I am trying to select a scope for a pretty walnut stocked Marlin 880 I came across. My go to is usually the Meopta 2-10x42 AO for good reason but it’s a bit ugly for a classic rifle. On my synthetic Bergera BMR and Tikka t1x this isn’t an issue but Im looking for a classy look here. I was debating between the Leupold 3-9x33 EFR and the regular 2-7x33 rimfire. Some were saying that the eyebox on the 3-9 is very restrictive in comparison to the 2-7. I’d rather have the adjustable parallax on the EFR over the 60 yard fixed on the 2-7 though.

What are your thoughts? Can anybody speak from experience with these scopes? Is there a scope up to 500 dollars that I am missing? Ideally it would also be lightweight.

Thanks!!

Last March I bought a NULA 22 rf repeater that came with a Leupold VX-2 3-9x33 EFR scope. Some months later I dropped into my LGS to find one of the VX-Freedom 3-9x33 EFR's mispriced so I bought it. The NULA now wears the VX-Freedom scope as it is optically superior and gave me zero issues during sight in. The eyebox is also better with the latter scope than the VX-2.

I have that scope on a couple of rimfires. They’re perfect. The parallax focus feature is really helpful when you’re talking about rimfire ranges.

I was lucky enough to find an older Burris 6x AO Mini scope in the classifieds here and put it on my .22 Hornet. Recently I also scored a fixed focus version, so I put that on the Hornet and moved the AO to my CZ 457 Premium. Those can be found if you look a bit and neither cost me over $225 IIRC. There’s a pic of the Hornet in a thread in the Gunwriter’s forum and in Images. Perfect scopes for small rifles if 6x will do you.

I bought a couple of the Weaver rimfires from Natchetz before they discontinued them. 2x7 and 3x9. I'd look for them,better than my Leupold.

I have a Weaver RV7 on a Marlin 983S and think that the the magnification range works well with a .22 MAG and the size is aesthetically in sync with the size of this rifle. Like blairvt, I bought a few RV7s and RV9s when Natchez Shooters Supply was selling them at a discounted price.

The Weaver RVs have a more traditional style than the "tacticool" angular Leupold Freedom's styling. The RV7 is a 2.5-7x28 and the RV9 is a 3-9x32AO, both were made in Japan.

I also have a couple of Leupold 3-9x33EFR VX-IIs from 2011 and think that they are good scopes, but no better or worse for my needs than the RV9s.

Thanks for the input, that’s good to hear!

I’ll have to keep my eyes open for the weaver and Burris then. Seems ther just aren’t that many AO lightweight scopes still in production.

I have a couple VX-II 3-9x33 AO EFR scopes, and one of the Vari-X era 2-7x28 Rimfire scopes, with parallax set at 60 yards. I like both of them, but in a headlock prefer the 3-9x33s.

For pure ascetics, I’ve always liked how a Leupold scope looked on a rifle. I have the older 3-9x33 AO Leupold on my Ruger 77/22 and since my normal red squirrel range is 10-15 yards, that AO is perfect. Most of the time it is set at 4x, so the exit pupil eye box is a non-issue. Then there is that 2-7x28 RF Leupold on my Winchester 61 and for a run and gun scope that you don’t need to mess with an AO, that one works pretty well too. I like the 3-9x33 AO more, but I paid more for that one too. There is a 4.5-14x40 AO on my varmint rifle that would work on a .22 if I wanted more magnification, but the eye box on that one is really narrow. Since my normal range for my .22’s is so short, that 3-9x33 has been great

I've used both the 2 x 7 Leupold and the 2 x 7 Weaver on several of my 30/30s and Model 70 Featherweights in 223 and 243. I think they are the perfect balance on those rifles, and the scopes are built rugged enough or more, to hold up to the recoil of those rifles. nice and compact when I don't need a big scope.. plenty good to 200 or 250 yd targets.

Another nice Leupold for rimfires is the full size 4-12x40 AO with fine duplex reticle.

Read the OPs original post.

The whole point of this thread is he does not want a scope that large.

Not parallax adjustable, but I can recommend this one. It has nice trim dimensions and classic lines.

https://www.natchezss.com/burris-dr...eticle-33-13-fov-31-38-er-matte-bu200019

How’s the eye relief Paul?

Good, as advertised. Good eye box too.

Leupold also makes a 3-9 x 33 compact lightweight scope that is perfect for rimfires. Shorter tube length to complement the rimfire actions and good glass. They also made a 4-12 x 40 compact but they are next to impossible to find as they only made them for a couple years from what I can tell... a buddy has one on a Kimber of Oregon and it looks perfect on it .

Leupold has a vx3-hd 2.5-8x36.

Burris has a 2-7x32 that is nice and sleek little scout rifle scope.

It’s a little long but the Tract 22 scopes have an AO


https://tractoptics.com/all-products/22-fire-4-12x40-adjustable-objective-t-plex-dot

I have owned both and found both to not be very forgiving with eyebox or very light in weight so they went down the road.

