.22lr Power!

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sprice

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What is an appropriate power for a scope for a .22? I'm looking for a nice inexpensive scope (under $100, maybe $50ish). What power should it be?

Oh and I'm using it for mostly targets, maybe yotes and small game. :)
 
For a squirrel (and other small game) popper the best budget optic IME has been the Bushnell Sportview 4x32mm. You can buy it all day for $30.00, and it will work just fine for decades to come. Want more (and/or variable) magnification, for tasks like target work, on a tight budget?...look no further than the Vortex Crossfire series.

:)
 
On my marlin .22 carbine I have a light little 4x32 Nikon Prostaff. It is clear and bright, the perfect scope for handy little small game rifle.
 
for hunting a 1x4 power is good. I like to break clay targets at 200 yds so I go up to a 3x9 bushnell. Its a 28 yr old banner that has about 110 moa of internal adjustments. It lets me get out there. For target shooting I have a redhead scope from bass pro shop which is 4-16 power. Its adequate and sharp pictures but has 1/8 moa adjustment and only about 50 moa not enough for 200 but glass is good for 100 bucks.
 
My 2-cents: I think the Nikon is a good choice for general shooting without heavy emphasis on target shooting beyond 25 yds. Fixed 4x scopes were my dominant choice for modest priced 22 rifles for years; even some not so modestly priced. I always felt that a 22LR was essentially a 50 yd or less rifle from a practical point of view and the quality of a fixed 4x exceeded the cheaper variable priced scopes such as a 2-7x or 3-9x which are commonly mounted on 22 rifles. The 4x helps me keep the caliber and rifle into perspective on its practical use. All that said.....

Many mount the 3-9x Bushnell rimfire scope or something similar which is in the $50 price range. It's good enough for most uses, but if you intend to be adjusting the scope all the time for long shots (sort of a tactical application), I would suggest you consider something more expensive.

You didn't say what rifle you're mounting the scope on. That might be important. For example, if it is a lever action 22, I would not want a big scope mounted on the rifle. I like the fixed 4x or the Weaver 2.5-7x rimfire scope for something like a Marlin 39A or similar lever action 22.

Many like the Mueller 4.5-14x APV scope for rimfires. It is a BIG scope. I consider a scope like this for more target shooting applications at moderate ranges. I have a couple. Some mount even more powerful scopes on their rimfires that they use for range shooting.

My current favorite line of rimfire scopes are made by Weaver. They include a fixd 4x, a 2.5-7x, and a 3-9x AO. They are very good scopes for the money. Those are available at Midway and other retailers.

Whatever you choose, do not choose a scope that is under a 1" tube size. Hope this is informative.
 
I still like to break out my 12 pound Kimber M82 Gov't with 36X scope and pop itty itty targets at 100 yards. A good-quality .22LR, with proper ammo, will group nicely at 200. The max I have tried .22LR is 225 yards for target, and 175 yards for woodchucks, and that was with a 4X target scope (AO and target turrets).

Geno
 
Wahoo:

That's the 4.5-14 that I have on my Marlin. :) You are correct; it's a nice scope.

Geno
 
I have 2 Bushnell Sportsman series 3X9 variables, target turrets, AO, fast focus eyepeice, for under a hundred usually in the under 75 range, it is a very good buy for the money.
I have one mounted on a spring piston air rifle and the vertical adjustment knob has the paint worn off from so much use, the tube has been crushed at the rear ring position (my idiot fault) but it still holds point of aim perfectly, I paid $49.95 for it 10 years ago.

The other is mounted on Savage MKII bull barrel bolt gun, it hasn't seen the use of its older brother, but it has seen its share of vertical adjustment also, as I shoot CB caps, shorts, and long rifles, that all have a different impact on the target, which requires the vertical knob to be twised up and down.

In my opinion there is not a better scope for the money.
 
3-9 x 40mm or 30mm seems to be very popular for the .22LR platform. The 3x isn't to overkill for 20yds away and the 9x makes things pretty visible out to 100yds. Beyond 100yds I would look for something besides a 22lr.
 
I have a Bushnell 4 x 12 x 40 AO for $100 . Clear as hell. Makes for find shooting of small game.
 
Have a BSA 2-7x on my 10/22, zeroed at about 75 yds...not because there's anything special about that range, other than I zeroed it in an apple orchard while picking off gophers, and it works real well for that purpose.

Think I paid about $65 total, mounted and boresighted, about 10 years ago. Still works fine today.
 
Since you're talking about putting this on a .22 it doesn't need to be built like a tank. As mentioned above, it depends on what you want to do with it. I tend to go with the smallest scope that I can just to keep the rifle handy. If you're going to shoot at small targets like Nilla wafers at 100 yards (or beyond), then you're gonna need a scope with a good bit of magnification. If you're going to use the rifle as a general purpose plinker, either a fixed 4X or a variable 1-4X will do you nicely. I have one of the Nikons and it's a very nice scope. My favorite is the Weaver 1-3X. Very clear glass for the money and it's very small and light weight. If you want more magnification, I'm running a Simmons 3-9X with AO. You pretty much can't go wrong with a .22.

If you have $150 to blow, you could just get a couple of bushnells for that amount of money and use them for years to come.
 
Look into Mueller rifle scopes. I have their 4.5x14x40 on my CZ 452 Varmint .17HMR and it has proven to be a good optic for the price. I shoot out to 150 yards with it. Actually it's pretty good when compared to optics much more expensive which was a pleasant surprise. They make good scopes for rimfire use. I think I paid around $125 online at SWfA Outdoors.
 
I have a 3-9x power Nikon on mine. I generally don't shoot past about 50yds with my Marlin 60 so it works just fine for me.
 
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