What is a good scope for 22lr

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TightGroup

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I know its a vague question. Allow me to qualify.

My wife has recently obtained her RPAL and while I was active I shot mainly IPSC. I did have a Ruger 10/22 but it was not my go to.

Being now retired , we would like to start shooting a bolt action 22lr (looking at a Savage MK 2, funds are limited) so what would a nice starting scope that be utilized as we ramp up to 200 and 400 ranges in other calibers. The 22 would be a nice starter package for us..

Looking at a

VORTEX
4-12 X 40 V-PLEX Diamond Back


Thanks

PS Yes, she will be taking her Black Badge as will I since its been 10 years since I shot anything..
 
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Is this purely a range toy situation, or do you want to hunt with it too? For a range toy there is the Cabelas Covenant scopes, I recently bought one but haven't had a chance to use it. They are on sale right now.
 
can't go wrong with a vortex. a lot of guys are hung up on adjustable objective for a 22 for close shots but ive never had any issues hitting really close targets without it.
 
What is the budget?

Starting in the $5xx range and going down,
Vortex Diamondback Tactical
Leupold VX Freedom
Vortex Crossfire
Athlon Neos

Of course, everyone has their own opinion. I've used all of those and that is what I would do.
 
You are going to want a scope with a proper tree-style reticle (to be able to accurately hold-over, EBR-7C is my favorite), exposed target turrets (most people prefer 10mils/revolution, [makes for easy math]) with enough internal adjustment to dial to the ranges you are talking about... and you are also going to need a 30-40MOA rail on the gun. (EGW makes them for Savage Mark 2s, [*note* there are 2 models you have to measure the ejection port size])

I shoot a cheap Savage FV-SR 40moa rail, topped with a Vortex Strike Eagle (30MIL internal, 10MIL turret spins) and Center-X ammo fairly consistently to 300m, my current dope at 20C for 300m is 16.8MIL.

Athlon also makes scopes with the same features in the same price range. For entry level scopes in rimfire PRS Vortex and Athlon are basically the best options.
 
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Back in the days of yore, most of us shot gophers with ugly old scopes mounted on our little .22's. We didn't know any different. A friend suggested I mount a cheap scope meant for a "big rifle" on my .22. What a difference! Nowadays, we have hundreds of choices readily available at a touch of the keys. I have 9 455's of three calibers, .22lr, .22mag, and .17HMR. All but one wear various sizes and model of Leupold scopes, most are 2-7x33 or 3-9x40. Gophers catch he77, for sure.

Everybody has their favourite scope. I don't like scopes with big knobs sticking out every which way, so I prefer Leupold. YMMV.
 
If the budget allows, consider the new Athlon Helos BTR gen2 scopes... I run the 34mm 6-24X56 and it is a gem. Some of the nices HD glass on the market today. I now run 34mm scopes only

The 30mm 4-20 is also really nice but not as nice

both will work, track, features and reticle that will work with rimfire to 400yds... and 25yds

Jerry
 
kjohn said:
Back in the days of yore, most of us shot gophers with ugly old scopes mounted on our little .22's. We didn't know any different. A friend suggested I mount a cheap scope meant for a "big rifle" on my .22. What a difference! Nowadays, we have hundreds of choices readily available at a touch of the keys. I have 9 455's of three calibers, .22lr, .22mag, and .17HMR. All but one wear various sizes and model of Leupold scopes, most are 2-7x33 or 3-9x40. Gophers catch he77, for sure.

Everybody has their favourite scope. I don't like scopes with big knobs sticking out every which way, so I prefer Leupold. YMMV.
Click to expand...

No disrespect, but Leupold makes scopes with the same 'big ugly' knobs LOL.. how do you dial to shoot out to 200 or 300 with a .22lr without exposed turrets? or with a 'duplex crosshair' with no 'hold-over' in the reticle? ...keep the caps off and a dime in your pocket?
 
sk8snwmx said:
No disrespect, but Leupold makes scopes with the same 'big ugly' knobs LOL.. how do you dial to shoot out to 200 or 300 with a .22lr without exposed turrets? or with a 'duplex crosshair' with no 'hold-over' in the reticle? ...keep the caps off and a dime in your pocket?
Click to expand...

