Ruger 10/22 - scope vs red dot

[cdahl383]

I recently picked up my first gun, a new Ruger 10/22. Looking to get a scope for it now after shooting it a few times with just the iron sights.

I’ve been shooting at 25-50 yards at my buddy’s firing range on his property. Not doing any long distance shooting. Not hunting, just shooting for fun.

What would be a better choice for my situation? A scope or red dot, and of those, which brand/size would work best?

 

[troy fairweather]

Do you have an astigmatism?

 

[cdahl383]

Do you have an astigmatism?

No but I do wear glasses. My eyes suck without glasses.

 

[troy fairweather]

No but I do wear glasses. My eyes suck without glasses.

Then you should be fine with a red dot.

 

[FL-NC]

I have a 1-4x with a lit reticle. So it can be both. If I had to pick one or the other, it would be a 4x.

 

[stillquietvoice]

I put 3-9x40 scopes on my .22 rifles. 9x is a little too much magnification at 50 yds unless it has a paralax adjustment. either so, adjustable objective or side focus. Usually use about 6x inside 100 yds on standard scopes any more the target image is blurry. A decent 1-4, 2-7, or fixed 4x will serve you well. As for brand don't skimp on glass, I used 20-30 dollar scopes for years, after 30 years I wondered which subjected my eyes to poor optics.

It's better to put good glass on an inexpensive rifle than to put poor glass on am expensive one. They being said there are lots of good choices. Burris ff2, Nikon, though getting out of rifle optics, mid level Bushnell 3500 elite, and Leupold, rifleman or freedom are all good glass.

I don't have any experience with red dot optics except for the game green dot ony pellet rifle that my grandson shoots.

 

[bassjam]

It depends on the type of shooting you do. For slower, more controlled precision shooting on paper, a scope will be better. For fast reactionary shooting on steel or other moving targets, a red dot may be better. A 1-4x scope is a decent compromise if you do both.

 

[BigBL87]

Personally I like having a scope but I like trying to shoot tiny groups. I don't really ever rapid fire, even when I had a red dot on my AR I never really did. If you just want something to make aiming a little quicker and easier, a red dot would be a good option. If you want to try to shoot small groups, I'd get a 2-7 or 3-9 scope. My favorite magnification range is around 4-14, but that's for my bolt actions and I don't think I'd go that high for a stock 10/22, seems like a bit of a waste accuracy wise.

 

[cdb1]

“If one puts a five-hundred dollar scope on a two-thousand dollar rifle, one has a five-hundred dollar rifle”.

I don’t know who wrote that but I believe in the theory most of the time.

My favorite rimfire scope is the Clearidge Ultra RM 3-9x32 AO. They are made by LOW of Japan. LOW puts out excellent scopes. The Clearidge is optically the same to my eyes as the VX-Freedom EFR 3-9x33 AO but costs considerably less.

My second choice would be the now discontinued Nikon ProStaff P3 Target EFR 3-9x40 AO.

Actually my second choice would be the Leupold and third would be the Nikon.

 

[ms6852]

I agree with BigBL87, I prefer a scope on my 10/22 or on all my 22 rifles. I love shooting them at 200 yards and farther and I also love to test myself for accuracy at 25 and 50 yards. Wait till you pop a golf ball on top of a tee at 275 yards you will get hooked. For me I prefer red dots on my 22 handguns.

 

[jmr40]

A small, light weight 1-4X20 variable does everything a dot sight does and a lot more. On 1X (some only go down to 1.5X) they are just as fast to get on target with both eyes open as a dot and faster than irons. They work much better in low light and you have the versatility to go up to 4X for longer shots. I've been shooting at up to 300 yards with one of my 10-22's with a fixed 6X scope. At the same price point you'll get a better product with a scope than a dot sight.

MOST 10/22's aren't accurate enough to need more than a 1-4X scope. If most of your shots are going to be under 50 yards and occasionally 100+ this will do. I'd much rather have this than a dot sight.

https://www.swfa.com/leupold-15-4x20-vx-freedom-riflescope-178471.html?___SID=U

But some of the target models, or custom rigs could use more magnification. If so a 3-9X or 4-12X might be a better option if you want more precision or for longer shots

 

[berettaprofessor]

A fixed 4X will also work well. Bushnell, Simmons, any of them will do the job on that 10/22. I had red dots on mine but have pulled them all down for scopes. Always more accurate with a scope than a red-dot.

