I have a .17 HMR that I purchased a Barska scope for. Like you, I was discouraged by the reviews on the BSAs.
Anyway, Barska makes a plinker series that's pretty inexpensive. I have no experience with their .22 scopes, but the one I bought for the .17 (cost @89 I think) works pretty good. Here's a link to the .22 scope - http://www.opticsplanet.net/barska-3-9x32-plinker-22-riflescope-ac10380.html, I wouldn't expect much for the price, but I've beem surprised in the past. Good Luck!
(as I was writing this I went ahead and bought one - I hope it's worth it and will let you know - it just beats what you can get locally for the same money - I hope - it couldn't be much worse)

After a little more extensive search, I found this scope for as little as $29.99 + shipping. Some Wal-Marts sell them along with a few other sporting good stores - you may be able to find it locally for that.

 

I have found these guys to have good deals on optics, http://www.natchezss.com/optics.cfm?category=20

Last 2 I bought were at a local store during a close out at $99 each.

I like the 3 Sweet scopes I have. One has been very abused and still running strong after 3-4 years. On the other hand the giant (8-32) scopes that BSA sells for $60 are crap.

 

I bought one of the Sweet 22 BSA's for my 60 a few months ago for less than $50 shipped, it was purchased from SWFA. This particular scope has been discontinued by BSA because the new model Sweet series have a side focus instead of the adjustable objective, but BSA still honor the warranty on this model.

http://swfa.com/BSA-3-9x40-Sweet-22-Riflescope-P42505.aspx

It's been a good scope so far, holds zero, the bullet compensator works and has a good sight picture. If you decide to get one of the newer side focus models the price more than doubles but I hear the glass is even better.

Of the four BSA scopes I have, only one had to be exchanged (my 6-24x44AO Mil Dot). It looked like who ever put that one together left a greasy finger print on one of the internal lenses, but Cabela's had me a new scope (same Mil-Dot BSA) in about 8 working days.

 

Thanks for the input on the BSA scopes. I think the 6-18 is interesting.

http://swfa.com/BSA-6-18x40-Sweet-22-Riflescope-P13056.aspx

Has anyone got any experience with it?????

 

I just put a BSA Sweet 22 3-9X on an old 10/22 test bed. I liked the idea of the bullet drop compensator, but looking at the literature and the three drums included with the scope left me amazed that the bullet drop is so similar in the three different weights supplied.

I do most my shooting with Remington bulk Gold Dot hollowpoints, so I put the corresponding drum in it, but if the printed charts are accurate, it won't make much difference which drum is in the scope, most of the adjustments to the drums based on distance are within two inches or so of each other for point of impact.

Got mine at SWFA, along with a bunch of other stuff, before the side-focus knob improvement was made. Will check it out a bit Monday.

 

shoes
i put the 6-18x40 with sf on my new cz so far i am pleased.
joe.

 

I paid $40 for my 3-9x40 BSA Sweet .22 here (I think it's last years model, but that was fine with me):

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=644012

 

Has anyone seen a sunshield for the Sweet 22??????????

 

shoes
mine came with one it is the new model scope.
joe.

 

I think I have narrowed it down.... Thanks Joe!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If anyone sees a GREAT price on the new model, with side focus, Please let me know.... Thanks again!!

 

shoes
i got mine at local mom and pop gun store $150.00 plus pa tax.
joe.

 

search google shopping for the exact model u want. I found one on amazon for 50 off what the local store was selling them as.

I got a 4-16x44 bsa mil dot with 1/8th target turrent.
my brother sited it in for me today and said he liked it a lot

 

THe BSA Sweet 22 was already locked down on the test bed Ruger, and it didn't take very long to get zeroed.

Looks like it'll work okay. I'd like it better if it had mil dots instead of crosshairs, but I can put up with that. Didn't like the limited range in the bullet drop compensator. Backstop at 270 yards was beaconing to me, but the BDC only ranges up to 175 yards. On a dry day, I can spot the dust kicked up at the berm and like to plink out to there if there's something I can see that far away.

Trigger is pretty hard on this action. Still, I'm thinking about the "Tack Driving" test to see if this current get-up is gonna be my sleeper super stocker.

 

Backstop at 270 yards was beaconing to me, but the BDC only ranges up to 175 yards.

I shoot 300 yard with mine all the time. Just know where you need to dial it to for 300 and you will be good to go.

 

Here is a link for a deal on the older model Sweet 22 6-18x

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cf.../product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&brand=OS&prodID=OS22618X40AO&prodTitle=BSA 6-18x40 AO Sweet 22 Riflescope

I picked one up a month or so ago. It has the adjustable objective, not the current "side focus". The optics are okay, nothing spectacular. So far it seems to hold it's zero.

 

I just got one of the old ones and i like it. I have another BSA scope (which i hate) but the sunshade off it fits my new Sweet 22....

 

Yeah....you just have to test it beyond the 175 mark so you can dial it on choice. I just put mine on the special since I'm shooting the 510B instead of the CCI SV and took it out to 82 yards.......now I just need to make it to the real range and take it further. I like it because I'm kind of tired of all the big/long scopes I have and it's the shortest. I had to remove the rear tang....but I'll deal with that.

 

Here's what it would look like if you zeroed at 300yds.

 

If you are buying it just for the BC , Ill say mine hasnt worked out. the yardages marked on the scope dont line up to my actual shootind results. however the scope is clear, repeatable, and inexpencive. I bought several on sale from a return bin. I just ignore the BC and shoot it as a regular scope and its worked out great. now I wish Id gotten more! last I saw Natchez had the old models on sale. DR

 

Has anyone found "a really good deal" on the BSA Sweet 22???? I've read a number of reviews, as many bad as good. If I get one, and it's a stinker, I don't want to be out a ton of money.

I bet nobody has ever had this thought......

Also, if anyone knows of a better scope with the same BC features please share....

Thanks to all for your contributions to this fine forum. A newcomer like me silently reads everything I can to be a better/safer shooter. Now is the time I should speak up and let "collective" know how valuable this site is.

Shoes

i havent bought a sweet 22....yet.
but i have a sweet 17 and its good enuff for 4" at 300 yds and its only the 3x9x40. im very impressed with it so far for the price it sells for. cabelas seems to be the best place to get one and also the easiest to exchange if it was defective. i cant wait to get the 18x sweet17 and the 12x sweet22

 

I own 4 bsa sweet 22's 3X9X40AO I love em. Was going to buy a few more but I ordered a cz and it came with a 6X24X44AO on it Now I see why people like the stronger magnification I always thought a 3X9 was all the magnification a 22lr needed. I own a bsa catseye 3X12X44AO Side parallax and a bsa 3X12X44 lighted reticule. I like all my bsa scopes. I ordered a v24 weaver first of this week anxious for it to show up, got to try something different!!!