The .22lr (or long rifle) is an established and popular form of an arsenal. Many hunters and gun enthusiasts like it because it is pretty accurate. But for you to further enhance its accuracy, you should install the best 22lr scope for target shooting.
Aside from its performance, there is another good reason why many people just love this .22lr. This is due to the inexpensiveness of its bullets. You won’t feel any guilt if you use this regularly because its operation is not costly at all. This is another reason why seasoned shooters recommend this arsenal for target practice.
But for day to day applications, you can use the .22lr is very useful in hunting varmints and other small critters. You can even take this gun on small game. However, if you want to realize the potential and precision of this rifle fully, then you must invest on a scope.
In any types of guns, a scope is useful. It only removes the guessing part in shooting and hunting, which is pretty tedious and time-consuming at the same time. You can see a lot of scopes for a .22lr in the market today. But in this article, we have listed only the best. Moreover, we also listed some of the things that you need to learn about rifle scopes.
There is no need for you to wait anymore. Read on and discover all the possible options you can have for this shooting accessory!
Things to Consider Before Buying a .22lr Scope
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100/100View Product |
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Bushnell AR Optics Drop Zone-22 BDC Rimfire Reticle Riflescope |
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92/100View Product |
Choosing a scope for your rifle is not just a game of preferences. There are several things that you have to understand before you purchase a scope. Otherwise, you will get a wrong unit that would just eventually annoy you.
Since we are talking about a .22 rifle, then the scope that you should get should be suitable to it, as well. In short, the accessory should be a perfect match to your setup. In this way, the performance of your riflescope will always be top notch, regardless of the application.
The Built of a .22 Long Rifle Scope
How do you know if a riflescope is ideal for your .22 rifle? Well, it is a curious question that many people are eager to know the answer. Fortunately, the perfect recipe for this type of scope is not that difficult to understand.
A good scope for a .22 long rifle should have a one-inch tube (O-ring sealed and nitrogen-purged). In this way, you can assure that the scope is stable and rigid. This type of construction also ensures that the scope’s body is resistant to external detriments.
Choosing the best ar-15 scope for your rifle is not just a game of preferences.
Moreover, the scope should have an objective lens that is wider than 32mm. Through this, you can have an ample view of your target and the surroundings as well. If you have a .22lr doesn’t produce too much recoil, then there is no need for you to invest on high-end scopes anymore. You can get excellent scopes for this rifle scope at a very affordable price!
There are various types of lenses that manufacturers use on their rifle scopes. Some are using blinkers while others have optics that are for competition. Depending on your intended usage, you can either choose between these options.
Rifle Scope Basics
Magnification
This is the capacity of the scope to enlarge the object that it sees. The higher the magnification, the larger the object appears in the range. For example, a scope that has a 5x magnification means that the can zoom objects five times bigger than what your eyes can see.
There are two types of magnification: fixed and variable. Fixed scopes have magnifications that you cannot adjust (e.g. 4x). Of course, this one is easy to use since you don’t have to tweak it anymore. On the other hand, variable scopes offer adjustment capabilities on their magnification (e.g. 4-16x). The latter is beneficial when adapting to different terrains and atmospheric conditions.
Objective Lens
We already mentioned that a .22 long rifle should have a 32mm objective lens or greater. But what does an objective lens does in the first place? Specifically, the latter is the opening of the light so that it can pass through the scope. If the opening is wide, then more light can pass through. Of course, this is useful, especially if you are dealing with dark environments.
Reticle
The reticle is the crosshair of the scope. You use it as an aiming guide to make sure that you can hit your target precisely. In the market today, there are various styles of reticles that you can use. There are fine and thick reticles. Choose which of them suits your preferences.]
Best 22lr Scope For Target Shooting: Full Review
We already covered the essential things that revolve around a rifle scope. It is now the perfect time to learn more about our featured .22lr scopes. What makes them tick? Check out their respective reviews to find out!
1. Leupold VX-1 3-9×40 Waterproof Riflescope
Via Amazon.com
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When it comes to rifle scopes, the brand Leupold is certainly reputable. They are the masterminds behind some of the best rifle scopes that you can see on the market today. For .22 rifles, then they have the Leupold 113872 VX-1. This particular rifle scope has an optimal light transmission, which makes it great for dark and low-visibility settings.
The scope also comes with several layers of patented coatings. Through them, the scopes can provide optimal visuals without resolution drops. These layers of coatings also protect the lens of the scope from scratches and glares. Meanwhile, you will appreciate that it has a waterproof and rugged body. In short, it is an all-terrain scope that can survive any harsh conditions.
This rifle scope has a lockable eyepiece so that your focus would be stable. It also features dials (1/4-MOA) that you can adjust through a simple click of your fingers. For now, we could say that this is the best .22lr scope that you can have.
