Scopes for rimfire

[RookieShooter]

for some reason people think buying a cheap scope for $75 bucks is adequate because its only a rimfire rifle.

to each their own, but cheap scopes are just that....

Simmons, Barsa, BSA, NC Star, Tasco, Kmart who knows.... ALL CRAP and purchased on the welfare

For 100 yds or less, you don't need a high price tag scope to hit the bullseye. While I agree there are a lot of crap out there like Barsa, Tasco, Kmart blue light special's scope that is made in China, etc ... the Simmons Whitetail Classic scope is a great scope with excellent Japanese optics and assembled in Philippines.
Just because of the low price, it's doesn't mean the quality is bad. Check out the positive reviews (over 200 of them) before throwing your money away.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/746570/simmons-whitetail-classic-rifle-scope-65-20x-50mm-adjustable-objective-truplex-reticle-matte#ReviewHeader

[sholling]

All the more reason to not waste your time scraping the bottom of the barrel. There are scopes that are a great value and can be had for $100-$150. Buying one of those once would be better than buying a $50 piece of junk and having to replace it because it either broke or you finally realized it's limitations. It doesn't mean you have to buy a $400 scope or a $1000 scope, just don't buy the junk and act as if people can't explain why it's junk.

Excellent advice! I had to learn this lesson the hard way and quickly learned that cheap scopes aren't worth what you pay for them. Both Weaver's Classic Rimfire and Sightron S1 Rimfire are very good quality scopes that will last a lifetime and sell for less than $140. Nikon's Prostaff and P-series rimfire scopes and Muller's APV (~$130) are in my opinion a tiny step down but still very acceptable.

A good fixed focus rimfire scope will usually be in focus at 25yds and are set to be parallax free at 50 or 60yds depending on the manufacturer. Centerfire scopes are set to be parallax free at 100 or 120yds depending on the manufacturer. Scopes with an adjustable objective (and adjustable focus) can be adjusted down to between 10-25yds depending on the manufacturer - Weavers Classic V scopes can be adjusted down to 10yds.

[Lexington-1]

Thanks for the input gents. So it seems that most scope can zero in at close range (At least 50 yards)

I own several different scopes. Most of them can zero in under 50 yards (They were used on airsoft) So my biggest concern was buy a scope only to discover it can zero in at 30 yards (I intend to use it for night pest control. Primarily rats on a farm. And of course small game during the day. So I am looking for a scope that will serve a dual purpose)

I also know what good quality optics can offer and I'm not afraid to spend some money on one.

Since it is going on a 10/22 Take Down and I plan on using it for night shooting at close range (probably as close as 20 ft) and long range for the day. I have several requirements that I'm looking for.

*I don't want a very long scope. A long scope may prevent the rifle from fitting in the bag when it is broken down.

*Side Parallax Adjuster for close range.

*Illuminated reticule
*Finger Adjustable Turrets that can be unscrewed and reset to zero once the scope has been sighted in.

*Mildot or BDC style reticle

*Minimum x3 magnification

So here are some contenders.
Leapers UGT AccuShot 3-12x44

This seems to fit my criteria but I don't know about the quality of Leapers. I believe they are a Chinese brand correct?

HAWKE Night Eye Digital

Excellent night capabilities and ballistic calculator app is a plus.
But scope is a bit long and and would prefer smaller lens (40mm ideal)

MTC Viper Connect

Very intimidating looking scope! And has everything. Excellent field of view!
But eye relieve is very close and I can't find it in the US. It's made in England.

Nikon P-22

Love the BDC reticule and the Nikon "Spot On" calculator that shows your the range calculation for each type of ammo!
But no side parallax Adjustor and no reticle illumination.

Open to further suggestions

[sholling]

Leapers is crap.

[skyblue]

That MTC Viper Connect seemx to satisfy all of your requirements aside from having excellent reviews. Too bad it's not being sold on our shores. Perhaps we can all petition SWFA, Optics Planet or other dealers to become distributors for this fine line of scopes:


To our overseas customers

We receive many emails every week from overseas customers who wish to purchase MTC riflescopes. It's very encouraging that so many people have heard about MTC and want to enjoy our products in their country.

However, the UK Government doesn't really agree.

There are very strict rules surrounding the export of all riflescopes with a magnification of more than 4X, and it's simply not realistic for us to export single scopes to customers.

There is a deal of paperwork to complete, both by the exporter and by the party receiving the riflescope. Once completed, the paperwork takes about 21 days to be processed and an export licence issued. At that point, the riflescope can be shipped.

As a distributor, we prefer all our scopes to be sold through our dealers, and it is not appropriate or economical for us to export single scopes.

Overseas dealer? Give us a call!

We are actively seeking overseas distributors for our Genesis and Connect ranges. If you are a bona fide dealer outside the UK, we would like to discuss bulk exports with you. Please contact Sammie if you fall into this category.

