To match the incredible quality shooting power the .22 mag has, you'll need one of the best .22 Mag scopes. This guide has got you covered, as we've put the top optics to the test and will provide you with our insights and the results of their performance.
From .22 LR to .22 Magnum
I love shooting, always have. Started off with rimfire rifles like most country folks do. As a kid, I grew up in the backyard plinking with my .22 long rifle. In my teens, I was introduced to the .22 Mag, or more officially, the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (WMR) cartridge.
Wow, what a difference. That little snappy round had a bullet weight comparable to the .22 but it packed a harder punch, had a longer max effective range out to 100 yards, and offered the similar light recoil and quiet report as its baby brother.
There is no gun comparable out there for putting down varmints from as small as rabbits to as big a coyotes.
The Math and Physics
Magnum comes from Latin and it literally means bigger - bigger than you would expect from a rimfire. On average, the .22 Magnum is about 50% more powerful than the .22 LR. That comes from the fact that the .22 Magnum has a muzzle velocity up to 700 feet per second faster than the lesser.
For physics junkies, we remember from high school that Ke=1/2mv^2. With a higher muzzle velocity, the .22 Magnum delivers an exponentially higher kinetic energy and a bigger knockdown punch. Thus, a longer maximum effective range.
Any Old Scope Will Do?
Back in those days, living on the plains of Eastern Colorado, we shot .22 rifles, peeping through iron sights at squirrels and such. I could not afford a rifle scope, but any prairie dog inside of 50 yards was a goner.
These days, we rely on heavy duty and accurate optical sights to deliver the crushing blow. Where once we were looking through a rear and front sight, now we were looking through the glass of a scope mounted to our barrels.
At first, I bought the cheapest scope I could find. I wasn't looking for high quality or multi-coated or fog proof optics. I made some good shots with the $30 scope but I sought out a better solution if not the best. This hopped-up .22 needed a companion scope that would bring out the best features in the chambering.
Similar to the .22 LR, the .22 WMR recoil energy is negligible compared to other calibers of weapons on the market. Meaning - the kick is hardly noticeable; however, the WMR significantly outperforms the standard .22 at longer ranges. So, improved optics are recommended.
I always want the most bang for the buck, so I compared 5 of the best .22 Magnum scopes that are available online.
My Approach
Here are things that I considered, researched and tested while searching for the best .22 scopes:
- Ease of installation
- Ease of sight adjustment
- Quality of the glass (clarity)
- Power of the scope
- Eye relief
- Size of the objective
- Durability (shock proof, water proof and fog proof)
- Affordability
I spend most of my time in the High Country of Colorado. The weather is unpredictable and the terrain is abusive. My scope requirements tend to fall more on durability and weatherproofing. A broken or hazy scope is useless at 12,000 feet.
Here's the gun I used: Browning, T-Bolt chambered in .22 WSM, bolt action. This is a steady and reliable rifle and offers a standard platform with which to mount our test subjects.
The 5 Best .22 Magnum Scopes
So here are the top 5 best scope that I ran through the field. To be fair I attempted to be equally rough on each scope and equally demanding of ease-of-use and performance.
1. Nikon ProStaff 4-12x40mm Rimfire Rifle Scope
This Nikon ProStaff toughed it out with us on a late-season, plains coyote hunt on the sagebrush dominated rolling hills of Arapahoe County, Colorado.
Out of the box, this high quality, fully coated, rifle scope had the look and feel of one of the best scopes offered on the market. It mounted seamlessly to my Magnum.
Nikon boasts that this scope allows in 98% of light, and is fully multi-coated and nitrogen filled scope to prevent fogging - so we took it out to the field to put it to the test.
The Power
This Nikon ProStaff is a variable power scope. The 4-12x40 allows you to dial from 4 up to 12 magnification to suit your hunting needs. That's more power in a scope than I need for shorter range 'varmint hunting'.
