Why not a Leupold VX-3 on a 10/22?

[BigJ]

Hey guys, I have a question for the rimfire gurus.

I'm a life long shooter and have always been an iron sights guy. But my eyesight is getting to the point where having a scope would probably make for a much better time at the range.

I happen to have a new Leupold VX-3 3.5-10x40 with a Boone and Crockett reticle that needs a home. Any reason not to slap it on the 10/22 target build? Should I expect some limitations in some way? I realize its more of a long range scope, but what kind of issues should I expect at 50 or 100 yards?

Again I know next to nothing about scopes. Tell me why or why not this would be a good choice to play with?

Thanks!

[Stoopy]

Sounds like a great idea to me. You already have the scope and it needs a home so it sounds like a win win. I actually like more magnification on .22 so you can spot your own hits and adjust for wind.

[Chaos47]

Is it a bit overkill, sure. Any reason not to do it? Not really.
10x is fine for 22LR
Go for it!

[socal147]

I have a Vol 22WMR being built. It is going to get a Luepold 3x9 AO scope. For the reasons above. See you own holes, adjust as needed. HTH

[BigJ]

Thanks for the replies guys.

(Again remember you're talking to a scope noob) So are we saying 3.5-10x is on the low end of good to go magnification wise for rimfire? Would higher magnification be better? Or is 10x on the high end / where I want to be?

I'm not saying I'm going to run out and buy a new higher power scope or anything. I'm just trying to get a sense of what most folks feel is the sweet spot for magnification out to say 100 yards?

[Stoopy]

Thanks for the replies guys.

(Again remember you're talking to a scope noob) So are we saying 3.5-10x is on the low end of good to go magnification wise for rimfire? Would higher magnification be better? Or is 10x on the high end / where I want to be?

I'm not saying I'm going to run out and buy a new higher power scope or anything. I'm just trying to get a sense of what most folks feel is the sweet spot for magnification out to say 100 yards?

3x9 is about the norm for .22s and your 3.5x10 will work great out to 100 yards. I like higher magnification. I run a 6-24x50 on my .22 and usually have it set to .24 power. The only time I bring the magnification down is shooting in matches where you have to transition from target to target or shooting in positions besides prone. I usually shoot between 50 and 300 yards with my .22. Just mount it up and start using it. If you find yourself wanting more magnification you can always upgrade.

[BigJ]

Gotcha, thanks again. I'll give it a go and see what I think hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

[Trapper]

The problem with a 3.5-10 isn't with the magnification, it's that the factory parallax setting is set farther than what most rimfire shooters will shoot, probably 150yds. At 100yds this shouldn't be an issue but you may notice some distortion when shooting small targets at close range. Rimfire scopes are normally set for 50-75yds and adjustable objective scopes will allow you to focus at various distances.

http://rimfirebenchrest.com/articles/parallax1.html

http://www.6mmbr.com/parallax.html

[XVIga_Rob]

You have a scope that's not in use and a rifle that needs one. Mount that thing up!!

[Merc1138]

You already have the scope, and you already have the rifle. Put it on there. It's not like you can't take it back off if you find some other use for it.

[phish]

Nothing wrong with a little overkill. I'm currently running a NF 3.5-15x50 on my 455. The parallax can be adjusted down to 50 yards and it has elevation adjustment in spades. I could use some higher rings since the cheek weld is a little mashed into the stock for my tastes and intended use for the rifle.

[dfletcher]

Thanks for the replies guys.

(Again remember you're talking to a scope noob) So are we saying 3.5-10x is on the low end of good to go magnification wise for rimfire? Would higher magnification be better? Or is 10x on the high end / where I want to be?

I'm not saying I'm going to run out and buy a new higher power scope or anything. I'm just trying to get a sense of what most folks feel is the sweet spot for magnification out to say 100 yards?

If the Leupold has an adjustable objective (AO) I would say 10X is fine for 100 yds. Most centerfire scopes have their parallax set for 100 yds. The 22 makes fairly small holes, they're a bit tough to see on a target at 100 yds without the AO. I just went with a 3.5 to 10X for a CZ 455 and my usual shooting distance is 50 or 100 yds. The AO allows me to see the single bullet holes.

They're not in the Leupold class, but the Mueller line of scopes is heavily used and well liked among the rimfire folks. Their glass is nice, they have a pretty short eye relief though. Not a factor on the rimfires.

[NorCalDustin]

It should work well...

[dragon7]

Nothing wrong with mounting that scope on your 10/22. An AO would just make it easier to quickly focus on short range targets. Without an AO you'll have to refocus the eyepiece. If the majority of your shooting is at 100 plus you're GTG.

[compulsivegunbuyer]

While the AO does make close in targets sharper, that's not it's main purpose, it's main purpose is parallax. The rectile is closer to your eye than the target, so if the scope is stationary, the target is stationary, and as you move your eye/head one way or the other in relation to the eyepiece, you will actualy be looking around the rectile at the center of the target, and the center of the rectile will appear to move off target. So if the parallax is set to 150 yards, and your shooting at 50 yards, if you move your eye position to one side or the other in relation to the eyepiece, the rectile will move off target. With the parallax set correctly, the rectile will stay on target. Put your finger out in front of you, and then over an object a greater distance away. Now move your head slightly to the right or left. You are now looking around your finger, and your finger appears to move to the right or left of the object. Same principal with parallax. Parallax corrects for this at a given distance, and as you move your eye in the field of view, the rectile will stay on the bullseye. There's a reason guns have a front and rear sight.