Now you can buy the best rimfire scope at a good price without the hunt. Are you tired of using magnification and other complicated scopes? A rimfire scope is the kind of thing you have easy access to.
Regardless of which model you use, hooking a rifle with this scope increases precision. A rimfire scope is way different than other standard scopes, but it’s easier.
Pursuing a rimfire scope makes all the difference. It boosts your confidence level when approaching targets. Also, buying a rimfire scope helps you get ahead of the game in the most efficient manner. So let’s get started.
Quick Comparison: Top 7 Best Rimfire Scopes
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* Below, you’ll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see customer reviews and current prices on Amazon.com
The Top 7 Rimfire Scopes to Buy
The real potential of a rimfire scope starts with its features. A solid buy for most hunters means a beautiful day out in the field. The main reason why rimfire scopes work is that they make the best use of limited resources. This means they use less powder, less brass, and are products of the cheapest, but efficient brands.
1. Simmons 511039 .22 Mag(R) – The Most Affordable Rimfire Riflescope (Editor’s Choice)
The Simmons 511039 has a high-quality construction. The kind you wouldn’t have to spend an exorbitant amount for. The features this best rimfire scope has to offer are at least four times more expensive to use in other models.
It features a durable, fully-coated optical glass lens. This is in performance with the HydroShield lens coating. It also comes with an adjustable objective lens to ensure clear and well-focused views. The magnification is impressive because it works in perfect accordance with the lens.
What we loved the most about the rimfire scope are the elevation and windage knobs. They offer accurate hand-adjustments, even if you’re wearing thick gloves. And the best part about is that it comes with a secure cap to prevent you from making adjustments, by accident.
If you’re looking for versatility at a good price, the Simmons 511039 is what to go after. But the only drawback to this rimfire scope is the lens quality. They’re not multi-coated which means they’re unable to process more light better.
We Like
- It has precise elevation and windage adjustments.
- Good eye relief at all magnification levels.
We Don’t Like
- The lenses are not multi-coated for better viewing capabilities.
2. Nikon Buckmaster II 3-9×40 BDC – Best Rimfire Riflescope
The Nikon Buckmaster II 3-9×40 BDC is at the top of the line for its performance and design. It offers smooth controls and a durable body to go with its rugged features. The anti-reflective, multi-coated lenses provide exceptional clarity. Meanwhile, it beats down most other competitors because of its 92% anti-reflection improvement.
What’s remaining is the BDC reticle trajectory-compensating system. This offers faster, more efficient and straightforward shooting capabilities. So you can take your ideal shot from shorter and longer distances.
And the shelf life is also exceptional. Thanks to the waterproof and fog-proof housing. For protecting the interiors from moisture and dust, it features an O-ring sealing. Not to mention, the nitrogen filling sealing also promises moisture-free performance.
That said, you now know what makes this rimfire scope great. But what about the ‘not-so-great’ part? The Nikon Buckmaster does lag behind regarding adjustability. It doesn’t offer certain adjustment features, a letdown for professional hunters.
We Like
- One of the most versatile rimfire scopes to use.
- Offers an anti-reflective lens capability that keeps fog and glare at bay.
We Don’t Like
- Lack of more useful adjustable features.
Nikon’s BDC Distance Lock Riflescopes
3. BARSKA 3-9×32 Plinker-22 Riflescope
In a quest for finding something valuable and efficient, we recommend the BARSKA. It meets all expectations with regards to magnification, adjustments, and durability.
Boasting of a waterproof and shockproof body, it’s perfect for outdoor use. It’s one of the most attractive buys out there, thanks to its high magnification levels. It’s straightforward to sight in, aim, and shoot with this scope. So even if you’re starting new with your rifle, using the BARSKA doesn’t feel so intimidating.
Other significant features include mounting rings, lens cover, and a wiping cloth. That means you can use it for as long as you like and whichever weather you like. There’s no stopping this rimfire scope, especially for hardcore hunters.
But the only bitter detail of the BARSKA is parallax correction issues. Especially at close range, which requires high magnification.
We Like
- It features multi-coated optical lenses.
