Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Rimfire Scope on Centerfire Rifle

Recently purchased a Vortex Diamondback 2-7x35. Didn’t realize until now that it is a “rimfire” model. I had been hoping to put it on one of my 308s. Now, I know that rimfire scopes usually have a closer parallax setting than centerfire scopes, but that isn’t a huge concern to me. I have shot scopes with 100yd parallax from 25yd-500yd without too much issue, and most of my shots are under 100yd anyways.

My bigger concern, is how it will handle recoil. Does anyone have experience with this? I doubt it’ll break on me on the first shot, but I don’t want issues while putting several rounds through it to sight in, or to have to replace it or send it back for repairs during hunting season. If a 308 is too much, would a 30-30 be out of the question as well? Thanks guys.

I can't say about Vortex but Nikon told me theirs are built to the same standard as the centerfire scopes. I think your're good but a quick call to Vortex would confirm

I'm remembering a case way back when a guy showed up during sight in days with a 3/4" tube .22 Weaver .22 scope mounted on a .30-06. The eye relief was as you can imagine real short and the guy would have left his eyeball right there at the bench if the range master hadn't caught him. Yours is lots longer eye relief I'm hoping.

I don't know about Vortex but I've used Weaver RV7s on centerfire rifle in the 22 Hornet thru 308 range without any issues. The parallax is shorter, 50 or 75 yards, but the 1" tube RV7s have worked flawlessly.

The eye relief on this one is similar to most of my centerfire scopes, maybe just a tad shorter. I got into contact with Vortex and they reassured me that their rimfire scopes were rated to withstand 308 recoil with quality mounts, in case anyone was wondering.

If you can live with the short parallax setting and the eye relief is acceptable, it should work fine. As far as standing up to recoil, I would give Vortex a call and ask about that specific scope.