I usually hunt inside 100 yards so I shot the scope with a setting around 5. A fixed scope would most likely be the best candidate for hunting small game.
The Objective Lens
This scope's objective lens is a little larger than what is required for the .22 Mag and offered a very clear sight. It was clear and bright at 40mm and provided the best light transmission front to back.
I did shoot my rimfire in the evenings and found that the larger objective was far more gracious in letting in light as you approach dusk. There was no parallax adjustment on the scope but it appeared that one was built in and set at around 100 yards.
Fuzziness and blurriness were not a problem during our intense hunt. The scope's optics performed in an outstanding fashion. I selected the bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticle for quick and easy range finding.
Rugged and Durable
Yes, this rifle scope performed well on our weekend coyote shoot in the snowbanks of Kiowa Creek in Eastern Colorado. There were quite a few creek crossing, climbing on our bellies and hauling scope mounted rifles into tree stands. We're rough on gear out here and the Nikon performed very well under the worst-case conditions.
Knobs and Dials
Both the Diopter adjustment and the magnification zoom, as well as the elevation and windage turrets functioned smoothly. Windage adjustments were smooth yet reported a loud click to ensure accurate and confident shooting.
Affordability
Currently, pricing information is unavailable online because demand for this tough little scope is high. I paid $180 for the test scope for my .22 Mag which didn't hit my pocketbook too hard.
The Verdict
I kept good notes in the field while testing these scopes. After the trial I reviewed my notes and saw that the Nikon ProStaff scored very well, with durability and quality optics bringing it to the forefront.
The 3.7 inches of eye relief worked very well and made for comfortable cheek weld with the stock length of the Browning T-bolt I was shooting that day.
I was most satisfied with this model for my rimfire. This good-looking scope finished first and it's the best performer with a large objective lens, demonstrating the best light transmission and offering a clear sight picture. The coated optics withstood large changes in weather patterns without fogging up, and a true dialed bullet drop compensator matched up perfectly with the .22 Mag.
2. Simmons 3-9x32mm .22 Waterproof Fog Proof Matte Black Rifle Scope
Simmons is a subsidiary of one of the top shooting optic companies in the world, Bushnell. This Simmons scope toughed it out with us at altitude in the rugged San Isabel mountains of South-Central Colorado during a November snowshoe hare hunt on the Continental Divide above 12,000 feet.
Out of the box, this affordable scope had the look and feel of its more pricier competitors. The supplied mounting rings and hardware allowed for an easy installation, a tight scope fit.
The Power
This candidate is also a variable power scope. The 3-9x32 allows you to dial from 3 up to 9 magnification - which seems more appropriate for the max effective ranges of the .22 Mag. That's about the right amount of power in a scope that is needed for shorter range 'varmint hunting'.
Hunting inside the 100 yard range with a .22 Mag, I shot the rifle with the scope set at 7 power. However, I've always considered a fixed magnification scope the best candidate for hunting small game at shorter ranges with a .22 Mag.
The Objective Lens
This scope's 32mm objective meets all the requirements for plinking, target shooting and hunting. It allowed in plenty of light for during the day time but did not perform as well as the Nikon ProStaff in low-light shooting situations. Like the Nikon Prostaff, I did shoot in the evenings and found that the larger objective was far more gracious in letting in light in low-light scenarios. Given the high altitude and cold temperature conditions we put it through, the Simmons performed very well.
Rugged and Durable
The Simmons scope performed well under the conditions: the lenses never fogged up and it performed well in the most rugged terrain and weather against other high quality scopes. It truly is the best 'beginner scope' because it was specifically designed to pair with the .22 Mag.
Knobs and Dials
All scope adjustments were smooth, windage and elevation turrets reported loud enough for this shooter.
Affordability
At under $50, you can't beat the low price to equip your .22 Mag with a quality scope.
The Verdict
The lightweight Simmons scope had the second best feeling eye relief of all the candidates allowing me to move behind my Mag and the scope without losing my target.
