Thread: Scope choice for 22 mag

Hello ,
What scope in 3x9x40 would you lads recommend for a 22 winmag.

Looking to upgrade the scope on a marlin 22 mag. Im looking at the hawke option but open for options. I am shooting rabbits and magpies but want more magnification than the standard scope.

Don't want to spend moonbeans , under $300 if possible .
Thanks in advance.

I've been using a Hawke Sport HD on my air rifle for over a decade, while it has been reliable and held zero, the optical quality is on the very bottom end.

Weaver V9, Leupold VX1, VX Freedom and Burris Fullfied can often be found secondhand for less than $300.
If you have the patience, wait for a second hand Bushnell Elite, Weaver Grand Slam or Vortex Diamondback to pop up for around $300.

All of the above will be a significant step up in optical quality compared to your Hawke scope.
IMO the best value scope out of the above is the Weaver V9.

If you can find one a Nikko Stirling Airking 2-9x42 or 4-12x42 would be good. Both are AO and both should be well under your budget of $300 (around $250?) but I am not sure if they are still available. Never seen a 2nd hand one as owners tend to hold onto them.

I just had a rummage through our boxes of scopes and I have the four below, all brand new and in the box
(been in the box for about 11 years in storage from the shop.... and priced at the same price they were then...)

3-9x40 Nikko Gold crown $199

3.5-10x40 Nikko Stirling Gold Crown (silver or black) $ 235

3.5-10x42 Nikko Stirling Night Eater with AO turret $349.00

4-16x50 Nikko Stirling Night Eater $379

3.5-10x45 Nikko Stirling Platinum range $450 (their premium range at the time in Gloss black with euro style eye piece)

Thanks lads.
I will do some research into those scopes @timattalon and see if I like what I see , thanks mate.
I have a cometa fusion Air rifle with a air king on it but not sure if I want to separate it and put the air king on my 22 while I look into another decent scope.

how come you have so many scope lol @timattalon

Originally Posted by Jusepy

Thanks lads.
I will do some research into those scopes @timattalon and see if I like what I see , thanks mate.
I have a cometa fusion Air rifle with a air king on it but not sure if I want to separate it and put the air king on my 22 while I look into another decent scope.

how come you have so many scope lol @timattalon

@Jusepy I have a mate who owned / owns a gun shop that was closed after the quakes. I still have access to his stock and am selling it for him. Slowly whittling down the options though. I used to have them stacked in fish cartons but now only have about a couple dozen left. Mostly Nikko Stirling, but a few Arctic Fox as well. Almost all the Nighteaters have already been sold, along with most of the diamonds and all of the Air Kings. Most are 3-9x40 Gold crowns or 3-5-10 x40 etc. Though there is a Nikko 10-50x60 Diamond Target master and a couple of 8-32x50 target masters there as well.....They may be a bit large for a 22 magnum....

I also have some 22magnum ammo here as well but that wont really help you up there as I cannot ship ammo easily.

I run a 3x9x40 Bushnell, functions great plus the rain guard is pretty usefull to. My rifle is a BRNO semi .22mag.

I run a 4-12 VX1 Leupold

I rate it over the similar 3-9

Mine’s worn a few different scopes over the years:
-kilwell 3-9x40 (rubbish)
-leupold vari-x iic 3-9x40 (great old scopes)
-leupold fx ii 6x36 (great fixed power option)
-weaver classic rimfire 3-9x32 (good but debatable whether the A/O was necessary for me)
-leupold vx3 2.5-8x36 (light and nice optics)
You should get a decent 2nd hand 3-9 on trademe (Burris, leupold, Bushnell etc.). Also keep an eye out for a Nikon prostaff rimfire 3-9; they are bulky for a rimfire scope (to the extent that you may need to remove your rear sight) but have a useful BDC reticle and very good glass for the money

For the mean time im going to put my airking scope from my air rifle on the 22 and save some pingers for a decent scope .
Its not 3x9x40 but its better than whats on the rifle at the moment.
Thanks for everyones help.

I may still take you up on your offer @timattalon.

Originally Posted by Jusepy

For the mean time im going to put my airking scope from my air rifle on the 22 and save some pingers for a decent scope .
Its not 3x9x40 but its better than whats on the rifle at the moment.
Thanks for everyones help.

I may still take you up on your offer @timattalon.

What size Airking? They did a 2-7x32, 3-9x42, 4-12x42. and I think they may have done a couple of fixed powered ones 4x40? Mountmasters with AO are another one in that budget, but the have a slightly thicker cross hair from memory.

Its a 2-7x32AO niko stirling gold crown.
Had it on my cometa fusion air rifle for a few years now.

You don't need a dearer scope for your 22mag - its a shorter range 0-125m (usually) caliber. The Nikko scopes timattalon is mentioning would be spot on. My Marlin 22mag like yours wears a Tasco World Class 4-16x and shoots 0.3" grouping at 50m. All you need..

Which nikko scope are you talking about @mudgripz ?
The 2-7x32AO niko stirling gold crown or the one he has up for sale.

the one your going to put on it will be fine might even find you dont need to change it after youve used it for a bit

FWIW the current Hawke scopes especially the Vantage SF are light years ahead of those from a decade ago, and some of the best bang for the buck.