Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Another "Which scope for a .22?) thread.

I'm in the market for a moderately priced scope for my Ruger American Predator 22LR.

Adjustable parallax is highly desirable and I think target turrets, at least on the elevation, would be really nice so that when I switch ammo types such as going from LR to CB's or Colibri's, I can dial for the different trajectory and forget hold over.

I'm not interested in fixed power. I'd prefer a variable with a top end of around 9-12X. Desired price range would top out at $200. I'm thinking of scopes like Bushnell's Banner 4-12 AO (lacks target turrets), Bushnell AR optics 3-9x40 drop zone with turrets and side parallax adjustment.

Sticking to my parameters, can anyone suggest a scope that fits the bill?

I have not used the Banner but have mounted several 4-12 and 6-18 Trophy models on several of my friends guns...all have been pleased.

Over on Amazon.com the 4-12s are well under $200.

Bob

Kind of a tall order but I'd try one of these.


http://swfa.com/Kaspa-Tactical-C4065.aspx

Thanks for mentioning the Kaspa. There is a model of that line-up that I had forgotten about that fits the bill very well.

Pentax Pioneer II in 4.5-14x42 AO were decent scopes for $150-170 new. I got two from Doug and like them. Not a whole lot better out there for that coin (IMHO). I see Doug doesn't carry them any longer. I don't know if they're made anymore or not. I think a little Google-fu should yield many decent prospects.

pushes your budget by $30 but the Clearidge might be a contender

http://www.clearidgeoptics.com/ultra-rm-s/1814.htm

Nikon Prostaff Target EFR might work, too.

Both have semi-target turrets (zero-reset)

This Bushnell?

http://www.bushnell.com/hunting/rifle-scopes/rimfire-optics/3-9x-40mm

Thanks for the responses, guys. Some interesting suggestions.

Pointbock, I'm especially interested in that Bushnell rimfire. Looks like it has the features of some of the other scopes I was looking at, but with less weight.

Hawke has some interesting models. The Airmax 3-9x40 EV sells for about $160 and 4-12x40 EV for about $170 and the Varmint 3-12x40 for $189. They all have some type of ballistic reticule, if that interests you.

They list a 3-12 as well but the pic is of the 3-9.

I like the Nikon Prostaff EFR 3-9X40. $189 or if you wait for a 10% off deal from opticsplanet then you can save a few more $. Nice scope, very clear with click/adjustable turrets. I have 2) one on my Beman R-9 Pellet rifle and one on my Savage/Anschutz .22. I have a 4-12 Banner on another .22, not in the same league.

Take a look at the Vortex Crossfire II. I put the 3 - 9 with their BDC on my 17HMR. So far it tracks very well.

I just picked up one of them in 4 - 12x40 with the A.O. for a 22 but have not mounted it yet. I actually wanted it with their BDC but the local Cabella's, Dicks, and LGS did not have it. Cabella's had the one without the BDC on sale. $89.96

For that price I would have taken a chance on 2 (since I'm happy with the 3 - 9) but they only had 1 in stock.

Dave.

I've had 2 Bushnell Banners on my 22. The first was a 3-9x40, the second a 6-18x50 AO. They were ok for the price I paid, but both are also long gone.

http://www.opticsplanet.com/bushnell-legend-ultra-hd-3-9x40mm-rifle-scope.html

Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 3-9x40mm Rifle Scope $169.99 w/ Free Shipping

These are a nice choice for $180 bucks total. I like the side focus.

The 4.5-14x version was on sale recently at $225, it is $260 at this website. I got a Philippine version of this and it is a pretty nice scope for something like your Ruger.

They have the side focus and adjust down to rimfire ranges. I think 25 yards, maybe closer in the 3-9. The turrets can be adjusted by hand, but you have to unscrew the cap first. Easy to adjust, then return the cap.

Bushnell has been kind of a moving target as far as what you get in quality for any given model. The HD may have come out of the Philippines when I tried one and now I believe made in China. The trophy migrated from Japan, to Philippines to China and the clarity took a hit each time. I never notice a price drop, but I guess they held the line without any increase.

I dont like the Banner at all. The Elite's are great, but for the price you could have a Leupold. The mid grade Bushnell seem to fill a good nitch.

One caution, what ever you get make sure the parallax can adjust down to 25 yards. My opinion. Many nice scopes like the typical Nikons only run down to 50 yards, which is pretty marginal for rimfire use. The AR scopes typically dont go down to 25yards. The gimmick reticules dont work for me, simple cross hair or fine duplex seems best.

Thanks, guys.

Good info there, fourbore. Thank you.

My vote goes to the clearidge.

My vote goes to the clearidge.

I have a Clearidge 4.5 - 14 that I bought several years ago. It has been all-right, tracks fairly well and the glass isn't to bad for the price. Big and heavy. Never felt the need to try another one.

I should get to play with the Vortex today or tomorrow. If so I'll do a side by side comparison of it and the Leupold Vari-X II 4 - 12 on my Cooper. The Vortex 3 - 9 compared very favorably to a Leup VXII 3-9 and was better to my eyes than a Burris FFII 3 - 9.




HERE is a comparison I done of the three

I put a Meuller 4.5-14AO, on my Savage .22 several years ago.
I'm not sure I'd trust the scope for a heavy kicking centerfire but it's worked well for the .22
The 1" is cheaper but doesn't have exposed turrets so I went with the 30mm.
Check the weight too, it's a big scope.
link here

I mounted the Vortex CFII and shot it some. Comparing it to the old VarixII it compared vary well, while the sun was up. They were virtually neck to neck in every aspect that I compared them. Once the sun was down the Leupold started pulling away fairly quickly. Looking at a small piece of bark sticking up on top of a broken tree at about 125 yards (the stump is near the edge of the wood line across an open field) it was nearly indistinguishable at 8:47 p.m. through the Vortex. With the Leupold I could have still taken a shot at the small piece of bark a full 13 minutes later.


A doe came into the field at about 9. She stayed directly in line behind a small bush at the ditch line although she came within about 50 yards. Both scopes were at 12 power and the parallax was adjusted for the piece of bark at 125 yards, I did not change the settings to optimize either scope. The Leupold definitely gave me a better look at her features such as the white around her nose and eyeballs.

I'm sure it's not fair to compare a scope costing a couple hundred more but in all actuality the Vortex compared very well and since I normally don't hunt up till the last few minutes of light I could very easily live with the Vortex for the money saved, at least on anything I'd hunt with a 22 or 17 rimfire.

Another plus for the Vortex, the A.O. adjust down to 10 yards. The power and A.O. ring both adjust smoothly and easily. If it matters to you the Vortex also came with a sunshade.

I didn't have much time to shoot because of wanting to compare the two scopes so I didn't get to play with the tracking much. I did however (after getting it sighted in to p.o.a.) turn the elevation screw all the way down and back up to zero. I then fired a five shot group right on top of another one I had shot prior to moving the turret. Next I cranked it all the way up and back down to zero and fired another 5 shots. The entire 15 shots were in about a 1/2" group, about what this rifle has proven to do with this ammo at this range (25 yards).

My only complaint with the scope is that the turret caps seem a little loose. The screws holding them were tight. They evidently didn't slip but they feel like they could. The ones on the 3 - 9 on my 17 feel much more "secure".

Only time will tell if the scope will hold up but if not, it is covered by their lifetime warranty.

For rimfires, I will be trying a few more of them. YMMV.


Dave.

Sightron S1 4-12x40AO if turrets aren't mission critical.