Scope Recommendations

[Billy Sparks]

I recently purchased a Kimber rimfire to play with as with a lot of varmit rifles it did not have iron sights. Now comes the problem I know very little about scopes. I need some recommendations on a good, not too expensive scope. The caliber I am using is a .17.

 

[Joseywales3]

Well, you didn't put a price on the scope so here goes. Sounds like this will be a fun gun and Muehller makes the Eraticator. I have one on my Ruger 10/22. Check out their sight, I can't view it at work or send you the link. Price range is in the $240-260. Mine has 2 sunshades that make it almost as long as the target barrel. Too cool! Oh yeah, the scope works very well and its optics are especially clear, perhaps more so than scopes in higher price ranges. Various powers. Mine I believe is the 8-24x with optional illuminated dot, which is size adjustable.

Another good buy for exceptional clarity, at a lower price, is the Simmons Whitetail Expedition. They are discontinued, but you can find some on ebay. I have the 1.5-6x32. Great little scope, but it do have some weight to it : ) I believe there is a higher power model as well. $140 or less.

My better guns wear a Bushnell 4200 Elite, but they're not cheap at $300 or so. Great scopes and one of the few that offer a nice gloss finish to match polished barrels.

I haven't spent more than that on a scope yet, but I'm sure many have. Good luck!

 

[Silent Sam]

Another good option is the Burris FFII or Signature series with the ballistic plex reticle. They come in 3-9, 3.5-10, and 4.5-14 magnifications. The reticle is fine and no more than an inch off the verticle out to 300 yds with the 17 grain .17HMR bullet. You didn't say what .17 you are using. You are on your own with windage . Both are fully multi-coated and have good glass. I guess you need to define "not too expensive". You might want to check out the rimfirecentral and swfa boards. A lot of good info on both.

 

[DWARREN123]

Most name brand scope makers make something that would work. What you have to do is pick the one with the qualities and features you want and need.
Check out as many different scopes as you can, if you are a member of a range or shooting club talk to people who shoot similar types of rifles and see what they use. Everybody has their favorite scope/maker but you have to find your own.

Good Luck on your scope search.

 

[frank c]

I like the mueller red-dot scopes.Good scopes for the $$ spent.For a few more bucks you can buy a weaver grandslam or a bushnell elite 3200.frank c.

 

[CB900F]

Billy;

I agree with DWARREN123. In addition, I'd suggest to you that you investigate A/O as a particularly useful option for a rimfire scope.

Most scopes that are not specifically marketed as rimfire, have the parallax set at either 125 or 150 yards. Rimfire specific scopes are usually set at 50 yards. An Adjustable Objective, or A/O, scope allows you to adjust parallax to the range you're shooting at. With the .17, depending upon circumstances & game, you could easily be shooting from 10 to 200 yards. That sort of situation is where A/O comes into it's own.

My latest rimfire A/O scope is a Nikon Monarch 3.3-10X A/O mil-dot. I do have others. If this one's within your budget parameter's, I suggest you take a look at it. Excelllent glass and controls. Not cheap, but very good quality all around.

900F

 

[45crittergitter]

+1 on the 4200 with AO. For less $, try a 3200 (I haven't) or a Weaver V series AO, which works well.

 

[esldude]

Glad your post caused no acrimony here on THR.

You didn't put dollar amounts in.

On the low end, I would go with a Swift Premier 4-12x or 6-18x. Otherwise, the Elite 3200 or Nikon Buckmasters are good though more costly. The Elite has AO to 10 yards, and the Nikon only goes down to 50 yards if this matters.

Just don't go too cheap on a high mag scope with AO. The quality will be detrimental to using your fine Kimber rifle.

 

[rangerruck]

with the tiny and long shooting 17 , go with a high power scope, such as a Tasco varmint or it's clone Barska , both in 6.24.42. Tasco is about 100 bucks, the Barska, which is a little rougher on the edges, about 70 bucks.

 

[Lebben-B]

I have the Tasco Varmit 6-24x AO that RR was talking about. I got it at a gunshow for $80 and have been nothing but pleased with it.

Mike

 

[halvey]

Depending on what you are using the gun for, a Leupold would do the trick. I got a VX I 2-7. Not very expensive and great for rimfires.

 

[kennyboy]

Leupold, Kahles, Zeiss, or Swavrowski... if you can afford one of them. Otherwise, what I did was added a Simmons Whitetail Classic 6.5-20X50 from www.riflescopes.com to my .17HMR and it works great! It is a $200 scope, but is being sold for $100 because it has been discontinued. Research the scope. You won't find many complaints, if any. Great glass.