 

[Pat Riot]

For plinking a red dot is fun. I have a couple Sig Sauer Romeo 5 red dots. One on an AR and one on a PC Carbine. I like them very much. They are very reasonably priced. You can find them for $130 online. If you need the lower mount be careful. Some of the sale priced ones only have the higher mount for an AR.

 

[BigBL87]

If looks matter and you don't want one of the mini red dots, one like the one I linked below looks more like a scope and IMO flows better on a more traditional rifle. I went much cheaper since it was a 22, but I had something similar on my Marlin. Ended up giving it to my father in law who put it on his 10/22 and loves it.

http://www.millettsights.com/scopes/sp-series-red-dot/

 

[herrwalther]

I have run my 10/22 with both a red dot and fixed 4x scope. Either will work fine for shooting 25-50 yards. Both will be about the same price range as well

I keep the scope on mine more often now. My chances of using it to dispatch an annoying critter is more than dispatching a target can.

 

[borrowedtime69]

i have a folding stock 10-22 that i run a Truglo 2X red dot on and its been GREAT for squirrels & rabbits!

 

[LiveLife]

I have run my 10/22 with both a red dot and fixed 4x scope. Either will work fine for shooting 25-50 yards. Both will be about the same price range as well

I keep the scope on mine more often now. My chances of using it to dispatch an annoying critter is more than dispatching a target can.

I prefer a scope on my 10/22 or on all my 22 rifles. I love shooting them at 200 yards and farther and I also love to test myself for accuracy at 25 and 50 yards. Wait till you pop a golf ball on top of a tee at 275 yards you will get hooked.

I have tried both red dot and scope on my 10/22s and T/CR22.

As others posted, at 25-50 yards, shooting for minute of soda can plinking is fine with red dot but if you want longer distance, smaller target plinking, especially for groups, you will want the scope.

If you haven't, consider use of quick detach mount option.

I have 3-9x40mm scope and red dot on QD mounts and can go back and forth. Life is short, have your cake and eat it too.

 

[jmorris]

I have lots of them from iron sights to pretty high magnification optics, what one I grab depends on what I am going to be using it for.

What exactly does “just shooting for fun” entail. Seeing who can hit 12oz cans at 10 yards the fastest or who can hit one with the least amount of shots at 300 yards?

Two completely different tasks.

 

[cdahl383]

I have lots of them from iron sights to pretty high magnification optics, what one I grab depends on what I am going to be using it for.

What exactly does “just shooting for fun” entail. Seeing who can hit 12oz cans at 10 yards the fastest or who can hit one with the least amount of shots at 300 yards?

Two completely different tasks.

Shooting from 100 yards or less, typically 25-50 yards, bottles and cans and a few other targets.

 

[jmorris]

That’s more specific use. This is a fairly large red dot viewing 8” steel plates at 60 yards.



Worth noting that “precision” aiming isn’t going to happen as the dot is larger than the 8” target, 60 yards away.


This one is a smaller dot, that’s not as fast to acquire but allows more precision if not only for the fact that it’s less obstructive of the intended target.



You throw in a little magnification though and it’s a game changer, again sitting the same 60 yards away.



25-100 yards, having fun, a Vortex 1-8 strikeeagle sounds like a good choice to me right now. Illumination of a red dot with or without magnification suitable for can plinking at 100 yards.

 

[LiveLife]

Shooting from 100 yards or less, typically 25-50 yards, bottles and cans and a few other targets.

I am quite certain if you mount a scope you like, you will be plinking bottle caps instead of bottles/cans at 25-50 yards.

In this "Real world 10/22 plinking ..." thread, 20+ brand/weight 22LR ammunition were compared capturing every 10 shot group shot at 25/50 yards with factory stock 10/22 Collector #3 while free-floating the barrel with a simple V-block shim and taping the rear of receiver with electrical tape to steady the receiver - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...lector-3-break-in.859106/page-2#post-11351163

Interesting thing I observed was that these ammunition were bought within the past 2 years and EVERY brand/round went bang, including the Thunderduds which BTW produced some small groups. Only ammo that misfired was Winchester M22 that produced several duds for each box of 500.

With several ammunition types mostly Lead RN with the exception of Aguila CPRN, sub/around 1" 10 shot groups at 50 yards were very doable with the following results from most accurate to least accurate (Testing still ongoing).

