New scope for rimfire - suggestions?

[Virbius]

I'm looking for a scope for my rimfire, switch barrel .22LR and 17HMR. I'd like zoom with parallax adjustment, I've narrowed it down to Vortex DiamondBack 4-16x42 or Nikon Monarch 4-16x42.
Any experience of these or any other scopes that I should consider? Don't want to spend silly money.

 

[VSS]

I think that Hawke scopes are worth looking at for what you need.

 

[FISH BOY]

I think that Hawke scopes are worth looking at for what you need.

Defo - got the 4x16x50 Hawke sidewinders on my rimmy, HMR and FAC air. All do a great job for sensible money.

 

[The Singing Stalker]

Sidewinder and if you decide at a later stage to get into night vision. You have a good scope for an addon.

 

[Bigboab29]

Out of those two i would go with the vortex, probably won't be much in it optically but the vortex warranty is second to none. Id still go for a s/h bushnell 6500 2.5-16x42 - ultimate rimmy scope

 

[Virbius]

Thanks for the input. I hadn't copnsidered the Bushnell - if they are that good do they come up secondhand? What makes them the ultimate rimfire sccope?
I've always dismissed Hawke - not really sure why but I always think they pack too much technology in for the price, such as illuminated reticle for example, so lens & build quality is going to suffer.

 

[mchughcb]

Minox zx5i 1-5x24.

 

[Virbius]

Minox zx5i 1-5x24.

A driven game scope, surely? And also silly money.

 

[pete evans]

after using various vari mag scopes on my .22 and .17hmr i now use 6x42. Possibly could do with slightly more mag for 17 but when lamping the simplicity of the format compensates.

 

[Cottis]

I have a Vortex Diamondback HP on my .22LR. It was around £300 I think. It is pretty good but not as optically good as I would expect for the money. I was exchanging a far superior scope optically that had developed a fault and the Vortex was basically a replacement. I needed something quickly. Given my time again, I would not get it to be honest although it is nice and light and mechanically is faultless. I just think you can get better last light optics for £300

I have an old Hawke Eclipse 3-12x50 scope on my air rifle. It is very very good for the £130 it cost. If you could find one of those second hand, it would be around 50quid. They are old now but it is a very very good scope. Lovely clutter free mildot scope, good mechanics, works superbly with Digi NV and is light weight and optically superior to the Vortex.

If you want to spend money, I would say the baby STAC from Sightron in 3-16x42 flavour is the best bang for buck scope if you are looking at good optics, bullet proof mechanics, lightweight, good mag range etc. It is gonna be nearly 400quid though.

Look at Athlon scopes too.

Or if you want rimfire perfection for not much money, try and find an old Nikko Stirling Gold Crown Wide Angle 3-9x40, not the modern chaff but the old Japanese models. I have one. It is sooooo crisp and clear. It dicks on more modern scopes with larger objective lenses IMO.

 

[mealiejimmy]

+1 for the Sightron S Tac 3-16x42 (with the MOA3 reticle) - great day scope and just about the best scope for an NV add-on

Cheers

Bruce

 

[bman940]

A scope that I have and paid more for than what it is being sold for right now is Nikon's BLACK X1000 4-16 MOA. This would be a big scope for what your plans are but if you are looking at Nikon's MONARCH 3 4-16 this isn't such a reach. $50 more and MOA reticle and turrets. The scope is SFP and the glass is excellent. I also have a 6-24x50 MOA I liked the 4-16 so much. Hopefully one of these days I'll be putting a Nikon BLACK FX1000 on a 6.5 cm that I have. FFP and improved turrets and more precise reticle. A pretty awesome scope that also can be purchased with illumination. I think it's a no-brainer to step up to the BLACK X1000 considering the choices you describe. Take a look through one and you'll see why.

 

[Learil]

Rimfire scopes are generally parallax free at 50 yards while the best high power scopes are adjustable. 22 match scopes need to go down to a 50' parallax setting as well as to infinity for long range matches.