- It is waterproof, shockproof, and fog-proof.
We Don’t Like
- The parallax correction at higher magnification levels is inadequate.
4. Vortex Crossfire II CF2-31001R – Best Rimfire Riflescope with Longer Eye Relief
The Vortex Crossfire II is just what you need. It’s a great buy for magnification, fast-focus, and eye relief. Another one of its great features is the new and improved multi-coated lens quality.
For hunters who love small game hunting with longer eye relief, this one is for you. It’s the rimfire scope for higher elevation, which is aiming at smaller targets. The eye box this rimfire scope comes with offers only seconds to spare from pointing and taking a shot. Pretty impressive, don’t you think?
Moving forward, this rimfire scope also offers incredible pictures with 7x magnification. The parallax corrections also work in perfect accordance with higher zoom. As does for shooting at closer ranges, that is at 2x magnification.
The unconvincing drawback to this rimfire scope is the lack of mounting integration. It would have been a much better and reliable scope with proper mounting components.
We Like
- It is resistant to water, shock, and fog.
- The housing is hard anodized to increase shelf life.
- Perfect for bright light transitioning and better eye relief.
We Don’t Like
- It offers weak mounting features.
Vortex Crossfire II Riflescope
5. BSA Optics 3-12×40 Sweet 17 Rifle Scope – The Excellent Windage Rimfire Riflescope
If you’re looking for something basic to use for a .17 caliber, the BSA Optics Sweet 17 is what we recommend. It offers excellent windage and elevation adjustments. Plus, it offers up to 12x magnification so you can get enough to target even smaller rodents.
What makes this best rimfire scope sweet and irresistible is the durability factor. It’s backed by a lifetime warranty, so you can use it dead on for as long as you hunt.
Apart from its shelf life, it provides crystal clear viewings over 250 yards. That, depending upon the kind of rifle and ammo you choose to use. To be fair, the BSA is ready to take on whatever you got saved up for a final hunt. Its smart design, adjustable objective focus, and lens quality are outstanding.
Be that as it may, with all the features this rimfire scope has to offer, it does face some reliability issues. The quality of the power ring for making adjustments is average. It does have a case history of jamming.
We Like
- It features a lifetime warranty.
- It offers crisp, clear, and accurate picture even at higher magnification levels.
We Don’t Like
- The power ring feels a tad bit stiff.
6. Nikon Prostaff Target EFR 3-9×40 AO Matte Precision Reticle – The Most Reliable Riflescope
The Nikon Prostaff Target is a feature-packed rimfire scope. It puts forth a variety of features such as the enhanced focus range. It is an adjustable feature to make parallax correction more accurate and reliable. This means you won’t have settle for any less, especially when it comes to objective lenses.
Another impressive feature is the 3 to 9 magnification. The rimfire scope powers through long distances in a smooth and safe way. Its housing is also very reliable and boasts a longer shelf life than anticipated. More on that, it is resistant to water, shock, and fog.
The 50-yard parallax correction, anti-reflective optical lens, and quick-focus are to die for. That said, this rimfire scope has a very reassuring eyepiece with a quick pick-up time frame. So you go from aiming to shooting the target in no time!
The only inconvenient factor is that it’s slightly heavyweight than what we’ve tested.
We Like
- It features a wider field of view with anti-reflective and large ocular lenses.
- The cross hairs offer target dot focusing with good, clear images.
- Ideal rimfire scope for range finding.
We Don’t Like
- It is a heavy-duty rimfire scope.
Nikon Training Series – PROSTAFF Rimfire Riflescopes
7. Bushnell Banner – Best All-Round Rimfire Riflescope
The Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn serves up an intuitive and efficient design. It is considered to be a top quality level product that will surprise you given its durable and charming design. We recommend this best rimfire scope for its HD clarity and flexibility.
It features fine windage and elevation adjustments. This will help you aim and shoot faster with no glare. It also offers incredible brightness. This is perfect for when you enhance your targets before taking a shot.
