I hate using the groove mounts on a .22 (just a personal preference) so if it were me, I'd mount bases and rings and get a decent scope for it. I don't know if your rifle is drilled/tapped or not, so it might be more than you want to spend.
suggest a good Rimfire scope
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If you want a dedicated rimfire scope with variable power, there is the Vortex Crossfire 2-7X32 for about $150. If you want something that will really bring in the targets you can go to the Vortex Crossfire 6-24X50, 4-16X50 or the 8-32X50, with all of them being under $300.
Vortex is also advertising an excellent warranty, essentially unlimited lifetime for all their products. I have several of their scopes, as does a very good hunting buddy of mine, and as yet we have never had a problem with their optics.
Vortex is also advertising an excellent warranty, essentially unlimited lifetime for all their products. I have several of their scopes, as does a very good hunting buddy of mine, and as yet we have never had a problem with their optics.
I have a VXII on my rimfire and love it. If anything I would say spend more on the rimfire scope because you look through it a lot if you're going through 100s of rounds at a time and it's easier on your eyes and way more pleasurable to shoot.
I am now convinced that a good 22 requires a good scope. I have a T/C Sporter on order which advertises itself as the 'best semi-auto rimfire in the world". Well, the price is right up there!
So, right now the question is how powerful a scope do I need to bring the best of this gun out? A good quality "Rimfire Scope" focused for 50 yards or a good quality 'center fire" scope?
Let me ask this question differently; what is the effective and accurate range of a heavy barrel rimfire for;
1. Paper punching from the bench;
2. Dropping a Raccoon size varmint effectively?
So, right now the question is how powerful a scope do I need to bring the best of this gun out? A good quality "Rimfire Scope" focused for 50 yards or a good quality 'center fire" scope?
Let me ask this question differently; what is the effective and accurate range of a heavy barrel rimfire for;
1. Paper punching from the bench;
2. Dropping a Raccoon size varmint effectively?
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Those are good questions, but they lack specifics as to the maximum allowabe group size or in the case of the racoon, what is your acceptable miss rate. I can say this for sure, that as distance increases, accuracy and hitting power deceases. So the missing piece of the specifications is how much drop off in accuracy and hitting power can you accept? Any mediocre bolt action 22 can punch a single hole in paper at 10-20 yards, few can do it at 50, not sure if any can at 100 yards. I kind of suspect you will get groups with that T/C Sporter that range from 0.25" to 0.50" at 50 yards when you find the right ammo if its as good as they say. That's all I can get from a good bolt action 22 using non-match ammo.
I've never shot a racoon with a gun (have with a bow and broadhead), so I don't know what their will to survive is. I've dropped woodchucks with a 22 and they seem as fragile as a balloon. One hit, they drop and die.
I've never shot a racoon with a gun (have with a bow and broadhead), so I don't know what their will to survive is. I've dropped woodchucks with a 22 and they seem as fragile as a balloon. One hit, they drop and die.
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I think they run about $500 in Canada. You get what you pay for, never more (sometimes less!). Might be able to find one used for about half.
Rule of thum
whatever you pay for your rifle, pay about the same for the glass.
I picked up a Vortex "Diamondback" 2-7x35 rimfire scope recently.
Cost was just over $200.00 to my door.
I currently have it mounted on a Marlin 1894, .44 mag for load development purposes. No problems yet after about 100 rounds (some of them quite stout).
Nice scope, easy to reset the adjustment turrets to "zero" very nice to look through.
Cost was just over $200.00 to my door.
I currently have it mounted on a Marlin 1894, .44 mag for load development purposes. No problems yet after about 100 rounds (some of them quite stout).
Nice scope, easy to reset the adjustment turrets to "zero" very nice to look through.
I have a pair of Bushnell 3200 4-12s, mounted on a 10/22 and CZ452. I think they're pretty decent optics for the money, and not too heavy. With regard to shooting raccoons, I've dispatched quite a few over the years. They are pretty tough critters. If you can headshoot them, then a .22LR will definitely do the job, but these days I pretty much always reach for my 9422M. The .22Mag has it all over the .22LR in terms of terminal effect, without being as noisy as my .223. It even puts down large beavers with authority.
I've never shot a raccoon with a .22 before but I have heard from other friends that have that they are a tough kill with a .22, but not impossible. I guess to prevent unnecessary suffering to the animal one should practice with there .22 a lot and go for the head shot, or reach for a larger calibre like the .22mag like RHS does. Saying that, a quality scope should help out lots with your rig for the occasional bit of hunting.
So…you have basically mounted a powerful 4 x 12 centrefire scope on a .22 rimfire and you are happy with the results. According to all these scope manufactures, you have done wrong, otherwise, why would they all have a separate line of scopes for rimfires!
You must not believe in any distinction between the so called "Rimfire Scopes" as oppose to "Centrefire scopes".
So far, the only reason I have read for rimfire as oppose to centre fire scopes is size and weight and basically, the argument that “a .22’s accurate range doesn’t warrant anything more powerful that a 2 x 7“. Actually, that is what people like Chuck Hawks are saying.
What is the idea behind $300 remfire scope whose magnification numbers start with 1 like 1 x 5! At that magnification, you are basically paying to look through glass!? Why?
Sorry, I don't get this thing. I am just trying to find out if the Rimfire scopes are really a necessity for a good .22 target rifle or merely a matter of convenience, weight, price..... Do manufactures offer rimfire scopes because centre fire scopes are simply big and heavy and more expensive? Are you compromising the abilities of your .22 if you don’t mount a rimfire scope on it?
Chuck Hawk's opinion is just that, opinion. He's entitled to it, but many would disagree.
Rimfire scopes typically have a closer built in setting for zero parallax. Some rimfire scopes are built lower quality to cater to a market that expects to pay no more than $50-$100 for a scope for a gun that is "just a 22".
Ultimately through your own experience you will decide on your preference. One thing is for certain, you will not regret buying quality.
Rimfire scopes typically have a closer built in setting for zero parallax. Some rimfire scopes are built lower quality to cater to a market that expects to pay no more than $50-$100 for a scope for a gun that is "just a 22".
Ultimately through your own experience you will decide on your preference. One thing is for certain, you will not regret buying quality.
