The .22 long rifles are perhaps the most commonly used firearm in the U.S. It’s like everybody has one of these. Whether it’s for pest control or personal defense, you have to have a rimfire rifle. And, if you pair them up with the best .22LR scopes , they get even better.
Adding a proper rimfire scope helps keep the recoil at a minimum. Well, obviously being a .22 caliber rifle, you would hardly notice any recoils. But it really does help you to spot your misses and make very accurate shots.
.22 caliber rifles are perfect for getting started because of their lower caliber, and they also serve as a good plinking rifle. Attach a proper .22lr scope, and you can squirrel hunt with precision with these rifles.
Our Top Picks By Experts
Image | Name | Dimension | Magnification | Lens | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 14 x 3 x 3 inc. | 2-7x
| 32mm | ||
 | 15.2 x 3.2 x 3 inc. | 3–9 x | 32mm | ||
 | 19.2 x 4 x 4.5 inc. | 3-9x 3-9x | 40mm | ||
 | 15.2 x 3.2 x 3 inc. | 6x | 32mm | ||
 | 13.5 x 3.5 x 2.9 inc. | 2-7x | 32mm | ||
 | 15 x 3 x 3 inc. | 3-9x | 32mm | ||
 | 14 x 3.2 x 2.8 inc. | 4x | 28mm |
Top 7 Best .22lr Scopes
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The Crossfire 2 from Vortex is a highly popular riflescope, and this series offers a lineup of popular sizes and configurations. This brand takes quality and value to the extreme by providing premium features at an entry-level scope. Well, the only thing entry-level about this scope is the price.
This rimfire scope is built to outperform all other similarly priced scopes. The most impressive thing about this product is the ultra-forgiving eye box with long eye relief. This helps you quickly acquire your target and get a sight picture. It also features anti-reflective, with multi-coated lenses.
These treated lenses will make sure your view through the crossfire is bright and clear. It is constructed using a single-piece aircraft-grade aluminum tube, and because of that, strength and durability are unquestioned. The nitrogen purged inner tune with the O-ring seal will give the lenses fog proof and waterproof performance for a longtime.
The capped turrets have a nice size, and you can adjust them with your fingers. They have a tactile MOA clicks, and you can easily reset them to zero after setting in. Last but not least, the fast-focused eyepiece allows you to dial in sharp focus of the reticle. If you need the best rimfire scope without spending too much, or sacrifice quality, this is the one.
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The Truplex is a very inexpensive scope from Simmons which makes it a perfect companion for a .22 caliber rifle. Although it’s pretty cheap, the quality is superb. It’s a 3-9x 32mm objective lens. This one comes with their trademarked Quick Target Acquisition eyepiece, and the optics are fully coated.
The tube is constructed from a single piece of aluminum alloy for increased durability. The tube is filled with nitrogen to make the internal components waterproof and fog proof. The scope tube is recoil-proof, and this one comes with mounting rings. It uses Truplex reticle for sharpshooting.
The whole scope has a beautiful matte black finish. The turrets are finger adjustable. Acquiring targets with the QTA eyepiece is a snap. It has plenty of eye relief, and the knobs are very easy to adjust. Sighting in this scope is also very easy. Thanks to the SureGrip adjustments, you can adjust the dials while wearing gloves.
To get a one-piece tubular design frame at this price point is a bliss. It allows for lighter handling because you don’t want to add too much weight to your 22 rifles while increasing the overall durability and strength of the scope. It’s the best scope for 22lr bench rest but make sure to put some rings on.
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This scope really doesn’t need any introduction because it’s Nikon’s Rimfire Black series. It’s a high-quality scope, feel sturdy, and there is nothing flimsy about this one. Heck, you won’t find any complaints regarding this scope. There are some negative reviews out there, and they are just a bunch of unlucky customers that may have got a defective product, which is very rare.
They have a spot-on reticle system that makes it very easy for you to take long-range shots once you sight it in at a certain distance. The other reticles below it make it very easy to shoot at 75 to 100 or 125 yards. You can set it up if you want. However, if you want to set it up, you just have to remember how you sight them.
But if you do your homework and take your time with this optic, it does a great job. The glass is crystal clear, and you will get better clarity and better visual. They are waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof, and you won’t have any issues regarding durability.
This scope features fully multi-coated optics for better visibility. You will feel like you are looking through a picture window. The overall clarity and the sharpness of this riflescope are amazing. And for the price you are paying for this will be worth the investment. It has sharp crosshairs and even when fully zoomed in, you will see sharp and clear image.
