If you’re searching out the top best rimfire scope, it all comes down to staying with scopes built expressly for rimfire rifles, and knowing what rimfire you’re talking about.
Choosing the Best Rimfire Scope is essential for getting the most accuracy and performance out of your .22 LR or other rimfire rifle. Unlike centerfire optics, rimfire scopes are specifically designed for shorter shooting distances, lighter recoil, and precise targeting of small game or range targets. The right scope enhances clarity, improves shot placement, and builds confidence whether you’re hunting, plinking, or practicing target shooting.
When selecting the Best Rimfire Scope, it’s important to consider magnification range, parallax adjustment for close distances, optical quality, and overall durability. A well‑matched scope not only complements your rifle but also ensures consistent, reliable performance in the field.
So, here’s a comprehensive review of the best rimfire scopes on the current market and whether they’re the right ones for you.
Factors to consider when Best Rimfire Scope
| Factor | What It Means | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Magnification Range | The zoom power of the scope (e.g., 4–16×). | Determines how close targets appear; rimfire rifles often do best with 3–9× or 4–12× for versatile use. |
| Reticle Type | The aiming pattern inside the scope (e.g., Duplex, BDC, Rimfire specific). | A suitable reticle helps with holdovers and precision at varying distances. |
| Objective Lens Diameter | Size of the front lens (e.g., 40mm, 50mm). | Larger lenses allow more light for brighter, clearer images in low light. |
| Parallax Adjustment | A feature that helps focus the target image at different distances. | Essential for rimfire caliber accuracy, usually adjustable between 10–50 yards. |
| Eye Relief | Distance your eye can be from the scope and still see a full image. | Comfort and safety, especially with repeated shooting sessions. |
| Optical Clarity | Quality of lenses and lens coatings. | Affects brightness, resolution, and contrast — crucial for sighting small targets. |
| Durability | Housing material and resistance to water, fog, shock. | Ensures the scope remains reliable under weather and recoil conditions. |
| Weight & Size | How heavy and bulky the scope is. | Affects rifle balance and ease of handling, especially on lightweight rimfire rifles. |
| Mounting Compatibility | Scope tube size and mounting rings required (e.g., 1″, 30mm). | Proper fit ensures secure, repeatable installation. |
| Price & Value | Cost compared to features and build quality. | Helps you find the best performance within your budget. |
Best Rimfire Scope.
1. Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7×32 SFF
This scope as offered by Vortex is a classic example of a modern one-inch tube rimfire scope that is set up just like the “big rifle” glass sights. This scope uses the V-Plex sub tensions and is an all-purpose scope that can be adapted to both 22 Long Rifle and a move up to 22 Magnum if desired.
The scope retains a long eye relief, and a wide eye box for quick sighting on that tree squirrel moving from limb to limb high in the canopy of the hardwood.
Anti-reflective multi-coated lens surfaces capped reset and adjustable turrets with ¼ MOA clicks are standard and offer quick accurate zero.
The construction consists of a single one-piece aluminum tube, O-ring sealed to fight off water in any amount and built from the turret up to work as a hard-nosed field applied glass sighting system.
2.Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire Riflescope
In this scope, we have Leupold’s well-known worldwide quality, a 2-7×33 powered optical system that fits a flexible use when it comes to rimfire cartridges, and a one-inch main tube just like the larger centerfire rifles carry.
The turret settings are in MOA ¼ inch clicks, making for accurate and fast changes in zero or elevation when required.
I would use this scope with both 22 Long Rifle cartridges and the heavy 22 Magnum rimfire. With many years of small game hunting in the hardwoods of central Minnesota behind me and hundreds of squirrels bagged, I can say that the 22 Magnum, 22 Special, Remington Express, and 22 Long Rifle would all be effective when this scope was applied to getting the evening meal out of a white oak tree.
The scope has the Leupold light “Management System” that pulls light early in the morning to late in the evening to allow the hunter a few extra minutes in the woods each day. Like the big guys in the Leupold scope line, this scope retains exact zero and turret clicks repeatability every time the elevation or windage is changed.
3.Bushnell Rimfire Multi-X Reticle.
This scope is the Bushnell 3.5-10×36 mm.
When talking about scopes I can pass this along to you the buyers. Here at Ballistics Research, we run about 43 different scopes on a massive variation in rifles and calibers. In effect, we need to depend on the glass sights to work or we lose time that is always in short supply around here.
