The .22 rifles with rimfire cartridges are the most dominant ones. This article will help you pick out the best rimfire scope to work hand in hand with your gun.
What Does ‘rimfire’ Mean?
‘Rimfire’ refers to the specific rimfire ammunition due to the mechanics that the striker or the firing pin hits the rim of the cartridge. Then it will ignite the primer and push the bullet downrange.
On the contrary, the centerfire will have the firing pin strike right at the center of the primer to ignite the cartridge.
Today, rimfire and centerfire are the two main types of ammunition for both civilian and military usage.
The .22 rimfire rifles are also one of the most common in hunting, field shooting, and sports shooting nowadays.
Thanks to the particular type of rimfire ammunition that requires light and simplified rifles, the cost per cartridge is fairly affordable, especially for a beginner.
Table of Contents
How To Choose A Rimfire Scope?
The first thing you must consider when picking out a rimfire scope is what you want to do with your rifle.
With the .22 rifles being the most popular to pair with rimfire scopes, you should be aiming for the medium shooting range.
Shooting range
Usually, the medium range is from about 100 to 200 yards with a maximum extension to no more than 500 yards.
Within these specific ranges, the .22 rifles, mainly used for hunting, can pack a serious punch against small animals and varmint.
That is why a proper rimfire scope could bring your shooting experience to the next level.
Magnification
All the scopes in the market come with a certain range of power magnifications, meaning the image will be enlarged inside the scope.
This will help you see the target image more clearly from a long distance. The 3x notion, for example, means that you will see it three times larger than what it is in real life.
If you know your shooting range, the magnification should be something to consider to make you always be relaxed while aiming downrange.
Coated Lenses
A coated lens usually allow more light transmission inside the tube of the scope, improving the clarity of the downrange target.
Coated lenses also reduce the sun glare effect meaning they will not reflect a lot of sunlight at the source. Therefore, the image fidelity is greatly enhanced even in low light conditions.
Standard scopes these days usually feature multi-coated lenses.
Preview of 5 Best Rimfire Scopes
| Product names | Features | Detail |
|---|---|---|
 Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7x32 Rimfire | ● Great value for the money ● Lightweight ● Good at recoil handling | |
 Nikon PROSTAFF RIMFIRE II 3-9X40 BDC 150 | ● The BDC reticle ● High power magnifications | |
 Nikon ProStaff 3-9 x 40 Black Matte Riflescope (BDC) | ● The BDC reticle ● Great price range ● Good entry scope | |
 Leupold 110797 VX-2 3-9x40mm | ● Versatile Duplex reticle ● Powerful and feature-rich VX-2 series | |
 Simmons Truplex .22 Mag | ● Manufactured for the .22 rimfire rifles ● Best price offered compared to the rest of the list ● Consistent zooming range |
In-depth Reviews Of The Best Scopes For The .22 Rifle
- Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7×32 Rimfire
- Nikon PROSTAFF RIMFIRE II 3-9X40 BDC 150
- Nikon ProStaff 3-9 x 40 Black Matte Riflescope (BDC)
- Leupold 110797 VX-2 3-9x40mm
- Simmons Truplex .22 Mag
1. Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7 x 32 Rimfire
✅ Editor’s ChoiceVortex still remains as one of the most respected manufacturers of weapon scopes in the entire industry.
For the rimfire scope specifically, Vortex also offers the Crossfire II series with all the modern technologies and benefits towards all kind of users.
No matter if you are a veteran or an amateur, you will have the most impressive experience when looking through the CrossFire II for the first time.
The target image of the scope is very bright, crisp and clear thanks to the multi-coated lens that lets the light travel far within the tube.
This scope takes advantage of eye relief technology and you will be amazed at its instant target acquisition ability on the first glance.
It also helps reduce the stress on your eyes when you need to keep track of the target during a more extended period.
This scope features a 2×7 magnification power, which is comfortable for short or medium zoom. This is also the most effective range for the .22 rimfire rifles.
PROS
- Rapid target acquisition technology
- An extremely accurate and crisp target image
- Quality material (waterproof, fog-proof, shock-proof)
CONS
- Within the maximum 60 MOA adjustment, this scope is not sufficient for the long-range shooting.
2. Nikon PROSTAFF RIMFIRE II 3-9X40 BDC 150
From the outside look, this scope seems slightly big for a .22 rimfire rifle. It has a 40mm lens, which is the standard size of a high-quality lens.
However, once mounted up, the scope is reasonably lightweight and comfortable for handling. Its weight reaches around 13 ounces, providing a worthy competitor to all the compact products in the market… [Read More]
3. Nikon ProStaff 3-9 x 40 Black Matte Riflescope (BDC)
Compared with the Nikon Prostaff Rimfire series; this scope is an older version that still holds all the essential features right out of the box.
With the patented BDC technology, the scope will render the target under a see-through ballistic circle… [Read More]
4. Leupold 110797 VX-2 3-9x40mm
Leupold has always been a well-known rifle scope manufacturer with decades of experience.
That is why this VX-2 scope is another excellent product for both beginners and long-time buyer of Leupold… [Read More]
5. Simmons Truplex .22 Mag
Just like the name suggests, this scope is tailored and manufactured specifically to the .22 rimfire rifles.
The first thing to notice is that this scope is very compact and already assembled into one piece, meaning there is no other component need to be put together… [Read More]
What Is The Best Scope Out Of The List To Choose?
You should know about all the best scopes for the .22 rimfire rifles.
If you are still hesitant about which one to purchase, remember the rule of thumb that we have discussed earlier.
It all depends on the range of your .22 rimfire rifle and what your primary usage is.
But after all, nothing could go wrong with the brilliant choice of the Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7×32 Rimfire. This is an excellent investment that will improve your shooting experience right out of the box.
The Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7×32 Rimfire will fit perfectly in your .22 rimfire rifle. It has a lot of modern features suitable for the multi-purpose and long period expeditions on the field.
If you still have more questions, do not forget to check out the FAQ section below.
There is a lot of additional information that can help you with your final decision.
FAQs
Q1: Which is the best scope magnification?
For the .22 rimfire rifles, which dominates at medium and low range, you should not need more than x9 power magnification.
The .22 ammunition loses power at long range (above 600 yards), so this is something important to keep in mind.
Q2: Do I need additional rail mount?
It depends on your rifle. The scopes in this list should be straightforward to install on your .22 rimfire rifle. You do not need to buy any extra rail.
Q3: Is a scope a must on a .22 rimfire rifle?
Absolutely. Even for a rifle that is efficient at short to the medium range like the .22 rimfire, a good scope will go a long way to improve your accuracy. Furthermore, a good scope is proven worthy in different lighting environments, where your naked eyesight can’t keep track of moving targets effectively.
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