Their Quick Target Acquisition really sold itself, allowing the shooter to gain a quick cheek weld and clearly seeing the target at 3.5'' and beyond. The sacrifice? The image of the target was smaller than the other scopes I tested. I improved the image by mounting the scope as far as we could forward on the rails.
The scope was also the best bargain with a low price, but I found that the scope was just not as versatile as other scopes tested.
3. Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7x32 Rimfire
After losing two $800 Leupold binoculars on separate hunting trips, my wife bought me a pair of new Vortex binos for Christmas - for $130. I still have them today. The optics outperform the price and they are rugged as heck.
I took the Vortex Crossfire II Rimfire to the Aurora Gun Club for a weekend of shooting and evaluation. It's an outdoor range with targets out to 500 yards and I made sure that I picked a weekend to target practice that was cold and wet.
The Power
This one is also a variable power scope. The 2-7x32 was more than appropriate for the max effective ranges of the .22 Mag.
I set up the Browning equipped with the Vortex II scope, equipped with the BDC reticle, and dialed the scope out to 100 yards. I shot the rifle with the scope set at 7 power to achieve the best accuracy and sight picture. My groups were inside 2" and I was pleased with the accuracy.
Of the four other scopes, this one was the toughest to get the sight picture clear and there were some blurriness.
The Objective Lens
Like the Simmons, the 32mm objective works just fine for plinking, target shooting and hunting.
As I shot all day on the range, I noticed the glass was not as crisp and clear as the other contenders and as I continued to shoot till dusk and found out that it did not provide the same light transmission as the other scopes. With that being said, I was still able to keep all my shots inside a 2'' ring out to 125 yards. Albeit, having to string my eyes a bit more.
Rugged and Durable
Unfortunately, I was not able to take the Vortex out into the field for a stress test to see if it's the best .22 scope in this category - only the range. I've heard through the grapevine, from other shooting enthusiasts, that the Vortex scope could be a little more durable and to do that you have to spend a little more moolah.
Knobs and Dials
I had some major complaints on scope adjustments. They were not nearly as smooth as the other tested scopes and windage and elevation turrets did not provide loud enough clicks for me to be sure of their adjustment.
Affordability
I got mine for $130, so it did not going to break the bank. The Vortex also comes with a transferrable, lifetime warranty which can be appealing to the shooter that likes to buy and sell scopes frequently.
The Verdict
The Vortex Crossfire II falls somewhere in the middle of the pack for a rimfire. We found the glass to perform satisfactorily but it did not perform as well in the eye relief category, though the multi-coated glass did not fog up during our cold and windy shoot.
For $50 more, you can go with the superior performance of the Nikon scope.
4. Tasco Rimfire 3-7x 20mm 30/30 Reticle Rifle Scope
A buddy of mine from Nebraska called me up to rid his fields of some pesky prairie dogs. I knew this would be a good opportunity to try out the entry level Tasco Rimfire scope. We'd be shooting out to 50 yards at most, and wanted to see how this great looking scope would perform against its more expensive rivals.
I mounted one up and found that the mounting rings that were provided did not bite rails on my rimfire that tight so I had to really torque them on to avoid any required field adjustments.
The Power
The 3-7x32 allows you to dial from 3 up to 7 magnification - which gives you a field of vision from 24 feet down to 11 feet. The scope gets all that is needed for short range shooting just right. And I hit most of the prairie dogs I set my sights on.
Hunting inside the 100 yard range with a .22 Mag, I shot the rifle with the scope set at 7 power. I've always considered a fixed magnification scope the best candidate for hunting small game at shorter ranges with a .22 Mag.
The Objective Lens
The magenta color lens coating was pretty cool looking and let in plenty of light during the day. This scope's 20mm objective meets all the requirements for plinking and target shooting; but mostly for the standard .22 Long Rifle and its limited range. Even with a small objective, it allowed plenty of light for my day time prairie dog hunt but we had to pack it in late afternoon.
