recomendations for scope for squirrel hunting ?

[bcraig]

HI,I am looking for some recomendations for a rimfire that I am going to squirrel hunt with.I will be shooting from about 10 yards to 75 yards.And of course i will be using the scope to tell me whether i am looking at a squirrels head or just something that looks like a squirrels head,and of course looking through leaves and into the shadows.AND I need an affordable scope (subjective opinion at best)so lets put an UPPER price cap at $125.00.Thanks ,Craig

[Bigeasy]

Hi Craig

A number of the bigger scope manufacturers make good quality, .22 specific scopes.  These scopes usually differ from normal scopes by having parallex set at 50 yards rather then 100 - 125 yards.  That said, I have used centerfire scopes on my .22's for years without problem.  Weaver, Bushnell, Simmons, and Leupold come to mind.

I like a 2x7, or straight 6x on my .22 rifles, though some shooter like much higher magnification for precision head shots, though I have not found that to be really necessary.  In optics, you tend to get what you pay for.  Don't waste your money on $25.00 scopes.  $100.00, or so, will get you something decent.  Look for at least 1/4 minute adjustments - a squirrels head is a small target.

Larry

[Siskiyou]

Years ago I installed a Weaver K-4 I had taken off a centerfire on a .22 rimfire, the results were good and I installed a 4x scope that came as part of a Marlin 336 package on another 22 rimfire.  I have done a fair amount of shooting with these rifles and I have been satisfied with the results.  Most of the practice with the kids has been at 50-feet and 100 feet.  I have been printing out the small targets off the Remington website. 

With the above scopes I can easily hit a squirrels head, or determined if I am looking at bump in an oak limb or the squirrels head.

I had avoided installing a scope on them for years because I was unimpressed with the small diameter scopes that are commonly found on .22 rimfire rifles.  The full size hunting scope gives me the same picture I get with my deer rifle and enhances practice for deer hunting.

[victorcharlie]

Nikon Prostaff.

[45-70.gov]

nikon prostaff   here  too    3 x 9

[wareagleguy]

I put a Nikon Buckmaster 3x9x40 on my new 17HMR and it has been great.

[Dee]

I have an old Leupold 2X7 Vari X II I found in a pawn shop, sent off, and had rebuilt, mounted on my 22. It's worth more than the 22.

[BruceP]

Weaver 2.5X7 rimfire 

Bruce

[WyoStillhunter]

I have a Weaver K4-W with duplex reticle on an old Remington 513-S and it works just great.  With the full-size, walnut stock and the 26" barrel it is approximately the weight of my centerfire M700s and the K4 is a good match.  If you have much smaller and lighter .22 the full-size K-series scopes may be a little overbalanced.

In the last few days I have found several of the older Weaver K-series scopes available on Gunbroker.  Many have plain crosshair reticles and can be bought for as little as $45 and up to about $75.  One of those would be about ideal IMO.

[rex6666]

Mueller will be just as good as any named and less money

[ThunderStick]

   I'm sure there is probably some kind of religous rule against this, BUT I have a cheep BSA 4x32 on my 541T. I did adjust the paralax down to around 60 yards. I'm sure that the squirrels can't tell the difference! I also have a cheep 1.5-4x32 shotgun scope on my BRNO #1 barn gun that I picked up used at a pawn shop. It has a circle x retecal and is almost an idea squirrel scope, these guns always shoot where the X is placed at normal squirrel hunting ranges. I use to use the 17hm2 with the leaves off to take long shots, since getting supressor, I allways take the subsonic .22.