Perfect rimfire scope magnification?

[Kjm041]

There seems to be two schools of thought when it comes to rimfire (.22lr .17hmr etc) scopes - high mag e.g. 6-24x50 as it’s for varminting vs. Low mag 4x32, 2-6x42 etc. Because it’s “just” a rimfire and small and light weight is preferably. Americans seem to often think this. I know this discussion can be had for centrefires too but I’m looking for a Rimfire scope and was curious what folks thoughts were .

If this duplicates a previous thread then let me know. This my first non intro post so am new to this. Thanks

 

[VSS]

Mine's a 3-9, but it stays set at 8x.
My daughter, on the other hand, keeps hers set at 4x or 6x.

 

[Klenchblaize]

It's nice to have the option of 4 and something around the 20 power mark so look at a variable scope designed for a 22lr. By which I mean one with parallex adjustment down to 10 yards.

If you only want 4 power purchase the Swarovski Habict 4x32 that's for sale on here and mount as low as you can.

K

 

[Border]

Got a Leupold vx2 3-9x33EFR on my CZ 455, works ok and parallax adjustment down to 10 yds.

 

[Klenchblaize]

 

[Overlay]

2-6 x 42 in decent glass would be ideal, The scope on my Rimmy hardly moves from 4 x

 

[User00003]

Is that you after boar with the 22? Lol

 

[rhhudson]

I am looking to replace the scope on my 22lr now. It's currently got a 6-24x70 on but it's just too much scope for the rifle. I'm looking to drop down to 4-12 or something similar.

 

[Kjm041]

I had my 5-20x50 s&b ultra short on my .22lr (over kill..? ) now sits comfortably on my 6.5 creedmoor where I was intended to go. I liked the mag but it was heavy and I am tempted to go 8x56 or 7x50 fixed and quality rather than lower quality and high mag (£400 ish budget)

 

[Kjm041]

Is that you after boar with the 22? Lol

That looks great.

 

[mealiejimmy]

Sightron S Tac 3-16x42
Good mag range, good glass and side parallax down to 10 yards making it excellent for an NV add-on
Not to big or heavy either.

Cheers

Bruce

 

[Hereford]

S&B 8x56 on my Anschutz - works for me from 30-70 meters and obviously cracking in low light. 8x gives that sweet spot 7mm exit pupil diameter

 

[Uncle Buck]

Is that you after boar with the 22? Lol /QUOTE]

Must be piglets eh !

 

[Scapegoat]

Personally I like a bit of zoom, so 3-940 or 50 is ok. I had a 3-12x56 which did me for years but I stupidly gave it to my son to put on his HMR. The semi has a 2.5-1056 with a side parallax down to 10m which I would argue is near perfect, especially for ratting round the feeders. I tried an Artemis 7*50, but the 100 yard parallax fix made it useless on a rimmy

 

[Uncle Buck]

Oops!

 

[Uncle Buck]

Is that you after boar with the 22? Lol

Must be piglets eh !

 

[Pedro]

Because it was not on any other rifle at the time, my .17hmr was mated to my 3-12X50 Zeiss Duralyt. Too much scope maybe? Surely a lower budget 4-9X40 from the likes of Hawke would do? Because that's what was on it before. And quite alright it was too. But the Zeiss is an obvious jump in class and performance. Even though it's on the rimfire by default. I can see much clearer, in poorer light and of course can see things much closer (if I want. It generally sits around the 6 mark, give or take). So I suppose the answer in general terms is, put on what you can afford. But as for magnification, the lower end and higher end of variable scopes on rimfires don't get too much use. So to have a budget variable would be fine. But it's also worth having a fixed scope. You'll get a better quality one doing that.

To directly answer the OP's question, I think it's only worth having a higher magnification scope on if you intend to use it as a target rifle.

 

[FISH BOY]

Think the Hawke sidewinder range is perfect for rimfires.

Run the 4x16x50 on my FAC air, .22LR and HMR all to good effect.

 

[Kjm041]

S&B 8x56 on my Anschutz - works for me from 30-70 meters and obviously cracking in low light. 8x gives that sweet spot 7mm exit pupil diameter

View attachment 123539

Very nice. I was thinking about a s and b 8x56. How high are the mounts? Do you run into the parallax set at 100 yds issue that the scapegoat mentions with the 7x50 meopta Artemis?

 

[Hereford]

Very nice. I was thinking about a s and b 8x56. How high are the mounts? Do you run into the parallax set at 100 yds issue that the scapegoat mentions with the 7x50 meopta Artemis?

From memory they are standard height BKL’s - I could have got it closer by adding a rail and low mounts but try to avoid having too many components in the chain.
I have not noticed any parallax issues (although technically I guess there are) however, real world, it doesn’t seem to cause any problems as the set up continues to account for rabbit after rabbit. I’m zeroed at 50m (or 55 yards) and mainly shoot out of the truck between 30-80 meters with rws subs - reticule and sight picture remain sharp throughout that range. You’re looking at probably one of the best low light woodland / wood edge stalking scopes so it’s perhaps not a surprise that it functions just as well at sub 100m ranges. With holdover and under worked out you can’t go wrong for the money, imo.