The .22 is one of the most popular cartridges for a host of reasons. There is the price, which is very low; there is also the fact that it offers little to no recoil which is helpful when teaching new shooters, especially kids.

Most of the scopes that have been designed for .22LR rifles have been designed for either precision target shooting or for use in the field when taking snap shots at small game.

Shopping for rimfire rifle optics is not something that you should jump into without doing some research first. For starters, you will need to find the scope that is perfect for the way that you intend to use your rifle. Note also that you can find scopes in a broad range of prices, ranging from well under $50 for standard models all the way up to $1,000 and above for the powerful higher end optics. However, there is no need for larger and more powerful scopes on a .22LR rifle and most .22LR riflescopes are lightweight and low or fixed power. As a result, it is possible to find quality scopes for .22LR rifles that fall well below the $100 price point.

Choosing .22LR Riflescopes

It is important to note that the .22LR cartridge is not meant to be an all-purpose round. While it can be enjoyable to shoot and can even be used for small game hunting, the ways in which it can be used are relatively limited. Rimfire cartridges can certainly go a considerable distance, but not effectively. By the time it gets to 100 yards, it will drop by a foot or more. When rimfire cartridges are described as not having much range, practical range is what is meant.

The short effective range is the main reason that there is no real need for high magnification, nor is there a need for many of the other features that you might find on a centerfire scope. In other words, you do not need a 16x scope when you are going to be shooting at targets that are within 100 yards. In fact, a more powerful scope may actually cause problems like blurriness and eye fatigue; a larger scope will also be unnecessarily heavy.

Lower magnification will be more effective. The standard magnification for .22LR riflescopes is 3 to 9 but even then you will probably never use the 9 power. Some of the best .22LR scopes are 4x fixed power scopes. Compact 2-7x scopes are also good choices.

As noted above, one of the best reasons to use .22LR cartridges is the fact that they are relatively inexpensive when compared to centerfire ammunition. This makes them ideal if you are training to hunt larger game. If this is how you are using your .22LR rimfire rifle, you may want to choose a scope that is similar to the centerfire one that you intend to use.

Factors to Consider When Buying .22LR Scopes

Weight

Remember, one of the main reasons to use .22LR rifles is to teach new shooters. This includes younger shooters. Rimfire weapons are typically very light and a lighter scope can make them much easier for smaller shooters to use. Heavier optics can affect the balance of a rifle making it awkward to handle. Consider also the fact that one of the main benefits of a .22LR rifle is the ease of shooting small, fast game. The fact that these animals move quickly means that a shooter may have to adjust their aim rapidly in order to get a solid hit. The weight of the scope can affect the ease and speed of that adjustment.

Parallax

To put it simply, this is an optical illusion that can make you inaccurate. A simple definition of parallax is the way that objects within your field of view appear to move in relation to the reticle. Ordinarily, this is not something that you have to worry about unless you are looking for extreme accuracy and using high magnification scopes. However, a fixed parallax of 100 yards is common on most scopes and can be problematic if you are shooting at targets within that range. If your targets are within 100 yards, you will need a scope that allows you to adjust the parallax.

Reticle

When using a .22LR rifle, a simple duplex reticle will be all you need in most cases. It should have thin cross hairs that make it easy to see small targets at different ranges. Most of the targets you will shoot with a .22LR rifle will be close enough to make windage and elevation irrelevant, a mil dot reticle is suggested if you do plan to shoot at longer ranges.

Finger Adjustable Turrets

These are great if you are going to be shooting at long ranges but you may not need them with a .22LR rifle.

Reticle Illumination

These are mostly used for tactical purposes and can may not work well depending on the quality of the illumination. If they are too bright, they can make it more difficult for you to see your targets.

Top Recommended Scopes

A word of warning: if you are shopping for a budget scope, there are many substandard products at the low end of the market. You may find a lot that are not fog-proof or that are inadequate for low-light conditions. Even so, you can still find a few excellent products if you look carefully. Below are some products in various price ranges that you should consider.

Barska 3-9×32 Plinker-22 Riflescope

Yes, this scope is made in China; however, do not let that play too big a role in your decision. Barska is known for high quality products and this scope is exactly that. It is an affordable piece of equipment that offers decent magnification and is lightweight at 11.5 ounces If that is not enough to convince you, keep in that it is priced below the $100 mark. Note that it ships with rings and caps and comes with a lifetime warranty. It may not be the nicest scope available or even the nicest one on this list, but it can certainly get the job done.

