The Best Scope for Ruger 10/22 Takedown: A Complete Rundown

One of the most popular .22 rifles today is the Ruger 10/22. Since its inception decades ago, this particular weaponry has sold millions of units all around the world. You can say that this one is an iconic American rifle. It served many applications. In fact, this gun opened the eyes of many people in the world of hunting.

Nonetheless, enthusiasts use the Ruger 10/22 to great games and shooting competitions. It is one of the most reliable rifles in the shooting industry today. Overall, its versatility is unquestionable as the .22 rimfire is quite flexible and affordable, too. 

Meanwhile, the Ruger 10/22 Takedown is one of the latest versions of this particular rifle. This particular gun has an elaborate design, which makes it purely awesome. You can easily separate the barrel and the action of the 10/22 Takedown, which enables quick storage and transportation.

The birth of this rifle also amplified the pursuit for the best scope for Ruger 10/22 Takedown. I know primarily that this gun is accurate enough to make kill shots at a single fire. However, with the presence of a good scope, this capacity of the Takedown will be undoubtedly elevated. You want that. I want that. Everybody wants that! Therefore, let's take a closer look of each of the rifle scopes that fit the Ruger 10/22 Takedown.

Best Scope for Ruger 10/22 Takedown: Top 5 Options

1. Nikon P-RIMFIRE BDC Rifle Scope - Best Overall Scope for Ruger 10/22 Takedown

One of the most impressive rifle scopes that you can mount to your Ruger 10/22 Takedown is the Nikon P-RIMFIRE BDC Rifle Scope. It is a range made from the combination of aluminum and polymer to ensure its durability and sturdiness. The body is scratch and dent-free. It is also impervious to external detriments such as water, dust, and tiny debris. The full sealing makes this riflescope seamless.

This one is using the patented BDC reticle of Nikon. If you are not familiar with BDC, then you are missing something. The Bullet Drop Compensation or BDC is a revolutionary reticle that ensures 100% accuracy for long-range applications.

Specifically, there are little-aiming points integrated into the reticle, which allows precision while disabling obstructions. The Nikon P-RIMFIRE is using a BDC 150 reticle. That means that the shooter can utilize the aiming points from 50 yards to 150 meters.

Aside from that, the Nikon P-RIMFIRE also features the proprietary Nikon Eco Glass lens. The latter is rigid and highly stable but doesn't contain arsenic or lead. Moreover, it is a fully coated lens that comes with stacking layers of anti-reflective components. It has an excellent light-gathering capability and outstanding color fidelity. You can never miss your target with this one.

2. Simmons 511039 - Runner Up/ Alternative Pick

If you want to enhance the capabilities of your Ruger 10/22 Takedown, you ought to get the Simmons 511039. Specifically, this scope has been used by many American hobbyists and shooters because of its simple yet effective build. It is a great alternative for the Nikon P-RIMFIRE if you find the latter expensive. This particular won't make waste out of your precious investment.

The Simmons 511039 is an innovative option. It has a patented Quick Target Acquisition eyepiece that provided a plentiful of eye relief to its users. Therefore, getting your target would be fast even in moving applications. Moreover, it also has the SureGrip adjustment technology. Even if you are wearing thick gloves, you can still make quick adjustments to the scope.

If you will include the fully-coated lens on the equation, there is no doubt that the Simmons 511039 can improve the quality of your favorite rifle. The optics are waterproof and has a wide opening, which allows better light transmission. Overall, the scope can provide you precise visuals to your field, regardless of the condition. It is very stable and provides excellent zooming power.

3. BSA Sweet- Budget-Friendly Option

Do not fret if you are quite tight on budget. The market is still open for you. There is one inexpensive .22 scope that you can still try. That is the form of the BSA Sweet .22. Despite its price, its performance and quality are still respected by many hunters. It is a 40-mm scope that provides excellent magnification power. Specifically, it has a variable magnification of 3-9x, which is pretty impressive already for short to medium shooting applications.

It is quite surprising that the structural integrity of the BSA Sweet .22 is far from being cheap. It is waterproof and shockproof, which makes it an all-terrain amenity. It is also fog-proof as well. As a result, you can expose it to high-altitude areas and nasty atmospheric conditions confidently.

