Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Use a centerfire scope on a rimfire?

I've got a couple loose scopes laying around, including a Leupold VX-1 2-7X. I also have a 77/22 with an el cheapo 4X scope on it and am considering putting one of the good scopes on the rifle.

Is it practical to use a CF scope on a RF? Or should I try to trade for a RF scope? I know rimfire scopes have the parallax set for shorter distances. How big a difference does this make?

I use the gun for casual target shooting, plinking, and hunting almost always within 100 yds.

Rufus, I have that same vx-1 2x7 on my 22, works great as I have a serious red squirrel problem and that scope sees a lot of use.

I use a VariX-II 3-9x40 on my CZ 452. It works extremely well.

The parallax difference has never saved a squirrel (bad shooting has though.)

BMT

I've never not used a "centerfire" scope on any rimfire. They work just dandy......

...I've used center fire scopes on rim fires and rim fire scopes on center fires. The scopes work fine either way. I've always stuck to high quality scopes like Leupold or high end Bushnell stuff. Also I've always had the parallax reset for the rifle it was used on (Leupold has never charged me for this service).I have a 4X compact Leupold rim-fire special scope on a CZ 527 in 7.62X39, had the parallax adjusted by the Leupold folks. It works like a charm and fits the little carbine better than the larger scopes would.

Always have used CF scopes on my rimfires. Never noticed a problem. Kimber 22 with 2.5x8 varix !!! shoots bug holes.

as long as you always look dead center into the scope, and not off to any one side you will not experiance parallax. and even if you do not line your eye up exactly the same way each time, you probably will still hit that furball you're aiming at.

Thanks for the input guys. Saved me some trouble. Mounted the VX-1 tonite and I'll try it out this weekend.

Exactly!!!
A few years ago, I did an experiment with a Leupold fixed 4x CF scope looking at a target bull at the 50 yard line. I moved my eye from extreme left to extreme right in the scope's ocular, and saw exactly 1" of parallax. So, if you were to shoot a target at that distance with a CF scope, moving your eye as I did, the bullet holes would be 1" apart. But. looking through the center of the eye piece as Jim said, you have zero problems.

been doing it for years.

22 scopes are junk.

a quality .22 rimfire scope is exactly the same quality scope a centerfire is, it is just parallax adjusted for the closer distance. do not confuse a cheap .22 scope with a quality .22 scope. the same goes for a quality centerfire scope against a cheap centerfire scope.

The Bushnell Trophy 4-12x40 AO airgun scope is great, but not slim and not cheap.
The Leupold 3-9x33 EFR is slim and nice looking but $300.00 +.

I am currently considering a Bushnell Sportview 3-9x32mm Gloss for closeout at $29.00 for a higher end .22 LR.

RufusG,

If your that concerned about parallax, Leupold will reset it for about $15.00

I have used a 2.5X8 on a .22 and have not looked back.

I did not have the parallax reset.

Curly

If you insit on the very best in groups, then a scope that is parallax free at that distance will do best. Now, if by "casual shooting" you mean you don't care if the groups are .3 or .6 at 50 yds. then this may well not be a concern.
Parallax does also vary with the shooter and even varies on different days. The only way to know, is to test the scope's parallax yourself. Whatever you find, then shoot the rifle and see what you think.
I've found that by focusing the scope for a specific range, my scopes tend to reduce the parallax for that range. I haven't tried this under 100 yds., but I can see a difference in groups between say a 100 yd. focus, and a 300 yd. focus in most, but not always all, of my scopes. You might try that.
The other thing is reticle thickness. Most .22 scopes use fine reticles. Most BG scopes have heavier reticles. That's another one you will have to consider. E

Why????????



George

The finer reticle and adjustments on a true quality rimfire or airgun scope will permit finer aiming, and the targets shot with .22s, paper and animals, are small. The 4-12x40AO on my best rimfire makes huge difference in being able to judge holdover and shoot pests at 100 yards or more.

I bought the Bushnell Sportview 3-9x32 for $28.00 out the door.
It will not focus sharply any closer than about 35 yards, but that is probably fine for my uses on squirrels, rats, crows, and pigeons. If I replace it with a Leupold 3-9x33 EFR later, I can always stick it on the CZ 527 .223 that I plan to buy.

What a bunch of hooey. You can get fine reticles and 1/8MOA clicks on more centerfire scopes than you can on Rimfire scopes. The only thing that you would double check on for a rimfire scope is that it's AO can be adjusted down to rimfire ranges such as the EFR range Leupold scopes.
Go to a 22LR Benchrest match and I seriously doubt you'll find a single rimfire or airgun scope being used..............................DJ

So tell us what kind of scopes we would see at a .22 benchrest match. I assume they are as big as the rifle.

All my .22 match shooting is 50 meter pistol, or 50 meter or 100 meter rifle with iron sights.

I don't doubt some of the centerfire scopes are fine for shooting from a bench. I already have a $300.00 4-12x40AO on my A-Bolt .22 that works great - it is just too large for a hunting rifle and I like glossy scopes on a nice rifle like an A-Bolt Medallion, Kimber Super America, CZ, Anschutz or Model 52.

Some scopes I have shot and like:
Bushnell Trophy 4-12x40 AO Airgu Too large
Burris Rimfire 3-9x32AO
Burris Rimfire 4-12x32AO
Burris Rimfire 4-12x40AO
Leupold 3-9x33 EFR

I am not looking to punch paper at whatever range.
I want a walk-around hunting scope that will focus down for a close shot at 30 yards in a tree, or 150 yards at a pigeon in the field.