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- Alfred Mendoza
- April 23, 2024
Having loads of choices with “almost” similar features, you might get disheartened to choose a scope for your 22 magnum rifle.
Our team created this ultimate guide to help you choose the best scope for mag 22 that will suit your hunting and shooting needs.
- Crisp clarity and low light ability
- Fully multi-coated lens
- Hard-wearing
- Capped reset turrets
- Fast focus eyepiece
- 3:1 Zoom Ratio
- Scratch-Resistant Lenses
- Reliable and accurate
- Lightweight material
- Heavy-duty
Table of Contents
- 1 Top 8 Scopes for Magnum .22 Rifle
- 1.1 1. Vortex Crossfire II 2-7x32 Riflescope
- 1.2 2. Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire Riflescope
- 1.3 3. Vortex Viper HS 4-16x50 Riflescope
- 1.4 4. Bushnell Banner Multi-X Riflescope
- 1.5 5. Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle
- 1.6 6. Vortex Optics Diamondback 2-7×35 Rimfire Riflescope
- 1.7 7. Hawke Vantage AO Mil-Dot Riflescope
- 1.8 8. BSA 3-9X40 Sweet 22 Rifle Scope
- 2 Your Guide to Buying 22 Mag Scopes
- 3 Our Team's Selection Process
- 4 FAQs
- 5 What’s Our Choice for the Best Scope for 22 Mag?
Top 8 Scopes for Magnum .22 Rifle
1. Vortex Crossfire II 2-7x32 Riflescope
Why We Picked It:
The Vortex Crossfire II 2-7x32mm Riflescope is one of the best scopes for a magnum 22 Rifle. This rifle scope is exceptionally excellent for close to medium-range encounters. When our team took this rifle scope to the field to hunt deer, we almost didn’t waste ammo. It has a fast-focus eyepiece, capped reset turrets, and can withstand harsh recoil.
We also liked that it is built with a fully multi-coated lens and even comes with a glare-reducing sunshade. We were able to use this rifle scope during broad daylight or even at sunset. It provided us with clear and bright sight pictures, too. It is constructed with anodized aircraft-grade aluminum and features machine-locked lenses that could withstand wear and tear conditions.
Who Should Use It:
This rimfire rifle scope is recommended for field shooting, hunting, and sport shooting escapades. You can also use this for bench rest and other shooting activities.
Summary:
This affordable scope offers crisp clarity and commendable low light ability. It is made of aircraft aluminum with a hard-anodized finish. It is also waterproof, shockproof, and fog proof. This is a durable rifle scope that can endure recoil, dust, and any other harmful elements.
PROS
- Crisp clarity and low light ability
- Fully multi-coated lens
- Hard-wearing
- Capped reset turrets
- Fast focus eyepiece
CONS
- Tends to have glare/flare at the edges
2. Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire Riflescope
Why We Picked It:
This rifle scope is one of the best and most affordable scopes for a .22 mag rifle on this list. We liked its rugged design, dependability, reliability, and accuracy. Its scratch-resistant lenses and matte black finish were also impressive.
This heavy-duty scope has an objective lens of 40mm and a magnification of 3-9x. It comes with a Second Focal Plane (SFP) and is constructed with lightweight 6061-T6 aluminum.
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Who Should Use It:
If you are into deer hunting and target shooting, this riflescope is your best buddy. You can also use this for almost any type of shooting escapades.
Summary:
This rifle scope comes with scratch-resistant lenses with Twilight Light Management System, providing extreme lens durability. It also has a rugged design and a matte finish with lightweight construction.
PROS
- 3:1 Zoom Ratio
- Scratch-Resistant Lenses
- Reliable and accurate
- Lightweight material
- Heavy-duty
CONS
- Complaints about its finger adjustments
- Reticle might be too fine for some shooters
3. Vortex Viper HS 4-16x50 Riflescope
Why We Picked It:
The Vortex Viper HS 4-16×50 riflescope is also one of the best scopes for mag 22. This is ideal for longer-range shots, and it provided us with accurate performance and reliability.
We liked its 4x optical zooms and durable 30mm aluminum main tubes. We were also impressed with its ultra-friendly eye box with increased eye relief. It helped us get on target more quickly and easily. Lastly, its locking rings helped its lenses stay in place amidst the recoil and impact of our every shot.
Who Should Use It:
We suggest using this 22 magnum scope to go into deer hunting, elk hunting, and even target shooting. It would help you land more accurate shots when on the field.
Summary:
This high-quality scope comes with ample eye relief, 4x optical zooms, and durable 30mm aluminum main tubes. It also features an ultra-friendly eye box that helps shooters get on target more quickly and easily. Lastly, it has locking rings that make its lenses stay in place amidst the recoil and impact.
