The .22lr (long range) scope is perfect for short to long range hunting and varmint clearing. It is a rather straightforward process as this scope does not require a lot of high end features such as large zoom range, wide objective lens, and various internal adjustments to function well.
In today’s firearm world, most of the .22lr scope uses rimfire cartridges in which the firing pin of a gun strikes and crushes the base’s rim to ignite the primer of this product. You should take into consideration the weight of your scope so it will be lightweight and well-balanced which in return will increase the speed of your shot and ease of handling your lr rifle.
The magnification of a long range scope usually is either fixed with 4x power scopes or has 2-7x power adjustable scope so you can shoot targets from any ranges. Moreover, the reticle of your scope also plays an essential role in affecting your hunting performance, for instance having a too bright illuminated reticle makes smaller targets difficult to see.
Also, the ideal .22 long range scope should be equipped with an adjustable objective lens that allows users to adjust the scope’s parallax so you are able to shoot small targets with added ease. Therefore, you will have a clearer sight picture and the accuracy of your shot can be vastly improved with the top rated .22 lr scope.
Top 10 Rated .22lr Scope Comparison Table
| Name of Product | Reticle type | Magnification power | Clarity | Objective Lens Diameter | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vortex Optics Crossfire II Riflescope with BCD Reticle | BDC | 2-7x | High | 32mm | $$$ |
| Bushnell Legend Ultra Mil-Dot Reticle Riflescope | Mil-Dot | 4.5-14x | High | 44mm | $$$ |
| Nikon P-Rimfire Nikoplex Riflescope | Nikoplex | 2-7x | High | 32mm | $$$ |
| Vortex Crossfire II Riflescope with V-Plex Reticle | V-plex | 2-7x | High | 32mm | $$$ |
| Leupold VX-2 Riflescope | Duplex | 3-9x | High | 40mm | $$$ |
| Nikon Prostaff Rimfire with BDC Reticle | BDC | 3-9x | High | 40mm | $$$ |
| Simmons .22 Mag Truplex Reticle Rimfire Riflescope | Truplex | 3-9x | High | 32mm | $$$ |
| BSA Sweet .22 Riflescope | Duplex | 3-9x | Moderate | 40mm | $$ |
| Barska Plinker-22 Riflescope | 30x30(duplex) | 3-9x | Moderate | 32mm | $$ |
| UTG Bugbuster Scope with RGB Mil-Dot | Mil-Dot | 3-9x | High | 32mm | $$ |
- The reticle is various types used for different hunting applications.
- The magnification power is rated by the lowest factor to highest factor of magnification.
- The clarity is rated from low to high.
- The objective lens diameter is measured as the length of the diameter in mm.
Reticle
Reticle is the net of fine lines known as crosshairs used as a measuring scale to measure certain distance and for aiming during hunting. There are many different kind of reticles such as duplex reticle and Mil-Dot reticle.
These different type of reticles varies in the way the lines are arranged or the thickness of the lines all depending on the type of hunting. Some reticles on the other hand are illuminated to improve your night vision during low light conditions.
Magnification Power
The magnification power of the scope is the factor of which your sight picture of the target is enlarged. A magnified image is essential when precision shooting at longer distances however too much magnification can distort the clarity of the picture.
Not only that, you need to choose the right magnification power because higher magnification power reduces your field of view at a certain yardage. The most common magnification is from either 2-7x or 3-9x in most .22lr scopes.
Clarity
Clarity is how clear and bright sight picture of your target is from the scope. The higher the clarity, you are able to view your crosshairs on your reticle easily hence able to make a good aim when hunting. Also, you can view your target easily from the scope.
Clear lens contributes to higher clarity. Hence, you are advised to get lens cover to protect your lens from damage and scratches thus ensuring your lens is always clear so you can view your target with ease from the scope.
Objective lens diameter
The main function of objective lens is to gather light for your scope so it will be bright and clear. So, a larger diameter objective lens will increase the amount of light entering the scope hence making images appear sharper and crisp in the center of the field of view.
A larger diameter objective lens however does not increase the field view of a riflescope. That depends on the magnification. Hence, both magnification and objective lens diameter plays an important role in producing a clear and bright sight picture.
Vortex Optics Crossfire II Riflescope with BCD Reticle
This scope is equipped with a second focal plane reticle in which it provides an accurate range estimated, holdover and wind drift correction with excellent magnification. Therefore, this affects the reticle by maintaining its exact same size when moving through different magnification ranges.
