Scope recommendations for 22lr squirrel gun?

[truckdriver20]

I know this question has been asked before, but I'm looking for some advice on what scope to get for a new CZ 457 22lr I'm planning on getting as a present to myself. I'm quite new to hunting and shooting - my only other gun is a Mossberg 500 with interchangeable smoothbore and rifled slug barrels. I plan on mostly using the new gun for squirrel hunting in the woods in the northeast, but I also want to be able to spend time at the range with developing my basic shooting skills a bit in general for the purpose of hunting.

I'm torn between getting a fixed-parallax rimfire scope like the Vortex Diamondback 2-7x32 Rimfire or an adjustable objective scope like the Diamondback HP 4-16x42. My understanding is the benefits of the rimfire scope are the weight and cost, but the fixed parallax might not be ideal at the range or for closer shots on squirrels. Since I don't have a lot of shooting experience and this is my first scope purchase and (my shotgun came with a cheap 2x power scope) I don't have a sense of how "blurry" the fixed parallax would be for me or how much benefit I'd get at the range with the extra zoom.

I won't be too mobile while squirrel hunting (I don't have dogs) but it's still nice to have a cheaper and more lightweight scope. I also don't plan on spending a huge amount of time at the range, but I don't want a scope that limits my ability to improve my shooting skills. I've seen people recommend both ways elsewhere, but what do y'all think?

 

[M70.338CS]

I’d run open sights or a fixed 1x for squirrels.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I’ve got a tract 22 scope on my nice rimfire rifle, my other has a 2-7 leupold vx1 rimfire scope on it.

 

[TxLite]

I put a swfa fixed 10 on my 17hmr squirrel gun but most of my shots are off a bipod from my porch. The fixed 6 would be nice too

 

[Shortschaf]

Dont sweat it. Parallax wont matter inside squirrel .22 ranges. I bought a chinese 2-8. no regrets

Veyron 2-8x32IR Mini SFP Scope

PRODUCT FEATURES Ultra Short 218mm 8.6in, 4in Long Eye Relief, Turret Lock System, Fully Multi Coated 30mm Monotube, 1/10MIL 1cm Adjust, 6 Levels Illumination, Flip-up Caps & Scope Rings A Must for Your Mini Air Guns and Light Weight Firearms, The Shortest Marksman Scope for You VIDEO...

vector2007.com

 

[Weldor]

I use a weaver K4x and K2x from the 60's, fine crosswires make it perfect for headshots.

 

[TaperPin]

My favorite rimfire scopes are 5x or 6x on the low end and 14x to 20x on the high. 6x for most hunting, and high power for rock plinking out to 100 yards. Small targets are hard to see at 6x. I wouldn’t worry about parallax unless you tend to look through one side of the scope.

 

[6mm Remington]

I have a 2-7 power Leupold rimfire scope on my CZ 22 and I really like it. I appreciate the 7 power ability and that is what it sits at most of the time. It's a smaller scope that looks very nice on the rifle and doesn't look too large for it.

 

[Reddish]

Sightron S1 3-9 Rimfire will be much nicer than the Vortex options you listed. Or an SWFA 6x, though a little heavy it’s a lot of fun to practice dialing longer shots. I can still see squirrels clearly at 80-90yds with 6x.

 

[Macintosh]

Either a 2-7ish traditional scope with wide fov because squirrels are twitchy (rimfire just has a shorter parallax, agree with above I dont think it matters on minute-of-squirrel targets)
OR
A 3-15 or 4-18ish ffp scope so you can dial it for shots past point blank range. The gun is capable of hitting squirrel-size targets to over 100 yards if you have the equipment to be precise enough, and practice. This would be less traditional but still very useable at “normal” squirrel range, while giving you a bit more range should you decide to try some nrl22 or similar matches for practice.

 

[rookieforever33]

I love my leupold 2-7 on my 22. The rimfire version has parallax set at 50 yards I believe. The regular is set at 100 yards. Either will be fine for squirrels, target shooting, or anything else you want it to do. I had mine on a 270 for a while and also my 870 for deer hunting. Bought it for $200 on a black friday sale. I've shot more animals looking through that scope than any other.

 

[BLJ]

Leupold M8 6x AO Compact with fine crosshairs on a Ruger 77/22.
Leupold 3-9 EFR on a CZ 457.

 

[Wyobohunter]

I have a Weaver 2.5-7 x 32mm on my CZ 452 American. The setup is deadly out to 50 yds. As @rookieforever33 said, look for something with the parallax set to 50 yds.

Something similar to this (discontinued) model.

Weaver Classic V-Series Rifle Scope 2.5-7x 32mm Dual-X Reticle Matte

Weaver Classic V-Series Rifle Scopes have fully multi-coated lenses to enhance light transmission and provide excellent edge-to-edge clarity. Features...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[Speaks]

Sightron S1 3-9 Rimfire will be much nicer than the Vortex options you listed. Or an SWFA 6x, though a little heavy it’s a lot of fun to practice dialing longer shots. I can still see squirrels clearly at 80-90yds with 6x.

I would love to put a swfa 6x on mine but they were discontinued, supposedly releasing a V2 sometime next year but who knows with them.

 

[kolky]

Depends on what you are looking to spend.

Leupold 2-7 would probably be a great choice if you want to spend the money for that one.

I put a Burris Fullfield 3-9 on my daughters 10/22 and I think that is a great scope for the money.

Cheaper still I picked up a Hawke Vantage 2-7x with AO for $75 on Amazon which I just put on my Gamo Urban air rifle and have been really impressed with that for how cheap it was.

 

[Buckhead]

I tend to over scope my rimfires, also insist on an adjustable objective. My primary squirrel rifle is a .22LR suppressed Sako Quad. I have a 4-16 Weaver GS on it with a fine reticle. Very accurate with Eley SVHP. Dime sized groups at 50 are the norm. Prefer head shots. By shooting suppressed and being fairly stationary, I can usually get 2-3 squirrels per set.

 

[TaperPin]

I was thumbing through used scopes and ran across a compact Burris 4x12 that would look right at home on a rimfire.

 

[06 SB]

I have debated the same question as I just recently bought a Ruger American Rimfire in 22LR. I also put a SilencerCo Sparrow on it. With subsonic ammo it is crazy quiet. I went with a standard Crossfire II and not the rimfire version. It has fixed 100yd parallax. I like its BDC reticle and works for 50, 75 and 100 yards shots, although my groups open up at that range. I do not shoot at squirrels past 75yds. I am happy with my choice although if I had to do it all over again, I would probably get a Burris E1 4.5-14x42. It has a BDC type reticle and adjustable parallax.

Burris E1

 

[juju]

The small 2-7x are about right for sq. You want the low end for runners. And 7x is enough for headshots well out there. So far my record for a running head shot is about 40 yards set on 2.5x. Sitting, I have dropped it in on them at about 75 on 7x several times. My rig is a Browning T-Bolt with Japanese Weaver RV-7. I kill a few squirrels per trip, with a few trips per week Nov, Dec, Jan annually and have been doing so with that rig for about 14 years. You may have to go with Leupold nowadays.

I rarely kill them so close or so far that a fixed 4x wouldn't do. Leupold has a tiny 4x available.

Adjustable objective is for longer distance like 100 yards. If you want to use your squirrel rifle to practice at 100 yards and further, you will want an AO or side focus.

Also, sq hunting without a dog is a little sad.

 

[MallardSX2]

3-9 rifleman