which scope for a 22 for grouse hunting .
- Thread starter rar
- Start date
Ok, back in the day I never bothered with a scope for rimfire rifles when hunting Grouse. As time marched on I my eyes made the choice of scope usage inevitable.
The first thing I can tell you unequivocally is that picking a scope for a rimfire rifle is not any different than picking a scope for a centerfire rifle.
The small/cheap rimfire offerings are mostly just that and you get what you pay for. On Friday a fellow came to my place with a lovely looking scope for his 10/22 Ruger. He wanted it mounted and had all of the components necessary to do the job. Fine, quick and easy job and a quick trip to the range to sight it in.
Well the outcome was not great. This scope was clear and the image was sharp as long as it was in focus for the distance you were shooting. The depth of field for the focus was extremely shallow. Maybe a couple of feet at best. He chose an inexpensive scope, made in China and intended for a completely different type of shooting that he wanted it for. The scope was intended to be set for the distance to be shot during target shooting venues. The cross hairs and images would be clear as could be when sighted to a particular distance. As soon as that distance changed the image became fuzzy and the parallax went awry.
There was nothing on the scope or the container it came in, or the general information package to indicate the venues this scope was best for. Be careful. The fellow only paid $125 taxes/shipping in for it so he wasn't out a lot of money. He picked it up from a seller on EBAY.
I have found that a low end centerfire scope is fine for most 22 rimfires as long as it is relatively parallax free at ranges from 10 meters to 50 meters without adjustment. Such a scope is fine for body shots on Grouse. Yes, I know head shots only. Horsefeathers. Far to many grouse fly off with wounds to their necks and beaks from "missed" head shots. I'm not saying some folks can't do it regularly but most just think they can. I can fully understand head shots on Grouse at distances out to 15 meters or so which is where most of them are shot as long as the shooter is intimately familiar with his rifle and ammo combination.
Most Grouse are taken from an offhand or kneeling position. Shooting sticks or a good monopod come in handy as well. Shooting from the bench is not good practice for hunting purposes. You will need to learn how to shoot your rifle well from different positions that don't include a bench or even a rest. Hunting and harvesting Grouse is a very good way to learn to shoot offhand and the difficulties it presents.
In the end, I finally opted for a NC Star, Tactical RED DOT. I will admit, it is a bottom end device but very effective within its design parameters. After one season of use I snobbed out and went for a higher end RED DOT. I went for a Burris Fast Fire II which is about 4 times more expensive than the NCStar. I bought the sight from a site sponsor Wolverine Supplies at top of the page. I would have bought it locally but our local shop didn't carry it at the time.
Now, one thing I noticed immediately is that the Burris wasn't 4 time better than the NCStar and it didn't miraculously help me put more rounds on target. The Red Dot was easier to acquire visually and therefore quicker to put on target. The only thing I can say that is better is that the RED DOT is a bit brighter and seems smaller.
If you can't bring yourself to mount a RED DOT, then go online and look at the Shepherd line of scopes. These are great offerings. They have a scope with a reticle that is specifically designed to be on target with designated velocity 22 rimfire ammo out to 300 meters on 16cm high gophers. I found the settings past 100 meters to be presumptuous but will admit they were in the ball park.
You have a lot of options. There are some very good low end optics out there, including used optics. Scopes have come so far in the last 50 years it is nothing short of amazing. High end scopes from 20 years ago are still very good today but in all honesty the difference is noticeable between them and the latest offerings, which are of course more expensive.
As the price of a specific scope goes up you receive less quality incrementally. Why, because that tiny bit better which may or may not be necessary to your needs takes a lot more time and care to get it to that level. The actual components may not even be better than a same brand name but cheaper option. About 15 years ago I picked up a high end Zeiss 3x9x40. It came new in the box from a store in Saskatchewan whose owner had died in a car accident and all of the chattels were being auctioned off. The first thing that was obvious with this scope was that as long as your focus adjustment at the eyepiece was sharp at 6X there was little or no parallax detectable at any range. Why you ask?? Because extreme care had been taken in the manufacturers facility to put it together properly. This requires a very expensive commodity, Time and individual experience.
The first thing I can tell you unequivocally is that picking a scope for a rimfire rifle is not any different than picking a scope for a centerfire rifle.
The small/cheap rimfire offerings are mostly just that and you get what you pay for. On Friday a fellow came to my place with a lovely looking scope for his 10/22 Ruger. He wanted it mounted and had all of the components necessary to do the job. Fine, quick and easy job and a quick trip to the range to sight it in.