[Merc1138]

That MTC Viper Connect seemx to satisfy all of your requirements aside from having excellent reviews. Too bad it's not being sold on our shores. Perhaps we can all petition SWFA, Optics Planet or other dealers to become distributors for this fine line of scopes:

I dunno man. I looked at their website(because the picture in this thread made me wonder) for better pics.

http://www.mtcoptics.co.uk/mtcScope_Con.htm

Are you just supposed to use one scope ring with it? Since a single ring wouldn't be centered, that just seems like it's asking to get torqued funny if it gets bumped around. Plus their amazing field of view comparison left me wondering whether they got the eye relief right on the "other" brand. Then there's this mount for it: http://www.connectamount.co.uk/ but that seems just a tad limiting if that's the only mount available. The manual for the scope suggests using 2 normal rings up front, I guess that would work. However the manual also seems crappy since if you look at figure 1, it has numbered labels 9 and 10, but doesn't even list what 9 and 10 are in the grid below. Yes, later on the manual explains what those controls are, but that's still a crappy way to document a product.

[Kestryll]

for some reason people think buying a cheap scope for $75 bucks is adequate because its only a rimfire rifle.

to each their own, but cheap scopes are just that....

Simmons, Barsa, BSA, NC Star, Tasco, Kmart who knows.... ALL CRAP and purchased on the welfare

Bullcrap!

Utter Bullcrap!

I run the Simmons 22 Mag 3-9x32 AO scope on several 10/22s and they kick serious butt.
Clear as a bell, nice and sharp and over the Thanksgiving weekend I was using one to check the chicken coop up at the in-laws's ranch for coyotes by moonlight.





ETA: And since they're so cheap I pay for them with an EBT card....

[lewdogg21]

I will admit that I bought one of those simmons white tails 6x24x50 and was really surprised about how clear it was for the 100 yd range. Now the max I could zoom in and not make my eyes stressed was probably 18-20x but for $110 it is a steal. I sold mine b/c I had it on my AR and I couldn't really hunt anything with a 6x minimum except ground squirrels which is why I bought it but sadly never went.

[Lexington-1]

Leapers is crap.

Sholling

Why do you say Leapers are crap? Do they break easily, poor quality, crappy lens, Just curious as to why.

[sholling]

Sholling

Why do you say Leapers are crap? Do they break easily, poor quality, crappy lens, Just curious as to why.

Yes. Two brands I dislike from personal experience are Leapers and NcStar but I had to learn the hard way. Perhaps you'll have better luck.

I wasn't going to say this but honestly and with no disrespect intended you're specing out a V12 Ferrari to pull a 20' house trailer and doing it with just enough budget for a used Toyota. You're trying to shoot at night yet you want scopes compact enough for a takedown and you don't seem to looking for scopes for low light. You want side focus on a tiny hunting scope. And you want a BDC over everything else. If it were possible to build good quality 3-9x scopes with 98% light transmission in a 10" long package for $200 and still make a profit then top quality manufacturers like Bushnell, Burris, Leopold, Nikon, and Weaver would have one in their product lines. Every one of those features add cost and to meet a budget compromises have to be made.

Let's look at what you're trying to accomplish which is 1) night pest control and 2) daylight hunting and 3) make it fit a 10/22 takedown. Now let's look at the wish list:

• Side focus on some brands of scopes (not all) will let you focus closer / at the cost of 1) slowed shots while you continually refocus on moving critters, 2) complexity, and 3) cost. Most hunting scopes below 10x are fixed focus because they're faster to use.
• Low light shooting requires getting enough of what light is available to your eye to allow you to see clearly. Depending on your age the size of the objective can help but even more important is light transmission which can range from maybe 90% to 98%. Divide the size of the objective lens by the magnification you're using and you have the size of exit pupil at that setting. For example a 40mm objective divided by 9x magnification gives you an exit pupil of 4.4mm which is about the most an average 30+ year old can use (~7mm at 18yrs). But inexpensive lenses and poor lens coatings allow some of that light to be filtered out or reflected back which is why you pay more for premium scopes like a Nikon Monarch or Bushnell Elite. The more complex the scope the more opportunities there are within the scope to reflect or absorb some of that light which is where quality components and construction becomes critical.
• As we saw above in an ideal world we'd be looking at a good reliable scope with an exit pupil of 4-7mm at the magnification levels you need and excellent quality fully multicoated glass so good that 98% of the light that hits the objective lens makes it to your eye.
• I'm not aware of any good quality 40mm scopes with real world 98% light transmission in a sub 10" long form factor which is about what you need to leave the scope mounted and fit it in the TD's case. There may be some but I'm not aware of them.

Nikon's Prostaff 3-9x40 BDC has your BDC reticle but no side focus and I don't believe their light transmission claims. It also won't fit the case while mounted. Weaver's RV9 3-9x32 Rimfire and Leopold's VX2 3-9x33 Rimfire have good light transmission and an adjustable objective (instead of side focus) but no BDC and still won't fit the case while mounted. A Leopold VX-1 2-7x28 is fixed focus and lacks a BDC but has decent light transmission and should fit the case - I've talked to people that say they made it fit.

