Rimfire guns are classic to shoot because they're low recoil and fun. Anything from 22LR to 17 Winchester Super Magnum they're fun to shoot and are greats tool all the shooters should be started on.
People often overlook rimfire rifles because they don't have that tactical mantra, but there are many tactical looking guns available like the Ruger Precision Rimfire Rifle.
When you're looking for the best rimfire scope for targeting shooting, you don't need to buy the most expensive ones rated for precision shooting. All you need is something durable, affordable, simple to use and can reach 50 yards. Our favorite ones are the Vortex Crossfire II and the Nikon ProStaff Rimfire II.
The most popular cartridge is the 22LR, the most used rimfire ammo type in the world known for backyward target practice as well as hunting small game like rabbits and squirrels.
At the end of this post you will find our favorite rimfire optic and what to look for when buying one.
Best Rimfire Scopes Comparison Reviews
Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7X32
This is the most economical Vortex scope built for quality to exceed the performance standards of similarly priced riflescopes.
This long eye relief, multi-coated lens and resettable MOA turrets are hallmarks of the series perfect for rimfire rifles best for your buck.
Simmons 9X32mm
Simmons is an entry level scope not even over $100. You may enjoy shooting rimfire on the range or maybe not. Using a cheap scope can quickly gauge your interest with the rimfire before you dig deep into the rabbit hole for something you might not use in the future.
Simmons scopes are great value for customers looking for durable optics without spending your entire paycheck.
Nikon ProStaff RIMFIRE II 3-9X40
Nikon ProStaff is considered the best and rugged line of hunting scopes. Built for excellent optical performance. Each unit is carefully tested and approved by Nikon Prostaff team.
The 3-9X40 is perfect for rimfire shooter as their first scope. This second focal plane scope has 0.25 MOA adjustment per click, which is plenty for 22LR shooting.
In addition, the ProStaff Rimfire II is optimized for use with Nikon's Spot On Ballistic Match Technology which provides users the exact aiming point for any load at a specific range.
Holosun 510C
For anyone who are only interested shooting their rimfire rifles like a fighting rifle for close quarter training, the Holosun 510C is the best option on the market.
Great for centerfire rifle, sub guns and honestly other type of guns as well. The 510C is an durable open emitter holographic sight that is easy to turn on, adjust and operate.
For the affordable price, it's the most sold firearm optic on the market instead of buying an EOTech or Leupold LCO.
Centerfire vs Rimfire
There are two different types of ammo. Centerfire and Rimfire.
Centerfire ammunition has renewable primer in the casing and generally speaking they're all large caliber bullets designed to hunt big game.
Rimfire ammo sets off the bullet down range when the firing pin hits the rim of the casing, and it can never be used again.
Rimfire are commonly used for small game hunt, target practice and range use.
Rimfire Scopes Buyer's Guide
Magnification
The magnification level for rimfire isn't as important at short ranges, we generally recommend using an red dot instead.
For distance shooting at 200 yards when shooting something like the 17 HMR, all you really need is a scope that goes up to 15X magnification.
Between 7X to 10X the scope gives you plenty of magnification for shooting small game at modest ranges out to 100 yards or a little bit more.
Glass Clarity
The difference between a poor piece of glass and a high quality one is the lens coating. They make the difference between bright and dim.
Glass clarity simply means optical clarity of the scope throughout the power range. Color is less important to the clarity of the glass.
Objective Lens
The objective lens size determines how much light the scope is capturing. This is an important factor for shooters who want to hit long range targets because they will get a very dim image if the objective lens is too small.
A scope with medium objective lens with excellent high-end glass will always out perform the scope with larger objective lens made with poor materials.
Durability
The industry standard scopes are all made from aerospace grade aluminum. A good scope has tight turret tolerance and precision machined parts that holds the erector tube, which the reticle is projected on.
These tight tolerance parts will ensure the scope to hold zero when experiencing recoil and impact. What you don't want is buying a scope that gets damaged due to recoil.
When you shop for an rimfire rifle you can go as far as a scope for AR15, which also means you don't need to buy scopes rated for other heavier calibers.
Turrets
Turrets on your scope control two things
- Brightness control
- Elevation and Windage control
Modern turrets are made to adjust on the fly without any tool. For a 22LR rifle you will never really need turret adjustment when shooting small targets.
Turrets are usefully in long range shootings and they serve a purpose, I will be happy using a scope with capped turrets that require a penny or a screwdriver to adjust.
Accuracy
Accuracy of the scope has two parts, the first is based on how properly you have mounted the scope. The second is how you zeroed the scope.
For rimfire shootings, it will practically make more sense if you just hit up to 100 yards. At close quarter almost any red dot sight or other variable zoom optic would have great accuracy using rimfire ammo.
Final Thoughts
The goal is to get a great rimfire scope for the money and only get the specs enough to handle rimfire cartridges.
Magnification isn't a huge concern, but anything between 7X and 10X are great options. 22LR type rifles can shoot as far as 150 yards, and having a super powerful magnification scope has no practical advantage to the shooter at all.
The Vortex Crossfire II scope is the one we recommend the most as the Vortex brand continue to dominate and innovate new ideas in the marketplace. The Crossfire 2 is durable, accurate and very solid for rimfire rifles.
For red dot optics, the Holosun 510C is the go to for its large field of view property and also affordable.
As the content creator of badassoptic.com, My background in the firearms industry and shooting sports gives me the experience to recommend tried and true products and keep away subpar ones.
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