--- title: "The Best Rimfire Scopes, Tested and Reviewed" description: "Thanks to the rise of precision .22 competitions and hyper-accurate rifles, this is the golden age for rimfire rifle scopes." date: "2022-11-22" modified: "2025-05-13" authors: - name: "Andrew McKean" job_title: "Hunting and Conservation Editor" link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/andrew-mckean/" url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/gear/best-rimfire-scopes/" categories: - "Gear" - "Optics" - "Rifle Scopes" tags: - "Evergreen" - "Gear Reviews" --- # The Best Rimfire Scopes, Tested and Reviewed ![]() *Andrew McKean* Between small-game rifles and precision target rigs, short-range plinkers, and rimfire ARs, there’s a .22 for every shooter and use, and every one of them needs a scope. The optics industry has answered the call, and you can find a scope for just about any rifle. Here are some of the best rimfire scopes on the market. You’ll notice, though, that these aren’t all your standard low-mag variable models. You’ll see some high-end precision scopes here as well as LPVO (low-power variable optics) that are designed for close-quarters AR and shotgun work but also make marvelous rimfire optics for either hunting or punching targets. - **Best Overall:** [Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7x33]() - **Best Price-Point:** [Burris Fullfield]() - **Best Traditional:** [Vortex Crossfire II 2-7x32]() - **Best Crossover Hunting Scope:** [Maven RS.2 2-10x38]() - **Best Second-Plane Target Scope:** [Tract 22 FIRE 4-12x40]() - **Most Versatile:** [Athlon Argos HMR 2-12x42]() - **Best Full-Size Precision Scope:** [Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25x56 FFP]() - **Best Precision Rimfire Scope:** [Blackhound Emerge 2-12x44 MIL]() - **Best Precision Scope Under $400:** [Sightmark Presidio 3-18x50 LR2]() - **Best LPVO:** [EOTECH Vudu 1-10x28]() - **Best .22 Magnum Rifle Scope:** [Hawke Vantage IR 4-12x40 AO]() ## How I Chose the Best Rimfire Scopes Some of the scopes in this roundup are new for 2022 and were included in the rigorous evaluations of *Outdoor Life*’s annual optics test. For those, I measured optical resolution on my resolution range, scored low-light performance against their peers, and measured the precision and repeatability of the reticle and turrets. But some scopes in this collection were not in the test, and I evaluated those by mounting them to my collection of .22 trainers and shot them on both paper and steel targets at various distances, evaluating their handling, reticles, and overall precision and speed. I rated each scope on its ability to perform a series of shooting tasks, engaging targets at 20 yards, then at 50, and out to 100. I also used both reticle references and the turrets to make shots out to 350 yards, but this was more a test of “close-enough” than precision. For each scope, I make a subjective determination of optical quality, looking for distortions, optical aberrations, and any distracting jags of light. And I determine how quickly and precisely I can use the reticle. Lastly, I assessed the extras, including the accessories that it ships with and each submission’s warranty. ## The Best Rimfire Scopes: Reviews and Recommendations ### Best Overall: [Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7x33]() Combining simple controls and a modest but versatile magnification range, this durable scope is perfect for just about any .22 or .17, whether for small-game hunting, plinking, or most precision target work. It has good glass, repeatable controls, and enough holdover references on the vertical stadia that, with some practice, you can extend your range out to 100 yards and longer. At close to $300, it’s priced in the meaty middle of the market and can easily transition from a first-gun optic to just about any other rifle, whether a rimfire or not. Here’s a rimfire scope for just about any purpose. This outwardly pedestrian optic has a lot going on between a surprisingly precise second-plane reticle, bright glass, and fun indexing on the nicely tactile turrets. The best thing you can say about any scope is that it is consistent, and the [VX-Freedom]() delivers bullets with pleasing reliability. It’s a good rabbit and squirrel scope. Still, the MOA-based references on the vertical crosshair make it a decent option for engaging distant targets, which means you don’t have to invest in a ponderously big first-plane target scope to take titles at [NRL22]() competitions. Lastly, the Leupold rimfire scope brings the company’s good glass and an excellent warranty. **Read Next**: [The Best Rifle Scopes]() ### Best Price-Point: [Burris Fullfield]() Whether you opt for the 2-8x35, the 2.5-10x42, or the 3-12x42, the redesigned Burris Fullfield offers a ton of value and performance