I think the Vortex Diamond back 2-7 rimfire is a fine scope. Very good glass, good power range and positive and repeatable adjustments.

 

I have a Vortex Razor HD 4-16 on my 10/22 it’s super clear and works well for me

 

I ordered this lefty in 2024. Ordered the Leupold FX-4. Liked the size and the look, but wanted more magnification for head shots at the range the 22mag will reach. Changed to the leupold 3x9x40 with the moa rectal and am very happy with the clarity. Now I just need to unload the FX-4. Both great scopes. The size of the FX-4 looked better on the action to me.

 

I have quite a few different scopes on my squirrel / hunting rifles. I think my favorite is my Weaver V24 scope. 6x24 AO very clear at close range or far.
Mostly I keep it on 6x for squirrels during the early season with leaves on. Later in the season when leaves are dropped, I can dial up the magnification for shots as needed.

 

Another one I like is also an older Weaver…Grand Slam 4.5x14 AO . Very clear and bright in low light.

 

The Leupold 3-9X33 EFR is, in my opinion, one of the best, if not the best, scopes for a 22 rifle out there. It’s not what I consider inexpensive but it is a tremendous value for its price. I have an older model on my Winchester 1885 Low Wall and they work quite well together. Less expensive but with equal clarity is the Leupold VX Freedom 3-9X40 Rimfire MOA on my T-bolt. With the moa reticle and its 1 moa hash marks I find it very useful and just plain fun to play with. In my opinion, a very underrated scope in the Leupold lineup is the 4X28. I had it on my SA22 and it was awesome. Its diminutive size and light weight made it the perfect choice for the elegant little Browning. Most of the time a 4X is more than adequate for squirrel hunting anyway. It is very accurate and a joy to carry. I realize that I sound like a major Leupold fanboy here but I really believe that their scopes are a great value for your hard earned dollar. I have a Leupold M8 fixed 12X on a Browning B-78 High Wall 22-250 that I bought in 1983 and is just as sharp and clear as the day I bought it. That’s 42 years… 42 years! I’ve sure got my money’s worth out of that one. Okay, let me get my 72 year old butt down off of this soapbox before I fall and break a hip. 🤣

 

Sorry, update to my rant… I just went to Leupold’s website and learned that the 4X28 has been discontinued. Imagine my disappointment. Everyone wants high power variables. Unfortunately in today’s economic jungle it’s not feasible to continue to support a product that does not sell well. All of you Browning SA 22 owners out there, snag one if you see one.

 

I know how you feel. Fortunately, since no one wants them, there are lots of second hand 4x28’s available.

For me, the only issue with the 4x is that I can still see the front sight blocking my view when I use the 4x. That’s why I like the 6x.

Given unlimited funds, I would have a quality fixed 4x, 6x, or 8x on all my rifles. A fixed power scope is always on the “right setting” and just works for me for target acquisition, range estimation, leading a moving target, etc.

 

My favorite, now mind you they're just for squirrel hunting. But I went with Vortex Crossfire II 2-7X32. Works good for squirrel.

 

I have a red squirrel invasion every spring. They are quick! There’s 4 big mature maples in my front yard where they love to hide. I have the yardage written on the door of my bar. Hence the 4x and 6x option 👍🏻. TP

Edited for profanity.

 

I have a SWFA Super Sniper dedicated .22 rimfire scope. It’s 3x10 and weighs 9 ounces. It’s not inexpensive. For those who don’t want a 2 pound scope on a hunting rifle.

 

I’ve tried several scopes on my hunting rifle and now I’m back to the first new one I bought for it, a vx-freedom 3-9x40. I really didn’t care for the look of the scope to begin with mounted over the top of my barrel sight, so my final fitment is with the sight removed in a pair of Talley rings, as they’re the shortest I can find. I did have a Leupold 2-7x28 on the gun, but I didn’t care for how small the eye box was. It just didn’t line up right with the hog back stock. I recently tried the Burris timberline 4.5-14x33 and didn’t care for the optical distortion, small field of view and dim view. I would love to try a vx-freedom 2-7x33 but not sure I’m kind of tired of trying to perfect what works. The Leupold scopes have the best optics for the price, imo.

 

The first thing I would ask is,”What are you shooting?” Also, “Where are you doing your target shooting or hunting?” If you’re shooting squirrels or rabbits in a forest, any low powered scope will do. However, if you like using your rimfire for something like prairie dogs you’ll need a bit more scope. Most of the shots taken in this type of shooting will be at a minimum for 100 yards. My Ruger 10/22 has a 4x16 Vortex on it, and it works quite well with Stingers out to about 125-150 yards. The two 17 HMR rifles I have mounted a Vortex 4x16 and 6.5x20 Leupold, which typically shoot out to 200 yards. My Volquartsen 17 WSM has a 6.5x20 Leupold on it, and works well out to 300 yards. If you can’t see the target, you may find yourself putting holes in the air.

