a great scope for a rimfire is a 4-12x40 AO Swift Premier that sells at eabco.com for $115. Not as high in price, but alot of people at RFC use them, and have had great success.......on the more expensive side, you cam always go with a Bushnell Elite 3200, or 4200, Nikon Buckmaster, or Monarch, a Leupold up to about a VXII, and Sightron.........simmons is also "ok", but no where in the same ball park as the others mentioned...........I do not know how this would apply to "how big of a scope is too big", but I would strongly reccommend a Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14x40 AO. It runs for $239 at theopticzone, has great optics, good variable raange, and would be an awsome rimfire scope, i just do not kno if it would be too heavy.......... :idea2: Oh, and I just remembered........Mueller!! They have VERY good scope for the price, they come with an electric red dot (perfect for varmint hunting, or targets), and come in 4-16x50 AO models that cost around $170 at eabco.com........probably the best option if it is not too heavy........what does everyone else think, im just throwing some ideas out there!!