scope for 22 mag rifle?

[Mooseman]

Will a regular .22 scope break down from the somewhat increased recoil? Do you folks bother with a bigger scope for groundhogs?

I'll pretty much be using a sit still and wait tactic, probably won't be trying to take shots over 75 yards.

 

[viking499]

3-9x32 is a good scope for a 22 mag.

 

[butcherboy]

the walmart special tasco's work on mine ( marlin 983) i use a 3-9X40 and its woodchuck/squirrel accurate.

 

[Skylerbone]

The evil post from Mooseman (his 666th).

Most scopes labeled for .22 are one of two things: a scope with a small diameter main tube (not 1" or 30mm) and or have a set of rings included as many .22 rifles have a small dovetail cut into the top of a round-top receiver. If your rifle accepts standard mounts (bases) then any scope will do, even those suggested for .22 without fear of damage from your .22mag.

WalMart sells some neat and inexpensive illuminated scopes from Center Point??? They can aid in picking up your reticle when glassing over darker areas like long fall grass. May as well make it fun.

 

[rangerruck]

truth to tell... I would just use a fixed 4x, for hunting anything at all, under 100 yds. From squirrels, up to bears, 4x is just fine; not so much the 22 mag for the larger game mind you.

 

[JTHunter]

Mooseman - I recently purchased a Marlin .22 Mag boltgun at a local store and got a Burris 3 x 9 - 40 for it. It is nice and bright and gives good eyerelief for my glasses.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I have a Barska Ridgeline in 3x9x42 on my Savage 65M .22 magnum bolt gun now and love it. For years it wore a Bushnell Sportview in 4x30 which worked great as well.

 

[Sky]

I was just looking at Vortex scopes at Opticsplanet and golly gee they have some neat stuff. I only have their red dot but the company is first class in my humble opinion.

I have a Nikon 223 scope that is nice but Vortec has just about the same thing at a considerably reduced price.

Hard to compare apples and oranges unless you like them both.

 

[Legionnaire]

Will a regular .22 scope break down from the somewhat increased recoil?

No. In addition to what Skylerbone said, .22 scopes may have their focus set closer, maybe 60-75 yards. But they will stand up fine to a .22WMR.

Do you folks bother with a bigger scope for groundhogs?

Not on a .22WMR. Mine wears a 1-4X variable, but a fixed 4X would also be fine. Don't see the need for anything greater than 4X on a .22WMR hunting rifle.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Don't see the need for anything greater than 4X on a .22WMR hunting rifle.

Squirrels @ 100 yards in the southern woods before leaf fall.

 

[Skylerbone]

Lest you forget us Yankees Jimmy Ray, the leaves fall in Iowa too. My folks switched to .410s when they turned 60 due to leaves and trifocals.

Legionnaire is correct (I neglected to mention it) that most .22 scopes focus parallax closer than their centerfire siblings.

I put a Bushnell 4x AO on my Marlin 25N (bolt action .22LR) nearly two decades ago. It still does a fine job but my eyes are 20/15 and must have been made for spotting squirrels. I've replaced all of my other inexpensive scopes over the years with much more expensive glass but for whistle pigs at close distance on a rimfire most any scope will do.

Best bargain these days in my opinion, the NEW Simmons scope line. They've come a long way of late after being bought out and redesigned. Best .22mag scope available is the Pride Fowler RR-22MAG but it's meant for distances of 50 yards or more. I recommended the Center Point as it is inexpensive, illuminated (to help with those brown on a brown hill in a brown field with a RED crosshair shots) and available at WalMart. Other brands may require a bit of shopping which is best left to the ladies (who don't hunt).

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Sorry Skylerbone,no slight intended. I only use scopes made for centerfire rifles on my rimfires. I have a Bushnell Sportview 3x9x32 on my Magtech .22lr auto. It is perfect for grey squirrels in dense foliage or at longer ranges after leaf fall. I only take head shots and prefer the extra magnification needed(at least by me)at longer ranges. I like the .22 magnum in case one of the plentiful coyotes shows itself in the squirrel woods.

