I've got a ruger bolt action in .17HRM and I've got a scope that is not great.

What is the best scope for a .17HRM, can I use one of my rifle scopes or do I need a certain type of scope because its a rimfire caliber?

Want to get something bright, great eye relief, good magnification for varmints. Not price sensitive, if its good I'll have it forever.

THanks

You should consider whether you want to dial it or useholdovers, or both. An easy pick is a SWFA 10x, which will focus down to very close if needed, and dial perfectly. A good variable like a 4-12 or 4.5-14 would work fine too if you think a lower power might come in handy.

Perhaps you mean a 17HMR ????

One thing you want to stay away from is a rimfire rifle scope, they have the parallax set at about 60 yards and I seldom shoot my 17HMR that close. I have a Leupold VX-3i 4.5x14x40 on mine and wouldn't change a thing

Dunns has a good deal on burris 4.5 x 14 for 179 . Ballistic plex side focus

It may not be the best scope, but Pine Ridge made a scope for the 17HMR that I have on mine. I would have to pull it out and check but it is either a 4x12 or 6x18 and what makes it so good is that it has a dial calibrated for it in yards. I carried mine on my last 2 p. dog trips and was able to make 1 shot hits all the way to 300 yards, heck I even have witnesses to the fact.
Just range, dial and shoot. Is it a Super Chicken or a Nightforce quality dialing system, no but it proved good enough for the 17HMR.

I have found that the weak links in the 17 HMR accuracy chain are the ammo, then the firearm, and finally the sights.

I've had good success since 2004 with 4-12x and 4-16x scopes installed on Anschutz, Marlin, and Savage rifles. I'm not a dialer, so the old Japanese-made Weaver V16s are a favorite of mine.

I just put a 3x9 that I had on my 17 HMR. Works just fine on prairie dogs---which is why I got it. Don't over think it. Bob

I have a Leupold VX-2 3-9x 40 CDS on my Tikka, but only because the scope was handy. Shoots fantastic.

Exact same scope I have on my 17HMR and for the same reason.

3x9 is more than enough scope for the 17 HMR which I consider an effective 150 - 175 yard cartridge for ground squirrels.
At 150 yds = 87 ft lbs energy and 175 yds = 73 ft lbs energy. It is just not enough cartridge to insure clean kills at ranges beyond that, even ground squirrels and PD's shouldn't have to suffer a painful lingering death.

drover

“Best” is asking a lot, but.

Put a conquest 2.5-8x32 on the tikka t1x and loving it. A care-free, any weather, no planning/reloading needed, sm. game/varmint popper.

Someone poo-poo’d a rimfire parallax, but how it would be a handicap in this cartridge, for typical & actual using, escapes me; ymmv.

Its a 17HMR rimfire. They don't need upper tier scopes. A run of the mill rimfire scope will suffice or a parallax adjustable scope. Pick you poison and power range, quit trying to make it more difficult than it has to be. The Burris badwolf suggested would be an excellent choice. I'm running a cheap azzed Bushnell rimfire 6-18x40 on one and a Burris MSR 4.5-14x42 on another.

The OP didn’t say what kind of varmints he was shooting or where or at what ranges, so it’s hard to suggest anything specific. He did say he wanted it to be light, and better than what he has, whatever that is. He also said he wasn’t worried about price. I might go for a scope with adjustable parallax for a .17, but not one with fixed rimfire-type. The typical 100-yard fixed setting should be fine. Nothing wrong with spending a lot on a nice scope for a favorite rifle, even if it is a rimfire. Nice optics are a pleasure to own and rimfires typically get used a lot.

The 77/s can be a bit tricky to scope. Long ER, long tubes, and smaller eyepieces help avoid bolt handle clearance issues.

I’d say that a 4-12 is good, but a 4.5-14 is an even better choice. Let your budget be your guide. I put a VX2 4-12 on mine and could have easily gone 4.5-14 instead.

The Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14x42 is an outstanding optic for the 17 HMR. The ballistic plex reticle can be dialed in to your ammo and the $189 price is something to behold.

This price is good but its likely you can find it for less.
https://www.swfa.com/burris-45-14x42-fullfield-ii-rifle-scope-102964.html?___SID=U

Guess I'm the odd one out. My M77/17 wears an old Burris 6x Fullfield with super fine crosshairs and a DOT. It will huck the fell out of the varmints I use it on out to 200yds which is all the farther I shoot at fur or feathers with the 17 hmr. Mb

I'm in the 6X corner myself.
I put a SWFA 6X MQ on my HB Ruger .17HMR.
Parallax adjustable and I simply dial the distance for elevation, use the MQ marks for wind hold off....
Simple, straight forward and effective.

Thanks guys, this is very helpful. I was wondering if I needed something unique since its a rimfire, I think I have an older conquest I could put on it. Thanks again.

For the features and clarity, I put a Cabelas house brand on mine...Their Covenant series..

it was $200. 30 mm tube, like 4 x 16, MOA reticle...

I'm shooting sage rats on a 1.5 acre yard, where I have CA neighbors, with their Oregon Ranchettes.

The VMax ammo doesn't ricochet, but I want to have a big site picture because other houses nearby...

so I can visually make a sage rat look like the size of a cat in the reticle on 8 to 10 power. and the Ruger 77/17 is accurate enough to place a round right in the ear if need be.

and people may say, yeah but its a Cabelas scope....well on a 17 HMR and on a heavy barrel Ruger.. there isn't any recoil to shake things apart...
So far its given 3 years of service, but has killed 1000s of Sage rats ( not on my property, only a couple hundred)..

The 30mm tube makes a big difference when you have the eyes of a 68 yr old... I took off a 4 x 16 Weaver, that the Cabelas replaced.

My 77/17 .17 HMR has worn an older Leupold M8 12x40 for years and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Vortex 2-7 on mine.