Scope suggestions for a long range shooting .22lr, that won't break the bank

blueflash

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My 13 year old son and I are getting ourselves a target .22lr rifle, for practising, and competing in some local long range .22lr rifle target competitions. I was looking for a decent scope, without paying a fortune. The gun being used will be either a CZ 455 varmint, or a Savage mark II BV.

I would like to keep the scope cost at $200 max. I'm not sure what power of scope that I should try to get... I was thinking that taking 300-400 yard shots with a 3x9x40 might not ideal ? Should I be looking for something in the 4x12x40, or even as high as 16 or 18x's ?

So far, I have found a 6x18x40 bushnell banner, 4x12 bushnell trophy, and a 4x12x40 vortex crossfire, in my price range. I know that recoil with a .22lr is no problem, but if these cheaper scopes are'nt clear at there full max zoom, then, I would save up untill I can get something a bit better ?....although I would prefer to stay within my $200 plus tax, scope budget, ang buy and use it sooner than later....or if a 3x9x40 is powerful enough, I could get a better quality scope in that power of zoom ??

Any experience, and suggestions are greatly welcomed.
 
Good for you for getting your young lad out shooting! My two boys are shooting crazy as well, in fact they are both saving up for new 22s right now. I told them they pay for the rifle, I will cover the tax and the optics. The little buggers are almost there with their bank accounts so I better get ready to buy some new optics.

Good luck with what ever you get.
 
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Okay, thanks. I dont mind going a little bit over my budget to get the vortex you mentioned. I really was surprised with how nice the vortex is, on my slug gun.
 
I have a Vortex Diamondback on my .22 and love it. Another option might be Redfield Revolution's seems like there has been a lot of good comments on them lately. They are made by Leupold as well so they should have a good warranty not that Vortex doesn't have a good one either. I have no personal experience with Redfield, just going off of what others have said on here.
 
Redfield doesn't make anything with AO as far as I know, and it is nice to have on a .22 if your shooting less than 75 yds.

I use a Bushnell Trophy 4-12 w/AO and it works very well.

I looked at some of the Vortex stuff but in this price range I don't think you will find much difference between the Bushnell and Vortex.

I have had good luck with Bushnell, and had a good experience with their warranty service so I chose Bushnell.
 
Buy either a weaver T36 or the sightron big sky 36 power. They are $400 range and stay there. Once you are finished with it you will recover your investment, and it will have cost you next to nothing over time. You will really learn to appreciate the magnification. I would not settle for anything less than 20+ power.
 
300 to 400 yards might be a wee bit optimistic, you might want to think about a scope for up to 200 yards.

There is nowhere near enough internal adjustment in any 1 inch scope to get you past 200 yards, never mind 300 or 400.

Sighted for 50 yards a 22 bullet drops 7 inches at 100 yards, 27 inches at 200 yards, drop at 300 is 155 inches, and at 400 yards it is 320 inches which is almost 27 feet (80 moa)
 
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