Thread: What scope are you running on your .22?

My 22s get my centre fire hand me downs

I haven't used my .22 much in recent years but have just got a Leapers 3-12x44 compact for it. I chose this so I could have similar scope configurations on my centerfire, .22RF and airgun.

Thoughts on what we need in a .22 scope.

The role of the .22LR has been eroded from both ends.
Around town, small block hunting is now better done with a PCP airgun.
Open country, rabbits and hares beyond about 40m would be better with a .17HMR.
The subsonic .22LR with silencer is still best for short range shooting like spotlighting, specially for possums. And for target shooting, although again if you've got the money the PCP can do that too.

Requirements for a .22 scope
Parallax and close focus from 10-20m *****
Magnification 4-12x *****
Accuracy ****
Low to bore line ****
Optical quality ***
Hold zero ***
Low light ***
Ruggedness ***
Waterproofness ***
Dialability **

Why ?
The distinctive feature of hunting with a .22LR is the variety of close distances, so parallax and the capability to get image and crosshair in the same focus are specially important. This is one reason that fixed 4x work reasonably well. Leupold's special rimfire scopes have parallax set at a close distance like 70m ((as does the VX1 2-7).
The close ranges also mean that one is often holding over while the bullet rises to the sight line, so a low mounted scope will miminise this. A semi with inbuilt dovetail would have an advantage over the bolt action and specially the high throw CZ and Norinco copies. 32 mm is therefore better than 40 or 50mm and 25mm tube better than 30mm.
Targets are usually 2-3cm dia and at 50m that's quite small so good but not extreme accuracy is needed. A moderate mag like 12x is quite helpful for longer shots. There's not much need for very low powers like 3x because, with the small target sizes, there isn't much snap shooting with a .22LR.
A .22LR isn't used much in thick forest under canopy so high light gathering isn't as essential as for bush hunting deer. When spotlighting or indoor target shooting, there is usually enough light for a 32mm objective.
Because the .22 is mostly used on short expeditions near the car and ammo is cheap for resighting in, the highly prized abillities to hold zero and continue functioning through knocks, recoil, wetness and so on, although worthwhile, aren't so essential as they are for deer hunting in the mountains.
Out to the practical limits for hunting accuracy (50m), the trajectory is good enough that the shooter can hold over or under, but of course holdover hashes and mildots are a waste of space unless it's first focal plane.
Long range .22 target shooting would need dialing but for hunting it isn't often required.

Originally Posted by Bagheera

Out to the practical limits for hunting accuracy (50m), the trajectory is good enough that the shooter can hold over or under, but of course holdover hashes and mildots are a waste of space unless it's first focal plane.
Long range .22 target shooting would need dialing but for hunting it isn't often required.

That range is way too small. I'm happy with shots out to 100m or more with my 22's. I tend to hunt on 4x and the mildots are then quite useful. Sight in at whatever distance you desire, I use 75m, then shoot at other distances and see where the business bit lands and take a note relative to the reticle. There you have a very quick and dirty in your eyepiece dropchart.

Weaver 2-7x28 on my CZ452. Brilliant little scope.

Originally Posted by gadgetman

That range is way too small. I'm happy with shots out to 100m or more with my 22's. I tend to hunt on 4x and the mildots are then quite useful. Sight in at whatever distance you desire, I use 75m, then shoot at other distances and see where the business bit lands and take a note relative to the reticle. There you have a very quick and dirty in your eyepiece dropchart.

That's good shooting. I couldn't hit a rabbit past 50m.

What I meant was that for that 50 to 100m range a 17HMR would be better (have to admit I haven't used one myself but those that have say so...)
So, I was purely talking about using subsonic ammo which I reckon is the forte of the .22LR now.

Originally Posted by gadgetman

That range is way too small. I'm happy with shots out to 100m or more with my 22's. I tend to hunt on 4x and the mildots are then quite useful. Sight in at whatever distance you desire, I use 75m, then shoot at other distances and see where the business bit lands and take a note relative to the reticle. There you have a very quick and dirty in your eyepiece dropchart.