BSA Sweet .22 3-9x40mm Riflescope

This is another brand known for providing solid value at a low price. The BSA Sweet offers target turrets that can be adjusted easily, along with a 40mm objective lens that maximizes light gathering. The BSA Sweet is also waterproof, shockproof and fog-proof. Overall, this is definitely one of the best scopes for shooters on a budget; it is especially good for those who want a precision scope. It weighs in at 20 ounces and you will have to buy the rings separately.

Nikon Prostaff 3-9×40 Riflescope

The Nikon brand has long been associated with high quality cameras. They have now applied their signature craftsmanship to the construction of rifle optics. Features include coated lenses to provide brightness and image clarity in low-light environments along with being waterproof. ProStaff scopes are also nitrogen filled to prevent fogging. Their versatility offers you the ability to hunt in all types of terrain, whether heavily wooded or wide open. The compact ProStaff scope is designed mainly for .22LR guns and weighs 15 ounces.

Bushnell 2-7x32mm Rimfire BDC

This scope allows you to make fine adjustments for pinpoint accuracy and also has a caliber-specific reticle so that you can fire different rounds accurately. In addition, You get a parallax focus that delivers an even greater degree of accuracy. Furthermore, the lenses are multicoated to ensure that images are clear and sharp. It is filled with nitrogen to keep the interior free of moisture and its exterior is rust-proof and scratch-proof. The Bushnell 2-7x32mm Rimfire BDC weighs 19.6 ounces and is constructed from an aluminum alloy.

Zeiss Conquest 3-9×40 Z-Plex Riflescope

The Zeiss company has been in business since 1846 and has built a reputation for quality design and mechanics since the beginning. The Conquest 3-9x40mm scope is especially designed for .22LR rifles and has a low profile that helps you to track your game without drawing attention to yourself. This scope is on the higher end when it comes to both price and quality but it is designed to be durable and reliable. Along with being nitrogen-filled to prevent fogging, it features multicoated lenses to help with low-light shooting and for precise images.

Leupold 113872 VX-1 Rimfire Scope with Fine Duplex Reticle

This scope offers a number of proprietary features that place it in a different class from other .22LR optics. The glass is about as clear as could be expected and the weight is very low too at about 8 ounces. Leupold has also used a special coating (called “Micro-friction”) on windage and elevation dials that allow for the reticle to be dialed in with greater precision. The exterior of the scope has Diamond Coat, which reduces abrasion and thus provides a degree of protection.

While the procedure will also work with open sights, boresighting is typically used to align the crosshairs of a telescopic sight, or “scope,” with the bore of a rifle or other firearm. Boresighting is designed to ensure that the firearm will be accurate enough to hit a paper target at a distance of 50 yards. While boresighting can be done without a boresighter, by just looking down the barrel and lining the bore up with the target, this method only works with firearms that offer an unobstructed view through the barrel. For most other types of firearms, a boresighting device is extremely helpful.

Collimator and Arbors

A collimator is a boresighting device with a graph-like grid that is visible when looking through the scope. The collimator is held in place by an arbor, sometimes called a “spud,” inserted into the muzzle end of the barrel. The arbors are sized for a specific caliber, or range of calibers, and are held in place by an expanding plug or spring. Once the arbor is secured in the muzzle, the shooter looks through the scope and adjusts the elevation and windage turrets until the scope’s crosshairs are centered in the grid. A collimator can also be used to check the scope’s zero after the sighting-in process has been completed. This can be done by recording where on the grid the crosshairs line up after the firearm has been sighted in.

Magnetic Boresighters

Instead of inserting arbors into the barrel, a magnetic boresighter attaches to end of the muzzle of the firearm with magnets. Magnetic boresighters will fit all calibers with no other parts required. Magnetic boresighters also use a collimator and can also be for checking the scope’s zero after sighting in.

Laser Boresighters

There are two kinds of laser boresighters, one that fits into the muzzle with an arbor and a second type that inserts into the chamber, like a cartridge. Both work by projecting a laser beam onto the target. Laser boresighters do need a somewhat reflective surface for the beam to be readily visible. As a note, most laser boresighters eat batteries, regardless of what the manufacturer claims.