Well the outcome was not great. This scope was clear and the image was sharp as long as it was in focus for the distance you were shooting. The depth of field for the focus was extremely shallow. Maybe a couple of feet at best. He chose an inexpensive scope, made in China and intended for a completely different type of shooting that he wanted it for. The scope was intended to be set for the distance to be shot during target shooting venues. The cross hairs and images would be clear as could be when sighted to a particular distance. As soon as that distance changed the image became fuzzy and the parallax went awry.
There was nothing on the scope or the container it came in, or the general information package to indicate the venues this scope was best for. Be careful. The fellow only paid $125 taxes/shipping in for it so he wasn't out a lot of money. He picked it up from a seller on EBAY.
I have found that a low end centerfire scope is fine for most 22 rimfires as long as it is relatively parallax free at ranges from 10 meters to 50 meters without adjustment. Such a scope is fine for body shots on Grouse. Yes, I know head shots only. Horsefeathers. Far to many grouse fly off with wounds to their necks and beaks from "missed" head shots. I'm not saying some folks can't do it regularly but most just think they can. I can fully understand head shots on Grouse at distances out to 15 meters or so which is where most of them are shot as long as the shooter is intimately familiar with his rifle and ammo combination.
Most Grouse are taken from an offhand or kneeling position. Shooting sticks or a good monopod come in handy as well. Shooting from the bench is not good practice for hunting purposes. You will need to learn how to shoot your rifle well from different positions that don't include a bench or even a rest. Hunting and harvesting Grouse is a very good way to learn to shoot offhand and the difficulties it presents.
In the end, I finally opted for a NC Star, Tactical RED DOT. I will admit, it is a bottom end device but very effective within its design parameters. After one season of use I snobbed out and went for a higher end RED DOT. I went for a Burris Fast Fire II which is about 4 times more expensive than the NCStar. I bought the sight from a site sponsor Wolverine Supplies at top of the page. I would have bought it locally but our local shop didn't carry it at the time.
Now, one thing I noticed immediately is that the Burris wasn't 4 time better than the NCStar and it didn't miraculously help me put more rounds on target. The Red Dot was easier to acquire visually and therefore quicker to put on target. The only thing I can say that is better is that the RED DOT is a bit brighter and seems smaller.
If you can't bring yourself to mount a RED DOT, then go online and look at the Shepherd line of scopes. These are great offerings. They have a scope with a reticle that is specifically designed to be on target with designated velocity 22 rimfire ammo out to 300 meters on 16cm high gophers. I found the settings past 100 meters to be presumptuous but will admit they were in the ball park.
You have a lot of options. There are some very good low end optics out there, including used optics. Scopes have come so far in the last 50 years it is nothing short of amazing. High end scopes from 20 years ago are still very good today but in all honesty the difference is noticeable between them and the latest offerings, which are of course more expensive.
As the price of a specific scope goes up you receive less quality incrementally. Why, because that tiny bit better which may or may not be necessary to your needs takes a lot more time and care to get it to that level. The actual components may not even be better than a same brand name but cheaper option. About 15 years ago I picked up a high end Zeiss 3x9x40. It came new in the box from a store in Saskatchewan whose owner had died in a car accident and all of the chattels were being auctioned off. The first thing that was obvious with this scope was that as long as your focus adjustment at the eyepiece was sharp at 6X there was little or no parallax detectable at any range. Why you ask?? Because extreme care had been taken in the manufacturers facility to put it together properly. This requires a very expensive commodity, Time and individual experience.
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I've got a 17hmr in the mail specially for grouse and a zeiss conquest 3-9x40 waiting patiently for it to get here. I prefer a little more quality in my optics, not just for the nicer glass but for peace of mind durability as well. Not saying you need a 3000 dollar scope on all your rifles, but an 80 dollar nc star wouldn't cut if for me. An elite 4200 would be an excellent choice. Lots don't like them but I have had good luck with the vortex diamondback as well. Can't go wrong with a leupold either.
I've just ordered it so I can't say yet if it's any good, but on paper the Vortex Diamondback HP 2-8x32 looks like it should be decent for hunting. Parallax adjustable down to 20 yards, argon filled, ED glass, good coatings, etc. It's got a lot of positive reviews online, so I'm hopefull. 