Hey gadgetman, what .22LR ammo are you using at 100 metres?

Originally Posted by Bagheera

That's good shooting. I couldn't hit a rabbit past 50m.

What I meant was that for that 50 to 100m range a 17HMR would be better (have to admit I haven't used one myself but those that have say so...)
So, I was purely talking about using subsonic ammo which I reckon is the forte of the .22LR now.

I was shooting at those ranges with @mudgripz pretty early on in my career using the cheap PMX subs I got off @crnkin. The little Norinco I bought for the kids also loves that ammo.

Bore sighted the Norinco and a 5 shot the group off the dot at 50m. Then twiddled the doofers to adjust onto the 24mm dots and shot another 5 shot group.


Then onto the next dot for another 5 shot group.


This is all at 50m with a little 4x32 Huntsman scope (I think that's the name on it).

Originally Posted by gadgetman

This is all at 50m with a little 4x32 Huntsman scope (I think that's the name on it).

Checked it earlier and it is a Nikko Sterling Gold Crown 4x32.

Originally Posted by Bagheera

.....

Thoughts on what we need in a .22 scope.

The role of the .22LR has been eroded from both ends.
Around town, small block hunting is now better done with a PCP airgun.
Open country, rabbits and hares beyond about 40m would be better with a .17HMR.
The subsonic .22LR with silencer is still best for short range shooting like spotlighting, specially for possums. And for target shooting, although again if you've got the money the PCP can do that too.

Requirements for a .22 scope
Parallax and close focus from 10-20m *****
Magnification 4-12x *****
Accuracy ****
Low to bore line ****
Optical quality ***
Hold zero ***
Low light ***
Ruggedness ***
Waterproofness ***
Dialability **

Why ?
The distinctive feature of hunting with a .22LR is the variety of close distances, so parallax and the capability to get image and crosshair in the same focus are specially important. This is one reason that fixed 4x work reasonably well. Leupold's special rimfire scopes have parallax set at a close distance like 70m ((as does the VX1 2-7).
The close ranges also mean that one is often holding over while the bullet rises to the sight line, so a low mounted scope will miminise this. A semi with inbuilt dovetail would have an advantage over the bolt action and specially the high throw CZ and Norinco copies. 32 mm is therefore better than 40 or 50mm and 25mm tube better than 30mm.
Targets are usually 2-3cm dia and at 50m that's quite small so good but not extreme accuracy is needed. A moderate mag like 12x is quite helpful for longer shots. There's not much need for very low powers like 3x because, with the small target sizes, there isn't much snap shooting with a .22LR.
A .22LR isn't used much in thick forest under canopy so high light gathering isn't as essential as for bush hunting deer. When spotlighting or indoor target shooting, there is usually enough light for a 32mm objective.
Because the .22 is mostly used on short expeditions near the car and ammo is cheap for resighting in, the highly prized abillities to hold zero and continue functioning through knocks, recoil, wetness and so on, although worthwhile, aren't so essential as they are for deer hunting in the mountains.
Out to the practical limits for hunting accuracy (50m), the trajectory is good enough that the shooter can hold over or under, but of course holdover hashes and mildots are a waste of space unless it's first focal plane.
Long range .22 target shooting would need dialing but for hunting it isn't often required.

Well thought out and articulated post. Thank you.

I would like to add my 2 cents worth.

Most 22LR hunting will be on rabbits, possum, magpie, myna and rosella. Against possums, while the target is larger you need better shot placement for a clean kill. So in my view you actually need more magnification than large animal hunting (except 300m + tahr shooting sort). You need a scope that can let you comfortable place something the size of half a coke can on the crosshair. For me personally 9 power is the minimum. Ideally 12-18. When I go rabbit shooting, I take 10x. When I go possum shooting, because I sneak up possums up close often, I use 3-9. 6-18 can be difficult.

For indoor club shooting, 12 power is the minimum. Most clubs have something on the target that is smaller than your finger nail. you will see most seasoned shooters use Leopuld VXIII 6.5-20 EFR.

I have tried several times with a 4x on 22LR, it never worked for me, regardless of the application.