1.Best overall-UTG compact scope
2.Cheapest scope-Barska plinker-22 scope
3.Most premium quality-Nightforce BR premium scope
Let’s be honest, a well-equipped rifle along with high-quality ammo is useless if you cannot look at the target properly. the gun scope is something that cannot be chosen just by looking visually and virtually because more or less every scope looks similar, and it’s difficult to make out which one is the best. Whenever you open an online scope store you will be banged with hundreds of similar-looking scopes that make it very difficult to choose and are enough to confuse you. Therefore we are here with our guide that features the best scope for .22 benchrest shooting that not only features the best-handpicked scopes but also review them extensively based upon various factors such as performance, accuracy, rating, user reviews, etc.
In case you are confused with the difference between red dot sight and scopes, then we have covered that in our other article.
Things to consider while choosing a scope
Reticle type: When it comes to reticles the pretty useless ones are standard crosshairs which we talk about benchrest with which you want to achieve maximum accuracy.
One of the great reticle choices is BDC (Bullet Drop Compensator) reticle. You can aim perfectly with this reticle as markings are easy to follow.
Benchrest shows its maximum accuracy with the BDC reticle. You just have to properly calibrate the BDC reticle with your 22LR rifle and for sure its will as a superpower for your rifle.
BDC can be a bit complicated for beginners therefore another great option is MIL-Dot which is a duplex and has the markings for bullet drops which are known as mil-dots.
They are also known for quick focus and target aiming. With the help of Mil-Dot Scope, you can measure drops of ammo in case of long-range scope.
One drawback of mil-dots is that they hardly tuned to the 22LR. Both types of reticles have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Power and magnification: One of the major advantages of 22LR is you can expect great accuracy from them at long ranges. Your rifle should get a scope that is compatible with it.
When it comes to power, 10-15x magnification can be a sweet spot for benchrest which is great for up to 500+ yards. Higher is the magnification of the scope, more clearly you can see the far away targets.
However, it’s difficult to aim with it as your vision might get blocked. Though in most cases, we aim at lesser distances with benchrest.
Eye relief: When you achieve clear sight, the distance between your eyes and scope is called eye relief. 3-3 ½ inches is the standard eye relief. The eye relief will become less if the scope has more magnification.
Additional Functionalities: It is very important that the scope is rugged. When a bullet is fired, the impact force can create immense vibrations and shocks.
The scope must fictional properly even after going through harsh vibrations. Moreover, it’s very beneficial if the scope is waterproof and fog proof through nitrogen gas.
There are no chances of fogging even if you enter the misty forest. Lens coating on the scope is always a positive point. This will help in producing crystal clear images of the target.
Multiple Uses: A scope with changeable magnification will have multiple uses on various grounds. A scope that can be used on airsoft guns for practice and also on shooting or hunting grounds will be a great thing again.
Category | Best overall | Cheapest scope | Best premium quality scope |
|---|---|---|---|
Name | UTG compact scope | Barska plinker-22 scope | Nightforce BR premium scope |
Magnification | 3-12x | 3-9x | 12-42x |
Objective lens diameter | 44mm | 32mm | 56mm |
PRICE |
1.UTG Compact Scope for .22 benchrest shooting
- Power: Variable power of 3x to 12x
- Field of View (3x): 34 feet @ 100 yards
- Field of View (12x): 8.4 feet @ 100 yards
- Objective Lens Dia: 44mm
- Weight: 25.6 oz.
- Length: 356 mm.
- Batteries: 3V CR2032 Lithium Battery
- Illumination: Dual-Color Mode and 36 Color Multi-Color Mode
- Objective Length: 93.2 mm.
- Field of View (3x): 34 feet @ 100 yards.
- Field of View (12x): 8.4 feet @ 100 yards
On the top, we have a UTG compact scope that is very versatile and has the capability to deliver top-notch performance at a budget price. This scope has a special relationship with the 22LR rifle as it is delicately made to work with it.
The scope is the best choice if you are a fan of both hunting as well as benchrest.UTG scope is equipped with tons of attractive features.
One such feature is the zero locking and zero resetting target turrets that for better consistent measurements it works with on a ¼ MOA turn system. This feature is rarely found in its competitors.
You just have to rotate the knob in order to set measurements. The scope will provide a parallax range that begins at 10 yards with the help of its Side Wheel Adjustable Turret(SWAT).