Best Overall .22lr Scope
Pros
- Durable and robust construction
- Nitrogen and oxygen-purged for a weatherproof performance
- Highly accurate
- Light transmission is excellent
- The reticles are very clear
Cons
- Issues in focus adjustments
- Its performance on low-visibility settings should be better than what it has now
2. Nikon P-Rimfire BDC
Via Amazon.com
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The Nikon P-Rimfire BDC is another excellent scope for your .22 long rifle. This particular scope is a byproduct of precise engineering and construction. It combined aluminum and polymer as its core materials on its tube. Therefore, you can guarantee that this one is ultra durable and rugged.
As its name suggests, this scope is using the BDC 150 reticle (Bullet Drop Compensation). This particular innovation is a proprietary technology of Nikon. Specifically, it enhances your accuracy for long range applications. On the Nikon P-Rimfire Scope, there are several aiming guides that you can see through the scope. The points start from 50 yards and end at 150 yards.
Meanwhile, this scope offers the patented Nikon Eco-Glass lens. It is an environment-friendly lens (doesn’t use arsenic and lead) and comes with several protective and anti-reflective layers. For precision in long-range applications, this one is definitely for you.
Best .22lr Scope for Long Range Shooting
Pros
- Highly rugged construction
- Comes with Bullet Drop Compensation technology for enhanced transmission
- Lens has anti-reflective properties that reduce glares
- Waterproof and fog proof
- It has a 1/4-inch MOA adjustment
Cons
- Needs a little more magnification (currently, it has 2-7x magnification power)
- Low light performance is still an issue
3. Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Rifle Scope
Vía Amazon.com
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The Vortex Optics Crossfire II is an excellent investment if you will ask us. We would never deny that this one comes with a price. However, with its quality, we are sure that you will never have second thoughts again. This particular scope has a Quantum Optical System. This innovation enables the lens of the scope to produce crystal clear images on different terrains and lighting conditions.
Moreover, it has a Multicoat 4 coating that optimizes the light transmission of the lens. Through this, glares and reflections are reduced. Moreover, it also helps in the enhancement of the display quality of this device.
Meanwhile, there are also dials for windage and elevation adjustments on this scope. Each of them has 1/4-MOA markings for guaranteed shot accuracy. It also offers an eyepiece that can do lightning fast focus. Therefore, you can assure that this one can accompany you, regardless of your pace.
Best .22lr Scope for Display Clarity
Pros
- Display are vivid and crystal clear
- It can do quick-focus
- Enhanced light transmission capabilities
- Rugged construction
- Powerful magnification
Cons
- It is quite difficult to tweak its parallax adjustment
- A little too heavy
4. Bushnell AR Optics Drop Zone-22 BDC Rimfire Reticle Riflescope
Via Amazon.com
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The Bushnell AR Optics is an excellent choice for those who are using their rifles on tactical applications. Specifically, this scopes comes with maximum shot accuracy and stability. Its performance doesn’t falter as well, regardless of the harshness of the external conditions.
Just like the Nikon scope, the Bushnell AR Optics also features a BDC reticle for an unrivaled accuracy on the field. Moreover, the combination of its side parallax focus and target turrets further improves the performance of this scope.
The optics of this scope has a full coating. We tested it on low-visibility settings, and it still did well. You will also love its quick-focus eyepiece that guarantees the reliability of your visuals, even if the atmospheric conditions are somehow against you.
Best .22lr Scope for Extreme Conditions
Pros
- Nitrogen-purged body to prevent the formation of moisture
- Comes with an O-ring seal
- Durable construction (Aluminum alloy tube)
- Extremely precise
- Can perform well in low light settings
Cons
- There is a difficulty in seeing the drop zone reticle
- Its ocular piece is somehow too large
5. BARSKA 3-9×32 Plinker-22 Riflescope
Via Amazon.com
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For those who just want to settle for cheap scopes, then we should recommend you the BARSKA 3-9×32 Plinker-22 Riflescope. Despite its price, we can say that it still has a decent quality, especially for .22 long rifles and rimfires.
Just like all the rifle scopes here, the BARSKA scope has a weatherproof body. It is notably shockproof as well, which is pretty surprising! Meanwhile, its optics has multiple coatings to ensure optimal light transmission and reduction of glares. Moreover, you can adjust its optics as well for elevation and windage parameters.
When it comes to its accuracy, this rifle scope is pretty decent. It has a fast focus optics that can clock in any of your desired targets.
Best .22lr Scope for the Price
Pros
- It is a complete package (comes with mounting rings and lens covers)
- Weatherproof and shockproof construction
- Ideal choice for standard .22 rifles
- High-quality optics
- Extremely affordable
Cons
- Its default mounting rings aren’t that great (better buy a new set)
- It is insufficient for competitive and tactical applications
Final Verdict
Overall, there is a need for you to invest on a great scope if you want to improve the performance of your .22 long rifle. Yes. It is true that on its own, the .22lr is already stable and robust. However, you should never settle on its current ground, if you know that you can take its accuracy and reliability to the next level!
All the scopes that we featured here are perfect for any .22 long rifles. As we mentioned, we have the Leupold VX-1 as the best 22lr scope for target shooting. But you should still try the rest of the scopes. You’ll never know what suits your setup until you tested all of your options!
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