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I've just ordered it so I can't say yet if it's any good, but on paper the Vortex Diamondback HP 2-8x32 looks like it should be decent for hunting. Parallax adjustable down to 20 yards, argon filled, ED glass, good coatings, etc. It's got a lot of positive reviews online, so I'm hopefull.
Have one. Suits all of my needs for short range hunting. Pretty clear!
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Way back I bought a Bushnell '22 varmint' fixed 4 x scope...nice and bright,compact, not your best choice for longer ranges or target shooting but just fine for typical sub 50 yard plinking and small game...I can't seem to find any similar 'compact ' fixed power 50 yard parallax scopes which is all I need for the casual shooting I do
I think the suggestions of the 2-7 power range make a lot of sense, but my nomination for all-around best rimfire hunting scope at a reasonable price would be the Leupold Ultra-Light VX-2, 3-9X33 mm. EFR:
https://www.leupold.com/hunting-sho...ght-riflescopes/vx-2-3-9x33mm-ultralight-efr/
I have this scope, and it is really ideal for a rimfire rifle, measuring only 11.6" long, weighing only 11.5 oz., having an objective bell of only 1.8" which allows a low mounting, and giving you a 38.3 ft. FOV at 100 yards when set on 3 power. The EFR feature allows you to focus it (and dial out parallax) down to 10 yards. For grouse potting, I'd set it at 3 power and set the focus to something like 15-25 yards.
Available from Grouse River in Kelowna: http://www.grouseriver.com/Leupold-VX-2-3-9x33-EFR-Rimfire-Riflescope,
or look for a used one at a better price.
Edit: I nominated the Leupold 3-9 EFR as the all-around best rimfire hunting scope at a reasonable price, but for the all-around best rimfire hunting scope at any price, my choice would be this:
free photo hosting
It's the March 1-10X24 mm. SFP hunting scope. Except for weight (18 oz.), it has ideal dimensions for a rimfire scope: only 10.3" long, with a 1.30" OD objective bell. This would allow very low mounting. At 1 power, the field of view at 100 yards is 105 ft., and it has focus/parallax adjustment down to 10 yards. It's available with many reticle choices. The power range of 1 through 10 covers all realistic rimfire hunting situations. March scopes have ED lenses, and the clarity and brightness are noticeably better than with scopes having lower-quality lenses--like Leupold (not that Leupold optics are bad).
I only mention this scope in the interests of completeness--or for the guy for whom price is no obstacle (no one I know!), and who wants to build the ultimate rimfire hunting rig. If you happen to have about $2600-2700 flopping around in your pocket, and you can get this past your significant other, you too can have one in the non-illuminated version (which is the one I'd get).
https://www.leupold.com/hunting-sho...ght-riflescopes/vx-2-3-9x33mm-ultralight-efr/
I have this scope, and it is really ideal for a rimfire rifle, measuring only 11.6" long, weighing only 11.5 oz., having an objective bell of only 1.8" which allows a low mounting, and giving you a 38.3 ft. FOV at 100 yards when set on 3 power. The EFR feature allows you to focus it (and dial out parallax) down to 10 yards. For grouse potting, I'd set it at 3 power and set the focus to something like 15-25 yards.
Available from Grouse River in Kelowna: http://www.grouseriver.com/Leupold-VX-2-3-9x33-EFR-Rimfire-Riflescope,
or look for a used one at a better price.
Edit: I nominated the Leupold 3-9 EFR as the all-around best rimfire hunting scope at a reasonable price, but for the all-around best rimfire hunting scope at any price, my choice would be this:
free photo hostingIt's the March 1-10X24 mm. SFP hunting scope. Except for weight (18 oz.), it has ideal dimensions for a rimfire scope: only 10.3" long, with a 1.30" OD objective bell. This would allow very low mounting. At 1 power, the field of view at 100 yards is 105 ft., and it has focus/parallax adjustment down to 10 yards. It's available with many reticle choices. The power range of 1 through 10 covers all realistic rimfire hunting situations. March scopes have ED lenses, and the clarity and brightness are noticeably better than with scopes having lower-quality lenses--like Leupold (not that Leupold optics are bad).
I only mention this scope in the interests of completeness--or for the guy for whom price is no obstacle (no one I know!), and who wants to build the ultimate rimfire hunting rig. If you happen to have about $2600-2700 flopping around in your pocket, and you can get this past your significant other, you too can have one in the non-illuminated version (which is the one I'd get).
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