According to the comfort and the situation, the illumination can be set using its Illumination Enhancing (IE) System. This system allows you to set different brightness and is consists of 36 colors.
According to the light conditions, green, red, and multicolor illumination modes are available. The last used settings can easily be accessed using its single-click illumination memory feature.
The optics are equipped with multi-color lenses and it is protected by the glare-free sunshade. During heavy recoiling, the scope offers unhindered illumination due to its special circuit design. This is indeed one of the most deserving candidate on our list of the best scope for .22 benchrest shooting.
Reticle Info
The accuracy of this scope is exceptional as it is equipped with a refined Tactical Range Estimating mil-dot reticle. It provides 18 dots of aim that are distributed in 9 points in each top, left, down, right position.
2.Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7×32 Rimfire for .22 benchrest shooting
- Magnification Power: min power of 4x and max power of this scope is 12x
- Objective Lens: 44mm Diameter of the obj lens.
- Weight: Weight is 17.2 Ounces.
- Length: It is 13.1 inches long
- Field of View (Max Power): 8.4 feet at 100 yards.
- Field of View (Min Power): 24.7 feet at 100 yards
- Shockproof: Yes.
- Fogproof: Yes.
Vortex Crossfire II is another versatile scope suitable for different shooting situations like competitions and hunting. When it comes to benchrest competitions, vortex crossfire II is one of the more affordable competition-grade scope.
What makes it suitable for hunting as well is its , V-Plex reticle multi-purpose hunting reticle. The scope is fully coated with proprietary coating and anti-reflective coatings.
The prior one shoots up the light transmission which results in a brighter image formation. The glass equipped is anti-glare and anti-scratch. The reticle catches focus very fast due to its fast-focus eyepiece.
Even after the target is shifted, acquiring focus is very easy with the help of an ultra-forgiving eye box and bountiful eye relief. Due to the scope’s durable aircraft-grade aluminum, it can bear occasional rough handling.
Since the O-ring is sealed and is nitrogen purged, there is no chance of water, dust, or debris entry inside. Also, this reduces the chances of fogging up to almost zero while using in harsh conditions.
The surface is matte with a hard anodized finish, hence the shooter won’t be seen. Parallax is a bit issue with the scope, there is no adjustment knob to adjust parallax.
The reticle of this scope is not illuminated though you won’t face much problem while tracing the reticle position. With the help of turrets on the side, the elevation and windage can be altered.
Reticle Info
This scope has Dead-Hold BDC MOA Reticle which works great for shooting and hunting. The scope will not extend or change in position with a change in magnification as the reticle is positioned in the second focal plane.
3.Bushnell 614124 Banner Dusk & Dawn for .22 benchrest shooting
- Magnification power of 4x to 12x.
- Obj Lens: Objective lens of 40 mm.
- Length: 12 Inches long scope.
- Weight: Overall weight is 15 oz.
- Field Of View (4x): 29 feet at 100 yards.
- Field Of View (12x): 11 feet at 100 yards.
- Eye Relief: 3.3 Inches Eye Relief.
The design of the Bushnell banner is very compact and slim and this scope is amazing for long-range target shooting. The best feature of this scope is that it has an adjustable zoom.
This long-range scope has a minimum power of 4x which can go to its maximum power of 12x. This scope will provide a field of view of around 29 feet if you are shooting at minimum magnification which is pretty decent.
The scope is very firm to hold due to its gripping which doesn’t cause pain in fingers while holding. This scope can be used in any light condition from bright to low due to its dusk and dawn brightness (DDB) lenses.
The target is clearly visible during target practice or hunting through that lenses as the refractive layers are coated. Even during nighttime, this scope performs very well.
The target locking Is very fast with the help of its fast-focus eye-piece feature. Even if you fully submerge the scope in water, there is no chance of water entry as it is waterproof.
The scope is fog proof as well due to the filling of argon gas. The scope can bear harsh conditions as the one-piece tube has a rugged construction. The lens passes a high amount of light as the objective lens is 40 mm.
Every user can easily adjust to this scope as the eye relief is placed at the standard of 3.3 inches. A rifle bipod is always recommended for stability and better aiming.
Reticle Info
Bushell banner scope is equipped with a Multi-X crosshair reticle. This scope shows the same position at every magnification as the reticle is positioned in the second focal plane. At the center, the reticle consists of thin cross-hair and at the side, it has thick cross lines.