Bushnell has been a gold standard in both light rifle and shotgun sights for at least 40 years and the first scope ever bought for test work as a Bushnell brand name product is still getting the job done. As such this scope being presented here carries a whole lot of history with me and my outfit.
This scope carries replaceable turrets for 17 HMR, and also blank turret for general use. The scope will not have advanced turrets but the cost is not on the high end, but trust me the guts and glass quality will get the rimfire job done all day long, and in a pinch bolting it on a scattergun for turkey season is not a bad idea either.
Waterproof and fog-resistant the scope is a field-grade unit and a good buy when searching for a product in that area of performance. Remember you can’t get a motel room for $88.00 today, but you can get 40 years of service out of a glass sight by Bushnell.
4.Bushnell 1-6x24mm AR Optics
Even though this scope by Bushnell is classified as an “ AR” scope just by the fact that it is a lower power system designed for a shorter range than the super scopes, it will work out as applied to a rimfire cartridge. With the advanced shooting course in rimfire at ranges today out to 200 yards and more again, the parallax adjustments and turret settings on this scope fit the need in the flexible scope department well.
This scope is a chopped bell making it lighter in weight as applied to smaller 22 LR type receivers.
I can remember when I saw the very first one inch scope mounts offered by Weaver back in about 1960. These were the real deal because now we could put “big rifle” glass on our squirrel rifles. This scope by Bushnell fits the task very well, and the power controls as an extension are a nice fix to very rapid power setting changes on the fly.
Built using an illuminated reticle the scope is very workable in the early pink up dawn shooting conditions, and also late into the evening or when night hunting.
The one inch aluminum tube is a one-piece design, and the glass retains a super surface treatment to protect it from scratch and other nasty stuff the swamp or brush country can dish out.
5.Barska 4X32 Plinker-22
Here we have the Barska 4×32 plinker. Not a massive long-range rimfire system by any means, but a scope for the tip off based .22 rifle that the backyard shooter wants to train on.
Believe me when I tell you that I shot squirrel and rabbit for many early years and at times actually fed the family using a rifle and scope that fit the exact pattern of this little scope if not even somewhat less of an optical system.
This scope retains ¼ MOA click adjustments, coated optics, one inch tube diameter, and parallax-free at 50 yards.
The scope is sold with 3/8” dovetail mounts being set up for the grooved receiver system on many 22 LR rifles.
6.TruGlo 4x32mm
This scope is set up as a 22 rimfire scope in the starter bracket, but it retains coated glass, a well-applied exterior finish to protect the scope in the field, a duplex reticle, and the scope comes with 3/8 inch grooved receiver mounts.
This scope makes use of the Dual-Color illuminated (red & green). This makes the scope a little night fighter and when not required the power can be turned off and the sub-tension is observed in the standard black.
7.Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Circle-X Reticle Riflescope
As a final scope offering, I return to the one inch tube “ big rifle” size optical system. In this case, Bushnell and the general purpose option goes to 3-9x40mm power and their special light gathering system. This scope uses the Dusk to Dawn light control glass, the lenses are coated. It is a good choice when the shooter wants to push range a bit in the 22 LR or move up to the 22 Magnum Rimfire round.
The scope carries the Circle X reticle, ¼ MOA clicks adjustments on the capped turret housing, and uses the Bushnell fast-focus eyepiece. Bushnell carries a very broad line of scopes that can be fitted to 22 long rifle shooting needs. Search Amazon and you will find the right fit every time.
Conclusion
Choosing the Best Rimfire Scope comes down to balancing clarity, durability, magnification range, and value for your specific shooting needs. Whether you’re plinking at the range, hunting small game, or dialing in tight groups at extended distances, the right optic can dramatically improve accuracy and overall shooting confidence.
The Best Rimfire Scope should offer crisp glass, reliable tracking, and a reticle suited for .22 LR ballistics. Features like parallax adjustment, lightweight construction, and weather resistance also play an important role in long-term performance. Investing in quality ensures consistent results shot after shot.
When comparing options, consider how and where you’ll be shooting most often. A variable magnification scope may suit versatile use, while a fixed-power optic can provide simplicity and durability. No matter your preference, selecting the Best Rimfire Scope means prioritizing dependable performance over flashy features.
In the end, the Best Rimfire Scope is the one that fits your rifle perfectly, matches your shooting style, and delivers clear, repeatable accuracy every time you pull the trigger.