What's your favourite AO scope for rimfire hunting?

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I want to put a better scope on my .22, which is primarily used for hunting anything from grouse to gophers, tree rats to crows.

I have other rifles for targets.

So what is your recommendation for a scope that has AO and can focus down to 10 yards?

I was originally thinking Leupold VX2 3-9 x 33 EFR, but that seems to be discontinued and I haven't found one....
 
I had the leupold vx2 3-9x33 efr you mentioned. Sold it. Nice scope, but I actually prefer an older vortex diamondback 4-12 AO, in particular for gophers on a rimfire.
Some don't find the "eyebox" large enough. I have no issues. A nice clear scope that works great for these purposes.
 
2-3 years ago, I put a new Sightron S1 4-12 AO on my CZ452 Varmint, my primary gopher rifle. At the time, it was about $280+tax, and definitely worth every nickel. Budget was a consideration (would have loved that Leupold) but I was so impressed by the scope that I ended-up upgrading the scope on my .223 to a Sightron SIII.
 
Leupold has replaced your first choice with the”Freedom” rimfire 3x9. Lots of reviews on rimfirecentral.com in the states.
 
45CAT said:
Leupold has replaced your first choice with the”Freedom” rimfire 3x9. Lots of reviews on rimfirecentral.com in the states.
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I'll check-out the reviews on RFC, but from what I've seen...Leupold didn't put AO or SF on that rimfire model, and the parallax setting is @ 60 yards, not 50 like their VX1 Rimfire. So, no good for my applications...and definitely no good for the OP's based on the thread starter. I have no desire to put a scope on a rimfire that doesn't have AO/SF. Not because I shoot at targets closer than 50-60 yards that often, but I sure like the option. I honestly think people see the word "rimfire" and buy it without asking questions about parallax..then wonder why when dialed-up to 9X, they can't seem to get good results at short distances.
 
There is a Leupold freedom 3-9x33 EFR with front AO now which I believe is essentially the VX2 line now. I've been looking at one of the Nikon Prostaff P3 EFR 3-9x40, but I'm a bit worried about how fine the reticle is, going to see if I can look through one before committing. In a perfect world I would find a 3-9X40 front AO in Mil/Mil with a german#4.

Links to the scopes I've been considering:

https://www.leupold.com/scopes/rifle-scopes/vx-freedom-efr-3-9x33

https://www.nikonsportoptics.com/en/nikon-products/riflescopes/prostaff-p3-target-efr-3-9x40ao-precision.html
 
I have the VX-2 3-9 EFR and VX-2 4-12X40 AO and VX-2 6-18X40 AO, also the VX-3 4.5-14X40 AO... BUT, my favourite "hunting" scope is the VX-1 2-7X28mm Rimfire, parallax is set at 50 yards, but I have used it down to 10 FEET with no issues.

This picture is of the CZ 453 Lux with VX-3 4.5-14X40 AO from a couple days ago... used to head shoot grouse from 25 - 100 yards.
 
.22LRGUY said:
I'll check-out the reviews on RFC, but from what I've seen...Leupold didn't put AO or SF on that rimfire model, and the parallax setting is @ 60 yards, not 50 like their VX1 Rimfire. So, no good for my applications...and definitely no good for the OP's based on the thread starter. I have no desire to put a scope on a rimfire that doesn't have AO/SF. Not because I shoot at targets closer than 50-60 yards that often, but I sure like the option. I honestly think people see the word "rimfire" and buy it without asking questions about parallax..then wonder why when dialed-up to 9X, they can't seem to get good results at short distances.
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Leupold has 2 versions of the “Freedom “ series, that’s why I put rimfire afterwards
 
Bushnell ultra legend hd 3-9x40 and 3-9x50 can dial in and read a magazine in my gun room. Very clear for the money and currently both my 300wm guns wear them
 
For hunting, my favorite scopes are the old Leupold 1x4 "shotgun"
Got them mounted on a Auto-22 and the 9422.
Great field of view.

The only AO scope I've got that does duty on hunting trip is a Leupold 3.5x10. But I don't think the parallax adjustment does down to yards.

A local shop had received a Burris Timberline 4.5x14x32mm with AO. If I needed another compact AO scope, i'd be tempted to give a shot. Wasn't that expensive either (+/- $300)
 
brybenn said:
Bushnell ultra legend hd 3-9x40 and 3-9x50 can dial in and read a magazine in my gun room. Very clear for the money and currently both my 300wm guns wear them
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I just put one of these on my Savage bolt .22, it is a pretty decent scope. Also have a second one inbound for an air carbine build I'm puttering around with.
 
My 22's have had a vast assortment of scopes.
The Burris Fullfield 4.5-14 goes down to 50 yards parallax but that can be off set by reducing the power when closer shots are required.
A grouse's head at 17 paces set down to 4.5 worked just fine. The Ballistic Plex reticle is useful at varying distances. Sighted in for 100 and climbing the stadia for longer distances or sight for 40 and using the same climb to 100. Changing ammunition velocities might find the perfect individual match for each stadia. The silhouette rimfire distances are a good testing arena in meters (40, 60, 77 and 100).
The 2-7's and 3-9's always are lacking when some extra distance is required especially when targets at 100 y/m distances.
The 4-12 (Leupold), 4-16 (Weaver) and 2.5-16 (6500) all have their benefits but testing is part of the fun.
Right now I have a Weaver 36 on my 10/22 rifle.
 
brybenn said:
Bushnell ultra legend hd 3-9x40 and 3-9x50 can dial in and read a magazine in my gun room. Very clear for the money and currently both my 300wm guns wear them
Click to expand...

The Bushnell Legend Ultra HD are great scopes for the money. Excellent glass, awesome warranty, and side focus to boot. Definitely worth a look!
 
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