The Ruger 10/22 rifle has become perhaps the best known and bestselling 22 LR rimfire rifle in the world. The Ruger 10/22 first came to the market in 1964 as a carbine with a wooden stock. The quality and accuracy of these rifles were soon recognized, and sales boomed.
In its 55th year of production, the Ruger 10/22 now boasts several different versions that have increased its popularity. The Ruger 10/22 is so popular that aftermarket vendors now supply parts in such variety that it is possible to construct an entire Ruger 10/22 using non-Ruger parts.
Whether your intended use for your Ruger 10/22 is plinking and target shooting or control of rodents and varmints, you want to put the best optics available on your rifle to bring out its full potential. With that in mind, let’s look at our choices of the best scopes for the Ruger 10/22
SKIP AHEAD
Best Scopes for Ruger 10/22: My Top Picks
Here are my top picks at a quick glance:
| SCOPES | DETAILS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
#1 Rifle Scope
|
|
Check Price on OpticsPlanet.com
Check Price on Amazon.com
|
|
|
|
Check Price on OpticsPlanet.com
Check Price on Amazon.com
|
|
|
|
Check Price on OpticsPlanet.com
Check Price on Amazon.com
|
Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7x32 Review
I am a huge fan of Vortex rifle optics. They are, by and large, the predominant optic found in my gun safe. There are several reasons that I like the Vortex line of rifle optics and the Vortex Crossfire II Rimfire is no exception. Although the Crossfire II is a rimfire edition of this line of Vortex scopes, it doesn’t lack any of the other quality features that mark Vortex as a leader in the optics field
- Fully multicoated optics for increased light transmission including anti-reflective coatings to reduce glare
- Second focal plane reticle means a consistent same-sized appearance no matter the magnification chosen on the scope ensuring that range estimation, holdover, and wind drift corrections are accurate even at the highest power magnification
- One inch diameter aircraft-grade aluminum tube ensures strength and rigidity
- O-ring seals for waterproof operation
- Nitrogen purged prevents internal fogging despite the most extreme conditions
- ArmorTek® coatings on all exterior lenses prevent scratches
- Capped recessed turrets for protection while allowing easy no-tool re-indexing
The package comes with removable lens covers and a lens cloth. You will need to purchase a mounting system separately. The receiver is drilled for traditional ring mounts. The other method of mounting is to attach a length of rail to the receiver and use rings that will attach to the rail.
I have a Ruger 10/22 Takedown model with this scope mounted using Vortex rings and a UTG low profile rail mount. I have never had problems with the scope holding zero after breaking my Ruger 10/22 down and reassembling many times. Looking at reviews from other users of the Vortex Crossfire II scope, it is apparent that there are many delighted Vortex customers.
Pros
- Long eye relief for more comfortable shooting
- Vortex unlimited lifetime warranty
- Easy and repeatable adjustments
- Fast focus eyepiece
- Great clarity even at high magnification
Cons
- Image quality may suffer to a small degree at higher magnifications
- Some users don’t like the Vortex reticle
It all boils down to how you use your Ruger 10/22 rifle. My Ruger 10/22 is my primary target shooting and plinking platform used with my grandsons. The Vortex Crossfire II rimfire scope and the Ruger 10/22 are an excellent teaching combination. Also, the takedown model of the Ruger 10/22 doubles as my bugout survival rifle of choice and the ruggedness and durability of the Vortex Crossfire II scope fills that bill as well. This combination gives me a multi-use rifle on which I can depend for a fun afternoon of shooting or to put meat on the fire if necessary.
|
#1 Rifle Scope
|
|
Check Price on OpticsPlanet.com
Check Price on Amazon.com
|
Nikon P-Tactical Rimfire 2-7x32 BDC150 Review
Nikon gets the nod as my second choice of the best rifle scope for a Ruger 10/22 rifle. Nikon builds great scopes with great glass. The features offered on the Nikon P-Tactical series of scopes are unparalleled. With the addition of the BDS reticle, the Nikon P-Tactical scope stands out as a real winner. If you want consistent accuracy without a lot of fuss, the Nikon P-Tactical scope is a wonderful match for the Ruger 10/22
- Unique BDS reticle designed to allow shooters to accurately find the correct aim point at varying yardage based on the weight of the bullet and the powder load
- On inch aircraft-grade aluminum tube
- Instant reset turrets that are spring-loaded for easy and secure operation
- Turrets are elevated for easy use even while wearing gloves
- Generous eye relief for comfortable shooting positions
- Weighs only 16.2 ounces
- Waterproof and Fogproof
- Multicoated optical systems
The Nikon P-tactical rimfire scope comes with the scope, the required CR2 battery, lens covers, and a lens cloth. As with the Vortex scope, you will need to supply the mounting system of your choice.