Moreover, the Dead-Hold BDC reticle that comes with this product has a customized design that eliminates guesswork on holdover and windage correction therefore suitable for precision hunting at longer ranges. This BDC reticle works well at any magnification power provided you determine the correct distance to the target.
This reticle also isn’t illuminated therefore it has thin black crosshairs that is bright and clear. On the other hand, it does not need batteries to function.
Not only that, this product is fully multi-coated which in return increases the light transmission with multiple anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces so you can view the crosshairs of your reticle with excellent clarity therefore producing a clear sight picture.
It also has a single-piece tube that maximizes the alignment of your scope for improved accuracy, optimum visual performance and to ensure the strength and durability of the scope. Apart from that, this single piece aircraft-grade aluminium tube is nitrogen-purged and O-ring sealed for the best waterproof and fogproof performance.
This scope comes with a long eye relief, fast-focus eyepiece, fully multicoated lenses and resettable MOA turrets. The long and solid eye relief of this scope is ideal for rifles with heavy recoil. If you have a fixed stock, mount the eye relief further in front of the scope to maximize the accuracy of your shot.
Besides that, it holds zero well apart from being easy to sight in and setup. The ¼ MOA adjustments are well tuned and you can easily adjust these measurements with ease and ensure excellent accuracy using the provided turrets. Also, the instructions provided are good so you can refer to them to get further clarifications on the settings of this scope.
This product has 2-7x power magnification so you can adjust your power to get an enlarged and magnified image of your target according to your preference which will come in handy when shooting at longer ranges.
Suitable for :
- Dead Hold BDC reticle
- Single-piece tube
- Fully multi-coated
Bushnell Legend Ultra Mil-Dot Reticle Riflescope
This .22lr scope features fast-focus eyepiece and side focus parallax adjustments to ensure adjustable long-range accuracy. Parallax adjustments are vital especially when your scope is adjusted to a higher magnification power. In other words, this feature will help the reticle shift at certain distances so you can aim better when hunting.
Apart from that, the lenses of this scope is protected by Bushnell’s ultra effective rain guard HD to provide you the clearest possible view of your target. Also, it is equipped with Extra-Low Dispersion glass with fully multi-coated optics thus providing sights with excellent clarity and contrast even in low-light conditions.
Moreover, this scope has an ultra strong, one-piece tube design that is O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged to prevent moisture from building up inside the scope. Therefore, this not only protects the inside parts of the scope from rusting due to oxidation but also ensures the waterproof and fogproof performance of the scope.
It has a Mil-Dot reticle in which it has normal crosshairs with a series of dots, evenly spaced horizontally and vertically along the crosshairs. The distance from the center of one dot to the center of the next is 1 milliradian or also known as mil. This type of reticle allows user to effectively range the distance to a desired target when hunting.
Furthermore, this product is also well equipped with a fantastic eye relief over 3 to 4 inch so you can easily sight your target with a full viewing angle. It also has a variable 4.5-14x magnification power so you can attempt precision shooting at longer ranges as you can easily view the enlarged image of your target.
You also can easily reset back to zero with this scope. Once you have your rifle zeroed in, you just have to loosen the small screws on the windage and elevation knobs and hence set the dials to zero. The turrets of this scope are removable with adjustments of ¼ MOA turrets in which the markings of the yardage are fairly precise.
Nevertheless, this product is a little complicated as the turrets are adjusted in MOA while the reticle is Mil-Dot so you need to make adjustments carefully according to the right value in both units.
Suitable for :
- Side-focus parallax adjustment
- Ultra Effective Rain Guard HD
- Extra-Low Dispersion Glass
Nikon P-Rimfire Nikoplex Riflescope
This scope is suitable for shooters who prefer to dial in their shots at a known distance when hunting. It is offered in either 2-7×32 BDC reticle or 2-7×32 Nikoplex reticle with Rapid Action Turrets. The difference is, for the turret system, you just simply need to sight the gun in and then rotate the turret to the marked distance at where you are shooting at.
For the riflescope equipped with Nikoplex reticle and Rapid Action Turret System, you are able to adjust the turrets in a short period of time which will come in handy when you plan on shooting moving targets.
The BCD 150 reticle on the other hand offers shooters an unique open circle aiming points so you can shoot from any angles with ease. This will come in handy if for instance, you are hunting from a treestand as you have a wider field of view of hunt your target either from front or back.
Moreover, this product offers a precise ¼ inch at 50 yards target style hand-turn adjustments so you can adjust the turret settings with ease from any angles and directions according to your preference.
