I'm in the process of scoping several bolt action .22's and am struggling with whether or not to buy rimfire scopes or rifle scopes. I want the styling of the Leupold to mate with my bolt actions. I won't be shooting them much and certainly no competitions, therefore was looking at VX-1 rifle scopes (2x7)(3x9)(4x12). The rimfires come in 4x and 2x7 but cost much more. Any ideas?
The main difference that I am aware of are Rimfire/airgun scopes are adjusted to be parallax free at closer ranges than most "regular" scopes. The airgun scopes are also more "heavy duty" to withstand the sometimes considerable "dual" recoil of thes rifles. Other than these 2 factors regular rifle scopes will work quite well on the rimfires.
If the scope you get is an AO model then parallax may not be an issue, though even then some of the "regular" riflescopes may not focus to the nearer ranges.
I eliminate parallax very inexpensively without the AO requirement, and itr works at all ranges without adjustment or refocusing. I use a "Blizzard" see through scope cap and place a circular image in the exit pupil area. So long as I keep that circle centered around the crosshairs my eye is in the same place. This also tends to improve my hold on the rifel as well.
Hope this helps.
Posts: 211 | Location: Little Rock, AR. USA | Registered: 23 May 2002
I am struggling with this also. My primary hunting .22 right now is a M-61 Winchester that's grooved for tip off mounts. The scope on it is a Leupold M-6 and the parallax is a problem at 50 yards and that's a common distance for a .22. I try to center my eye but it's not that easy.
I really should work harder at finding a more suitable scope. Those rimfire Leupolds are very expensive as stated.
I appreciate the input. Makes me feel a little better that I'm not the only one who is struggling with this issue. I also struggle with the issue of whether to scope guns that I have no intention to ever shoot (NIB). For instance, I have a Kimber Super America (KOA) and a few of the re-issue 52 Brownings and Winchesters as well as some Gold Medallion big bores. I like to display my guns (like artwork) and I think a nice Leupold really sets them off. But several people have told me that by scoping them I will jeopardize their value. ???
Hi six4aTD, I was going the opposite direction on a project I'm working on. I was going to put a 4 power Leopold compact rimfire scope on a CZ 527 carbine. The reason was that I couldn't find an M8 compact 4 power for centerfires. Leopold told me their rimfire model would handle recoil up to a 375 H & H. They said they would adjust the parallax out to 150 yds for $15. I don't see why you couldn't go the other way with a centerfire scope adjusted in to 60 yds.
Posts: 915 | Location: Breckenridge, TX, USA | Registered: 24 November 2001
six4aTD, I really don't understand why the Leupold Compacts are more expensive than the VX-II line. They are a bit smaller in overall length, objective and ocular diameter, and a little shorter in ring spacing. But, no MC4 coatings or click adjustments for W&E. Leupold used to adjust the parallax for free. Premier Recticles still does, I believe, if you buy the scope from them. I'm looking seriously at a 3-9 Compact for my .222 Cooper, but the VX-II 2-7 is very close to the same size and $50 cheaper.
Bob Mehaffey, The newer M8 4X Leupold is not very big (the VX-I or II 2-7 is very close to the same size as the M8 4X) and wouldn't look out of place on the CZ 527. The Compact 2-7 and 4X Compact are almost identical in size. JB
[This message has been edited by JB in SC (edited 04-23-2002).]
Posts: 129 | Location: South Carolina | Registered: 16 March 2002
JB, I've been told by two local dealers that the compacts are built to the same integrity (glass quality & coatings) as the VX-II line. Both also told me that the new VX-I is an entry level line that has one less coating and a lower quality machining process in preparing the glass. Now this is the new VX line, and it is confusing the heck out of me! I haven't really been in the market for a quality scope for a few years and am feeling out in right field when it comes to recent trends. Thanks for all of the input guys!
six4aTD, Actually what the dealers told you was true before the introduction of the VX-II line.
The current differences between the new VX-II line and the Compact line are: 1/4 minute click adjustments rather than friction, and the MC-4 (multiple coatings) rather than the MF (single coating).
I don't have a problem with the Compacts (I like them and have owned four), I just never understood why they weren't upgraded to the current VX-II specifications. JB
Posts: 129 | Location: South Carolina | Registered: 16 March 2002
JB, Thanks for clarification. I'm not in love with the compacts because I prefer the look of a larger scope on my bolt action .22's. That's why I have been attracted to the VX-1 line. I don't understand why I can buy a 2x7 vx-1 for about $100 less than a comparable compact, especially if quality is similar. Maybe I should just go ahead and get a few of those and have Leupold adjust the parallex to 60 yards. Any thoughts?
The price of Leupold VX-I's versus Compacts and rimfire models is predicated on market strategies, not cost of production. The VX-I is intended to be a low-margin, high volume product which improves or maintains the manufacturer's market share. The Compact and Rimfire lines are lower volume, higher margin lines which are sold to buyers who want the specific qualities (small size and/or specialized paralax) and are likely willing to pay a price premium to get them as opposed to the features available on the "mass" market scopes.
This makes the "specialized" lines a bit better buy in a used scope, ie. they will sell for a slightly lower percentage of "new" price than the more common Vari-X II's (and now VX-I's), etc. The "specialized" scopes are often taken better care of by their owners, so that, along with price, makes them good buys in used scopes (if circumstances allow you wait 'til the right one comes along).
Posts: 13286 | Location: Henly, TX, USA | Registered: 04 April 2001
"Of course your right that peeking thru a small hole in a scope cap is the right way to reduce the parallax effect. But this is a hunting rifle! "
I'm not sure I understand your point. I use this on all my hunting guns too. But I don't use just any scope cap. It has to be the clear lens type. Otherwise you would have zero feild of view, and that wouldn't even work well for target work.
I even still use it on my target rifle and it has an AO Swift on it. But that is for the purpose of uniforming my hold.
Posts: 211 | Location: Little Rock, AR. USA | Registered: 23 May 2002
six4aTD, The VX-I or II in 2-7X is a pretty small scope, the ring spacing is 5.2", so will look good on most full size rimfires. I think the VX-II is a better buy with the click adjustments and MC-4 coatings. Probably less than $50 difference between the two.
My favorite rimfire Compact is the 3-9 EFR. It looks really good on the Kimber SA's and Brownings. They just don't make it in a matte finish to match my rifles.
Posts: 129 | Location: South Carolina | Registered: 16 March 2002
Thanks JB, Bob, and Stonecreek! Helped me out a lot. I'm still not 100% sure what I want to get for each gun, but I at least have a better education on what each scope offers. One more question though--Would you guys scope guns that are NIB and not intended to ever be shot? I kind of want to because they just look so plain without and my guns are my artwork, so they will be on display. But will I truly jeopardize the value of the gun??
They are your guns and I assume you have them for your pleasure, so do with them whatever pleases you most.
If a gun is truly unfired and has the original box with it, I don't think there would be much, if any, difference in what a collector would pay whether it had been scoped or not (provided there were no stripped threads, scars, or marks from the scoping).
Posts: 13286 | Location: Henly, TX, USA | Registered: 04 April 2001