PROS
- 4x optical zooms
- Durable aluminum main tube
- Generous eye relief
- Locking rings
- Accurate and reliable
CONS
- Somewhat heavy
- Complaints on magnification level markings
4. Bushnell Banner Multi-X Riflescope
Why We Picked It:
This scope for a .22 mag rifle is ideal for centerfire and break barrel air rifles. This super-high-power variable scope comes with Dusk & Dawn Brightness (DDB) fully coated optics, which cast clarity and brightness between day and night. It also comes with a reticle (Multi-X), has a fast-focus eyepiece, and a field-of-view at 1000 yards.
Who Should Use It:
This scope is also ideal for target shooters and deer hunters, especially if you’re aiming for the best spots to hit a deer. You can use this scope on the field without worrying about its durability because it comes with a dry-nitrogen-filled lens.
Summary:
This durable scope is 100% shockproof, waterproof, and fog proof. It has a quick focus eyepiece, a wide field of view, and a reticle (Multi-X) that provides accuracy, clarity, and brightness.
PROS
- Side focus/parallax adjustment knobs
- Dry-nitrogen filled
- Classy looking
- Provides clear and bright images
- Comes with easy adjustments
CONS
- Only offered in a multi-x
- Somewhat heavy
5. Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle
Why We Picked It:
This scope is 3 lbs lighter than the Bushnell Banner Multi-X Riflescope. It comes with Fully Multi-Coated (FMC) Optics and IPX4 waterproof rating, making it less hassle to use in the shooting range.
It also provided us with a clear sight picture, which is ideal for our hunting escapades even during the low-light conditions. We also liked its Multi-X Reticle, making it easier for us to acquire our target quickly and easily. We also liked its resettable windage and elevation adjustment.
Who Should Use It:
This scope is best recommended to younger shooters and hunters because it is easy to adjust. You can also use this scope for your short-range shooting rifles.
Summary:
This scope comes with Fully Multi-Coated (FMC) Optics, fast focus eye piece, and IPX4 waterproof rating. Its Multi-X reticle makes target acquisition easier and faster. It also comes with resettable windage and elevation adjustments.
PROS
- HD clarity optics
- Resettable windage and elevation adjustments
- Built to last
- 3 to 9x magnification
- Dusk & Dawn Brightness (DDB) multi-coated lenses
CONS
- Unlevelled crosshair after a few shots
- Edge of glass blurs at maximum magnification
6. Vortex Optics Diamondback 2-7×35 Rimfire Riflescope
Why We Picked It:
This dependable scope is highly resistant to magnum force recoil because of its solid, one-piece aircraft-grade aluminum alloy construction. We liked how this rifle scope comes with a V-Plex reticle, providing us with a wide variety of hunting applications.
It also comes with crosshairs that were Argon gas purged, delivering fog-proof performance. Lastly, its 150 hours battery life was also impressive.
Who Should Use It:
This good quality scope is your best choice if you are looking for a reliable low power hunting or plinking scope. You can use this to hunt, bench rest, target shoot, or just plainly to have fun.
Summary:
This long-lasting scope comes with fully multi-coated lenses in the second focal plane and V-Plex and BDC reticle. It has a hard anodized finish, precision-glide erector system, and fast focusing eyepiece that provides a clear view and bright sight picture.
PROS
- Long-lasting
- Precision-glide erector system
- BDC reticle with side parallax adjustment
- Excellent magnification
- Easy to zero and to operate
CONS
- Short eye relief
- Doesn’t come in camo
7. Hawke Vantage AO Mil-Dot Riflescope
Why We Picked It:
Another best scope for .22 magnum rifle is the Hawke Vantage AO Mil-Dot Riflescope. We liked its fast focus eyeball and a high torque zoom ring, with a variable of 2-7x magnification. We were impressed how its magnification ring stayed in place even when used with high recoil.
We also liked how its lenses are fully multi-coated and provided us with optimum light transmission and better clarity. It also comes with a low profile and no-snag fingertip turrets that made resetting to zero easier.
Who Should Use It:
This scope is tailor-fitted with rimfire shooting and other calibers, making it an all-around option for almost any type of shooting activity.
Summary:
This scope comes with 11 layers of fully multi-coated optics, a versatile objective lens for parallax adjustment/correction, and one-inch mono-tube chassis for extreme durability. It also comes with a 1/4 MOA low profile “no-snag” fingertip turrets, high torque zoom ring, and fast focus eyeball.
PROS
- Hawke Worldwide Warranty
- Excellent light transmission
- Low profile, no-snag fingertip turrets
- 11fully multi-coated layers
- One-piece tube construction
CONS
- Complaints about turrets problem
- Maximum magnification isn’t enough for mil-dot value
8. BSA 3-9X40 Sweet 22 Rifle Scope
Why We Picked It:
We also picked the BSA Sweet AO Rifle Scope because we were impressed with its three ballistically calibrated turrets for 36 grain, 38 grain, and 40-grain cartridges.
This 22 mag rifle scope also comes with an adjustable objective, fully coated lens, making it easier to target moving objects. It is constructed with aluminum, so it is relatively lightweight, too.
