Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Thoughts on optics for 22 magnum

Hi all,

I have a little dilemma - I have a very nice Marlin 983 that needs a scope.
I'm looking for a 4-12 / 4.5-14 / 4-16 with either a small front bell and/or side focus so I can mount it fairly low.
I want very good glass that doesn't wash out or fuzz out at 100 yards minimum.
Is there anything in the $200 or $300 range that stands out? I want it to be a long term pairing.

I was wondering about the Vortex 3-12 DB HP but I've never seen one.
Happy with older glass too. I just want to see crisp detail and not worry about the mechanics.

Thanks in advance

This is what I run on my 22 mags.

http://www.opticsplanet.com/reviews/reviews-nikon-monarch-2-8x32-riflescope.html

I have a VX-I 4-12x40 on a Marlin 882, a Vari-X IIc 3-9x40 on a Marlin 982, and a Vari-x IIc 2-7x33 Shotgun scope with the heavy duplex reticle on my favorite .22 Magnum, the Remington 597 that I use when calling 'cats in tight cover. If I was scoping a 983, I think that I'd take a close look at the Weaver RV9, 3-9X40 AO.

I should have specified better - I'm looking for AO too

Leupold 3-9X EFR.............used maybe. New they want more than stated budget.

Mueller AVP - 4-14 x 40
I think it will work well for your needs.

You might want to look at the Minox 4.5-14 that Cameralandny is offering at $109.

Nikon in the same guise.

Mine wore a 3.5-140x40AO Leupold I got used.

Good Luck

Guess I'm the odd man out.

My 22WMR's......



Course I only use mine for treed critters or calling in heavy cover where shots aren't very far.

I would increase the budget,or buy used, and get a Leupold VX2 4-12X40 AO fine duplex. It is exactly what you are looking for and my favorite rimfire scope. It will focus at 25 yards on 12X and closer on lower power.

Now that leupold 4-12 sounds like something I should look into.

Kragman,


One Caveat about the Leupold 4-12 scopes is the eye relief. It varies A LOT from high to low power. Like a full inch difference from high to low.
If you get it for set right for 4x it will be WAY too short when set at 12x.

I saw this 30 years ago trying to find a good all around Coyote rifle scope and never owned another.Too bad as it is nearly the ideal power range.
Just like their 3x9 and 3.5 x 10 scopes , ( which are way better as to eye relief range) Leupold really has not changed that spec in all these years. The eye relief variance on the 4x12 still sucks.

I bought one on Clarks recommendation and put it on a Cooper M57 and it really is a great rimfire scope!

I have several $150+/- Sightron S1H 4-12x40 AOs in service on rifles from 17HM2 to 6.5 Creedmoor and think that it has pretty good optics for the $$.

I bought a Bushnell Trophy XLT 4-12 A0 for my springer airgun (where it did just fine), and pulled it to mount on a .243 that I suspected had scope issues just before deer season. Worked well there too. Only paid $130 on Amazon because I caught it right. Now, I see Natchez has them on sale at the same price. Probably go on my 581 when I begin my attempt to improve its performance.

Might not spend $200 on one but at $130, SOLD.

It may be an issue for some but it has never been uncomfortable or awkward for me to slightly shift my cheek weld after a power increase. If I have time to turn the power selector,I have time to adjust my cheek.

The 4-12 VX2 on a 1416 Anschutz

RH. One fine .22👍

RH

Everybody holds a rifle differently and sees a view through a scope differently. And some of us do take consistent stock fit from shot to shot seriously as well.No matter what power the scope is set on.

And the issue with the wide variation on the 4-12 Leupold eye relief has been known for a long time and acknowledged even by the most biased Leupold fanboys,which is why that model has never been as popular as it could have been. I just thought Kragman needed to know the full story on them- warts and all.

I wasn't trying to argue or make light of the issue or it being a problem to you. I was just saying that it isn't a problem for me. Neither do I consider myself a Leupold fanboy. I own Leupolds but they do not make up a majority of my scopes.

The 4-12x40s are my second most common Leupolds, following only the 2-7x33s. I've never noticed an eye relief problem with the 4-12x40s and currently have twelve of them in service. I don't claim to be particularly biased one way or another for or against Leupold products, as my expectations are pretty vague, just that the products work under the conditions that I typically use them. I do have around 100 Leupold scopes and they are are more numerous than any other single brand that I own, but if something came along that met my needs noticeably better, I'd change scope brands and models without a second thought.