On the other hand, this rifle scope also boasts a fully multicoated optics. The color fidelity, brightness, and image contrast are all preserved to ensure that you have good visuals on the field. There is also anti-reflective layer on the lens to prevent obstructive glares. Aside from these perks, the 3-inch eye relief of the BSA Sweet .22 can match those from Nikon and Simmons scopes. The adjustments for windage and elevation are easy to access, too.

The Nikon ProStaff also comes with high-quality materials. This particular scope possesses a 40mm objective lens and offers 3-9x variable magnification power. With these specs alone, you can easily guarantee that this one is built especially for .22 such as the Ruger 10/22. It is extremely lightweight and compact, which allows you to mount it easily. Meanwhile, its build is durable enough that it can survive even the harshest terrains.

The optical system of the Nikon ProStaff has a fully multi coated feature. It has an impressive light transmission capabilities, in which can gather up to 98% of the available light. Therefore, even in dim or low-visibility conditions, this riflescope can still provide clear visuals of your surroundings. Meanwhile, it also notable that this one has a foolproof zero-reset turret for quick and easy usage.

Nikon ProStaff also features a spring-loaded adjustment knob, which is very convenient to utilize. The 3.6-inch eye relief of this scope ensures precise target acquisition and distance gauging. It also comes with the patented Nikoplex reticle and absurdly fast-focus eyepiece. The entire housing of the Nikon ProStaff has been nitrogen-filled to guarantee its rigidity and defense against water, fog, and shock.

The accuracy and success of your shots are quite dependent on how fast your scope can acquire and focus your target. It is an unwritten rule that every seasoned hunter acknowledge. When it comes to the speed of target acquisition and focus, the Bushnell Optics Drop Zone 22 is the king. It offers optical accuracy and relentless performance, which is essential for hunting and tactical applications.

This scope offers a unique side parallax focus. This particular component displays the target turrets so that you can make pinpoint adjustments with an extreme accuracy. Combined with its .22 caliber reticle, every round that you shoot are guaranteed to land on your targets. Of course, the visuals of this scope is astounding as well. The quick-focus eyepiece combines with fully multicoated optics for high-resolution displays.

Meanwhile, the body of the Bushnell Optics has been nitrogen purged to remove any internal moisture. There is also an O-ring seal integrated on the tube to ensure that dust and moisture can't penetrate in. Specifically, its body is made from aircraft-grade aluminum with an anodized finish to ensure its durability and ruggedness. The entire riflescope is rustproof and almost scratch proof, too!

Choosing a rifle scope for Ruger 10/22 or any rifles that you know follows the same consideration. Although scopes have various designs, price, and features, they still work under similar principles and mechanism. You will realize that they are just there to make sure that you have an optimal vision to your target. This purpose alone can ensure that your ammo won't be strayed or wasted.

Many amateurs just think about the aesthetics and size of scopes. I know a couple of hunters out there who thinks that the overall appearance of the range is already an indicator of its quality. However, what if I told you that perception is a beguiling statement. Excellent scopes and optics may appear simple and straightforward. There is no need for them to be flashy.

Therefore, if you are going to choose a rifle scope for your Ruger 10/22, just take note of the following considerations:

Tube

The tube or body of riflescopes today has a circular dimension that measures around 30mm to 34mm in diameter. Take note that large rods allow adjustability, which is a necessary factor for long-distance applications. Moreover, they contribute the overall durability of the body, too.

Don't forget that the extra accessories that are integrated into the body increase the cost of the scope. Those rings and weights that are suitable for mounting come with a price, especially if you are going to use 34mm tubes. For us, 1" riflescopes are already sufficient, even for rifles like Ruger 10/22. But for those who want something else, they can go with 30mm to 34mm main tubes. Their adjustment range is pretty impressive.

Also, it would be great if the optic is argon or nitrogen-purged. This particular construction is necessary to expel water vapor and prevent fogging from happening. Overall, the tube should be rugged and waterproof. It should be able to survive any external detriments.

Objective Lens

​Varieties of objective lenses are available on the market today. They could range from 20-mm versions up to the 72-mm models. However, the most common options that you can see currently are the 50-mm and 40-mm objective lens.