Rugged and Durable
The Tasco is waterproof but is not fog proof nor shock proof - two of my primary requirements. The scope is best left in your shooting bag when you go on your high-impact, rugged terrain, poor weather hunts.
Knobs and Dials
There is not much for Tasco to brag about here. Compared to more expensive and better engineered models, it still got the job done. Though a parallax adjustment was not provided, I had no issues with object displacement at ranges out to 50 yards.
Affordability
Most affordable of all the rifle scopes tested, at under $40, it performs well enough for your basic rimfire, short range shooting activities.
The Verdict
The Tasco is designed to be lightweight with the 1'' tube diameter and small eye piece; however I found it too small for comfortable shooting. The eye relief, at a close 2.5 inches was a little too close for the .22 WMR and I almost got scope bit a few times while launching 30 grain bullets in Nebraska.
The scope was also the best bargain with a low price, but I found that the scope was just not the best performer in any category.
5. Leupold 113872 VX-1 Rimfire Scope with Fine Duplex Reticle, Matte Black Finish
My past experiences using Leupold optics have been nothing but positive. Leupold has traditionally provided the shooter with clear coated optics for the best clarity out there. Their lens coating techniques have always led the pack in rifle scopes offered on the market.
It took me only a few minutes to mount the scope to my Browning using my own mounting rings. I sighted in at home and headed back out to the plains of Eastern Colorado to test it out on some fast moving Jackrabbits.
The Power
This candidate is also a variable power scope. The 3-9x32 allows you to dial from 3 up to 9 magnification - which seems more appropriate for the max effective ranges of the .22 Mag. That's about the right amount of power in a scope that I need for shorter range 'varmint hunting'.
Hunting inside the 100 yard range with a .22 Mag, I shot the rifle with the scope set at 7 power.
The Objective Lens
The 28mm objective works fine for plinking, target practice and hunting during the day time. The fully coated glass offered a bright and crisp view. There was plenty of light for day time hunting but it did not perform as well as the Nikon ProStaff in the evenings and early mornings.
Rugged and Durable
The Leupold scope performed well in the wet, windy and winter conditions: the lenses never fogged up and it performed well in several creek crossings and being dragged through snow banks by an exhausted hunter.
Knobs and Dials
I expected more for Leupold when it came to the scope's adjustment knobs. There was a little too much slack and play during windage and elevation adjustments for me. It took some getting used to but, I eventually felt comfortable making adjustments in the field.
Affordability
Leupold optics are at the top of the performance range and can be pretty pricy.
The Verdict
Once I had enough daylight, I was able to peer through the Leupold and get a clear sight picture. My snappy .22 Mag dispatched several Jackrabbits that day.
Leupold's waterproof and fog-proof guarantee turned out to be a big seller. The scope performed very well in some pretty icky weather. The scope was light, at 8 oz., but not the lightest in the group. The big downers were the knob adjustments, they were a little sloppier than the other scopes I tested and the smallest objective that forced me to strain my eyes during low light hunting.
At the End of the Day
That's the thought process of my findings and the results of the field testing that I came up with to select the best .22 Mag scope. At the end of the day, I love standing on that pile of rimfire shells on the range. I'll wipe down the rifle and scope and write down some more notes on what I think is the best .22 Mag scopes for a rimfire.
After shooting over 1,000 rounds behind these scopes, I found that the Nikon ProStaff 4-12x40mm Rimfire Rifle Scope outperformed its competitor scopes in every aspect except price. It is the best .22 scope solution for your Magnum. It's still mounted to my bolt action rimfire .
- Provided the tightest groups at 100 yards
- The multi-coated optics stayed clear and fog-proof during the worst weather conditions
- The eye relief was most forgiving, allowing me to quickly acquire my target
- Scope adjustments were easy to use, clicks were audible and the adjustments smooth
- It certainly is the best of the best scopes out there for varmint shooting with the versatile .22 Mag