Not only that, this .22lr scope features Nikon’s Eco-Glass lenses made without lead or arsenic and coated with multiple layers of anti-reflective compound therefore providing high clarity lens. This is essential so you can view the crosshairs of your scope easily so you can aim your target better when hunting.
Also, this product comes with a single tube which is nitrogen purged and O-ring sealed to ensure the waterproof and fogproof performance of this product. Apart from that, with this scope, it is easy to sight in your rifle and it also maintains its zero well after many rounds.
The magnification power of this scope is 2-7x so you can enlarge the image size by the by 2 to 7 factor overall. Magnified images comes in handy during precision shooting at longer ranges so you are able to view your target from a further distance. Also, you are able to zoom in and out at all ranges in any power without changing the point of impact.
Suitable for :
- Nikoplex reticle
- Nikon Eco-Glass lenses
- Rapid Action Turret System
Vortex Crossfire II Riflescope with V-Plex Reticle
Vortex’s scope has a wide range of adjustment of turret to adjust the settings of your scope. The finger clicks are crisp while the resettable turrets are a nice touch as well as the yardages are well marked and machined so you can aim well when hunting.
Apart from that, it has a magnification power of 2-7x. In other words, you can achieve quick target acquisition at power 2 with added benefit of reaching out to power 7. An enlarged picture especially at longer ranges therefore will result in a clear and crisp sight picture.
Moreover, this .22lr scope has an eye relief length of 3.9 inches. You need to place this eye relief at the right distance on your scope so you can obtain the full viewing angle of your target. Also, the lens are of high clarity so you can view your target clearly hence improving the accuracy of your shot.
Your firearm will be easy to sight in with this scope. However, you can refer to attached user manual for further clarifications. It maintains its zero after many rounds as well as you are able to reset the zero according to your preference. Also, the installation of the scope on your rifle is simple and it also has a lifetime warranty.
Not only that, this scope is equipped with a V-plex reticle in which is basically a general purpose reticle with a wider center section of fine wire for less target obstruction. It is one of the single best multipurpose reticle used for many hunting applications.
The reticle on the other hand is also sharp and bright so you are able to easily view its standard thin black crosshairs when aiming at your target. Besides that, this scope has a one-piece tube nitrogen purged hence resulting in 100% waterproof and fogproof performance.
Suitable for :
- V-plex reticle
- Lifetime warranty
- Clear lens
- Zero resettable turrets
Leupold VX-2 Riflescope with Duplex Reticle Review
This product has a VX-2 scope in which it is equipped with two-piece tube. The only difference it has with the current Leupold’s VX-3 scope is that the VX-3 scope provides 4% more light transmission and has a single-piece tube compared to the VX-2 scope.
Moreover, this product comes with a second focal plane scope. Therefore, if you adjust the magnification, the size of the reticle changes in relation to the size of the target. Also, this scope is equipped with a duplex reticle which is basically made up of a thin center wire with heavier sections on the edges. This duplex reticle can serve as a guide to help you guess the proper hold over which can also be much more precise.
Not only that, the reticle is also bright and clear even under low light conditions so you can easily view its crosshairs when aiming. Also, this scope comes with clear lens thus producing a high clarity and undistorted sight picture with a great field of view.
However, this scope comes with cheap and low quality lens cover so you are advised to purchase a better quality lens so you can protect it from scratches and damage in future. Also, this .22lr scope is lightweight and has a solid build which is essential so you can handle it with ease when mounting it on your firearm.
Furthermore, this scope comes with a magnification power of 3-9x which comes in handy during precision shooting at longer ranges. It also has a great eye relief so you can obtain full viewing angle of your target when hunting.
Apart from that, the turrets can be easily adjusted with simple finger clicks. This product has no zero-resettable turret so you have to manually set it to zero. Nevertheless, it is easy to sight in. If you are facing issues however, you should buy windage adjustable mounts to fix the problem in which you need to dial in adjustments for varying ranges during hunting.
Suitable for :
- VX-2 scope
- Duplex reticle
- Solid build
Nikon Prostaff Rimfire with BDC Reticle
This scope has a BDC reticle in which the unique see-through ballistic circles offer an incredible advantage for long range shooting yet a normal sight for shorter range shots where the crosshair itself is the aiming point. This reticle self-adjusts when you adjust the magnification power.