The larger the objective lens, the better. Its size determines its light-gathering capabilities, which are necessary for dim and low-visibility conditions. Large objective lenses provide better resolution, too. But of course, there are downsides for this setup that you should know.

Specifically, large objective lens, like 50-mm will need you to mount them higher than usual. If you don't do this, you can't get adequate clearance between the barrel of the rifle and the bell of the scope. If you are going to do this, you will compromise the alignment of the scope of your eyes. It would risk the stability of the cheek weld, as well, which is crucial for shot accuracy. That is an issue, especially for the AR platform.

Of course, large objective lenses are difficult to carry because they are heavy. For Ruger 10/22 Takedown, I recommend that you should choose 40-mm or 44-mm lenses.

Magnification

The concept of magnification is pretty subjective in the shooting community today. Opinions vary from one person to another. However, I can guarantee that none of these conceptions are wrong.

For me, I opt to stick the ratio of 3x per 100 yards. It is a great rule to follow, as it will improve the consistency of your adjustment. For instance, an increase of 3x per 100 yards will mean that you need to use 6x at 200 yards and 9x at 300 meters. It is a simple pattern, but it can certainly guide you to the type of adjustment that you are going to do.

Some seasoned hunters don't need to crank the scope's magnification to extremities just to make highly-distant shots. Some can hit targets at 500 yards with only 9x magnification power. Because of this, magnification is nothing but a matter of preference.

But of course, magnification is still a reliable assistive component. Beginners and greenhorns will undoubtedly benefit to scopes that have adequate magnification power. They can provide sufficient visuals to their surroundings for practice purposes.

Scopes with 5:1 and 6:1 zoom ratios are quite agile and flexible. They can give vision to your targets at the farthest and nearest distance possible. With such feature on hand, you don't need to switch scopes from time to time!

If your predetermined range is 200 yards or less, you can opt for dot-and-reflect scopes. These scopes don't have high magnification power. But when it comes to short range applications, their performance is monstrous. Moving hunts are easy to tackle with them!

Optics

Since we are talking about scopes, it is proper to speak of the glass. As a general rule, you cannot expect too much from these low-end materials. They can't give the scope the flexibility it needs to adjust to any conditions. You get what you pay for when it comes to this aspect.

Specifically, you should get a rifle scope for your Ruger 10/22 that has low-dispersion glass. This particular component prevents color fringes in your visuals (a.k.a. chromatic aberration). Without image fringing, the display on your optics would be sharp and highly contrasted.

Also, don't ever forget that the glass or lens should be multi-coated as well. In this way, you can guarantee that it has optimal light transmission and brightness. It would also be great if they come with a hydrophobic coating to ensure that moisture and water can pervade the internal components of the scope.

Turrets

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Tactical turrets are the best for Ruger 10/22 and other types of medium and long-range rifles. The latter allows quick windage adjustments and elevation even while you are on the move. Make sure that the tactical turret you choose is consistent and possess a "zero" feature. I have seen some inexpensive scopes that have this capability. But most of the time, you can get them on high-end options.

The process of dialing the turret is not that cumbersome. However, it will require constant practice before you can familiarize this skill. Once you learned the ropes, the guessing game will become a thing of the past.

These are the essential considerations that you are going to mull over whenever you are going to shop for a Ruger 10/22 scope. If you are still daunted to make the selection by yourself, then I will be happy to assist you. Just continue scoping this article, and you will see some of the top-rated options for Ruger 10/22 Takedown scopes. Here are they!

Final Verdict

The Ruger 10/22 Takedown is a great rifle for varmint hunting and casual shooting applications. You can also use it on big games and competitive events if you want to. The entire firearm is great. But if you are going to mount a proper scope to it, its accuracy and reliability would be doubled.

Overall, the Nikon P-RIMFIRE BDC 150 Rifle Scope is the one that stole the limelight here. This particular range has a solid construction and design. It is both compact and lightweight, which lessen the burden of its users. It has quick focus and target acquisition, too. With its BDC feature, you can maintain the accuracy of your shots. For me, the Nikon P-RIMFIRE BDC is the best scope for Ruger 10/22 Takedown.

But what do you think? Which of these scopes do you like the most? Did I miss any riflescopes worthy of mentioning? You can tell all of your answers in the comment section below!

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