We Use CookiesWe use cookies to enhance the security, performance, functionality and for analytical and promotional activities. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our privacy policy

10 Best 22 Rifle Scopes 2025 in the United States

How do we rank products for you?

Our technology thoroughly searches through the online shopping world, reviewing hundreds of sites. We then process and analyze this information, updating in real-time to bring you the latest top-rated products. This way, you always get the best and most current options available.

headphones-stars

Our Top Picks

#1

Winner

Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 Rifle Scope, V-Brite Reticle , black

Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,141
Magnification
Reticle
Eye Relief

Most important from
13584 reviews

Magnification
The fast focus eyepiece and minimal scope black eye ring enhance the shooting experience by offering a clear view at both low and high magnification.
Reticle
The Vortex Crossfire II offers clear glass and a crisp reticle, making it an excellent choice for hunters.
Eye Relief
Eye relief is generous, around 4 inches, providing comfort and a full sight picture without the 'soda straw' effect.
Durability and Weather Resistance
The scope holds zero well, even after shooting hundreds of rounds, thanks to its solid build quality.

The Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 Rifle Scope is designed for hunting and shooting enthusiasts, making it a solid choice for those looking for versatility in their aiming tool. With a magnification range of 3-9x and a 40mm objective lens, it provides a bright and clear sight picture, especially in various lighting conditions thanks to its fully multi-coated lenses. The V-Brite reticle adds an illuminated dot, which is useful for low-light situations, enhancing target acquisition.

One of the standout features is its long eye relief of 3.8 inches, which offers comfort and ease during use, allowing you to quickly get your sights on target without straining your eyes. The fast focus eyepiece is another bonus, making reticle adjustments quick and straightforward. Durability is well addressed with the single-piece tube made from aircraft-grade aluminum, ensuring the scope withstands rough handling and shocks. Additionally, the O-ring sealing and nitrogen purging mean it's both waterproof and fogproof—essential for outdoor use. Supported by Vortex's unlimited lifetime warranty, users can feel confident in their investment, knowing they can get repairs or replacements if needed.

The scope may not be the best fit for advanced shooters who require higher magnification or specialized features, such as tactical adjustments and enhanced parallax settings. At a field of view of 34.1 feet, it offers decent visibility, but some may find it limiting for very long-range shooting. Also, its illumination functionality, while beneficial, does rely on battery power, which could be an inconvenience if the battery dies at an inopportune moment.

Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,141
Magnification
Reticle
Eye Relief

Most important from
13584 reviews

Magnification
The fast focus eyepiece and minimal scope black eye ring enhance the shooting experience by offering a clear view at both low and high magnification.
Reticle
The Vortex Crossfire II offers clear glass and a crisp reticle, making it an excellent choice for hunters.
Eye Relief
Eye relief is generous, around 4 inches, providing comfort and a full sight picture without the 'soda straw' effect.
Durability and Weather Resistance
The scope holds zero well, even after shooting hundreds of rounds, thanks to its solid build quality.
#2

ZEISS LRP S3 6-36x56 First Focal Plane MOA Riflescope with Illuminated Reticle

Rating
10.0
Eye Relief
Parallax Adjustment

Most important from
14 reviews

Eye Relief
Adjustments are precise, and the eye-relief is forgiving, making it easy to get behind the scope.
Parallax Adjustment
The scope is well-built and beautiful, but I experienced issues with parallax adjustments and reticle alignment at longer distances.

The ZEISS LRP S3 6-36x56 First Focal Plane MOA Riflescope is designed with long-range shooting and hunting in mind. It boasts a wide magnification range from 6x to 36x, making it versatile for various distances. The 56mm objective lens allows for excellent light gathering, enhancing image clarity in low light conditions. The illuminated reticle, visible in daylight, offers precision with red or green illumination options, controlled via five intensity levels for customization based on user preference and lighting conditions.

The scope's total elevation travel of 110 MOA is impressive, providing significant adjustment for long-range shots. Additionally, the external locking windage turret and Ballistic Stop feature ensure reliable adjustments and a consistent return to zero, which is crucial for accuracy over repeated use. Built with durability in mind, it features a 34mm main tube made of metal, with a robust design capable of withstanding shocks up to 1,500 g-force.

Weighing in at 39.1 ounces, it is relatively heavy, which might be a consideration for users concerned about added weight on their rifles. The scope also lacks night vision capabilities, limiting its use in extremely low light or nighttime conditions. The ZEISS LRP S3 is a high-quality, durable riflescope suitable for serious long-range shooters and hunters who need precision and reliability, though it may be on the heavier side for some users.

Rating
10.0
Eye Relief
Parallax Adjustment

Most important from
14 reviews

Eye Relief
Adjustments are precise, and the eye-relief is forgiving, making it easy to get behind the scope.
Parallax Adjustment
The scope is well-built and beautiful, but I experienced issues with parallax adjustments and reticle alignment at longer distances.
#3

Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7x32 Rimfire, Second Focal Plane, 1-inch Tube Riflescope - V-Plex Reticle

Rating
9.1
Magnification
Objective Lens Diameter
Reticle

Most important from
13584 reviews

Magnification
The scope performs well at moderate ranges, with sufficient magnification for up to 500 yards in stable shooting conditions.
Objective Lens Diameter
The scope delivers crystal clear optics with a bright, sharp image that outperforms older models.
Reticle
The reticle is crisp and versatile, making it easy to aim across various distances without distraction.
Eye Relief
Long eye relief and a forgiving eye box make quick target acquisition effortless and comfortable.
Parallax Adjustment
Adjustments are accurate and consistent, allowing reliable zeroing for hunting and target shooting.
Durability and Weather Resistance
The durable aluminum construction holds up well even under field abuse, ensuring lasting performance.

The Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7x32 Rimfire riflescope is a solid choice for those using .22 caliber rifles, offering a flexible 2-7x magnification range that helps in both close and moderate distance shooting. The 32mm objective lens provides decent light gathering, resulting in clear and bright images thanks to its fully multi-coated lenses. Its V-Plex reticle is straightforward and versatile, making it easy to aim for various hunting or target shooting needs. A highlight is its long 3.9-inch eye relief and a forgiving eye box, which means you can quickly get on target without much hassle or eye strain. The scope’s single-piece aluminum tube ensures durability and shock resistance, and it’s both waterproof and fogproof due to nitrogen purging and O-ring seals—great for use in different weather conditions. The capped reset turrets with MOA clicks allow precise adjustments and can be reset after zeroing, which is helpful for maintaining accuracy.

This scope uses a second focal plane reticle, so the reticle size does not change with magnification, which might be less ideal for precise holdovers at varying distances. It also lacks parallax adjustment, a feature some shooters prefer for pinpoint accuracy on small targets at close range. While it’s a bit heavier than some other rimfire scopes, the rugged build and lifetime warranty add significant value. It is well suited for beginners and casual hunters looking for a reliable, easy-to-use optic that performs well in typical rimfire shooting situations.

Rating
9.1
Magnification
Objective Lens Diameter
Reticle

Most important from
13584 reviews

Magnification
The scope performs well at moderate ranges, with sufficient magnification for up to 500 yards in stable shooting conditions.
Objective Lens Diameter
The scope delivers crystal clear optics with a bright, sharp image that outperforms older models.
Reticle
The reticle is crisp and versatile, making it easy to aim across various distances without distraction.
Eye Relief
Long eye relief and a forgiving eye box make quick target acquisition effortless and comfortable.
Parallax Adjustment
Adjustments are accurate and consistent, allowing reliable zeroing for hunting and target shooting.
Durability and Weather Resistance
The durable aluminum construction holds up well even under field abuse, ensuring lasting performance.

Buying Guide for the Best 22 Rifle Scopes

Choosing the right 22-rifle scope can significantly enhance your shooting experience, whether you're hunting, target shooting, or plinking. The right scope will improve your accuracy, help you see your target more clearly, and make shooting more enjoyable. To find the best fit for you, it's important to understand the key specifications and how they relate to your needs and preferences.
MagnificationMagnification refers to how much closer the target appears through the scope compared to the naked eye. This is important because it determines how well you can see your target at various distances. Scopes typically have fixed or variable magnification. Fixed magnification scopes are simpler and often more durable, while variable magnification scopes offer more flexibility. For general plinking or short-range shooting, a lower magnification (1-4x) is sufficient. For target shooting or hunting at longer distances, higher magnification (5-9x or more) may be beneficial. Choose based on the typical distance you will be shooting.
Objective Lens DiameterThe objective lens diameter is the size of the front lens of the scope, measured in millimeters. This spec is important because it affects the amount of light that enters the scope, impacting the brightness and clarity of the image. Larger objective lenses (40mm or more) allow more light, which is helpful in low-light conditions but can make the scope heavier and bulkier. Smaller objective lenses (20-32mm) are lighter and more compact, suitable for daylight shooting. Consider where and when you will be shooting to determine the right size for you.
ReticleThe reticle, or crosshair, is the aiming point you see when looking through the scope. Different reticle designs serve different purposes. Simple crosshairs are great for general use and beginners, while more complex reticles with additional markings (like mil-dots or BDC) can help with range estimation and bullet drop compensation. Choose a reticle that matches your shooting style and experience level. If you are a beginner, a simple reticle may be best. If you are more experienced or need to make precise long-range shots, a more complex reticle might be beneficial.
Eye ReliefEye relief is the distance between your eye and the scope at which you can see the full image. This is important for comfort and safety, especially with higher recoil rifles. Longer eye relief (3-4 inches or more) is generally better, as it allows you to maintain a comfortable shooting position and reduces the risk of the scope hitting your face during recoil. For a 22-rifle, which has minimal recoil, eye relief is less critical, but still consider your comfort and shooting style when choosing.
Field of ViewField of view (FOV) is the width of the area you can see through the scope at a given distance, usually measured in feet at 100 yards. A wider FOV allows you to see more of the target area, which is useful for tracking moving targets and situational awareness. Lower magnification scopes generally have a wider FOV, while higher magnification scopes have a narrower FOV. If you are shooting at moving targets or need to quickly acquire targets, a wider FOV is beneficial. For precision shooting at stationary targets, FOV is less critical.
Parallax AdjustmentParallax adjustment allows you to correct the parallax error, which occurs when the reticle appears to move relative to the target when you move your head. This is important for accuracy, especially at longer distances. Some scopes have a fixed parallax setting, while others offer adjustable parallax. For most 22-rifle shooting at short to medium ranges, fixed parallax is usually sufficient. If you plan to shoot at varying distances or require high precision, an adjustable parallax scope may be beneficial.
Durability and Weather ResistanceDurability and weather resistance are important for ensuring your scope can withstand the conditions you will be shooting in. Look for scopes that are waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof. These features ensure that your scope will perform well in various weather conditions and can handle the occasional bump or drop. Consider the environments you will be shooting in and choose a scope that offers the necessary protection.

FAQ

Most Popular Categories Right Now