for a modest price. The performance is high enough that it’s not quite right to call this classic an entry-level scope, but the price makes it accessible for just about any new shooter, and just about any rimfire or straight-wall rig. Of course, the iconic Fullfield has been around for a spell. Its first iteration came to market in 1975 as Don Burris’s answer to Redfield’s Widefield scope. Burris had worked at Redfield before starting his own optics company in Denver. The new iteration of the scope, 50 years later, retains some of its predecessor’s features, including wide field of view, double-spring erector system in its turrets, 1-inch tube, and second-plane reticles. But it has some noteworthy new attributes, starting with what Burris calls its Knob Synergy System. Elevation dials on new Fullfield scopes are almost universally interchangeable, allowing users to switch out the capped turrets of their original model for what Burris calls its “Advanced Capped” and “Advanced Exposed” elevation knobs along with custom laser-engraved knobs. This is a pretty remarkable attribute for scopes that range in price from $192 for the 2-8x35mm model to $300 for the 3-12x42 model. It’s useful to note that the new Fullfield is available in 3-12x56, 4-16x50, and 6-24x50 iterations. All but the 6-24x50 scope is available with or without illumination. But for rimfires, it’s hard to beat the lower-mag models for all around plinking, small-game hunting, and on straight-wall rifles, just about any deer hunting scenario you can imagine. The 2-8x35 model has liberal eye relief (2.9 to 3.4 inches), good field of view, and the choice of either Burris’s excellent Ballistic E3 reticle in the illuminated version and standard plex reticle in the non-illuminated version. The 2.5-10x42 version offers all those features, plus a little more reach. I strapped my test model on a precision rimfire and have been using it for ground-squirrel removal for the past month. Its glass is good, but about what you’d expect for a $200 scope. It’s a little flinty in harsh light, a little distorted on the edges, and a little dark at last light. But I’ll take that. The center is well-ground and crisp, and the BDC reticle – mine has the Ballistic E3 – is perfect for longer shots but doesn’t impede those close-in snap shots that every rimfire hunter is familiar with. At the end of the day (or the beginning of it, for that matter) I don’t buy a rimfire scope for its premium glass. I select for fast handling, low-profile mounting, and a liberal eyebox. The Fullfield delivers all that, plus the ability to swap out turrets is an appealing add-on. I want a little more mounting dimensions on the tube, but the fixed focus at 100 yards is spot-on for shots inside 25 yards and out to about 150 yards. For a rimfire, that’s about the range I want. ### Best Traditional: [Vortex Crossfire II 2-7x32]() There’s not much innovative or surprising here, just a basic duplex reticle inside a straight-ahead scope with decent turrets and a durable build. Backed by an excellent warranty. ![The vortex scope is mounted on a rifle.]() *Andrew McKean* ![This is a closer look at the Vortex scope.]() *Andrew McKean* If simplicity is the pathway to versatility, then the [Vortex Crossfire II]() is at home on a small-game bolt rifle or a fast-shooting AR. It might not have the chops for precision work, but the duplex reticle is fast and reliable. The controls are a little mushy, but the eye relief and eye box are both forgiving and the fixed parallax makes it a great plinking scope. Basically, any tin can or cottontail inside 50 yards is in trouble. ### Best Crossover Hunting Scope: [Maven RS.2 2-10x38]() Excellent glass, velvety controls, and a reticle that offers just enough holdover references for precision work, this is a scope that’s at home on a lightweight mountain rifle or a bespoke squirrel sniper. The [RS.2]() is available in either a bold duplex or SHR reticle—I recommend the latter for more references (three elevation holds; no wind holds). That probably has more utility for big-game hunters than for .22 shooters, but the holdovers are pretty handy for making shots beyond zero range. At about $550, this direct-to-consumer optic is a little pricey for a basic second-plane rimfire scope, but Maven brings elegance, brilliant Japanese glass, and sweet turret controls to the game. The low-profile objective and the magnification range make it a very good choice for a special rimfire rifle. **Read Next**: [The Best .22 LR Rifles]() ### Best Second-Plane Target Scope: [Tract 22 FIRE 4-12x40]() ![The Tract scope is mounted on a rifle.]() *Andrew McKean* ![This is a closer look at the Tract scope controls.]