.22 TCM rifle - help pick scope & mount?

[Ed Ames]

OK, this is outside my normal realm so I'm hoping some of you fine experts can give put me on the right road.

What sort of scope and rings should I put on my new rifle?

I just picked up a .22 TCM rifle. Basically a .22 hornet, but not. The rifle didn't come with sights of any kind, only grooves in the receiver for scope rings, kinda like an old .22 rimfire.

I am a peep site guy. Most of my rifles have peep sites. Those that don't have no/low magnification dot sights. Seems like this rifle should have a more conventional scope, if I'm not going to have a peep.

This is a bull barrel and slightly overweight utility rifle that can probably deliver 2.5moa precision. Not fancy. It cost $350 or so.

Intended use...paper, I guess. As I understand it they are NG for hunting because they destroy the meat on small game and are under spec for large game. I was thinking of having the muzzle threaded for a suppressor, and then it'll probably be a range toy.

Budget is whatever makes sense. I think I have better ways to spend $2000 than putting a swarovski scope on this rifle, but I have no need cheap out.

Thanks!

 

[surveyor]

I had my smith modify a base from a 10/22 and drill/tap the reciever, standard set of rings and a centerpoint 4x16x40 ao scope.

It works well for what I ask of it,
No need to put a high end scope on it.

Factory rounds run 2800 fps according to my chrono.
I haven't played with it enough to find what load/bullet it really likes.
Have some of the armscor 40 gr, as well as some 35 gr v max to try.

I have only used h110, but am thinking about aa1680 and 2400 as I have those.

 

[Ed Ames]

Is 4-16 a good range for this round? I was assuming a 6x fixed would be overboard....

 

[bonza]

I have a 2.5-6x42 Barska on mine, & have been pleased with it. Far from being a high-end scope, but the optics are nice & clear & adjustment is precise. The TCM will be used for gopher shooting in Montana & ranges are typically under 120yds where we go, so 6x is ideal in my opinion. I have a fixed 6x42 Barska on my .218 Bee (my primary gopher rifle) & it too has been reliable, in fact I think I prefer the fixed power version as it seems to give a slightly wider field of view than does the variable. For mounts I'm using regular rimfire-style mounts that attach directly to the grooves in the action, & they also have been satisfactory. The rifle has a built in 'mount stop' to prevent the scope/mounts from creeping forward under recoil.