Scope for a 10” barrel .22LR SBR?

[tbhausen]

I know this is technically a handgun right now but I expect it to be an SBR soon enough, and since the subject is riflescopes, I’ve decided to ask here… What do you guys think of this scope on a Ruger 22 Charger? It will be the 10” Takedown Lite model with a brace or stock and Franklin binary trigger. Just a fun toy to make some noise cheap—I don’t have any delusions of SHTF use but I suppose one could carry a lot of ammo and break this down into a backpack easily enough.

Rifle: https://ruger.com/products/22Charger/specSheets/4935.html

Scope:

https://www.leupold.com/vx-freedom-1-5-4x20-moa-ring

I’m looking at this scope because it’s so small, short, and light. it also seems to have a very useful reticle. Here’s how it works out with standard velocity ammunition and a 40 yd. zero:



I was looking at Leupold scopes with CDS dials, but one revolution is only 15 MOA, which is only good for about 140 yards with .22LR, so I think a reticle like this might be more useful to extend the range a bit (though it’s really lobbing them in there beyond 150 yds. or so).

I have good vision in only one eye, so lack of 1x isn’t as big a deal to me and I don’t have the benefit of shooting red dots with both eyes open… thoughts?

 

[BoilerWes]

It’s parallax is set for 150 yards. IMO a true rimfire scope or at least a scope with adjustable parallax would be much more advantageous.

 

[Gabriel]

It’s parallax is set for 150 yards. IMO a true rimfire scope or at least a scope with adjustable parallax would be much more advantageous.

This is true, but parallax issues with scopes with that small of an objective lens diameter is pretty minimal. I've been using an older VXIII 1.5 - 5 with the same parallax setting and lens diameter on a rimfire with good results. That being said, I only use it because I already had it. If I was buying an optic for a specific rimfire rifle, I'd get one with an adjustable parallax or one set closer.

Here is a calculator for parallax error...

Parallax Error Calculator - Leland-West Insurance

This quick calculator shows the amount of parallax error that may occur using a fixed-parallax scope to sight onto an object placed at a known distance.

www.lelandwest.com

 

[Hookeye]

I wouldnt worry about parallax unless shooting matches at 25 and 50 yards.

Good stock, bbl and ammo.....yeah a braced 1022 aint gonna be a contender.

IMHO at 25 yards 4x is usable with a big game scope. 50 yards about 6x.

So a variable can allow big game scope usage on a rimfire. One can so have big game scope fixed parallax changed....Leupold used to do it for 25 bucks plus shipping.

W the custom shop down, dunno if tney do it at the moment. There is a tutorial i guess on RFC on how to do it yourself

On a short light rig id opt for a short and light optic. Fixed 4x. If you want the option of more mag, maybe a 2-7x....that you probably will leave on 4x

 

[Hookeye]

The Leupold fixed power 4x RF is a small scope. Looks too small on a reg 1022 IMHO ( why I sold mine ).

Have played around w some scopes to see where the duplex point works as a 2nd aiming deal.

Typically indont have time afield to dial or count stuff, just adjust aiming point w reg crosshair intersection and let er rip.

 

[Hookeye]

How comfy are you shooting offhand ( magnification )?

IIRC

F&S did a test way back and found most folks shot better w scopes around 4 to 6X.

Big game rifles, field positions, deer targets.

Funny, the older I get the more mag I want for paper and the less I want for killin'.

2-7x is pretty good all arounder.

Dunno how its look aesthetically on an SBR. Its a longer scope than my M8s were ( standard and compac models ).

Allowed me to move it rearward w my rem 760 ring positions where my compact 4x was to the poiny i had to crawl the stock a little.

Old age and neck not workingike it used to, have had to move scopes back a little.

 

[bwframe]

I like the Vortex 1-4 pst with that tmcq reticle. It can be fast, it can be accurate.

If you are planning on precision target work at distance though, you will need more magnification.

I sure like a quality QD mount on scopes, so that they can be swapped around.

 

[tbhausen]

Thanks for all the suggestions, keep them coming.

I have a Magnum Research MLR22ATUT with a Leupold ultralight rimfire 3-9x CDS (Wind Plex reticle) for the more precise work.

 

[Hookeye]

FWIW i had a Freedom VX EFR 3-9x.
Two issues.

1. Aesthetics....the rear eyepiece is not a bell, is more of a cylinder. It may look OK on MSR and similar but on a classic rig it looked like crap

2. The outside of the image had a blur/ shadow. Dunno if that due to obj lense being so recessed.

Definitely try before you buy. Dunno if that image deal a fluke or a " feature ".

 

[mmpsteve]

I love all my Leupold vxr scopes. 1-4X, 2-7x, 3-9x. Lightweight and quality build for it's price class. If I wanted to go distance with 22, I would need at least the 2-7. And as mentioned above, I believe they can all be adjusted for parallax. But for close-up work, on low-power, I don't think it's a problem.

.

 

[1nderbeard]

I'm interested to see pictures of your final build. I took a charger in a trade earlier this year. For now it's a trainer for my children, who aren't big enough for an actual stocked rifle. But I'd really like to make it an SBR.

 

[tbhausen]

I’m still researching and thinking about this. I’ll post an update when I figure something out.