Maybe to clear it up a bit, I mean that some turrets are larger than others. I don't "dial" when I shoot gophers. My 455's are checked for being sighted in, then go to it. No,I don't "keep the caps off and a dime in my pocket". I struggle along, thank you.
 
kjohn said:
Maybe to clear it up a bit, I mean that some turrets are larger than others. I don't "dial" when I shoot gophers. My 455's are checked for being sighted in, then go to it. No,I don't "keep the caps off and a dime in my pocket". I struggle along, thank you.
Click to expand...

Years ago before we could get scopes with new useful features, (ffp, real hold-over reticles, good target turrets etc etc) when I was at the range and needed to change my zero to shoot further I always kept my caps off and change in my pocket to use on the turrets.
 
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I never liked using a scope until the late 2000's I found my self claustrophobic behind one.70 and 80's only shot irons.accuracy was a rabbit a chicken or muscrat size,then deer caribou and moose.now I'm a range guy shooting tiny things far away.and scopes dope.
 
TightGroup - I second suther's advice on the Cabelas Covenant-4 series. I have a Savage B22 with a Covenant-4 6-24x50 FFP SF 30mm-tube that cost ca $500, but they're now down on Clearance for $200 +tx w/FREE shipping if you're not close to the stores!! Less than half price, so I bought another !! They have a MOA Christmas tree with numbers marked every 4th, and the FFP gives you a really large reticle for the long shots with SF to 'dial it in' via the exposed turrets.
I'm working on keeping under 1/2" @ 50yds and 1.5" @ 100, still fliers with CCI-SV & Fed Champion SV. Hope it's the ammo and not just me ;-)
 
TightGroup - I forgot to say that the MkII would be a good starter for you, saving about $100 or so compared to the Savage B22. The advantage of the B22 mainly is the rotary mags since I've seen lots of complaints about the MK stick mags. They may be 'fixed' now or it could just be the luck of the draw, but the rotary is really nice - I have 5 plus a 25 round that goes on my A22. The 25 is 'fiddly' (30% drives into chamber bottom-edge) on the B22 but works perfect on the A22.
And on all 3 Savages the trigger pull starts around 4# but you can work it down to about 2# or so with a little effort (search threads on that here and Rimfirecentral and Savageshooters ). Both of mine are now 2# or less and I'm still working on getting lower. The A22 is NOT conducive to much mods but still can come down to the 2# range and with 'medium priced' ammo I'm shooting around 3/4" @ 50 with it. OK for a semi-22.
And just to p- off some, All Savages shoot better OOB than the Rugers.
 
ALL my rimfires (9) wear "big game scopes" The "quality ?" of "rimfire scopes" sucks unless you buy a Sightron or better quality for range work. As for how I twist the dials in the field? I don't, Kentucky windage is your friend, and I believe makes you a better shot in the end. But what do I know, I have only been killing gophers for 55+ years. Started out with a model 39 Cooey single shot .22 and Imperial ammo, iron sights never had a scope till I was 14 or so, an 4x Bushnell scopechief with a fine cross hair with a 7/8" tube mounted on a model 600 running rabbit. Loved that rifle, tube feed and all. Now I run strictly CZ rimfire rifles.
 
Suther said:
Is this purely a range toy situation, or do you want to hunt with it too? For a range toy there is the Cabelas Covenant scopes, I recently bought one but haven't had a chance to use it. They are on sale right now.
Click to expand...

While on sale, I guess they're ok.
- Not sure how the warranty his these days
- Had one for a few years, can't complain
- For not much $$, the airgun crowd seem to be happy with the Discovery scopes (from China)
 
I don't think you could go wrong with an Element scope from Air Gun Source.

I put one on my buddies 6.5 Creed the other day... Real nice scope... Great for a 22.

They have several models from about $500 to $2000

Available in MOA and Mils
 
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