Also, the BDC points of this reticle which are actually tiny circles along the vertical crosshair are spaced specifically for the .22 bullet. The optics of this scope on the other hand are fully multicoated to enable up to 98% increased light transmission hence improved accuracy of your shot.
Moreover, the tube of this .22lr scope is nitrogen filled and O-ring sealed to prevent moisture inside the scope. Hence, 100% waterproof and fogproof performance are guaranteed. The reticle of this rimfire scope is also clear and bright thus producing a high clarity sight picture of your target.
Apart from that, this product is also equipped with a fast-focus adjustable eyepiece so you can adjust the focus to suit different user’s eyes. This in return will help you aim and focus on your shot aimed at your target when hunting.
Furthermore, this scope has a magnification power of 3-9x in which its minimum power is 3 and maximum power of which your target image can be enlarged is 9. Larger sight pictures comes in handy if you plan on shooting your target at longer ranges.
The settings of this scope is fairly simple. In other words, you just have to make precise, repeatable hand turns at ¼ inches at 50 yards to adjust your reticle and yardage. Besides that, this scope easily mounts on your rifle when hunting.
It is also easy to sight in and maintain zero in which you just have to lift the spring-loaded adjustment knob, rotate your zero and re-engage. Then, further dial in your desired range for field adjustments. It can also be reset to zero with the quick zero reset turret.
Suitable for :
- Fully multicoated optics
- Fast-focus eyepiece
- BDC reticle
Simmons .22 Mag Truplex Reticle Rimfire Riflescope
Simmon’s scope is equipped with a Hydroshield lens coating that helps maintain a clear sight picture, regardless of the weather condition so you can even hunt with ease during a rainy day for instance.
It also comes with a one-piece tube construction for lighter handling, greater strength and durability. This single tube is nitrogen purged and O-ring sealed to prevent moisture from fogging up inside the scope as well as maintaining an excellent waterproof performance.
Moreover, Simmon’s Suregrip rubber surfaces of the scope allows for easy adjusting in any shooting conditions as the friction is reduced with the rubber. Also, the scope is a fully multicoated high quality optical glass to produce bright and sharp images of your target with a high contrast.
Not only that, the magnification power of this scope is from 3 to maximum 9 power. With this feature, you are able to view magnified images of your target which will come in handy when precision hunting at longer ranges. Also, the zoom feature of this scope is fantastic and easy to use which also contributes to excellent magnification of your sight picture.
Besides that, this scope is equipped with a Truplex reticle which is bright and clear so you can easily view the crosshairs. A triplex reticle is similar to a duplex (thick on outside, thin in middle) but with a smaller thin bit and longer thick bits.
However, some parts of the scope is not of high quality though overall it is well-built with silver finish and still able to function. For example, the rings provided with this scope is not tight and of low quality so you should either purchase another set with higher quality or apply loctite to it to increase its reliability.
Apart from that, your firearm will be easy to zero in with this scope and it also holds the zero pretty well hence you are able to align the sights on the weapon with the rifle so you can accurately aim at your target from a set distance. You can also make windage and elevation adjustments by rotating the dials on the product with ease.
Suitable for :
- Truplex reticle
- Simmon’s Suregrip rubber surfaces
- Hydroshield lens
BSA Sweet .22 Riflescope
Equipped with an objective lens diameter of 40mm, this scope has an eye relief of length 3 inch which allows your eyes to receive a greater amount of light hence reducing eye strain and fatigue so you can use it for a long period of time. Apart from that, it also lets you obtain a full viewing angle of your target when hunting.
Moreover, it has fully coated optics to increase the light transmission on its surface thus providing a brighter reticle for you so you are even able to view it under low light conditions. Therefore, you will have a clear focus and wide field of view which in return will produce a sharp and crisp image even when using higher magnification power.
The purchase of this scope includes lens cover but not rings so you need to get them separately. You should go for high rise or medium profile rings type depending on your type of hunting. Also, this scope is guaranteed 100% fogproof and waterproof.
Furthermore, it is equipped with a duplex reticle which comes in handy so you can guess the proper holdover when hunting. This duplex reticle has the traditional hunting and target crosshairs for aiming. Not only that, this scope has a magnification power of 3-9x so you can attempt precision hunting at longer ranges with ease.
This scope has smooth and hand adjustable windage and elevation. These adjustments are measured 1/8 inches per click at 50 yards. The installation and setup of this product is also fairly straightforward as it is not too hard to zero in consistently. However, you can refer to the instructions provided for extra guidance.