 

I belong to a schuetzen club in existence in Dubuque IA since the Civil War. The targets were a five inch x ring I think from a standing position with aperture sights.
As scopes came out, these shooters found that magnification above 8 power was counter productive to their scores. For what it is worth.

 

Range was 200 yards.

 

 

Leopold X-3x9 EFR on my Ruger from the early 90’s. This rig was responsible for placing a lot of nutrition on our dinner table over 3 decades.

 

beautiful rifles and stocks. I would be afraid i would scratch them all over!! Thanks for letting us all admire them.

 

I would like to see a 3-12x36mm side focus with a satin finish, no more than 11-1/2" in length and no more than 16 ounces weight. The 36mm objective wouldn't be excessively bulky while the side focus would keep that slim size while allowing adjustable parallax; 3-12x would give wide field of view plus adequate magnification for longer shots while not going over a 4x erector assembly to keep weight, complexity and optical problems down. A satin finish, not an extremely dull matte, would look good on most rifles and keep costs down.

Some company other than Leupold would have to make it or it would cost $600 to $900 and not sell. Athlon could slim up their 3-12x Talos and be close.

I think that if Sightron would put a duplex reticle in their 3-9x 32mm rimfire scope instead of the crosshair that it currently has that it would be a much better scope and would sell better. A reticle like the Burris ballistic plex would be even better.

The scope manufacturers seem to keep building scopes that are the exact opposite of what we want. Who wants to put a 6-32x50mm 30mm tube target knobbed lighted first focal plane reticle scope on a 6 pound .22 long rifle sporter? Ain't everbody running around with a 15 pound black aluminum "chassis" rifle when we're out squirrel hunting. It's ridiculous and the sporting/hunter market has been abandoned to the wannabe armymen.

 

The scope makers are run by accountants. They make what sells the most. Tacti-cool and PRS type shooting is where the money is and those folks will spend big money to play. Less areas are available for hunting every year as building expands into areas where hunting was common practice. Sign of the times. Progress and all that. I used to roam hundreds of acres as a kid shooting rabbits and ground squirrels, now it is all housing and mini-farms.

 

I'm one to believe you can never have too much scope when hunting squirrels. If I had a favorite, I would have to say the Weaver V16. Mounted on a CZ 452 American 22lr makes for a nightmare in the squirrel woods.

 

I have two Bushnell Rimfire scopes that for the money are hard to beat. I have an A17 on my Savage 93 FV that is 3.5x10x36 and a Rimfire 3x9x40 on my Marlin 39a. These are good hunting scopes and both were less that $75 each. They are nla which is common these days. I prefer gloss finish and 36mm and smaller scopes on my vintage rifles but with few choices we buy what we can get and afford.

 

I have Leupold, Vortex and Athlon on my 10/22 rifles today, but none of them come even close to getting as many squirrels and rabbits as the Weaver 4x I had on my original 10/22... So my vote goes to the Weaver 4x.

 

I had a K4 that was mounted on a sporterized 03A3 many years ago. I was perched on a hay stack taking deadly aim at a jackrabbit. Unfortunately, because of the awkward position I was in, the stock of the rifle was tucked under my armpit. When I finally had the crosshairs lined up on the rabbit, I touched it off. You all know what happens then. To this day, I still have a curved scar between my left eye and right eye, about brow level. I still have the scope, and every time I see it I go back in time and remind myself the importance of keeping the stock against my shoulder. This has nothing to do with favorite squirrel gun scopes. Sorry.

 

Years of hunting Ground squirrels with the kids it seems no matter what scope was on our rifles they were always set on 6X, most shots where 20-75 yrds.

 

 

I love the fixed power scopes for small game. Here are 2 that I have in my safe I purchased when they were being discontinued.

 

Greetings sir!

Right now I'm settling into the "shooting in" process of getting my rimfires tuned up for hunting.

At present, my go-to rifle scopes are the Meuller APV Series of scopes.

As a working man on a budget it was a must that I find something of good quality and a decent price point.
If I could afford the higher end scopes, maybe I'd be using them.

The APV's that I am using are 4.5-16 ×40.

They are mounted on all of my CZ's, Savages, and a couple Weatherby centerfires.

Guys, don't beat me up too bad on choosing the Meuller's.
They just happen to work!

Decent glass, good durability and for what I was getting, $150 wasn't bad for my pocket.

I'm killing nickles and quarter's at 150 yards with my .17HMR's and 125 with my .22mag's.

I hunt, so my equipment must hunt.

I know all about the high end offerings out there.
But $1200 scopes on a $450 rifle is not in my purview right now.

Give the Meuller's a try.
You won't be disappointed, I wasn't.

And I hunt!