() *Andrew McKean* [Tract’s 22 FIRE]() series has a full series of scopes for .22 and .17 shooters, but this AO model (it stands for Adjustable Objective) is the most versatile scope in the line from the direct-to-consumer brand. The duplex reticle features a fine crosshair with a .25 MOA center dot, which allows for full view of the target and precise bullet placement, which competitive bullseye target shooters will appreciate. The adjustable objective enables precise focus for targets inside 10 yards all the way out to infinity, a feature you don’t often see on rimfire-specific scopes. The objective focus is a little clunky compared with the side parallax of most modern scopes, but it works well and further enables precise shooting. At about $275 it’s not a cheap scope, but the glass is good, the controls are some of the best in the business, and the precision it allows also makes it a killer squirrel scope. ### Most Versatile: [Athlon Argos HMR 2-12x42]() This second-plane middle-of-the-road scope isn’t built for any specific task. Instead, it does a pretty good job at any shooting situation, whether mounted on a center-fire big-game rifle, a rimfire, an AR, or even a mid-range platform like a straight-wall carbine or slug gun. Priced at about $450, this Athlon has more features than most scopes at this price point. Its best attribute is side parallax control that brings targets as close as 10 yards into sharp focus, a feature that’s useful for rimfire shooters who are often engaging close-in and far-out targets. The illumination is also worth a look. The second-plane scope is available with a standard duplex reticle, but opt for the BDC 600A reticle, which gives shooters holdover hashes out to 600 yards when the scope is on its highest power. The glass in the [Argos HMR]() isn’t the best, but for most shooting situations, it will provide a decent image and capably guide bullets of just about any caliber. The best attribute for a rimfire shooter is that this scope can easily be swapped out to just about any other rifle, making it a good all-around optic. ### Best Full-Size Precision Scope: [Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25x56 FFP]() Okay, I realize this isn’t your standard rimfire optic. It’s purpose-built for the 1,000-yard-and-longer center-fire steel-plate crowd. But the [Strike Eagle]() has an extremely useful reticle for almost every rimfire competition, from punching paper at known distances to engaging steel silhouette targets and all the crazy shooting situations in the NRL22. Attributes that make it a worthy rimfire consideration: close-focus to 15 yards, a nicely illuminated first-plane reticle, holdover hashes at every MOA and windage dots out to 24 MOA, and nicely indexed turrets. All this for well under $1,000. The best argument for consideration: learn to shoot this reticle on a cheap and fun rimfire trainer, then graduate up to a center-fire chassis rifle. ### Best Precision Rimfire Scope: [Blackhound Emerge 2-12x44 MIL]() Go back and read the rationale for this scope under the Vortex Strike Eagle spot. All those arguments go double for this big, serious precision scope from a new direct-to-consumer brand. The main argument for a rimfire shooter is that if you can learn to shoot well and quickly with this first-plane reticle on a .22 trainer, then you’ll be miles ahead of your peers when you strap it on a long-distance center-fire precision rifle. The [Blackhound]() has fine glass, very tactile low-profile turrets, and a side focus control that brings targets as close as 10 yards into crisp focus. It’s pricey, around $1,150, but there’s a whale of a lot of value in this scope that has a magnification range that is way more useful than the standard 5-25-power of most precision target scopes. ### Best Precision Scope Under $400: [Sightmark Presidio 3-18x50 LR2]() Shooters with a limited budget should give their attention to this full-featured precision scope from Sightmark that retails for around $400. The [Presidio]() has everything that the major brands offer shooters, from a very capable first-plane reticle with plenty of elevation and windage references, oversized exposed turrets to make field adjustments easy, and a zero-stop that allows shooters to return to their zero without tools. Other noteworthy features for rimfire shooters include a 10-yard-to-infinity focus, 6-step illumination, and reticle holds with 10 MILS of drop and 6 MILS of wind hold. How does Sightmark deliver so much utility for such an accessible price? The glass is flinty and shows lots of optical aberrations. You can expect to get some flaring and peripheral distortion. However, the center of the lens—where most shooters spend most of their time—is clear and sharp. In a field with mostly second-plane, hunting-style scopes, this is a full-featured standout that won’t cost a bunch. ### Best LPVO: [EOTECH Vudu 1-10x28]() The first time I shot this extremely