Scope for CZ 457 .22LR gopher hunting

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Clockmaker

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Curious what people recommend to use for a scope on this rifle as I currently have a Bushnell 3-9x40mm rimfire scope and I find that I'm settling between either a blurry cross hair or blurry background, there is no middle setting where everything is clear and in focus and it's quite frustrating. I know of course you get what you pay for but was hoping this would get me by for a little bit until I could afford a better scope but looking like it just isn't going to cut it.
What do some of you folks recommend for a good zoom scope that won't break the bank and will keep everything in focus?
 
So far these are the gopher scopes I've put on my rifles. A lack of gophers this year has meant I haven't had an opportunity to try the Meopta in the field.

Bushnell Forge 2-16x50 G4I-Ultra SFP
Meopta MeoPro Optika6 2.5-15x44 SFP
Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16x42
 
Clockmaker said:
Curious what people recommend to use for a scope on this rifle as I currently have a Bushnell 3-9x40mm rimfire scope and I find that I'm settling between either a blurry cross hair or blurry background, there is no middle setting where everything is clear and in focus and it's quite frustrating. I know of course you get what you pay for but was hoping this would get me by for a little bit until I could afford a better scope but looking like it just isn't going to cut it.
What do some of you folks recommend for a good zoom scope that won't break the bank and will keep everything in focus?
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Because you mention the reticle being blurry, have you focused the eyepiece for your eye on the bushnell?
Btw my 2 favourite rimfire scopes that have given me more bang for the buck than I deserve are a sightron sii AO 3-9x40 and B&L Balvar 3-9x40AO. Neither are in current production unfortunately but snag one used if you can.
 
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Since you didn't say which bushnell 3-9 it's hard to judge. The scope should have an adjustable eyepiece so if that's done correctly your problem lies in parallax at various distances. You need an adjustable 'side focus' (more convenient than Adj-Obj) AND I'd get a higher magnification. I have a Bushnell Engage in 6-18x50 which has a 'DOA' Reticle which is OK for minor 'holds' but the bars are tough to 'count' if you're in a hurry. My 'better' scopes all have numbers on the reticle bars so I can hold quickly.
 
Bushnell DZ22 is actually a pretty good scope for the $$
side adj parallax gets you a good picture close or far, illum reticle for those dark cloudy wet days when something just has to be shot at without waiting for nicer weather
 
It depends how far you want to shoot them. Pretty much any scope that is high enough quality to not go out of alignment when you bump it and has a low parallax setting is good for under about 75 yards. I have a Nikon Rimfire that only goes up to 7x that works great on my 452.

If you are shooting at distance, then you gotta get a fancy scope with adjustable parallax as you will still have those close 15 yard shots and the long distance shots. Also want exposed turrets and a good reticle as you are going to be shooting at constantly changing distances and rimfire takes lots of dialing even at moderate distances. I have an Arken EP5 on a 452.
 
Take a look at the Leupold VX Freedom Rimfire with the Tri MOA reticle. Once you learn how to use the reticle there is no "dialing" required, you can switch from 10 yard to 100 yard shots instantly. I use one on a CZ 457 Varmint and it works great.
 
boxhitch said:
Bushnell DZ22 is actually a pretty good scope for the $$
side adj parallax gets you a good picture close or far, illum reticle for those dark cloudy wet days when something just has to be shot at without waiting for nicer weather
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OP here, I have the DZ22 and it's less than great imo. I'm not sure what you mean by illum reticle? I paid $159 CAD for it and I'm less than impressed personally, I'm wishing I would have opted for something a little better.
 
Clockmaker said:
OP here, I have the DZ22 and it's less than great imo. I'm not sure what you mean by illum reticle? I paid $159 CAD for it and I'm less than impressed personally, I'm wishing I would have opted for something a little better.
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did you figure out the focus issues? or is it just impossible?
there is a model with IR, handy in certain circums
 
boxhitch said:
did you figure out the focus issues? or is it just impossible?
there is a model with IR, handy in certain circums
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I played with the zoom and ocular focus and ya still can't win. At a far distance I can get everything in focus bit closer up not a chance. It's just a cheap crappy scope from what I'm gathering and I should have spent more money.
 
Depends how hard you want to get into shooting gophers at any distance. I like scopes with some magnification to find ones behind or in taller grass out to 200yds or so, and the ones standing up at 200+. I used a 6.5-20 Leupold for a lot of years, did what need doing. I have a Tract now, 4-20x50 in FFP with the Xmas tree PRS reticle, find it awesome on ranging and adjusting for the l'il beggars, even though it cost me twice the price of the gun ( mine is the version with the Boyd's AT stock). There are some OK FFP scopes out there in cheaper lines that will work fine on a .22, Arken, Riton, Bloodhound, Vortex, Bushnell, Hawke, and some others, just a matter of deciding if you are willing to fork out the loot, as most are 500 bucks and up, but, well worth considering in the long run.
 
You need something with side or front parallax adjustment on a rimfire. Which generally means 12x or bigger scopes to get it. Not all 12s have it. Then get some kind of bdc or moa reticle.
 
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