I run a Nikon P-Tactical scope on an AR platform. The scope mounted on my AR has the BDC reticle and is drop compensated for the standard .223 55 grain rounds. This scope is consistently on target without having to make tedious elevation adjustments when shooting by merely utilizing the BDC reticle and its subtended range marks.
Users surveyed who shoot the Nikon P-tactical scope support my findings. The overall impression left is that the Nikon scope is a well-built, rugged, and dependable optic that should give years of service when mounted on a Ruger 10/22.
Pros
- Clear and undistorted images through the Nikon multicoated lenses
- The open circle aiming points are easy to see and quick to bring onto the target
- Excellent performance in the field despite extreme conditions of wet and cold
- The adjustments to windage and elevation are precise.
- Holds zero even after being dropped inadvertently from a bench
Cons
- The BDC reticle takes some getting used to after a standard reticle
My experience with the Nikon P-tactical scopes is based on a Nikon P-tactical scope mounted on an AR platform. I have no reason to believe that the quality of construction or the accuracy of the rimfire version of this scope should be any less. The Nikon reputation and the addition of a BDC reticle in a rimfire scope garner the Nikon P-Tactical Rimfire 2-7×32 BDS150 scope the second place on my list of the 10 best scopes for a Ruger 10/22.
|
|
|
Check Price on OpticsPlanet.com
Check Price on Amazon.com
|
Simmons Truplex .22 Mag Riflescope Review
I wanted to include a budget-priced scope in this list and the Simmons Truplex made the cut. Simmons titles this a .22 Mag scope but most of the users I found were mounting this scope on a Ruger 10/22 with good results and some very favorable remarks. For occasional plinking or target shooting, the Simmons Truplex scope seems to be an ideal budget choice.
The Simmons scope offers a nice array of features for a budget scope which includes:
- Quick Target Acquisition eyepiece
- Long eye relief for comfortable shooting
- Suregrip™ adjustments allow quick and accurate turret adjustments even when wearing gloves
- Fully coated optics
- Available in Matte or Silver finish
- Waterproof and Fogproof
- Single-piece tube construction
Simmons riflescopes are best sellers in the online optics marketplace. The affordable price and above-average quality of their optics is an attractive combination. For the weekend shooter who is interested in matching a Ruger 10/22 with an affordable scope for target shooting or for hunting small game and varmints, the Simmons Truplex .22 mag scope may be a winner. Users of this scope have some consistent praise.
Pros
- Great price to features ratio makes this an exceptional value
- The Suregrip rubber surface makes adjustments to windage and elevation easy under any conditions even while wearing gloves
- The optics are clear and precise
- Performance under some nasty conditions doesn’t seem to affect this scope at all
Cons
- Low light gathering is not as good as it could be
- The clicks on the turrets are not precise
Overall, the reviews and comments on the Simmons Truplex scope are positive. Most of the users indicate that they typically use their rifle with the Simmons Truplex scope under 100 yards and during daylight hours. This type of use seems to be where the Simmons scope performs best. Anyone considering this scope should remember that the Simmons scope is a budget alternative. Don’t expect $200 performance from a $50 scope.
On the upside, one thing I do find attractive about this scope is the choice of the silver finish. Call it vain, but I like the idea of having a scope finished in a color that would match my stainless steel Ruger 10/22.
|
|
|
Check Price on OpticsPlanet.com
Check Price on Amazon.com
|
Bushnell 613510A Rimfire Optics Review
I couldn’t put out a list of the best scopes for a Ruger 10/22 without including a Bushnell product on the list. Bushnell has had a place on my guns for many years, and I still run a Bushnell scope on my go-to Savage .270 deer rifle. In my estimation, you won’t go wrong choosing a Bushnell scope to mount on your Ruger 10/22 no matter what your intended use.