Thanks for all the responses. What has been your experiences with tract?

What do you think the majority of your shooting will be like?

If you're looking at hitting very precise points a bit closer (however you define closer) then the 3-9 EFR is probably your best bet, both for the extra 2x of magnification and the ability to completely eliminate parallax.

If you want to stretch things out beyond 100 yards then the 2-7 with the MOA reticle is better. The hash marks are 1 MOA apart which makes the view a bit crowded but once you know your bullet drops you can make first shot hits on reasonably sized targets out to 200 yards or more.

I have the VX-Freedom 3-9X40 with the MOA reticle and it works very well on a Savage Mark II. Obviously the objective bell is 7mm larger than the other two but the weights on all three of them vary no more than one ounce, from 11.1 on the 2-7 to a whopping 12.2 on the 3-9x40.

IMO Leupold missed it by that much, they should put an AO on their 3-9x40 rimfire model or go ahead and put the MOA reticle into their 3-9x33, then you'd have the best of both.

Finally, if the 60 yard parallax setting of the 2-7 bugs you that can be changed relatively easily.

Change a non-AO scope yourself

Adjusting parallax can be done at home on a lot of scopes

All my shooting with this gun will be squirrels and other small games as well as some plinking around. Small game is why I’m looking for the EFR.

I have owned a few tract scopes over the years and so have a few buddies of mine and none of us have had any issues. Never had one of their 22 scopes, but I think they are Philippines scopes so they should be pretty good.

I've gotten good usage out of my Leupold VX-Freedom EFR 3-9x33 scope on my Browning T-Bolt. So no complaints there. When I was younger I did all of my rimfire hunting with a fixed 4x so whenever someone uses the word "classic", then that's what my mind thinks of even though it appears from the OP's post that he (like most people) prefers a variable. I know that both Nikko Stirling (made in Japan) and Hawke (made in China) have 4x32 AO scopes:

https://nikkostirling.com/products/rifle-scopes/mount-master/nmmi432aon

https://us.hawkeoptics.com/vantage-4x32-ao-mil-dot.html

Hawke also has their 2-7x32 AO with or without illumination:

https://us.hawkeoptics.com/vantage-2-7x32-ao-mil-dot.html

https://us.hawkeoptics.com/vantage-ir-2-7x32-ao-mil-dot-ir.html

When shopping for scopes I don't look at the Chinese ones but my used .17 HMR was a great deal and came with a Hawke Vantage IR 4-12x40 AO already on it. If I'm going to give you my honest evaluation, so far, it's been a pretty good scope.

I have a few of those and they are a good piece.

SC_Mark, The Weaver scope in this listing might be worth considering:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...scopes-leupold-nikon-weaver#Post18558440

The new Freedom EFR 3-9X has a more straight tube eyebell.....not the best looking.
The old style little 3-9X EFR was much nicer aesthetically.

The new one has the objective lens rather recessed, so expect a little shadow around perimeter.
Can't remember if my old little 3-9X EFR was so afflicted.

Personally, I'd rather have a regular duplex instead of fine.

My 4-12X AO and Freedom EFR are fine duplex, usable but meh.
Still have an old M8 10X w CPC.....was gonna put that on my CZ 457 but its wearing a backup reg VX1 3-9X.
Had parallax adjusted that when on the 455, but put it back to standard.

I have an older Leupold 3-9x33 EFR on a Ruger American Rimfire and like it a lot. I think it's perfect for a classic .22 LR. Not saying the RAR is exactly a classic, but they are good rifles.

Mark - I have the VXII 3-9 X 33 EFR on my Anschutz 141 .ss WMR. It's been a great scope for that rifle, the third of fourth in the 60 years or so I've had the rifle and the one that will stay with it the rest of my life.

Here’s how one looks on a Kimber of Oregon Model 82. As cra1948 said above, it will live there the rest of my life, and hopefully the rest of my 11-year-old grandons’s life as well.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...f-oregon-82-with-3-9x33-efr#Post18552541

Oh, and here is it’s twin now for sale in our classifieds here:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...9x33ao-rimfire-e-f-r-in-box#Post18555114

My Marlin 880 Squirrel will be wearing this one.

Scope for 880

I use on both my CZ .22LR rifles the 7x28 Leupold scopes for ground squirrel hunting. At rimfire range, many gophers don’t wait very long with diving under ground. Picking them up in your scope pronto is most important if you want to get a shot of. That’s why most of the time my scope is set on 4 power, lol. The little scopes have worked very well for me, never any trouble. I can highly recommend them.

Leupold will reset the paralex distance in any scope.
They will also sell you direct any scope they make and set the paralex where you prefer it to be.
Including the other brands they make.

I’ve ran a Leupold 2-7 rim fire for years on my browning bl-22. I’ve been more than happy with it as a truck gun and squirrel gun. Super light and looks right on the gun. So far I’ve not had to adjust zero and it don’t get babied!!