 

[Skylerbone]

I'm a transplant anyhow; ) but appreciate the nod. I've got nothing against any magnification that brings home a good meal and while my neighbors would probably faint at the idea I'll take squirrel over beef any day of the week. Groundhog...I'll feed it to the in-laws.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I'll take squirrel over beef any day of the week.

I am SO looking forward to some fried squirrel with mashed potatos,brown gravy,green peas and home-made bisquits!

 

[Skylerbone]

Now I'm hungry. Maybe we can get THR to start a recipe section...maybe I'd need bigger pants then...maybe a bad idea.

 

[Legionnaire]

Hey, jimmyray! I hear you, but here in PA, there ain't no way I'm getting a hundred yard shot in the squirrel woods, especially if the leaves are still on the trees!

Anyway, guess I could have added that my favorits squirrel getter is a Savage 24 .22 mag over 20 gauge combo. I like the low power variable scope because I can crank it down to zero magnification if I plan to favor the shotgun, but have the 4X capability for the rifle barrel. Works for me. I might also have noted that I have a very accurate Remington 541T .22LR that sports a 6.5-10X AO Leupold scope, so I do know the advantages of high magnification on a rimfire. But it rarely gets used for squirrels; targets only.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Another reason for using a 22 mag over the long rifle is wind drift on long shots. My magnum hardly notices a slight breeze that will move a long rifle round by 2 inches. A 100 yard shot here will usually only present itself after leaf fall.

 

[JTHunter]

Skylerbone - Young groundhog is OK whether baked, fried, or stewed, is real good. The older ones are only good in a crockpot overnight on low. But just imagine that smell when you get up in the morning - - - mmmm.
(Ditto on racoons.)

 

[CraigC]

Look at the dedicated rimfire scopes in the 4x or 2-7x variety from Weaver, Nikon and Leupold. I wouldn't buy anything cheaper than one of those three, even on a rimfire cheap scopes go belly up.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

even on a rimfire cheap scopes go belly up.

I've never had a scope go belly up on a rimfire(I've used them for 45 years) and very few have on centerfires(a few on hard kickers like my 300 mag and Mini-30). While I don't fault anyone for using the best they can get,I also find cheaper scopes do the job just fine. My own experience is, on rimfires in the squirrel woods,a $39-$49 Bushnell or Simmons work great and lasts for years.

 

[CraigC]

Mileage varies, I have several that have gone belly up on rimfire rifles. Even had a reticle break on the first range session with it in place on top of a 10/22. Same rifle previously had a cheap Tasco with wild POI shifts. Also had a Tasco High Country 4-16x start wildly shifting POI on a Ruger .22Mag. The Tasco World Class 4x on my 94/22M has a loose objective lens. Etc., etc., etc. Before anyone says it, no, I am not rough on my rifles. There's another thread going where some folks seem to think that I have lace on my drawers and should take up golf because I baby them too much.

While I don't fault anyone for using the best they can get...

This isn't a class war and recommending folks spend a hundred bucks on a good scope is not elitist. Quite the contrary, cheap is too expensive. Good glass is cheap insurance.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Yes mileage does vary and going entirely by my own mileage, I haven't experienced such poor mileage from any of my 1" tube scopes(I do not use any of the small tube scopes). I have used the 1" tubes since the mid '70s with very good service. I had a Simmons 4x32 ($29 @Western Auto)on a Ruger 10/22 that was nothing short of amazing.

There's another thread going where some folks seem to think that I have lace on my drawers and should take up golf because I baby them too much.

Haven't seen that thread,sorry I missed it. I have Leupold and Nikon scopes of several centerfire rifles and love them but I get as good service (re;use)out of the Barska,Simmons and Bushnell scopes I also use.