4.Barska AC10380 Plinker-22 scope for .22 benchrest shooting
⭐ Cheapest Scope
⭐ Lightest scope
- Magnification: Power has a range of 3x to 9x.
- Objective Lens Diameter:32mm.
- Illumination: Non-illuminated.
- Field of View @ 3x: 36 feet @ 100 yards.
- Field of View @ 9x: 13 feet @ 100 yards.
- Eye Relief: 3.5 inches.
- Weight: 11.46 Ounces.
- Length: 12 Inches length
Barska plinker scope is a well-known scope when it comes to precision aiming. This scope is specially designed for a .22 rimfire rifle which makes use of .22 pellets.
Even at a very affordable price, the company has not compromised with its build quality and durability. What makes it one of the best scope for .22 benchrest shooting is its loaded features.
Due to its high-quality durable material, the scope provides next-level performance in every condition you will take it. The scope will help you knocking a long-distance target as it can provide 3 to 9 times magnifications.
Even at a short distance, this scope does wonder as parallax is not experienced even at 50 yards. Due to the coating, there is no chance of glare and reflections which provide clear vision.
Extra color shifting is also provided in the lens with the help of this. Ambient light enters the lens due to its 3.5-inch eye relief which allows maximum light to enter the eyes, therefore, producing an image of amazing clear quality.
Windage and Elevation can be adjusted with the help of ¼ MOA per click adjustment that is offered by finger adjustable turrets. Premium quality can also be seen through its zoom ring. Knobs can easily be gripped and operated as they have thicker grooves.
Since the scope is nitrogen purged there are no chances of fogging and also the scope is waterproof. This scope can easily be maintained by cleaning only the exposed optical surfaces.
Reticle Info
Braska 3-9×32 Plinker 22 Scope makes use of a 30/30 reticle. The horizontal and vertical crosshairs become 30 inches at around 100 yards therefore known as 30/30 reticle.
5.Nikon P-Tactical .223 3-9x40 Riflescope
- Magnification: Variable Magnification of 4-12x.
- Objective Lens: Diameter of the objective lens is 40mm.
- Tube Diameter: 1 inch diameter.
- Eye Relief: 3.7 inches.
- Weight: 17.5 Ounces.
- Length: 14.1 inches.
- Field of View (100 Yards): Ranges from 7.3- 23.6 feet.
- Parallax Setting: 100 Yards.
Nikon P-tactical is another great durable and premium performance optics by a well-reputed brand called Nikon. In case you are a 22lr benchrest or rimfire rifles fan then you can consider getting a scope.
The reticle immediately catches the focus due to its quick focus eyepiece. When you will hold this scope you will feel its quality by its heavyweight.
Even in bright light this scope performs amazingly and helps you lock target easily due to its multi-coated lenses which also help in producing vivid and crystal clear pictures.
What made it to our list of the best scope for .22 benchrest shooting is spot on ballistic match technology. With the help of this technology, all aiming points can be traced on the reticle.
With the help of easy to hold focus rings, you can adjust the magnification range by zoom and focus the rings. The scope is waterproof and fog proof as the tube is O-ring sealed along with purged with nitrogen which makes it ready for tough conditions.
Calibration sticks to its position as a spring-loaded clicking system can be seen with adjustment rings. This scope is equipped with BDC 600 reticle which helps you in a better shooting experience.
The aiming circle can go up to 600 yards. What makes it one of the best scope for .22 benchrest shooting is its distinguishing features which include quick focus eyepiece, rapid action target turrets, and BDC 600 reticle.
Reticle Info
You can easily aim long-distance targets with the help of its BDC 600 reticle which provides hash marks and circle aiming points. Zeroing is very quick with the help of ¼ MOA adjustments.
6.Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x33mm Riflescope
- Reticle Type: Second Focal Plane
- Reticle: Duplex
- Magnification Type: Variable
- Illuminated: No
- Weight (oz):12.1
- Magnification Max:9
- Magnification Min:3
- Objective Lens Diameter (mm):33
- Eye Relief Low Mag (in):3.4
- Eye Relief High Mag (in):3
- Minimum Parallax-Free Distance (yd):10
Leupold freedom is one of the most premium grade and affordable product by Leupold. When it comes to quality, this scope can easily compete with other scopes very well.
