Scope recommendation Rem 597 .22WMR

IMO, trying to see and shoot small targets with a .22 WMR at say 100 to 125 yards will be easier with something better than 7x or 9x on the top end.

At least that's my experience with .22 WMR rifles using 2-7x and 3-9x scopes.

You don't need a rimfire specific scope with 50 yard or adjustable parallax for that either. A centerfire scope will do just fine, IMO.

I would recommend as high a bottom end as your comfortable with, and get as much top end as possible. Id also recommend getting one with AO or SF, especially if this is a general use rimfire that will be shot under 50yds sometimes.
I also like to have as much top-end power, and AO or SF on everything given a choice, so that baises my preferences. At the same time, a great many people either prefer to have the simpler operation of a non-adjustable, or just don't feel the need, and they do just fine.

I have a Sightron S-tac 3-16x42 on my 457, and a Bushnell ultrahd 3-9x40 on my 795. Im happy enough with either optic from point blank to a couple hundred yards on normal .22lrs, but would probably up the power on the 795 If I shot it at 100+ more often.

I have been very happy with the Mueller APV 4.5-14 on my Savage Mark II. I usually prefer a BDC or mildot reticle so I can hold over, but with the distances I shoot 22lr I don't really find it necessary. Upgrading to the APT from them would get a mil dot reticle and 30mm tube vs the 1 inch tube and duplex reticle on the APV as well as non-capped turrets, probably would do that if I was buying again but not a big enough deal for me to get rid of the APV. Muellers are a pretty good bang for your buck, they're pretty well thought of over at RFC.

With my personal experience/choice out of the way, I think any of the options you listed would work fine. For magnification, I've found around 4.5-14 or 4-16 to be my preference.

gralewaj said:

Hello all, I have acquired a Remington 597 in .22 WMR and would like to replace the fixed 4x optic with a variable power one. Budget is $200. This is going to be a plinker and varmint rifle, I'd like to be able to push the range as far as the .22 mag will go. Is a 2-7x not enough scope? or should I look more toward a 4-12x? Do I need to look for a rimfire specific scope? I've seen a few with BDC reticles for .17HMR and .22LR but never .22 mag. Does it matter?

Thank you for your opinions!

AJ

Research today has brought five scopes into consideration:
1. Bushnell Engage 3-9x40 illuminated multiplex
2. Burris Droptine 3-9x40 RF
3. Tract 22Fire 4-12x40
4. Hawke Sport Vantage 4-12x40 RF
5. Nikon ProStaff rimfire 3-9x40

any opinions here?

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Of what's listed id be inclined to go with rhe tract or Burris.
I'd also suggest the Burris full field E1 or full field 2 4.5-14

I shoot my 22 LR out to 250 yards with a 3-9X40 scope. A 4-12X would work great for shots longer than 50 yards. I can't get mine to focus at 50 when on 12X. At closer ranges I can't go over 7X or 8X. If you find one with a BDC reticle fine, if not that's OK too. It doesn't really matter that much what the long range marks are calibrated for. Shoot and see where you hit. I use ordinary big game scopes and can use the hash marks or dots pretty well out to 150 yards or so. Beyond that they do me no good with a 22.

If you can find something with an adjustable turret in your budget go for it. I have a Leupold VX-2 with turrets on one of my rifles. I had to use the "trial and error" method to figure out where it would hit at different settings. I run out of adjustment at 250 yards with that scope.

If you can't find adjustable turrets it is really simple enough to pull the scope cap off when shooting at the range to adjust the scope for longer ranges. Not ideal in the field, but works at the range.

jmr40 said:

I can't get mine to focus at 50 when on 12X. At closer ranges I

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So many of mine will focus down to 10 yards that I forget that that's an issue. It is though I've got
3 or 4 good scopes I won't focus anything lower than 50 and you have to reduce power like JM says to be able to use them the shorter range.

Definitely the Burris.

gralewaj said:

Are Leupold tall rimfire rings acceptable? Any rimfire ring? or is it better to mount the rail and use larger rings?

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Medium rings should work, possibly even lows. I’d just use the dovetail on the receiver and not get a base. Whether to use rimfire rings or not would depend on the width of the receiver dovetail.

cdb1 said:

Medium rings should work, possibly even lows. I’d just use the dovetail on the receiver and not get a base. Whether to use rimfire rings or not would depend on the width of the receiver dovetail.

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I agree, med or low. Personally all of my 597s have worn low rings as theres quite a bit of drop from reciever to barrel, and at the heel.
I also mounted straight to the dovetail on 2 guns and used a rail on the third. Besides having more options in rings i didn't see an advantage to the rail.

Isn't the 597 drilled and tapped for a Weaver base? It's been so long, I don't remember.

CraigC said:

Isn't the 597 drilled and tapped for a Weaver base? It's been so long, I don't remember.

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It is, but it also has a 3/8th dovetail

I’d go Weaver then. I don’t care for 3/8ths dovetails, especially on a receiver that isn’t steel.

On my 597M, I mounted straight to the dovetail. I torqued to 20 in/lbs on the base and ring screws.

The scope I used was a Leupold VX-1 2-7x33. This is a hunting rifle though. I am not trying to extract the greatest amount of distance and accuracy from it.

If you are hunting and taking offhand shots, 7X is proly about it.
Yes, if most of the shooting is on the range, and you're gonna play at 100 yards, 12X is about min.
The Burris 4.5-14x w AO and LRD might let you have fun farther out.

My CZ455 wears a Leupold Freedom 2-7X regular model.
I can only run it at 4x at 25 yards and maybe up to 6x at 50. It is not a rimfire model.
But then, I shoot it almost always offhand.

Big scopes can kill a rifles handling- by weight, balance and magnification.

To me the .22 mag is for walking and popping varmints.
If I want more scope and weight, might as well go .22 centerfire.

I have a straight 7.5x Leupold on mine.

I've never felt that I needed more scope on it...

DM

I think you will love the Tract 4-12X 22Fire. I have two, one with the BDC reticle and the other has T-Plex. I prefer the T-Plex, but both work great. I used the T-Plex to shoot prairie dogs with my 17HMR this past weekend on dim cloudy days and could see great with the scope. I own 3 Tract scopes and am getting ready to order a Toric 3-15X 42 with T-Plex reticle. It will be on a new Bergara B-14 17HMR once ti is shipped. Let us know how your rifle shoots with the new Tract.