I'd ask over at optics talk and see what they suggest. Just don't mention other stores because it's sponsored by SWFA and asking about other stores is rude.

[vintagearms]

For 100 yds or less, you don't need a high price tag scope to hit the bullseye.

If your on a static range at 100 yards cheap scopes are probably fine but from anything more than 100 yards or for those distances you have to calibrate for, having knobs that have excellent tracking/repeatability will cost you.
Bushnell Tacticals are good scopes for the money.

[phish]

I Concur sir...

My Rim Fire W/Scope:

I like the way you think:



Rimfire scopes can be a pain to find actually. I wish I could combine the features I like from three different makes/models into one. If Vortex offered their 2.5-10x44 with parallax adjustment, I'd buy one.

[Lexington-1]

Yes. Two brands I dislike from personal experience are Leapers and NcStar but I had to learn the hard way. Perhaps you'll have better luck.

I wasn't going to say this but honestly and with no disrespect intended you're specing out a V12 Ferrari to pull a 20' house trailer and doing it with just enough budget for a used Toyota. You're trying to shoot at night yet you want scopes compact enough for a takedown and you don't seem to looking for scopes for low light. You want side focus on a tiny hunting scope. And you want a BDC over everything else. If it were possible to build good quality 3-9x scopes with 98% light transmission in a 10" long package for $200 and still make a profit then top quality manufacturers like Bushnell, Burris, Leopold, Nikon, and Weaver would have one in their product lines. Every one of those features add cost and to meet a budget compromises have to be made.

Let's look at what you're trying to accomplish which is 1) night pest control and 2) daylight hunting and 3) make it fit a 10/22 takedown. Now let's look at the wish list:

• Side focus on some brands of scopes (not all) will let you focus closer / at the cost of 1) slowed shots while you continually refocus on moving critters, 2) complexity, and 3) cost. Most hunting scopes below 10x are fixed focus because they're faster to use.
• Low light shooting requires getting enough of what light is available to your eye to allow you to see clearly. Depending on your age the size of the objective can help but even more important is light transmission which can range from maybe 90% to 98%. Divide the size of the objective lens by the magnification you're using and you have the size of exit pupil at that setting. For example a 40mm objective divided by 9x magnification gives you an exit pupil of 4.4mm which is about the most an average 30+ year old can use (~7mm at 18yrs). But inexpensive lenses and poor lens coatings allow some of that light to be filtered out or reflected back which is why you pay more for premium scopes like a Nikon Monarch or Bushnell Elite. The more complex the scope the more opportunities there are within the scope to reflect or absorb some of that light which is where quality components and construction becomes critical.
• As we saw above in an ideal world we'd be looking at a good reliable scope with an exit pupil of 4-7mm at the magnification levels you need and excellent quality fully multicoated glass so good that 98% of the light that hits the objective lens makes it to your eye.
• I'm not aware of any good quality 40mm scopes with real world 98% light transmission in a sub 10" long form factor which is about what you need to leave the scope mounted and fit it in the TD's case. There may be some but I'm not aware of them.

Nikon's Prostaff 3-9x40 BDC has your BDC reticle but no side focus and I don't believe their light transmission claims. It also won't fit the case while mounted. Weaver's RV9 3-9x32 Rimfire and Leopold's VX2 3-9x33 Rimfire have good light transmission and an adjustable objective (instead of side focus) but no BDC and still won't fit the case while mounted. A Leopold VX-1 2-7x28 is fixed focus and lacks a BDC but has decent light transmission and should fit the case - I've talked to people that say they made it fit.

I'd ask over at optics talk and see what they suggest. Just don't mention other stores because it's sponsored by SWFA and asking about other stores is rude.

[sholling]

Just for clarification I never did set a price limit.

I know you didn't set a number but you asked about Leapers and they tend to be cheap. Anyway the idea is just to give you a realistic idea of the trade-offs not to dis you.

Although I am very familiar with tactical scope, my understanding as to what is best for a rimfire is limited.

Most fixed focus rimfire scopes will be in focus at 25-30yds when zoomed out. Rimfire scope makers know that they'll be used to shoot critters from 25-100yds and set them parallax free at 60yds (Leopold) or 50yds (almost everyone else) and in focus at ranges you're likely to shoot with a scoped 22. By way of contrast fixed focus centerfire scopes are set to be parallax free at 120yds (Leopold) or 100yds (almost everyone else).

Parallax (parallax explained

[Lexington-1]

I know you didn't set a number but you asked about Leapers and they tend to be cheap. Anyway the idea is just to give you a realistic idea of the trade-offs not to dis you.

I took your comments as a trying to be helpful (and they were) and not as a dis. So all is good.

By the way, has anyone heard of Firefield scopes? Anybody know if they are good quality or not? I Came across this cope that may fit my requirements.

http://swfa.com/Firefield-3-12x40-Tactical-Rifle-Scope-P55542.aspx