Cheap .22LR Scope

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ColinthePilot

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I posted a thread a few months ago for recommendations for a cheap .22LR bolt rifle, and caught a lot of flak about not wanting to spend a lot. I've been knocking the cherries off cigarettes with my Stevens 300 with iron sights, so I'm happy with my $150 purchase.

But now I'm considering a scope. I know nothing about scopes. But I'm going with similar criteria. Cheap scope for my cheap gun. I'm not really looking to shoot more than 50-100yds with it, and I sure as hell don't need a $500 10x scope for my cheap fun-gun. I also prefer to be able to revert to my iron sights if I want (I've seen scope mounts that you can look "through" and still use the iron sights with the scope still mounted)

Any recommendations?
 
dunno about the scope mounts, but look at a Simmons 22 Mag scope. They go for between $40 and $60 depending on the options (adjustable parallax, objective and magnification are all options). I couldn't be happier with mine, it's mounted on a Marlin 980S-CF .22lr bolt action. Good clarity, and keeps its zero so far.
 
You are in s.a., so you have Academies there, great. go find in a hard plastic package, a Tasco series. it will be a 3x9 power, and come with earmuffs, and glasses , all for about 35 bucks. now it does not have an adjustable objective, so you will have a teeneh bit of prrlax, but the glass is surprisingly clear.
and then it is like throwing in a free pair of glasses, and muffs.
if not that, then see if they have a cheap Nikon scope on sale there.
Don't even look at the BSA's. Lastly , if you wanna go up in value, you should be able to get a Bushnell banner, or Dusk/Dawn series, for somewhere around over 100 bucks, and they are quite nice.
 
Oh yeah, Academy also sells Kwik site brand mounts, some of which are see throughs; they are cheap, yet very durable. I use them all the time.
 
I would probably look at the Bushnell 3-9x rimfire scope that usually run around $50. Not bad scopes for the money. If you want to spend a bit more money, look at Weaver and Leupold rimfire scopes.
 
I have had good performance from both Simmons and Tasco scopes on the "budget aware" price points.

I realize that those are not up to Nikon or Leupold class, but they work for their intended purpose...decent scopes at budget prices.

Some folks have called Tasco "Trash-Co", and Tasco has sometimes had QC problems. I have always had good performance from them.

I have a Simmons "Blazer" 3-9x50 on my Mossberg ATR-100 in .30-06. Bought it for around $40 in 2004, still holding zero. Tasco 4x32 on my Marlin .30-30 {Gasp! A scope on a lever-gun!!??} since 1995 still drops the bullet to POA @100Yds
 
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Shot a few things from a helecopter. Didn't have to lead much. Once you launch the bullet it on a flight path that is no longer moving laterally. So no real lead necessary. Difference is when the target is moving, then you must lead. Blitz
 
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also to back Foghornl I have a TASCO world class 3x9 Mil Dot that I have shot on a 8MM Mauser for over 7 years. I really like it. I've got other scopes ranging from $200 to $650 and the Tasco shoots well at $96. Blitz
 
I just bought a BSA Sweet 22 3-9x40 with an illuminated reticule from Midway for ~$80. It seems pretty good but I haven't mounted it yet.
 
Personal opinion, but all scoped bolt action .22s need variable power scopes with adjustable objectives. The .22 is very versatile, and a variable scope helps wring the most out of the gun/cartridge combination. And you'll get the most accuracy if you can focus the parallax to the range you are shooting. With that background, the two scopes I'd consider most highly are:

Mueller APV and
Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn

I have used both of these scopes on .22 rifles with great success. In my opinion, they are great "bang for the buck." And that from a dedicated Leupold guy.
 
If you want a cheap .22 scope, I have really loved my Simmons 22 Mag. Bright, clear picture. No need for a high-end AO scope for shooting 50-100 yards with a .22. Sure, it's nice, but so is anything from Swarovski, and that's not what the OP asked for.

Some people have had great luck with BSA; the one I had was a POS didn't hold zero and I gave it to someone who dinked with it, then chucked it.
 
I hear you, ArmedBear. But "cheap" is a relative term (I actually prefer the word "inexpensive"). Thus my recommendation of a couple of scopes in the $80 to $120 range. I agree with you that there is little need for a "high end" scope, but disagree with you on the AO. NOT because you need to set parallax out at 100 yards or beyond. To the contrary, AO is a great feature for shooting at CLOSE distances. I have often shot at a 50-foot indoor range, and being able to focus the scope down to 50 feet is a great benefit. But I agree that that feature doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.

YMMV.
 
I have often shot at a 50-foot indoor range, and being able to focus the scope down to 50 feet is a great benefit
Click to expand...

Me, too. And the 4X Simmons works fine. Jagged penny-sized one-hole groups from the whole magazine of a stock Marlin 60 resting on a shaky range shelf is really all I can expect from cheap bulk ammo. Parallax has been a non-issue.:)

I don't care for "cheap". I won't touch another BSA, ever, even if they HAVE improved. But the Simmons has been pure, unadulterated "bang for the buck".

Also, in general I'd rather have the money I pay go into a decent fixed scope than a mediocre scope with moving parts. There's no reason that someone can't make a decent 4X scope for 50 bucks. But a variable power, adjustable objective scope? The extra manufacturing cost of a more complex scope has to be made up somewhere.
 
I've never had much use for a variable scope myself. Nothing wrong with them I guess, but for me they just magnify the wobble so I always use them on their lowest setting.

So rather than spend ten bucks more to get a variable, I settled for the Bushnell 4X32 that sells for about 35-40 bucks. They work well enough for me. I've got three of them now.
 
I know this goes against what others have said but I've had good results with BSA. Even have one mounted on a H&R M12 benchrest rifle, 36 x 40 works great. Also like Tasco scopes, never seem to have the money for the expensive stuff, oh well maybe someday.
 
What's your budget? Cheap is such a relative term. There's a LOT of room between your opening $500 comment & a bargain basement Tasco, Simmons or BSA for $45. Cheap is sometimes (often) the worst value for your shooting dollar. If you're happy with the accuracy of your Stevens 300 then my advice is...give yourself a real thrill & mount a scope that's worth the effort. Gun shops regularly have used mid-grade scopes (that they've dismounted from incoming trades) at very good prices. For the same $60-75 you'll spend for a brand-new cheap scope, you might find a pre-owned $150-200 scope with a few ring scratches on the tube. I would MUCH rather have a nice used one than a new crappy one. I've bought used scopes for years, the warranty is usually honored by the manufacturer if anything is outa-whack, especially if it wasn't a junker to begin with.
 
I have had a BSA Classic 4 x 32 on my Remington 550-1 for a couple weeks.I have been shooting almost every day with no trouble. Three tree rats on three shots last sunday.Not sure why some don't like BSA but I didn't see putting a $100.00 scope on a $100.00 rifle.
$25.00 at Walmart.
 
I know a lot of people rag on them, but I've been really happy with the 3x9 Barska I mounted on my 10/22. It was only $40 and included rings. If you're just looking for something cheap to plink with it might be the ticket.
 
Theres nothing wrong with not wanting to spend a lot I'm exactly the same way savages and stevens are very accurate. I have 2 BSA scopes and they work fine for me bushnells also good.
 
I just bought a 115.00 mueller apv and must say for the money,it has the best optics I've seen yet.It's a 4.5x14.
 
Nothing wrong with BSA or Simmons. Tasco works also. Check out
Natchez sells them for 65 to $75. AO, Contenders with various powers on
the BSAs are a lot of fun and decent results with both centerfire and rim
fire. With the AO, parallex is not an issue!
 
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