versatile scope it was on a tactical AR and I was engaging targets from 10 yards out to 750 yards. All I could think was how fun it would be on a practical .22 course. This is definitely not intended for NRL22 games, but rather is a battle-hardened tactical optic that has caught fire with personal-defense carbine owners. Still, I maintain the [EOTECH Vudu]() has all the attributes you’d ever want for any rimfire action, whether you’re talking about running rabbits, punching holes in paper targets, or running a steel plate course. The first-plane reticle evolves from a fast and bright red dot at 1-3-power up to a surprisingly detailed precision reticle with aiming points for distant targets from about 7-power up to 10-power. The illumination is bright, and the push-button control is intuitive. The build and turrets are durable enough for anything you can throw at it, and the Japanese glass is bright and crisp. The main downside is its $1,800 price tag. But at that price, you can switch it to just about any rifle in your collection. **Read Next**: [Best Budget LPVO]() ### Best .22 Magnum Rifle Scope:[ Hawke Vantage IR 4-12x40 A]()O If you’re a .22 WMR shooter, this is your scope. The reticle has drops for bullets with muzzle velocities of 2,000 fps. With a 100-yard zero, you can drop rounds with pleasing consistency out to 300 yards with the second-plane BDC reticle and the scope on its highest power. Suppose you want to use a lower magnification, or bullets with different velocities. In that case, you’ll have to experiment on the subtensions, but it’s a pretty handy feature for a rimfire optic. The [Hawke]() has good glass, decent controls, and the illumination is a nice feature. But the attribute that also makes this a great rimfire scope is the focus control located on the objective bell. You can bring targets into focus as close as 10 yards and out to infinity. ## Things to Consider Before Buying a Rimfire Rifle Scope Your first consideration if you’re in the market for a rimfire rifle scope is how well it will perform with the short-range capabilities of the caliber. You probably don’t need a ton of magnification or reticle references if all you want is to shoot tin cans or 50-meter bullseye targets. But the world of rimfire shooting is evolving to look a lot like long-distance center-fire precision shooting, with all sorts of precision rimfire competitions and games that put a premium on both short-range and long-range precision. For backyard plinkers, you probably just want a simple scope with a duplex reticle, but for the latter, you’re going to want a first-plane reticle with lots of turret adjustment. Then there are the pure small-game scopes. These are lower-magnification optics with just enough reticle references to get you on game and maybe make longer shots, head-shooting squirrels, for instance. ## FAQs ## Final Thoughts on the Best Rimfire Scopes Somehow, the optics industry has squeezed all the fun out of rimfire shooting. Instead of cheap, reliable, and utilitarian rifles, we now have fancy chassis rifles with all the attributes of their big-bore brethren. And prices to match. We’ve complicated what was once the most fun and simple type of shooting into rigorous competition. That’s all great if you want to make .22 shooting into a serious thing, but don’t forget that rimfires are the gateway for most shooters and hunters into our community, and the scopes and rifles that are the best for new shooters are often the most simple and cheap. So read this review with a little bit of skepticism. There are optics for every stage in a shooter’s evolution, but maybe pay special attention to those fun, simple, gateway scopes. - **Best Overall:** [Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7x33]() - **Best Traditional:** [Vortex Crossfire II 2-7x32]() - **Best Crossover Hunting Scope:** [Maven RS.2 2-10x38]() - **Best Small-Game Hunting Scope:** [Bushnell Trophy Quick Acquisition 1-6x24l]() - **Best Second-Plane Target Scope:** [Tract 22 FIRE 4-12x40]() - **Most Versatile:** [Athlon Argos HMR 2-12x42]() - **Best Full-Size Precision Scope:** [Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25x56 FFP]() - **Best Precision Rimfire Scope:** [Blackhound Emerge 2-12x44 MIL]() - **Best Precision Scope Under $400:** [Sightmark Presidio 3-18x50 LR2]() - **Best LPVO:** [EOTECH Vudu 1-10x28]() - **Best .22 Magnum Rifle Scope:** [Hawke Vantage IR 4-12x40 AO]() ## Author Andrew McKean is *Outdoor Life’s* hunting and conservation editor, drilling into issues that affect wildlife, wild lands, and the people who care about them. He’s also OL’s optics editor, helping readers to make informed buying decisions. He lives outside Glasgow, Montana, where he hunts every day and season he can. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]()