Thread: Scopes for rimfire hunting rifles

Scopes optimised for use with .22LR and 17HMR seem to be a neglected market segment.

Shooting with these weapons typically involves:
Small targets eg rabbit head
Close ranges with wide multiples variation eg 5 to 50m
Deliberate shooting (not snap shots at a big target).
Low recoil, low waterproofness and low ruggedness required.

Proposed required features:
4-12 power (or higher for 17HMR)
40 - 44mm Enough light gathering for dusk, adequate exit pupil at higher powers but enabling a low mount to bore line as many shots are taken short of the zero, where shot is well below sight line and every centimetre can mean a miss.
Parallax (focus) adjustment down to 20m

Desirable features:
Focus to 5 or 10m
Springer airgun rating
FFP with mildot or else dialable with a simple duplex-like reticle
Similar configuration to your centerfire scope

So, there are not many special purpose rimfire scopes on offer. Leupold and Bushnell make them but not in the highest specification classes.
Some high prestige brands do have models designed for long range and tactical use, which focus down to 25m. A couple focus even closer but they are becoming very big scopes for hunting.
Then there are aspiring companies which are strong in the airgun market and have good close focus but perhaps optical performance, accuracy, dialing and durability expectations are not so rigorous there.

Here's a rough and ready table in no particular order showing what I could find last week: