Rimfire optics for .22LR

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Rimfire optics for .22LR

Post by OODAH » 07 Sep 2016, 8:38 am

Hi, I'm looking for a new scope for my 22LR. I currently have a Tasco 3-9x40mm which does the job out in the field shooting rabbits but no good at the range shooting 25 yards. I'm looking at the Bushnell Rimfire optics range, the 3-12x40mm to be exact. They do a 3-9x40mm but for $20 bucks more I can have a little bit more magnification. The price is right $249 (currently on special) and supposedly will focus down too 7 yards with the side parallax focus. Anybody have any reviews? Recommendations for anything else, or am I on target?
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Re: RIMFIRE OPTICS

Post by AusTac » 07 Sep 2016, 8:54 am

I have a vortex diamond back 4-12 × 40 AO on my .22, flawless, eye releif can be a little iffy on 12 but i think thats more the rails fault than the scope, think i picked it up for 350
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Re: RIMFIRE OPTICS

Post by scaredyet » 07 Sep 2016, 9:01 am

I'm also looking for a scope for my cz 452. I'll be doing some range work up to 50 and plinking on the farm and shooting rabbit and fox probably Max up to 100m. I currently have a Leupold VX3i 4.5 14 40 which I was told was overkill
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Re: RIMFIRE OPTICS

Post by Gamerancher » 07 Sep 2016, 9:18 am

Hey Scaredyet, your scope is not overkill. Whoever said that is probably just jealous. :mrgreen: I run 6.5 - 20 x 40's on my silhouette .22's, some fella's run up to 40x. It's about target clarity, you can't hit what you can't see. :thumbsup:
" Horses for coarses ", you have a quality scope that suits your needs. Go and have a look through a cheap Chinese scope, look at the quality of finish and see if you can get a lifetime warranty. It won't be in the same class. If you can afford it, my advice would be to buy the same Leupold when the time comes for your centrefire.
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Re: RIMFIRE OPTICS

Post by OODAH » 07 Sep 2016, 9:48 am

scaredyet wrote:I'm also looking for a scope for my cz 452. I'll be doing some range work up to 50 and plinking on the farm and shooting rabbit and fox probably Max up to 100m. I currently have a Leupold VX3i 4.5 14 40 which I was told was overkill


Yeah mines also a trusty old CZ 452. Shooting rabbits anywhere from 50 to 100 yards the scope stays on 3 power its just at the range with the fixed Parallax that's letting me down, making the cross hair blurry on the tiny little dot on the paper hard to focus in on.

AusTac wrote:I have a vortex diamond back 4-12 × 40 AO on my .22, flawless, eye releif can be a little iffy on 12 but i think thats more the rails fault than the scope, think i picked it up for 350


I have heard good things about these, it was actually my first choice until I saw the Bushnell ad in the SSAA mag.
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Re: RIMFIRE OPTICS

Post by bladeracer » 07 Sep 2016, 12:00 pm

OODAH wrote:Hi, I'm looking for a new scope for my 22LR. I currently have a Tasco 3-9x40mm which does the job out in the field shooting rabbits but no good at the range shooting 25 yards. I'm looking at the Bushnell Rimfire optics range, the 3-12x40mm to be exact. They do a 3-9x40mm but for $20 bucks more I can have a little bit more magnification. The price is right $249 (currently on special) and supposedly will focus down too 7 yards with the side parallax focus. Anybody have any reviews? Recommendations for anything else, or am I on target?



You got me wondering :-)
I just taped an A4 page (Vic Game Licence Renewal was handy) to the wall at 10 yards and I can actually read the standard text through my 4.5-18x40 AR Optics (at 18 power) - wow, very surprised.
None of my other optics will focus in close enough to read even the larger text at such close range.
I don't know if the Rimfire Optics can do the same but I'd be surprised if they don't.

I've been considering getting the Rimfire Optics myself but after that little test I think I'll just put more 4.5-18x40 AR's on my rimfires as well.
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Re: RIMFIRE OPTICS

Post by pomemax » 07 Sep 2016, 12:40 pm

what range are you shooting at in nsw
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Re: RIMFIRE OPTICS

Post by Gwion » 07 Sep 2016, 1:46 pm

I've got a Vortex Diamond Back 4-12x40AO.... It's a great little scope but i bought it with the idea of using it for target work and i do more hunting with my T-bolt. On 12x i can see exactly where my bullets are landing at 50m. Just be aware that with AO or side focus and with adjustable zoom, it is more to screw around with when hunting. I end up setting mine at around 25-30yd parralax and 6-8X zoom when hunting and just going with that. Target work is different because you have all the time in the world to make your adjustments and just set up when you start at a given range and away you go. Shooting pests, they appear at all ranges, etc. so having to adjust from shot to shot gets tiresome an can caus eyou to miss otherwise easy chances, say, it it is set at 75yd and something pops up at 20 but it is so out of focus you can't get a reliable shot... or visa versa.
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Re: RIMFIRE OPTICS

Post by wade06 » 07 Sep 2016, 2:16 pm

oodah, i'd certainly recommend going to 3-12x40 for a bit tighter FOV.

On my 22LR I have a 3-12x42 Vortex Diamondback HP with side parallax and its simply awesome but it's over $500.
You will have no problems picking out bullet holes at 50m on 12x.

Side parallax is great once you get in the habit of changing it for different ranges. i'm the same as Gwion generally i'll leave mine on 30 yards and about 6x when hunting unless there is something at a longer range.
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Re: RIMFIRE OPTICS

Post by OODAH » 07 Sep 2016, 2:43 pm

Awesome! Thanks for the advice fellas. I was wondering how it would go having to adjust in the field but I guess it's just something to get use too. Now do I go Vortex or Bushnell? haha
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Re: RIMFIRE OPTICS

Post by scaredyet » 07 Sep 2016, 3:58 pm

Whats the best place to read or watch a video on scopes
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Re: RIMFIRE OPTICS

Post by bladeracer » 07 Sep 2016, 4:06 pm

scaredyet wrote:Whats the best place to read or watch a video on scopes



I think most manufacturers have videos on their websites these days.
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Re: RIMFIRE OPTICS

Post by AZZA'S HJ47 » 07 Sep 2016, 9:48 pm

I have a 4x12x40 crossfire on my 17hmr and i have a 4x12x40 diamondback on my la101 22 i love the vortex scopes cant talk highly enough of them
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Re: RIMFIRE OPTICS

Post by KennyA » 08 Sep 2016, 7:04 am

AZZA'S HJ47 wrote:I have a 4x12x40 crossfire on my 17hmr and i have a 4x12x40 diamondback on my la101 22 i love the vortex scopes cant talk highly enough of them


AZZA.....
Is their much of a difference between the Crossfire and the Diamondback models...?
I have two Crossfire scopes and was just wondering if the Diamondbacks are really any upgrade for the extra money.
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Re: RIMFIRE OPTICS

Post by wade06 » 09 Sep 2016, 3:18 pm

The diamondback build quality seemed a bit better, they have more angle of adjustment and use argon gas not nitrogen. Image quality is very similar to the Crossfire.

The Diamondback HP on the other hand was a big step up on the Diamondback in terms of features, build quality and glass/image quality.

Any Vortex scope is good and offers great value for money.
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Re: RIMFIRE OPTICS

Post by Gwion » 11 Sep 2016, 9:08 am

wade06 wrote:The diamondback build quality seemed a bit better, they have more angle of adjustment and use argon gas not nitrogen. Image quality is very similar to the Crossfire.i

The Diamondback HP on the other hand was a big step up on the Diamondback in terms of features, build quality and glass/image quality.

Any Vortex scope is good and offers great value for money.


Any chance someone can do a box test on the Crossfire and DB HP??? I will do a box test with my 3-12 DB AO..... I'd like to see if the HP is more reliable for adjustments than the original DB, which I found ran into trouble returning to zero after using it when I started f-class.
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Re: RIMFIRE OPTICS

Post by AZZA'S HJ47 » 11 Sep 2016, 9:22 am

KennyA wrote:
AZZA'S HJ47 wrote:I have a 4x12x40 crossfire on my 17hmr and i have a 4x12x40 diamondback on my la101 22 i love the vortex scopes cant talk highly enough of them


AZZA.....
Is their much of a difference between the Crossfire and the Diamondback models...?
I have two Crossfire scopes and was just wondering if the Diamondbacks are really any upgrade for the extra money.
Cheers


Not a massive jump between the two i would if i had my time again buy the diamond back over the crossfire but as you would have read hear they are great regardless of what scope you choose
Sako Varmint 243,Marlin 917, Lithgow La101 .22 , 1917 BSA 303 (ted), Finnish Vkt 1944 M39,T3X Super Varmint 223, Marlin 1895 SBL 45-70 Howa 1500 308, BSA CF2 222, 1911 9mm, Adler 12G, Sako 7mm rem Mag,Ruger m77 mk1 22-250AI, Rem 700 17 Rem, BSA No 5 303
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Re: RIMFIRE OPTICS

Post by Gwion » 12 Sep 2016, 3:23 pm

Here's that box test i was talking about.

Vortex Diamondback 4-12 x 40 AO.

box test target.jpg
box test target.jpg (445.2 KiB) Viewed 5064 times


Full review and write up od box test here: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6685&p=101975#p101975
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