Using a Collimator-Style Boresighter

1. Point the rifle in a safe direction and confirm that it isn’t loaded.
2. Secure the rifle in a suitable support, such as a gun vise or pair of sandbags, that will hold the firearm securely in place while you work on it. Confirm the rifle scope is mounted correctly and check to be sure all the screws tight.
3. Select the appropriate caliber arbor and attach the arbor to the boresighter according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
4. Attach the boresighter to the rifle by inserting the arbor into the muzzle and hand tighten the arbor in place. A magnetic-style boresighter only needs to be placed over the muzzle.
5. Look through the rifle scope and rotate the boresighter until the lines on the grid of the collimator line up with both the horizontally and vertically crosshairs of scope.
6. Remove the caps from the windage- and elevation-adjustment turrets and adjust the turrets until the crosshairs on the scope line up with the lines in the center of the collimator grid.
7. The rifle is now boresighted. Remove the boresighter and arbor from the barrel.
8. Test the rifle at the range by firing a three-shot group at a target at 50 yards. Use the hole in the middle of the three-shot group to make any adjustments to the rifle scope. Repeat the process at 100 yards.

Using Laser-Style Boresighters

1. Confirm that the rifle it isn’t loaded.
2. Secure the rifle in a suitable support, such as a gun vise or pair of sandbags, that will hold the firearm securely in place while you work on it. Confirm the rifle scope is mounted correctly and check to be sure all the screws tight.
3. For muzzle-style laser boresighters, select the appropriate caliber arbor and attach the arbor to the boresighter. Insert the arbor of the boresighter into the muzzle of the rifle and hand tighten the arbor in place. For cartridge-style laser boresighters, insert the boresighter into the chamber of the rifle.
4. Line the laser beam up on the center of a target 25 yards away.
5. Remove the caps from the windage- and elevation-adjustment turrets. Look through the scope and adjust the turrets until the crosshairs on the scope line up with the laser beam hitting the target.
6. Move the target to 50 yards and repeat the process. While you can try to skip the initial 25-yard target sighting in step four, the laser beam may not even hit the target if you start at 50 yards.
7. The rifle is now boresighted.
8. As with the collimator boresighter, test the rifle by firing a three-shot group at a target at 50 yards and then repeat the process at 100 yards.

Rifle scopes are gadgets that are used by shooters to give a telescopic sight. They are used for law enhancement or hunting purposes. Rifle scopes are thought to be used for only long range shots, but they are also used for short range shots. They help attain what we call an ‘optical sight’ view to the shooter. The purpose of attaining an optical sight is to enable you to bring your target visually closer without distorting the support of your rifle. Rifle scopes are traced back to world war two, although due to great advancement in technology a lot has changed.

A professional shooter should know that there are different types of rifle scopes. The choice of scope depends on the rifle being used and also the suitability of the shooter while making a shot. Rifle scopes vary mostly by magnification and size. The most important factor a shooter should consider is acquiring a scope that avoids eye strains while marking the position and distance, which to take the shot. However, when investing in a rifle scope a lot of necessary considerations to make.

It is prudent that a shooter should have vast background knowledge about rifle scopes. The knowledge will succor the shooter to come up with the best suitable scope to use. Below are crucial guidelines that a shooter should put into account when planning to invest in a rifle scope.

Beware of the types of scopes currently available on the market

As a shooter, educate yourself on the different types of scopes available before investing. This helps in decision making on which rifle scope to purchase. The knowledge enables you to spot broadly the differences in the makes of each. You also get to know where to purchase the preferred rifle scope. The research also assists you in comparing the market prices of the different rifle scopes. The main aim for this is to enable you to get the best rifle scope and that which falls in your budget.

Learn about the minor specifications in each rifle scope

Apart from magnification, other specifications are crucial in determining the perfect rifle scope. There are different types of coats in lenses. This brings about the difference in image sharpness, brightness, and contrast. However, different coats vary by prices; ensure your budget gets the best for you.

Another specification to consider is the eye relief. It is the distance between the rear-lens to the point, which the full field is in proper view. This is important because the recoil of the rifle could damage your eye. Therefore, try considering a rifle scope that will avoid contact between the eye and scope.

