I put a 2.5x on a Ruger 10/22 and at any range at all it is way faster and more accurate. On older stuff, have an old pump gallery gun, just more fun to shoot open sights. Not quite as fast, and you have to pump it which slows it down, but - open sights just keep old school old school, part of the fun. If I wanted to actually hunt squirrels, I'd use the scoped 10/22. I have a cheap Winchester Wildcat .22 that is pretty decent for what it is, that I've put a red dot on. I never compared it to the scope, but it did work really good, and it was a fun way to try working with a red dot, and the target is easier to pick up than with the scope, and very accurate off hand out to 50 yards, but I'd bet not as accurate as the scope. At 25 yards, just shooting steel gongs on a stand, and action targets, the Red Dot being easier to pick up targets would be the fastest and most accurate. Like if you were just playing shooting gallery for speed, for me anyway, if you lose the target with the scope, or can't find it quick, there is a lag that isn't there with the open sights or red dot.