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Primary Arms Classic Series scopes are ideal for hunting, plinking or range competition. It has a non-illuminated ACSS 22LR reticle with the 6x second focal plane. The great thing about this Primary Arms optic is the reticle. If you are the type of person that likes to shoot target within a 100 yards range, this ACSS reticle is perfect for you.
You can also use it for over 100 yards. And the good thing about this optic is that you can mount on any .22 rifle or rimfire rifle. But it is really designed for the 22 long fire rifle calibers. It’s a fixed six power and with the reticle design will make sure you hit your target each and every time. For short distances, this optic is the way to go.
Now, there are some downfalls with this one. It’s only a fixed six power so, if you want to shoot out at 200 yards or if you are squirrel hunting or doing some small game hunting and if you have to make a very precise shot, you are stuck with 6x power with that dot in the middle.
It is not like a crosshair that you can get a fine bead on your target at really long ranges. But for 95% of the applications, this scope will meet your needs, and the best part that I liked is the that it has a very good eye relief and the glass on this scope is crystal clear. You can easily pick up on your target, and if you want a compact scope, this is the one.
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For the price point, you can’t go wrong with Bushnell Scopes. All of the turrets are exposed, so if you want to do target shooting, you can adjust and calibrate on the go. I just wanted to point this feature out first because of the usability. They are also not very easy to click, but that’s a good thing.
Because they won’t move easily if you accidentally knock them, this scope has Bullet Drop compensator built right into the reticle. The BDC is calibrated for your average high-velocity ammo. For example, if you zero the main crosshair at 50 yards, the first dot down will be set for 75 yards. The next one 100 yards and the lowest dot will be placed for 125 yards.
This one also features side focus parallax adjustment feature. The BDC reticle is much better than traditional reticles with crosshairs. It allows you to take shots at targets quickly and confidently at more than twice the usual distance. Keep in mind that the BDC is mounted on the second focal plane.
This reticle is only effective on maximum magnification. Because it has 2-7x magnification, this scope is very versatile with a wide range of effective shooting distances. Setting your scope at two will allow you to shoot more quickly when hunting in the wood. This scope also features adjustable finger turrets with positive clicks.
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The Plinker-22 from BARSKA is a popular riflescope that is designed specifically for use with rimfires and .22 caliber rifles. Aside from plinking, you can use its general hunting applications as well. It has a rugged construction and engineered to withstand heavy usage and other outdoor conditions that many hunters face.
It comes with scope rings, but they are only for a 3/8 rail. For a marlin 69 rimfire rifle, you can easily mount this rifle with the supplied scope rings. The optics are crystal clear, and they are fully multi-coated. If you want performance and sharp optical clarity, the Plinker-22 is a good choice. It has a 3-9x magnification.
This one has a 30/30 reticle with generous 3.5-inch eye relief. The adjustment knobs are finger adjustable, which will allow you to react to any environment at any moment. You can fine-tune this scope for elevation and windage. This scope offers 0.25-inch click value. And the matte black finish looks beautiful on any rifle.
It has a 1-inch tube diameter, and the tube is 12-inch long. With purchase, you will get lens covers and a lens cloth. If you leave it on one power setting, the accuracy is dead on. However, the point of impact might change at different magnifications. That is just one of many shortcomings of a cheap scope.
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Leupold is a trusted name in the industry. Their scopes have high-quality construction, and they are available at a reasonable price. The Leupold FX fixed power riflescope is simple, lightweight, optically superb and highly durable. It’s also very accurate with a simple reticle that is perfect for a 22-rimfire.
The FX-I from Leupold delivers the rugged simplicity of a fixed power scope. They use what they call the “Multicoat 4,” which is supposed to let you make the most of available light. This state-of-the-art coating provides maximum light transmission while minimizing the reflection of the sky on the outer eyepiece.
All of their scopes are designed, machined, and assembled in the United States. Let’s talk about fixed power scopes. This isn’t something that you see every day. It used to be the only type of scope that you can get, but now the market is filled with variable scopes. But there are a few advantages of a fixed power scope — lightweight, low cost, and simplicity.
This scope has the same high-quality optics as the VX-II, so you know it has a good class. It’s a 4x28mm that has a duplex reticle. The rimfire parallax is adjusted for 60 yards. Since it’s a fixed power scope, and it has a 1-inch main tube design, it is very lightweight and ideal for .22 rifles. The knobs are finger adjustable with 1/4 MOA click adjustments.
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How to Choose the Best Scopes For 22LR?
From casual plinking to small game hunting, .22lr is the most used calibers in the U.S. This caliber is widely available in a variety of rimfire cartridges. Because of these rifles’ popularity, there is a good range of scopes out there.