You can also look at the reticle of the scopes. They come in many designs and differ in many scopes. Consider a one suitable to meet your desired purpose. Parallax problems can cause problems on your point of impact, especially at long range. It can also make your apparent group size a lot larger than it should be. The parallax is the relative movement between your reticle and your target image. To acquire a parallax image it involves moving your head up and down or left to right keeping your rifle steady. Ensure you acquire a scope that has a convenient parallax for you.

Apparently with the great advancement in technology, most scopes are adjustable. Other specifications you might want to consider are for example the trajectory of the scope, the turret and the light transmission of the scopes. Therefore, when purchasing your rifle scope ensure you follow up to detail every specification of the scope that suits you.

There are many rifle scopes available in the market today. Each come with their own modest modifications and specifications. This has made it quite easy for shooters to select their desired rifle scopes according to their own preference. Jotted below are some of the highest recommended 1-4x rifle scopes available on the market.

Burris 200437 MTAC 1-4 x 24 Illuminated Scope

Burris is a company known for making scopes with good performance and great quality. Their product, the Burris MTAC is very affordable. It comes with a full life warranty. It’s from quality materials and is very reliable.

The Burris can help target an object at a variety of distances. It has a one hundred and thirty-inch maximum adjust and weighs seventeen ounces. The rifle scope is recommended since it’s good for tactical use and comes at an affordable price.

Weaver Kaspa Dual-X Tactical Scope, 1-4 X 24

The weaver company is among the oldest in making rifle scopes. Its optic makes and mount rings are famous for their reliability for generations now. The Kaspa Dual-X Tactical Scope is a professional scope at an affordable price.

The Weaver Kaspa has an illuminated reticle, which promotes low light conditions. It also comes fitted with a tactical 30mm tube design, which provides a rugged performance. It also has an eye relief of four inches. The weaver Kaspa has a half inch click value, which translates to a hundred yards. It also has cover cups on the objective lens and the eyepiece.

The Weaver Kaspa has fully multi-coated lenses give an excellent clarity and produce vivid images. Being nitrogen purged, it helps annihilate internal fogging in the scope.

The greatest advantage of this rifle scope is that it works on almost any rifle.

Barska 1-4×28 IR Riflescope

The Barska Company makes scopes that offer high performance and sell them at cheaper price comparing to other rifle scopes. Their 1-4×28 IR model is a great example of that. It has a glass etched illuminated reticle and a 1-4x magnification for shooting at different distances.

The rifle scope is also fitted with external target turrets, which can be locked to prevent unnecessary movement of the scopes windage and elevation. Like the Weaver Kaspa, it has nitrogen purged to make in prevent fogging. Additionally, it has carbon dioxide and its O-rings are tightly sealed to assure it as waterproof.

The Barska really helps save money due to its affordable price compared to the previous mention rifles. Nevertheless, it’s still a reliable scope.

Mueller Speed Shot Rifle Scope 1-4 x 24mm

The Mueller Speed Shot has an eye relief of three and a half inches. It has as a tube thirty millimeters in size accompanied by a twenty-four-millimeter objective. It is mostly suitable for a short and medium range combats.

The Mueller Speed Shot is unique because it is dot-illuminated. It has a daylight visible illumination dot. It also has a fully multi-coated lens meaning it gives the shooter a great quality image view. Its illuminator nob has eleven settings with nice positive clicks. Like the Weaver and Barska scopes, it’s also fog proof. The Mueller Speed Shot has a quick focus ring on the eyepiece for adjustments when in combat. Relative to other scopes its price better and can help save money.

Millett Tactical Designated Marksman DMS-1 1-4x24mm

Last up is Millet’s Tactical DMS-1  Compared to other rifle scopes its only disadvantage is that it’s relatively expensive. The millet is fully multi-coated, which helps deliver ultra-bright, razor-sharp images. It also has an illuminated reticle with eleven brightness settings, which allow clear visual of the target even in low light conditions.

The millet has a ‘Dot-in-a-Donut’ that aligns naturally to give an accurate shot placement. It also has a thirty-millimeter tube with ninety MOA elevation. The turrets are low profile cover, but still finger adjustable. The millet also has really nice covers for the objective lens and the eyepiece. It’s recommended mostly for close-range combat style shooting.