Another significant benefit is the ability to zero in on smaller items. It may be simple to do so in normal weather conditions, but the trick is to beat down the bad ones too. The multi-X reticle with 12x magnification can handle versatile climatic conditions without trouble.
It helps you make adjustments based on your elevation, windage, and brightness levels. Everything we tell you about this rimfire scope feels convincing enough. Be that as it may, it’s not a lightweight rimfire scope to use. You will feel the tension on the riflescope after a few hours of tracking
We Like
- It features high power settings with excellent picture clarity.
- It’s 100% durable with quality-tested materials.
We Don’t Like
- It puts loads of pressure on the rifle because of the large design.
Yes, That’s Covered
Ultimate Guide to Buying Rimfire Scopes
Now you know why it’s impossible to replace rimfire scopes when hunting. Buying a rimfire scope makes more sense than paying an arm and a leg for something limited. To our surprise, people using rimfire scope never felt ill-equipped in an actual hunt. Why? It’s because rimfire scopes serve as the most accurate and efficient scopes for rifles.
Plus, they have an economic advantage over the rest because of its low price. That said, having a clear understanding of rimfire scope takes patience and, in this case, time. This will guide you to act more responsibly in versatile hunting situations.
Difference between Rimfire and Centerfire Rifles
There are two key differences between a rimfire scope and a centerfire scope.
- Distance
- Caliber
For a rimfire rifle to work, the firing pin has to crush the bullet’s end for it to have an impact or ignite the primer. And because of this, a rimfire cartridge is thinner than centerfire rifle. In simple words, a rimfire bullet has only a .22 caliber. It’s only limited to this caliber and doesn’t go beyond that.
That said, it’s obvious that rimfire scopes aren’t ideal for greater distances. This also means centerfire rifles are. But the drawback to centerfirerifles is that they aren’t great for shorter distances. They do not focus beyond 150 yards, due to incorrect parallax correction.
Since that’s the boiling point for centerfire rifles, a rimfire scope targets to 150 yards. And with the help of a rimfire scope, you can aim targets at a greater distance. So you’re much better off picking a rimfire scope than a standard rifle scope to do the trick.
Valuable Pointers to Keep in Mind
Using a rimfire scope is no picnic. You need to be aware of certain features and terms to use one in a safe and efficient manner.
Parallax
Rimfire scopes have either fixed, adjustable, or free parallax features. Parallax correction is a setting you rely on when you see through the scope with one eye. It’s common sense that when you shut one eye, your brain displays only half the full picture.
So that means, through the scope, the picture is to one side. This can interfere with your aim because your shot will hit to the side of what you were aiming at.
With parallax correction, you can adjust your display settings to hit the target. Parallax is most important for times when you’re shooting long distances.
Magnification Level
A rimfire scope for shorter distances is as necessaryas it is for greater range. With a rimfire scope with adjustable magnification, you can shoot with greater accuracy. It gives you more options to experiment with.
Plus, the increased magnification helps you adapt to greater distances and target sizes. So with a smaller target and longer distance, you can take your shot. The best part about arimfire scope is the adjustable magnification.
Caliber
The caliber determines certain significant factors such as lens quality and internal adjustments. The kind of rimfire scopes you’re looking for here demand necessary but precise quality. This includes models that are easy to handle and are straightforward.
Hence, due to the weak demand of high caliber models, many standard models offer only a little. This means you have to be more careful than ever when comparing two products together. Because rimfire scopes offer low-end features, that doesn’t mean they’re not important.
Conclusion
For this guide, we looked at versatile scopes to fit the bill. So we have options for budget-minded hunters as well as the professional ones. So if you have a bigger budget to draw from, either one of our best rimfire scopes should do the trick.
To be clear, it’s fair to say that rimfire scopes are generally on the low-end margin of the game. This means you buy skilled and accurate scopes at a small yet valuable price.
That said, the best rimfire scope for rimfire rifles is the Simmons 511039. Most people are unable to find a good use for the rimfire scope, whether they’d like to go hunting or remain safe. This is the kind of rimfire scope that’s secure, accurate, and durable to use. It’s ready to work and used for hours if necessary.
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