Bushnell’s reputation and tradition of building fine optical systems at affordable prices reflect in the design and manufacture of the 613510A Rimfire Scope. Bushnell’s rimfire offerings maintain the high level of quality and the rich line of features for which Bushnell is known.
- 3.5 – 10X magnification
- 36mm objective lens
- Multi-X reticle
- Replaceable turrets for 17HMR rifles
- Fast focus eyepiece
- One inch tube
- Adjustable Objective lens
- Weighs 1.4 pounds
My older Bushnell does not have the newer Multi-X reticle. The Multi-X reticle is located on the second focal plane of the scope and features four long and heavy posts and a circled thin crosshair. I like the idea of the circle rather than just a plain simple crosshair. As I get older and my eyesight gets a little less acute each year, the advantages of the circle center in the crosshairs become more and more apparent.
Other users of the Bushnell 613510A scope is high in praise of the optics on this scope and its other features.
Pros
- Clear sight picture at all magnifications
- Multi-X reticle is easy to use and quick to acquire a sight picture
- Side parallax adjustment is convenient and easy to use
- Holds zero even during the most extreme use
Cons
- Can be hard to zero
Bushnell makes excellent scopes. That is undeniable. One of the great features of this scope is the ability to pair it with either a 22 long rifle or a .17 HMR rifle by merely exchanging the turrets. This feature gives this scope a range of versatility that you won’t find with any other scope in this class.
The Bushnell scope is, in my opinion, one of the best mid-range rimfire rifle scopes available on the market.
|
|
Check Price on Amazon.com
|
Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire Riflescope Review
For quality optics and precision shooting, Leupold is the choice of many shooters. Leupold has not overlooked the rimfire niche in rifle scopes. The VX-Freedom Rimfire riflescope is an excellent scope and can bring your rifle to its peak performance. Adding a top-quality scope to your Ruger 10/22 can extend the capabilities of your rifle and scope combination to include more distance, more accuracy and more shooting time with better low-light capabilities.
Even the rimfire models of the Leupold scopes have rich features expected from this optics company.
- 3-9×40 optical specifications
- Rimfire MOA reticle
- Quick change magnification using the easy-grip power selector
- Tested to the same rigorous specifications as the Leupold big bore rifle scopes mean an optic that can take punishment not usually expected in a rimfire scope
- Rear focal plane reticles that stay sharp despite the magnification
- ¼ inch MOA finger click adjustments for windage and elevation
- Waterproof and Fogproof
- Twilight light management system can mean up to 10 more minutes of shooting light
- Fully multicoated and scratch-resistant lenses
I run Leupold scopes on several of my big-bore rifles and I have never been disappointed in their performance. These are tough scopes, designed to go anywhere big game hunters venture and perform in any conditions. The Leupold tradition for high-quality shooting optics carries on in the rimfire line of Leupold VX Freedom scopes. Other users reflect these same experiences as they talk about the Leupold VX-Freedom scope.
Pros
- These scopes are made in the USA.
- The turrets are easy to find, use and are precise
- The quality of construction is above par
- The clarity of the lenses is unmatched
Cons
- There is no parallax adjustment which is surprising on a scope of this quality and cost
The Leupold scope is on the upper range of the other scopes on my list, but the features and the reputation of Leupold make that difference understandable. If you use your Ruger 10/22 in the field for hunting or for survival and you want a scope that will perform without fail, the Leupold VX Freedom rimfire scope should be a choice.
|
|
Check Price on OpticsPlanet.com
Check Price on Amazon.com
|
The Final Words
The Ruger 10/22 is a great survival rifle and one of my very favorites. I have owned a Ruger 10/22 in some configuration for many years. I anticipate that as my grandsons and granddaughters get to the proper age, I will make sure that they have a Ruger 10/22 with a properly mounted scope as part of their Grandads legacy.
The scopes on my list offer a range of prices and features. I can’t say that any one of them specifically will fit your needs. I do hope that this article gives you the information and understanding that you need to make the right decision of which scope to fit on your Ruger 10/22. As always, please share your thoughts, ideas, and experiences in the comments below. Your ideas, knowledge, and thoughts benefit us all.
