.22 Rimfire Scope.....my head hurts.

[cslinger]

Ok so I want a medium quality .22 caliber scope but I really don't know what the hell I am talking about.

I would like to spend around $250 or less.

Now here is the rub. I understand parallax as it pertains to 1x red dot/holo scopes but how does it manifest in a rifle scope?

I am looking at a basic Leupold VX-1 2-7 or 3-9 or maybe a cheaper Nikon. I want to be able to possibly shoot a 100 yards but will probably spend most of my shooting at 50 yards. I am not set on a variable scope. Something in the 6X range would probably be fine for a fixed magnification.

I tend to like Eastern European stuff as well as I find it to be very modestly priced and in general very high quality, PSO scopes for example so any suggestions or first hand experiences would be appreciated as far as any scopes go.

My plan involves building up a 10/22 if that matters.

Thanks
Chris

 

[JohnBT]

Your typical centerfire rifle scope has the parallax set for 100-150 yards. The rimfire scopes are set for 50-60. When you look at a scope with an adjustable objective you'll find that some focus as close as 50 yards and some a lot closer - it all depends on what you need.

A scope like the Leupold 3x-9 EFR (ExtendedFocusRange) has an adjustable objective lens that will focus down to 10 yards if need be. This is a great rimfire/airgun scope for $250-$300, but only comes in gloss blue.

A Weaver V-16, 4x-16, is another one I like that will run a little less. I've read that Weaver has come out with a 3x-9, but I haven't seen one. They also make a 2x-7 rimfire scope (so does Leupold.) Heck, take a look at the Weaver V24, 6x-24 for $300 or so.

These are the ones I've had the most experience with on rimfires - if you don't count the Leupold 6.5x-20 EFR and Weaver T36.

John

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

I've used rimfire scopes that were already adjusted for parallax and I've used big game scopes on rimfire rifles. For example, a Ruger 10/22 International has a vintage 1x4 Redfield which was built for big game.

In my target shooting around 25 yards, I can't tell the difference.

FWIW, you can send any scope you've got back to the factory and have the parallax reset. At least that's the way it used to be.

 

[Whytknyt]

I have a cheapo 3x9x32 that I put on a Marlin 60 and it seems to work fine. I never use the gun past about 50 yards so I set the scope to be dead on at that range and it has worked fine.

I also have a marlin 883SS 22mag bolt action rifle that is fantastically accurate. I wanted to go the extra mile when putting a scope on it (after I tried another cheapo). I went with the BKL one piece mount and the weaver 2x7x28 classic rimfire. A fantastic scope I think. Sure its not a Zeiss or a Kahles but I think the clarity is wonderful, it has a good size for the rifle and cost about half what a VXII would run. I have also had very good luck with the cheap yet good Tasco World Class scopes. They run about $40-$60 and are commonly 3x9x40, other than looking a little oversized on a rimfire, the seem to work very well for the money.

Whytknyt

 

[KarlG]

I second the Weaver Classic 2-7 rimfire scope clarity comment made by Whytknyt. I own one (and have it mounted on my 10/22) because of the clarity. That does not answer your paralax question though.

You need to decide at what ranges you are going to shoot. As pointed out earlier rimfire scopes vary from centerfire scopes in the paralax setting. centerfire scopes are also more robust. You may want to consider if you would want to put this scope on another (Centerfire) rifle in the future.

The information below was extracted (plagerized, stolen, borrowed) from a "TheFiringLine" thread. It explains paralax better than I could.

"Parallax is the difference in the focus plane of the target and the recticle. In a scope corrected for parallax at a given range, the recticle is on the same plane (virtual) as the target. No matter where your eye is in relation to the center of the optical axis, the impact point equals the aiming point.

When there is a parallax error, the only time the impact point is the aiming point is when your eye is perfectly centered on the optical axis of the scope. Think of parallax error like your car's speedometer needle in relation to the scale. If the needle shaft is considerably long so that the needle is a good distance from the scale, the only time you can accurately judge spped is when your eye is directly over the needle. Move your head and the indicated speed changes even though the car's velocity is constant.

Adjustable objective scopes (scopes with an adjustment on the bigger front lens) allow one to correct, bringing the recticle on the same focal plane as the target, optically melding the recticle to the target. Red dot scopes have great hyperfocal (big word meaning deep focal plane) distance due to low magnification and corresponding smaller objectives.

Parallax is most critical on high magnification, large objective scopes and short-range work like air rifle scopes.

You can observe parallax if you have a rifle cradle. Center the recticle on a target and then move your head to shift your eye off the optical axis. You will see the aiming point move even though the rifle has not."

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I have a Weaver 4x28mm scope on my Savage Mark-IIGL .22LR. Very nice optics for the money. They can be found for about $100 online.

I'm planning to install a Weaver 2-7x rimfire scope on my Savage 93GL .22 Mag. I figure I'll be able to use a bit more magnification on the Mag, since I want to take it chuck hunting.

 

[cslinger]

Thanks for all the replies. I went with a Sightron 3-9x36 adjustable objective rimfire scope. We will see how things turn out. I will say that the glass is very clear.

Chris