A rimfire rifle can shoot with less than 1-inch bullet drop at about 50 yards distance. In short-range, it’s very precise, but when you want to increase the distance, a regular scope just won’t cut it.
But without a scope, you can fully experience what this cartridge can provide. For short distance shooting, A .22LR rifle might cater to some of your shooting needs, but when it comes to plinking or hunting small game, you will really feel the limit of this rifle.
But having a proper scope mounted on your rifle can give a wide range of shooting options. From hunting varmints to pest control, the scopes will give you the opportunity that you never thought you could experience with just a rimfire rifle.
Not only can you significantly improve your accuracy, but you will also be able to maximize your rifle’s range. That is if you know how to pick the right scope.
Because a .22 cartridge rifle is very popular, so are the scopes and the choices are many when it comes to long-range riflescopes. That’s precisely why I wrote this guide to give you all the info you will need to buy the right scope your rifle.
Magnification
The first thing you should decide is your usual shooting distance. This will determine what magnification you will need, and it’s a good idea to determine this factor beforehand because it saves money.
You don’t want to spend too much on a scope that has great magnification but end up not using it at its full potential. If you prefer both short and long-range shooting, buy a scope that has a wide variable.
Speaking of variable, there are two types of scope. Apart from the variable option, there are also fixed scopes. But I will get to that later on.
Long Range
Scopes that have 9x magnification or more are ideal for long-distance shooting at 100 yards and above.
However, you should also look at the clarity of the scope. Popular scope manufacturers use multi-coated lenses to provide bright and clear vision.
Medium Range
Within 50 to 100 yards range, a scope that can reach 4x to 7x magnification power is ideal. If you use your rifle for hunting varmints and rodents, this scope should do the trick.
Close Range
For targets that are within 50 yards or less, a scope that offers 1 to 4x magnification will be best for view and accuracy.
Durability
Since .22LR rifles don’t have any recoil, you don’t have to worry about that. All you need to keep in mind is how substantial the scope is and its ability to withstand different weather condition.
Any scope that you mount on your rifle should be able to handle environmental conditions. They should also be strong enough to withstand accidental bumps and scrapes.
Scope with a single piece tube construction is generally stronger because this helps increase durability. Whether you mount it on a rimfire or high caliber rifle, always go for a scope that has one-piece tube construction.
Most of the scopes in this list have such construction made from aluminum. Apart from handling environmental conditions, they should also be weatherproof.
Purged with nitrogen and sealed in key areas of scope should make them waterproof and fog proof. A scope that can hold zero overtime is the best .22lr scope you can buy.
Glass
The lens of your scope needs to have good clarity. Otherwise, it won’t be worth purchasing. Most of the scopes in this list come with milt-coated lenses that can provide a bright and clear image. They are able to transmit a good amount of light and are able to perform well in a variety of conditions.
The lighter the scopes can transmit from the ocular lens to your pupil, the clearer you will see the image in front of you, the better you will be able to hunt and shoot targets.
For hunters, having a good lens clarity is essential. If you are squirrel hunting, you need to able to see in the morning light because that’s the perfect time to hunt those tree rats.
Coated lenses can also cut down glares and provide a good shade against direct sunlight. Also, the coating isn’t only used to increase clarity; they also increase the longevity of the glasses.
Reticle
A rimfire rifle isn’t designed to shoot at long distance. Which means a good bullet drop compensation reticle will be more than enough for all of your hunting purpose. You can also go for a simple and crisp reticle which will be more than enough for a .22LR rifle.
Weight
In general, 22LR rifles aren’t that heavy, but if you add a scope that weighs more, there is a chance that it might throw the gun off balance. Since .22 rifles are lightweight, the optics that you are going to mount should be lightweight as well.
Mounting a heavy scope on a lightweight firearm will do more harm than good. However, this isn’t something you need to get worried about because all of the scopes in this list have a perfect combination of weight distribution and performance.
Final Thoughts
A 22lr rifle is perhaps the most used firearm in the U.S. Literally every gun owner has one or two in their arsenal, and because of their simplicity, they are a perfect entry-level gun for young gun enthusiasts.
Pair that up with a best .22LR scope, and these firearms can be used for small-time hunting game. From pest control to varmint hunting, a good rifle with the best riflescope can help you win that prized trophy.
Last Updated on by Larry K. Brown
Larry is a professional Shooter and his hobby is shooting and Hunting! He has been shooting for the last 6 years and he loves using many types of guns while outing as well. Based experiences with a different type of Guns and Hunting related products. He is sharing his opinion about various Guns so that a beginner can get started right way. Find him on Facebook.
Happy reading!
