys could sure make unbelievable glass!!! These new Leupold rimfire are getting very close to that good!

One of the Hensoldt scopes - hard to see that turret - 3 black slotted screws and a silver one - is eminently adjustable - just not what this prairie boy was expecting to see when the turret cap was removed!!!

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Coincidentally I would also be mounting the scope on Brno # 1.
Seems the hardest part will be finding one of the Leupold scopes for a decent price.
I do have a line on a vx1 2-7x28, which may be the direction I end up going, just seeking good info like above, from users of this product
 
If the magnification, size (and current price) all suit, it would be hard to better any of the Leupold 3-9X33 EFR's in rim fire applications. I own several and have never had issues of any kind with them.

Having said that, I've also had one of these - Made in Japan for The Optic Zone in the US. They used to come with a choice of reticles and finishes but since Covid, I think Jon is experiencing supply issues. My opinion only but there is little between this and the Leupold for rim fire use (Re-sale value might be a different story!). The old Weaver RV9's were also good quality optics made in Japan but they are getting hard to find second hand these days too.

https://shop.theopticzone.com/rifle-scopes/clearidge-scopes/clearidge-rm-riflescopes.html

E0PTve4.jpg
 
I have 9 455’s, all but one wear Leupold scopes. That’s my opinion.

Edit: The 455’s are 99.99% used for gopher defence at ranges from 5 feet to whatever.
 
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How do you use your rimfire rifles? The "how" will determine your best scope option... are they pinkers, hunters, 25 yard indoor bullseye rifles, 50 yard shooters, 100 yard shooters?

I have one hunting .22 rifle with the VX-2 3-9x33 EFR and another with the VX-2 4-12X40 AO. I have one 50 yard rifle with a VX-2 4-12X40 AO and a 100 yard bench rifle with the VX-2 6-18X40 AO. All have the Fine Duplex reticle. If you shoot dots at 50 yards, 9X is not enough magnification IMO... 12X is better and 16X - 20X will certainly help.
 
It’s just basically a plinking rifle, that I would like to put a Leupold rimfire scope on. Will most likely come down to which model I find first.
 
I have used fixed parallax, adjustable objective and adjustable parallax scopes. My 2cent, whatever scope you get should have an adjustable parallax. If you end up doing any rimfire precision shooting, you need adjustable parallax to deal with target with target as close as 25m to as far as 350m.
 
I will put in another vote for the VX Freedoms. I have the 2-7 and 3-9 rimfire versions and I’m quite happy with them. My rimfires are used for some plinking but mostly hunting, and they perform well.
 
I have three Nikon prostaffs on my gopher guns .
For the price, which if I remember correctly were way under $200 each , those things have been outstanding . Baffed around , thrown in trucks , bouncing on quad racks , dropped , wetted etc , they stayed true for more then 5 years .
Most of my gopher shooting is under 100 yards and headshots are the norm . These aren’t precision rifles ( 10 year old stainless 1022 , Henry lever 17hmr and rotating vintage plinkers like Remington Nylon or Marlins or Cooeys ) , nothing special .
Good scopes for my needs .
 
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A recent challenge on this site limited the power of scope to 12 power.

Of three groups four groups shot, two at 12X were better that one shot at 32X.

The 2-7 variety tend to be suitable in size to rifle and have a pleasing eye appeal.

When one shoots at 100 yards/metres, the 9X is adequate but you will be unable to differentiate your shots.

At 24, 30 and 32 powers, you are able to see those holes comprising two shots.
 
I guess a lot depends on what you want to do with the rifle. For plinking, 9X is often enough, as many have said.
I had a VX-2 3-9x33 EFR and sold it after a while, not enough magnification for the target shooting I was doing. Nice little scope, although I had trouble getting the ocular lens close enough to my eye without using offset rings. They're quite short.

I will say that side focus vs AO is a nice feature, particularly on a plinking type rifle.
For target use, it's not a deal breaker. Once you're dialed in for focus at a given range, you don't often change it, whereas if you're shooting different distances (plinking) AO can be a minor PIA.
I have a VX-2 6-18x40 AO with fine duplex reticle mounted on an Annie 54 that I'll be buried with, very good scope for the money.

If you don't mind Vortex, look at a Diamondback HP 4-16 x 42. Glass is quite good, they have a nice reticle (BDC), and side focus as close as 30yds. I've got 2 of them, one on a .22 452 Varmint, the other on a 243 Tikka. Both have been good.
 
Hard to beat a Bushnell 3200 or 4200. Yes it'll be used but the glass is great, the A/O goes to under 10m and the turrets are rock solid.
 
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