The scope is completely fog-proof as well as waterproof. There are no chances of entry of water inside the tube even if the scope is submerged in water to up to 35 feet.
This scope is delivered after proper testing with high caliber ammunition though it works great with rimfire cartridges. This scope has undergone 5000 impacts with the help of a recoil simulation operator.
One impact is equal to around 3 times the recoiling of a .308 shot. This level of testing already proves that how durable and resistant this scope is. This scope can give its 100 percent performance even in extreme weathers such as -40°F to around 160°F.
The glass of this scope has to capacity to provide the best possible clear image for better target visibility. The visibility is maintained even during dusk and dawn due to its twilight light management technology. You can aim accurately even before few minutes of complete sunset.
This scope comes with a fixed parallax which is fixed to 60 yards which makes it best choice for rimfire. This scope has some drawbacks as well like there are no wind adjustment turrets and no mechanism to return to zero.
At this price range, the company has tried to add as many useful features as possible making it an affordable best scope for .22 benchrest shooting.
Reticle Info
Leupold VX-freedom is equipped with an SFP reticle which is a duplex reticle that doesn’t come with illumination.
7.NightForce Precision Benchrest 12-42x56mm NP-2DD Reticle Scope
⭐Premium quality scope
⭐ Best for long range shooting
- Magnification Range:12-42x
- Overall length:17.0 in/432 mm
- Weight:36.0 oz/1021 g
- Body Tube Diameter:30mm
- Parallax Adjustment:25 yd–∞
- Eye Relief:3.0 in/75 mm
- Field of View @ 100 yd/m:12x: 6.7 ft/2.2 m
42x: 2.3 ft/0.8 m - Illumination: Analog
If you are looking for a premium grade scope then night force precision benchrest. This scope is made up of some of the most durable material and is a great choice for benchrest competitions.
What proves this statement is that this scope is the winner and holder of many long-range benchrest competitions. Once such record includes .50BMG 1000-yards benchrest.
As soon as you will hold this scope, you will be blown away with its quality and build construction. What makes it a premium grade is that it is made up of aircraft-grade aluminum which has 4 times more width than regular aluminum in other scopes.
The weight of this scope is around 36 ounces that are a bit heavy. This scope is equipped with top-shelf components from inside. As compared to other scopes, the titanium spring of this scope is 3 to 4 times more durable and effective.
The scope as calibration of .125MOA for turrets along with zero return functionality. Nightforce makes use of a light management system due to which it produces crystal clear bright images at various magnifications.
Up to infinity, you can adjust the parallax which provides the scope the versatility to operate at different ranges and calibers. You can completely rely on this scope even if it costs you a bit extra bucks.
Even though this scope is available at a premium price, no other scope can replace the performance of nightforce precision scope and that’s why this scope is on our list of the best scope for .22 benchrest shooting.
Reticle Info
Nightforce supports NP2-DD as well as NT-R2 reticle which works great for long-range targets and also helps in fast targets acquisition. For easy visibility, the reticle of this scope gets illuminated.
How to read numbers written on scopes?
Suppose the scope has the specifications 3-9×33. What does that mean? Number 3 represents the minimum magnification of the scope whereas 9 represents the maximum magnification the scope provides.
Closer objects can be targeted more easily if the number is less. Targetting far-away objects is easy if the number is high.
The diameter of the objective lens by the number after X which is 33 in this case. More amount of light will enter inside if the diameter of the objective lens is more.
Precautions to take with scopes
Since the scope contains series of the lens it is very important to take proper care of your scope so that its longevity can be ensured.
- Place the scope in a wooden box in case you are not using it or not travelling with it.
- In order to get rid of humidity, take the help of silicone gel.
- Make sure to secure the lens from dust particles, or humidity or just bad weather by properly placing the cap on both sides of the scope.
How to zero a rifle scope?
Conclusion
Here we come at the end of our article on best scope for .22 benchrest shooting. In the article we featured the more trusted and highly reviewed scope that are used by expert reloaders. These scopes have been tested for delivering consistent high performance which every reloader wants and that too at a very pocket friendly price. You should definitely try these scopes to increase the functionality of your rifle for better performance and accuracy. I hope you have found this guide helpful. In case you have any doubts feel free to leave the comment down below. Thanks for vising leanoutdoor.com.