Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Best Scope for 22lr Squrrel gun

I am finishing up a customizing job on a 10/22 in 22 long rifle.

If squirrel shots max out at 75 yards or so...

What is the best scope? Is it not mandantory to have an adjustable objective to focus up close?

Do fine hair reticles work for you folks on squirrels?

I always thought that with smaller stuff more magnification was usually better.

Considering your rifle/cartridge combo I'd guess that shots much beyond 75 yds would be unusual anyway, so don't bother with adjustable parallax. Rimfire scopes are typically adjusted at the factory to be parallax free at 50-75 yds in any case, and as I understand it that is ther primary difference between them and other scopes for a given manufacturer. I've squirrel hunted with and without benefit of the aforementioned, and frankly see little difference in my ability to hit one. My current squirrel zapper is a TC Carbine chamber in .22 Short, wears a Weaver 4X rimfire scope(around $100) and has a standard plex reticle. I'm quite pleased with the scope, clear optics, easy adjustment, and the rig does 1/2" at 50 yards with both Hi-Vel shorts and CB Shorts which is my ammo of choice. Also use the combo for local pest control.

JMO, for the .22 RF there is little point in having a complex scope. Keep it simple, whether that is cheap or not is up to you. 2.5-4X is plenty, variables are not needed, and a plex is better than a fine crosshair since those often get lost in twilight shadows.

I haven't owned a 10/22 in years but for my own 22s I use staright six power scopes on two of them and a 4x-12x scope with AO on a rifle that I use for target shooting a great deal. There is no question in my mind that the AO contributes to accuracy with a 22 at any range. Whether you want one is up to the individual, I don't feel it is necessary but I do like the feature. If you are using a 1" scope that isn't made specificially for a 22 rimfire I feel it is very worthwhile to have AO.

Dixie, I use a 6X Swarovski on my tricked-out 10/22 but it is not the best--the cross hairs are a smidge too thick. Just mounted a Kahles 2-7RF with a 4a reticle on a Kimber of Oregon Super America but have not shot it or hunted with it yet. A scope that I would like to try for squirrel hunting is a Leupold 6X42 with the thin Duplex reticle. Even though it is only offered in the gloss finish, if I recall, it might be the ultimate scope for that application. I have used a Leupold 4X RF with a thin Duplex with success but have found that a bit more magnification suits me better. RS

Have any of you ever sent a scope to have the paralax adjusted for use on a rimfire? I am thinking about having one of my Leupold 3X9's done for that reason and can't decide if I want paralax set for 50 or 75 yards. What do you guys do ?

I have a Leu 3x9 compact on a Kimber. Sent it back to Leu to have fine crosshairs installed and parallax adjusted to 60 yds. This is the factory setting on their rimfire scopes. Very happy with the whole thing, great setup.

I had a vari-xII redone to 50 yards, then sombody wanted it and the 10-22 it was on bad enough to break out a window and take case and all!

I opted for the Swift 4-12X40 Premier for my 77/22. It focuses down to 10 yards, and is a super scope for rimfires (or centerfires for that matter). The fine crosshair is great and the parallax settings are right on the money. For $117 at E. Arthur Brown Co. it's a steal.

I think this looks great for a 10/22!
Topped off with a BSA Contender 3-12 X40 Scope with 4" removable sunshade.

Most scope builders can and will do that on request.

I recently purchased a Weaver Rimfire 2-7x. Lightweight, outstanding view and responds precisely to click adjustments.
www.weaveroptics.com
J Scott

I have one of them for my single shot .17 HMR Savage. A friend gave me this Weaver T-10 for my 17VSS.

DixieFreedom,

Another forum member and myself have been having a virtually identical discussion.

Although my ULA sits unscoped presently (waiting upon my decision), I used a Leupold Vari-X II 4-12X AO for seven squirrel seasons. I think on lower powered scopes (up to 6-7X) having the parallax set at 50-60 yards is sufficient. When using high powered scopes, shooting at varying distances, the adjustable objective may be the way to go. I usually left mine set at 50 yards, readjusting for 100+ yard shots. I never seemed to have a problem with the fine duplex, obviously it will fade earlier in the evening than a medium duplex.

For squirrel hunting, any scope with decent optics from 4X on up will suffice. I shot many sub one inch groups (@ 100 yards) with my Kimber Custom Classic with a 4X Leupold Compact. I'm contemplating putting a 2-7X Leupold on my ULA, but my long time affair with the 4-12X may taint my choice.

However, if you want to test ammo for accuracy potential, the addtional power does help shoot smaller groups in rifles with sub 1/2 moa capability. I've attached a jpg of my ULA with the 4-12X mounted. It's not a very big scope, comparable in size to most 3-9X scopes.

Just my thoughts...

Regards,
JB

I like the fixed 6X42mm for 22LR's Have sent 2 in and had parallax reset for 50 yds. and am very pleased with them. also had the small leupold dot installed at the same time. On my 17 Hummer 6X36mm I had the parallax set for 75 yds. I figured this would be about an avarage distance for it, and it seemes to be working. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Virgil B.

THe scopes that I have on my squirrel rifles are 6x and 3x9 with the fine crosshairs. I 0 them in for 35yrds.
sako

My old westernfield bolt action used to wear an old weaver 3x7. I could drive tacks with it. A few years ago my oldest preteen boy at the time was carrying it, and the scope was somehow jerked off. It hasn't shot the same since with the cheap simmons 4 power 22 mag. sitting on top of it. Hopefully someday it'll wear a leupold vx1 2x7 33mm and shoot the way it used to. BTW, does anybody know where the parrallax is set on that leupold?

I'm with J_Scott on this one . I was pleasantly suprised by the qualityof the Weaver 2x7 rimfire scope . Have one mounted on a Remington 597 22 mag. Groups run from 3/8 to 1/2 inch at 50 yds . Made head shots on a few crows at 70yds with that scope/rifle combo at the end of last deer season . Black bandits were eating up my deer corn .

Johnny,

Without looking it up, I think that is a centerfire scope and as far as I know, Leupold sets them to 150 and rimfires to 60.

You can solve all your problems with the 22 Simmons 3x9 AO. It is listed in most catalogs with 22mag cheap versions but it is much better and runs about $130. Mine is on a marlin squirrel rifle and shoots legit !/2 in average. The AO IS dead on for markings and it focuses to 10ft. Very clear, Quality japanese scope. It also is made for air rifles which is not the case with centerfire scopes! I believe I discovered it on the 22rimfire forum. Don't forget good rings. I use millet rings and bases.

FWIW:

I stuck a Leupie VariX-II 3-9x40 on mine. It works superb and I did not send it in for a pair-of-lax change, etc.

BMT