10/22 Optic

[ExtremeX]

[yankee-pete]

Mueller APV. I love mine. Bought it on Amazon.

[Linebacker]

Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14x40 mil-dot. Love it on my 10/22

[sholling]

For a bone stock rifle I recommend sticking with rimfire scopes, and compact scopes tend to look better on a small rifle. Nikon's Prostaff 3-9x40 rimfire ($150) is a pretty decent scope but looks big on a bone stock 10/22. Weaver's RV4 4x28 rimfire ($120) or their RV7 2.5-7x28 rimfire ($140) are perhaps a half step better and reasonably compact. Leopold's FX-1 4x28 rimfire and VX-1 2-7x28 (both $220) are just a hair better yet and shorter. Weaver also has their RV9 3-9x32 rimfire w/AO ($220) that's very good.

If you ever turn it into a tricked out target rifle consider a Weaver V16 4-16x42 or V24 6-24x42 with adjustable objectives.

Chuck Hawks Scope Rankings is a good place to get an idea where a rimfire scope sits on the food chain.


Weaver RV9 3-9x32 rimfire w/AO


Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40 rimfire w/BDC.


Weaver V24 6-24x42 w/AO

[ExtremeX]

sholling, thanks for the recommendations and pictures.

The Muller APV looks good too, adjustable objective is always nice, even if it isn’t side focus.

This should put my research off to a good start. I think the 2-7x range sounds like a good fit for my application. I did mock fit my Viper PST 4-16 to the 10/22 and it was abnormally large for a rifle of its size, at least in its stock configuration. I also have a 1-4x available for use, but I feel I would want more magnification at the top end.

Do you have any opinion on the Sightron scopes? I’ve been waiting to try their SIII for a while on my R700, and their SI rimfire line looks like a good fit for the 10/22 as well.

I did see a couple Simmons scopes when shopping in the past, it actually looks decent, but I have some concerns about quality and longevity in that price point. I have no problem spending money on a decent optic, but I’m trying not to go overboard for a rimfire rifle at the same time.

While I am not building this into a dedicated target rifle, I do like optics with exposed turrets, side parallax adjustment, and with a useful reticle.

[CWDraco]

I went with a Bushnell Banner for now, cheap and dependable. I may try a Primary Arms later on.

[bigbas101]

I have the Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40 rimfire w/BDC. I love it and so does everyone who has shot my 10/22. Glass is really clear and it has the bullet drop compensation reticle that works really well.

[dut]

Mueller APV. I love mine. Bought it on OpticsPlanet.

[sholling]

The Muller APV looks good too, adjustable objective is always nice, even if it isn’t side focus.

It's not a bad light-duty varmint/target scope, but the crosshairs are a bit thick for fine target work. They are really popular with people building a first target rig because the APV offers a lot of bang for the buck and you can find them bundled with a sunshade for $130 shipped.

Do you have any opinion on the Sightron scopes? I’ve been waiting to try their SIII for a while on my R700, and their SI rimfire line looks like a good fit for the 10/22 as well.

I do like Sightron scopes a lot. But when selecting a scope a lot depends on how the rifle will be used. For hunting rabbits I like a fast on target scope which to me means fixed focus for speed and a duplex reticle because it draws the eye to the center when tracking a critter. For fine target shooting I like an adjustable objective or side focus to eliminate parallax error and a reticle with very fine crosshairs. In other words, in my opinion a hunting/plinking scope and a target/varmint scope are completely different animals. The Sightron S1 3-9x32 Rimfire is fixed focus scope with a fine crosshair (not duplex) reticle. I would have included the S1 if it had a duplex reticle but as-is it's just not a scope I would choose.

I did see a couple Simmons scopes when shopping in the past, it actually looks decent, but I have some concerns about quality and longevity in that price point.

Some people swear by the Simmons 44 Mag but I haven't spent any quality time with one and so I don't have an opinion. I do own a now discontinued Simmons ProHunter 6-24x44 and it's ok but I wish I had put the $140 that I paid for the ProHunter toward another $300 Weaver V24.


Simmons ProHunter 6-24x44

[SOAR79]

If you don't want to spend much, my Barska Plinker was $40. I've only used it up to 100 yards but it works great for me

[whipkiller]

I'm happy with the WallyWorld Centerpoint 4-16 X 40 I have on my Marlin.

Pretty darn good without costing more than the rifle.

[Varmintgetter]

I'm happy with the WallyWorld Centerpoint 4-16 X 40 I have on my Marlin.

Pretty darn good without costing more than the rifle.

I fully agree...I even put them on pretty hard recoiling pellet guns and they do hold up. $70 is a darn good deal. I've also used it on my HMR rifles with great results.

[pklin1297]

I can't really comment, because the last scopes I saw on a pair of 10/22s was an US Optics ST-10 and SN-3... You know how some say the scope should cost more than the rifle itself?! Well these definitely exemplified that statement... Lol...

I personally have a Bushnell on my CZ 455 .22lr and love it. But like others have said, the Mueller APV comes highly recommended.

[oppe4021]

I have the Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40 rimfire w/BDC. I love it and so does everyone who has shot my 10/22. Glass is really clear and it has the bullet drop compensation reticle that works really well.

I plan on getting this scope for my 10/22 as well. I'm thinking of getting Leupold QRW rings with it. What do you use?

[NastyNate]

I have the Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40 rimfire w/BDC. I love it and so does everyone who has shot my 10/22. Glass is really clear and it has the bullet drop compensation reticle that works really well.

The BDC is the exact reason, I chose the NPS Rimfire. More shooting, less holdover calculating.