Who Should Use It:
We recommend this scope to newbies or first-time hunters. It is also ideal for target shooting because it is easy to control and use.
Summary:
This scope comes with three ballistically calibrated turrets and an adjustable objective lens that is fully coated. It is constructed with aluminum, making it lightweight while still being durable and weatherproof.
PROS
- Excellent feature set
- Easy to install
- Affordable
- Has an adjustable objective lens
- Lightweight
CONS
- Takes a little getting used to
- Crosshair sometimes moves
Your Guide to Buying 22 Mag Scopes
Magnification Power
When buying the best scope for 22 mag rifle, determining its magnification power should be on your list. Magnification power provides shooters flexibility on the shooting range. Thus, we always suggest that buyers look for rimfire rifle scopes with adjustable magnification for short or long-range shooting.
Field of View
You also need to consider the field of view of the 22 mag rifle scope. Remember, the wider the field of view, the better because it would easily help you follow your target. It makes it easier to aim at moving targets, too, like Nikon modern rifle scopes’ Ballistic Match Technology.
Lens Size & Coating
The lens size determines the amount of light that passes through your 22 magnum rifle scope. A bigger objective lens size means there is more light that can pass through. We also suggest that you focus on looking for a finish like an o-ring sealed finish. It could protect your rimfire rifle scope in the long run and against extreme weather conditions.
Weight
Most 22 magnum scopes are made of lightweight materials such as titanium or aluminum, reducing their overall weight when mounted on the 22 mag rifle. However, a large objective lens could make your scope heavier. So, if you are willing to carry a heavier scope to get a better image quality in low light conditions, it’s up to you.
Easy Adjustments
We also recommend looking for the perfect scope that comes with easy focus adjustments. It should come with easy to control windage and elevation turrets to achieve an excellent performance. This will greatly help you make quick and precise adjustments while you’re out in the field.
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Eye Relief
It is recommended to buy a great scope with generous eye relief to protect your eyebrows against injuries and any eye strain. This way, you’ll enjoy your time on the field without worrying about any injuries incurred from your rifle’s recoil.
Durability
Obviously, every buyer wants a good scope that could last them a lifetime. Therefore, you need to find a scope that has guaranteed durability and is constructed with high-quality materials and has a nitrogen-filled and o-ring sealed body.
Waterproof Rating
The most common way you’ll see such a rating given will be in the format ‘IP43’, ‘IP67’, or similar. The rating indicates the quality of resistance to moisture ingress at varying intensities, angles, depths, and exposure pressures or immersion. [1] Hence, the higher the number means, the higher the waterproof rating the products get.
Clarity
You also need to consider the clarity of these scopes to ensure an uncompromised and more accurate shooting experience. We suggest buying scopes that would easily focus and maintain their clarity at any magnification level, like a scope with a duplex reticle. Other scopes with dovetail rings and scope caps are recommended, too.
Price
You may find it hard to find the best option for your mag 22 because of the long list of brands on the market with a reasonable price. Well, one deciding factor that could help you choose could be its price range. If you are a budget buyer, you may tend to buy less expensive brands or models. However, if you are a wise buyer, you won’t equate price with performance.
Our Team's Selection Process
Overall Performance
The overall performance of these scopes entails a meticulous examination of their product features, compatibility, and usage, especially when used in the shooting range. Our team always ensured unbiased testing of these products to find the best scope for mag 22.
Weapon Compatibility
All these scopes are most recommended for 22 mag rifles. However, we still opted to discover whether they could be used with other rifles such as AR platforms, pistols, carbines, and others. We mounted these scopes with various weapons to check their compatibility levels.
Product Quality
In weighing the product quality of the scopes, we had to ensure that every aspect of these items was fully examined. We consider the customer feedback, personal experiences, and research-based results regarding their qualities and features.
FAQs
The effective range of a .22 magnum is nearly 125 yards or 114 meters. This rifle is typically effective with short or medium-range shooting distances. It isn’t recommended to use for long-range distances.
Yes, a .22 mag rifle scope will work on a .22 long rifle. Although most scopes don’t come with scope rings, some of them do. Hence, as long as your .22 long rifle has Weaver/Picatinny mounts, they will work.
What’s Our Choice for the Best Scope for 22 Mag?
Our choice for the best scope for 22 mag is the Vortex Optics Crossfire II Riflescope, which works best for close to medium range encounters. We liked how this 22 magnum scope could endure harsh recoil and even feature a fast-focus eyepiece and BDC reticle system.
Furthermore, this 22 magnum scope comes with a glare-reducing sunshade, making it an ideal option for day and night hunting adventures. This durable scope also provides clear and bright sight pictures and features machine-locked lenses for better durability.
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Our #1 Recommendation
Vortex Optics Crossfire II Riflescope
- Crisp, excellent clarity, and low light ability
- Provides clear and bright sight pictures
- BDC reticle system
- Fast focus eye-piece