Besides that, this scope comes with 3 turrets that swap out based on the bullet weight and moves based on the yardage. These turrets have a positive feedback when changing windage and elevation so you can adjust the settings of this scope well.
Suitable for :
- 3 swappable turrets
- Duplex reticle
- Fully coated optics
Barska Plinker-22 Riflescope Review
Barska’s scope include mounting rings, lens cover and a lens cloth to improve its performance during hunting. It has a strong and sturdy construction hence resulting in a durable scope that will last for a long period of time.
Furthermore, this product has a 10.7-3.6 exit pupil, a 3.5 inch eye relief, 0.25 inch click value and lastly 0.375 inch dovetail rings. The eye relief acts as an optical instrument so you can get a full viewing angle of your target meanwhile the dovetail rings is one of the strongest mount systems, designed for large caliber rifles with high recoils.
Equipped with multi-coated optics, this product is waterproof, fogproof and shockproof as well as easily adjustable for windage and elevation. However for durability purposes, the scope should not be taken apart to be cleaned internally when not in use while you should always keep the protective lens cover on the scope to prevent it from damage.
Moreover, this product comes with a 12 inch tube length and an objective lens diameter of 32mm. It also has 3-9x magnification power. In other words, this scope has 36 foot field view at 100 yards at magnification power 3 and 13 foot field view at 100 yards at magnification 9. You can use this feature especially for precision shooting at longer ranges.
This product however does not come with an adjustable objective for parallax adjustments, just only with zoomable 3-9x magnification. Not only that, this scope is bright and clear and especially works well under low light conditions thus producing a vivid and high clarity sight picture of your target when hunting.
It is straightforward to install and mount this scope on the rifle. The zero-ing in part is a little complicated nevertheless it holds the zero pretty well after many rounds. You can refer to the user manual for further guidance. Also, this scope is suitable for plinking in which to shoot at informal targets with a rifle with a sole purpose of having fun rather than actually hunting and aiming for bullseye.
Apart from that, this product comes with a 30×30 reticle which is basically just a duplex reticle (thicker outer hairs and finer inner hairs). The 30×30 measurement is used to designate that both the inner vertical and horizontal crosshairs are 30 inches at 100 yards.
Suitable for :
- 30×30 reticle
- Suitable for plinking
- Fully multi-coated optics
- Dovetail rings included
UTG Bugbuster Scope with RGB Mil-Dot
This scope comes complete with a 2 inch sunshade, a high quality flip-open lens cap and quick detachable rings to enhance the performance of your scope. The sunshade is most useful when the sun is forward of the shooter’s position. If the sunlight can reach your objective lens from any angle however, the sunshade proves to be a very reliable companion.
Moreover, this product features a RGB side wheel illumination therefore giving users a quick and easy access for reticle light rather than the traditional bulky rheostat on the eyepiece. Also, this scope comes with an adjustable objective lens from 3 yards to infinity hence you are able to make parallax adjustments and focus better on your target.
Not only that, this scope is built on true strength platform, completely sealed and nitrogen purged to prevent moisture in the scope thus contributing to an excellent waterproof and fogproof performance.
This product is equipped with a one inch tube with emerald coating for maximum light transmissions so your scope will be bright and easy to view. The range estimating Mil-Dot reticle of this scope is essential for optimal aiming and best shooting performance.
Apart from that, this Mil-Dot reticle also comes with a red or green dual illumination for versatile applications and large field of view and especially comes in handy during low light conditions. Also, this scope is a little heavy nevertheless solidly built.
Besides that, this scope has a premium zero lockable and resettable turrets with ¼ MOA measurements per click adjustment. The locking bolt for adjustment knobs are a nice touch as the knobs as secured tightly into position. This product also has an eye relief with length 3 inches as well as clear lens to produce a clear and crisp sight picture.
It is easy to get the scope zeroed in and it holds the zero well too after dismounting and remounting the scope so you are able to consistently achieve sub-MOA groups with ease when hunting.
Also, it has a magnification of power 3-9x so you can zoom the sight picture of your target well suited to your needs. However, bear in mind that using too much power (high magnification power) might result in your sight picture losing its clarity.
Suitable for :
- Range estimating mil-dot reticle
- Red/green dual illumination
- Lockable and resettable turrets
- RGB side wheel illumination
Conclusion
In a nutshell, you should consider factors such as reticle type, magnification power, clarity, objective lens diameter and lastly the price in choosing the best .22lr scope well-suited to your needs and the type of hunting you are attempting.