1. CCI Standard 40 gr LRN - Boxed - Consistent group size
2. CCI Blazer 40 gr LRN - Boxed - Consistent group size
3. Aguila 40 gr LRN - Boxed - Consistent group size
4. Aguila 40 gr CPRN - Boxed - Consistent group size
5. Federal Auto Match 40 gr LRN - Loose Bulk - Group size varied
6. Federal Field Pack 38 gr CPHP - Loose Bulk - Group size varied
7. Remington Thunderbolt 40 gr LRN - Loose Bulk - Small to large groups with flyers
8. Armscor 36 gr CPHP - Boxed - Varying group size with flyers
9. Remington Golden Bullet 36 gr CPHP - Loose Bulk - Fairly consistent group size
10. Federal Champion 40 gr LRN - Boxed - Group size varied
11. Federal Value 36 gr CPHP 550 Walmart Red Box - Loose Bulk (new solid red box) - Group size varied
12. Federal Value 36 gr CPHP 550 Walmart Red Box - Loose Bulk (old box) - Group size varied
13. Winchester XPert 36 gr LRN 500 - Loose Bulk - Group size varied
    
14. Federal Value 36 gr CPHP 525 Blue Box - Loose Bulk (older lot) - Group size varied
15. Winchester 36 gr CPHP 555 - Loose Bulk - Group size varied
16. Winchester M22 40 gr CPRN 500 - Loose Bulk (several misfires per box) - Group size varied with flyers
17. Aguila Competition Match Pistol 40 gr LRN - Initial testing showing promise with small groups
18. Aguila 38 gr CPHP - Pending
19. CCI Standard 40 gr LRN - Pending (new blue box)
20. CCI MiniMag Varmint 36 gr CPHP - Pending
21. CCI MiniMag Target 40 gr CPRN - Pending
22. Federal Match 40 gr LRN - Pending
23. ELEY Sport 40 gr LRN - Pending
24. Winchester Super X 40 gr CPRN - Pending
25. CCI Game Shok 40 gr CPRN - Pending

 

[Hookeye]

My 10/22 is an old beater fingergroove model (orig sporter).
It wears a reg VX1 2-7X rifle scope.
I could send it in for parallax adjust to 50 yards. Have not.
As is, if I keep the magnification at 4X I can run it at 25 yards without issue.
Maybe 6X at 50 yards.

I use it because I had it around.
My 4x Compact Leupold sits on my 35 rem 760.

If I had another 4X itd be on my 10/22.
In a hunting config, you don't really need more.
Offhand shooting 4X is comfy, doesn't seem to add to the wobble factor.

If shooting for groups at 50 yards, a bit more serious target shooting...........12X and Adj Objective.

 

[Hookeye]

My '67 SPC did 5 shots into .75" at 50 yards. CCI Blazer
Scope at 6X, Volq hammer the only mod.
Prev owner shot that gun a lot.

My current '70 SP is a freakin shotgun. Horrendous forend tip pressure and it also was pushing on one side a lot.
Figured owners before cranked action screw (some compression in that area), plus wood might have warped out front.

The offending lumber has carefully been removed
I added some epoxy to the lip of the alloy trigger guard to reduce the gap. The walnut rib still is a bit undersized for the receiver/trigger housing gap, but it is better.

The action has a little rock, no side to side......since I have taken some off the stock tip (sporters hollow under most of the bbl).
Will try 2 layers of tape at the tip and see how it does.
Hopefully this weekend.

View attachment 928525

 

[Hookeye]

The scope looks OK on it (to me).
The Leupold 4x rimfire they sell now, is pretty stubby.
Had one on a 10/22 international and away it went.
Yes, for me, looks are important.
If one owns a plastic stocked 10/22, esp if non sporter stock, they might be able to put a wider variety of optic on it and not hurt the aesthetics.

My ol lady has the 50th yr standard blue w grey lam stock and runs a Bushnell TRS25 reddot.
Plinker, it does what she wants..........and she bought it herself.

 

[Hookeye]

I like 2 moa rds vs 3 moa.
Going cheap I'd try the Sig Romeo 5.
If wanting bigger (30mm) and had the cash.............Aimpoint PRO.

For me, the micros closer to the eye (on a rifle) are doable.
Dislike the out a ways like on a handgun.

RDS on handgun makes shooting good..............easy (compared to EER scope).
Proly ideal on a deer gun.

With reflex optics getting better, the smaller RDS on a handgun might be about over.
Maybe even on rifles.