.22 Rifle Scope Weight

[SweetPotato]

What do you think about 3-9x scope weight around 15oz for target shooting? Or do you prefer a fix 4x over?

[Izzy43]

Depends on what type of target shooting and at what distance. I shoot benchrest at 25, 50 and 100yds using a variety of sights. 100yds and 50yds I use a 24x and 8.5-25x as I am shooting for the smallest 3 and 5 shot groups with 68 year old eyes. 25 and 50yds I also use aperture sights again shooting for smallest groups possible. Just depends on what precision you are looking for and the types of targets you are using.

[SweetPotato]

Depends on what type of target shooting and at what distance. I shoot benchrest at 25, 50 and 100yds using a variety of sights. 100yds and 50yds I use a 24x and 8.5-25x as I am shooting for the smallest 3 and 5 shot groups with 68 year old eyes. 25 and 50yds I also use aperture sights again shooting for smallest groups possible. Just depends on what precision you are looking for and the types of targets you are using.

Thanks. I want my boy to shoot around 75-200 yds if possible. Obviously, we want to shoot accurately (smallest group probably is the term). Mainly just paper target. I want to learn marksmanship, shooting with support first then unsupported. The scope is going to be setup co-witness with iron sight. That's why I am wondering if the 1 lb scope will be too heavy for 22.

[Izzy43]

Thanks. I want my boy to shoot around 75-200 yds if possible. Obviously, we want to shoot accurately (smallest group probably is the term). Mainly just paper target. I want to learn marksmanship, shooting with support first then unsupported. The scope is going to be setup co-witness with iron sight. That's why I am wondering if the 1 lb scope will be too heavy for 22.

Will he/you be shooting off hand, from a bench rest or ??? If from the bench the weight will not matter except that the heavier the rifle/scope the better it will be more stable. Off hand or from a prone position a lighter scope would be better. Most of my scopes are in the range of 20+ ounces.

It gets a little tough to shoot a .22lr out to 200yds with any accuracy due to the ballistics of that light weight bullet and other issues such as loss of velocity at that distance, wind and bullet drop especially with any ammo short of match grade ammo. Shooting @ 200yds is doable with a .17HMR but your son may find it frustrating trying to shoot to that distance with a .22. Frankly 100yds is enough of a challenge for the .22lr.

As far as the scope consider that 200yds with a 10x scope is the same as viewing a target at 20yds with the naked eye. With a 25X scope that is reduced to the same as 8yds with the naked eye. Recommending a scope for your purpose is a little difficult as a lot has to do with the rifle, shooting skills and one's eyesight (astigmatism, etc). Best I can say is the more you spend for the scope the better your shooting will be at especially at long distances. Quality and clarity of the scope outweighs magnification every time. A $200+ 3-9x or 4-16x scope will serve you better that a 6-24x for $100. Weaver and Nikon scopes are nice scopes for their price range and ARE NOT made in China. Don't be afraid of buying a used one.

Hope this helps rather than confuses you.

[SweetPotato]

Will he/you be shooting off hand, from a bench rest or ??? If from the bench the weight will not matter except that the heavier the rifle/scope the better it will be more stable. Off hand or from a prone position a lighter scope would be better. Most of my scopes are in the range of 20+ ounces.

It gets a little tough to shoot a .22lr out to 200yds with any accuracy due to the ballistics of that light weight bullet and other issues such as loss of velocity at that distance, wind and bullet drop especially with any ammo short of match grade ammo. Shooting @ 200yds is doable with a .17HMR but your son may find it frustrating trying to shoot to that distance with a .22. Frankly 100yds is enough of a challenge for the .22lr.

As far as the scope consider that 200yds with a 10x scope is the same as viewing a target at 20yds with the naked eye. With a 25X scope that is reduced to the same as 8yds with the naked eye. Recommending a scope for your purpose is a little difficult as a lot has to do with the rifle, shooting skills and one's eyesight (astigmatism, etc). Best I can say is the more you spend for the scope the better your shooting will be at especially at long distances. Quality and clarity of the scope outweighs magnification every time. A $200+ 3-9x or 4-16x scope will serve you better that a 6-24x for $100. Weaver and Nikon scopes are nice scopes for their price range and ARE NOT made in China. Don't be afraid of buying a used one.

Hope this helps rather than confuses you.

Thanks. I read quite a bit and on the same page with you on glass > magnification. Someone mentioned about weight so I want to get some more opinion on the issue. Given the same glass quality, 4x seem quite a bit lighter but shooting with iron at 25yd+ is hard for me so 4x at 100yd will probably be hard for me.

I have been looking at Zeiss Conquest Rimfire 3-9x 40mm / Leupold VX-1 2-7x28mm Rimfire and even at Nikon M223 2-8x32 since there is a mounting deal going on but this one seem to be the wrong choice for .22 (same price range though). But it just seems overkill if all I can do is about 100-150 or so with .22

[residentbazinga]

I like my 3x9... I'm very comfortable with it whether I'm bench shooting or free standing... The weight doesn't bother me at all... Also very accurate, I can usually find zero in 4 or 5 rounds... Check out some see through ring mounts before you commit to your set up... I like the option of using my sights if I want to without having to take my scope off but that's just me... I got some BSA see through ring mounts for a dovetail and I couldn't be more happy with them... I think I got them for like $10 bucks on amazon...

[Izzy43]

Thanks. I read quite a bit and on the same page with you on glass > magnification. Someone mentioned about weight so I want to get some more opinion on the issue. Given the same glass quality, 4x seem quite a bit lighter but shooting with iron at 25yd+ is hard for me so 4x at 100yd will probably be hard for me.

I have been looking at Zeiss Conquest Rimfire 3-9x 40mm / Leupold VX-1 2-7x28mm Rimfire and even at Nikon M223 2-8x32 since there is a mounting deal going on but this one seem to be the wrong choice for .22 (same price range though). But it just seems overkill if all I can do is about 100-150 or so with .22

Other options are Weaver RV9 and Burris 4.5-14X32mmAO which is a small light weight scope well liked over on riimfirecentral.com. A lot less $$ than either a Zeiss or Leupold and are well respected scopes for quality and clarity.

[SweetPotato]

I like my 3x9... I'm very comfortable with it whether I'm bench shooting or free standing... The weight doesn't bother me at all... Also very accurate, I can usually find zero in 4 or 5 rounds... Check out some see through ring mounts before you commit to your set up... I like the option of using my sights if I want to without having to take my scope off but that's just me... I got some BSA see through ring mounts for a dovetail and I couldn't be more happy with them... I think I got them for like $10 bucks on amazon...

Thanks Bazinga. I am thinking about the Leupold Rifleman Detachable See-Thru High Rings for the 10/22 but I will look around to see if the rail that comes with the 10/22 block the sight first. It is jailed at Turner for the time being.

[SweetPotato]

Other options are Weaver RV9 and Burris 4.5-14X32mmAO which is a small light weight scope well liked over on riimfirecentral.com. A lot less $$ than either a Zeiss or Leupold and are well respected scopes for quality and clarity.

Thanks Izzy. I check them out.

Weaver RV9 3-9x 32mm AO DualX @Midway $260
Burris Timberline 4.5-14x32 AO Riflescope Ballistic Plex Reticle @Amazon $240
Zeiss Conquest Rimfire Rifle Scope 3-9x 40mm $400
Leupold VX-1 2-7x28mm .22 Caliber Rimfire $230

Does AO make a lot of different for 75-150yd?

[SweetPotato]

Cabela deal: Vortex Crossfire II 6-18x44 AO Matte V-Plex Riflescope - $104.88 but it is 20oz scope ....