My favorite scope for what you are looking for is the Unertl 10X 3/4" tube https://thetacticalscopes.com/best-reflex-sight-under-200/ I use it from 50' to 200 yards on a Model 52 Winchester in our local matches. Probably not what you want, but it's spot on for such activities.

Was I buying a scope today for match shooting or vermin eradication, I would get a Leupold target scope with a 1" tube. It would be parallax adjustable and of a mid powder range. With it you would get the warranty that you desire as well a choice of reticles and repeatable target knobs for windage and elevation.
There are a lot of useful and interesting videos on this topic on Youtube, I will leave one here, I hope someone will help in choosing the future. Good luck!

 

[mchughcb]

A driven game scope, surely? And also silly money.

One should practice snap shooting and running targets with a 22LR. This scope is ideal for that plus head shooting rabbits at 60m.

 

[kripton]

I would go with Hawke Endurance 30- available with various illuminated reticles and side focus. I particularly like the 223/308 reticle version where the stadia are illuminated and are not too thick. IMHO the Hawke illuminated dot is just too large and obscures too much of the target.

 

[HappyHunter]

I have always defaulted to budget type scopes when it comes to rimfires, though logic says I should have spent more. The extra cost / performance would certainly be justified due to the amount of use they get! Even so, funds wouldn't necessarily allow something fancy.

I use a Hawke Vantage 4-12x50 on the .17 and Nikko Stirling Gameking on the .22. Both allow adequate groups at the range and things fall over when I've pulled the trigger out in the field. I'd recommend both and personally think the gameking has a slight edge. Only real drawback I have is better lowlight performance / few extra minutes shooting could've benefitted me on some occasions.

Edit - The Vantage has quite a thick crosshair too compared to the gameking.

 

[Southern]

The scopes on that video are worth considering. They are not expensive, and all you need for any rimfire application.

No doubt a Bushnell 6500 would be "ultimate"... overkill. It is a super nice tactical scope for long range shooting.

Are you going to shoot at known distances to the targets? Then get a scope with a fine reticle, parallax adjustment, and external turrets you can dial in the range. Those Bushnell AR and Rimfire scopes with side parallax adjustment, and swappable turrets for .22 LR and .17 HMR will do all you need. Simmons is almost identical, just less tactical looking. So will the Nikon Prostaff Target AO with fine crosshair and small dot.

If you are going to hunt with it, something with BDC hashes is worth a look, like the Bushnell AR series, the Bushnell Rimfire 3.5-10x36 AO with swappable turrets, the Nikon Rimfire scopes with exposed turrets which match their AR-15 and .308 scopes, and the Vortex Crossfire Rimfire. I use a Hawke 2-7x32AO Mil Dot on an AR-22. Another line of scopes you might look at are the Mueller APV or Sport Dot. I have a Mueller 3-9x40 Sport Dot which I took on a trade, made in Japan, and surprising clarity, 1 MOA red dot, and 1/8 MOA turrets.

I have been using a 6x42mm on a rimfire for 15 years, matching the same scope on a .308. I am going to replace it with the Primary Arms 6x32mm with the ACSS reticle. Go look at the detailed through-the-lense video of this scope ranging and shooting targets beyond 200 yards.

 

[weimaraner]

Sightron STAC 2.5 x 17.5 x 56 ?

Then if needed, you can add a Ward D800 NV unit.

This gives you the best of both worlds.
Day + night sorted.
As well as an empty wallet !

Massive £ outlay for a ,22LR scope though.
As your shooting range won't be as far as a .17hmr.

ATB.

 

[Woodsmoke]

I have a cheap-as-chips Walther 6x42 mil-dot on my .22. It was good enough to allow me to kill a crow at a lasered 147 yards. Just sayin' you don't need to spend a fortune

 

[Toots]

Have a hawke 3-9x 40 with .22 sub ret on my 455. One issue it that I can't sit it as low as I would like due to a relatively large diameter eye piece catching bolt. Does the job just fine though.