Best .22LR Rifle Scopes for Target Shooting

The best .22LR rifle scope for target shooting depends more on how and where you shoot than on the cartridge itself. A scope that is ideal for 50-yard paper targets can be a poor fit for NRL22, while a 60x benchrest optic is excessive for most recreational rifles.

For general target work, usable magnification, close parallax adjustment, and a precise aiming point matter more than simply buying the highest-power scope. Precision rimfire competition adds greater demands on turret repeatability, reticle design, and available elevation.

This guide compares current scopes for several types of .22LR target shooting and explains which specifications deserve the most attention.

Best .22LR Rifle Scopes for Target Shooting

Each scope below is matched to the type of target shooting where its design makes the most sense. The goal is not to rank six very different optics as if every shooter had the same requirements.

The recommendations are based on current manufacturer specifications, model status, target-shooting fit, and current competition guidance. This is a specification- and use-case-based comparison, not a claim that every scope was hands-on tested.

Best .22LR Target Scopes Reviewed

1. Athlon Midas TAC GEN2 HD 6-24×50 — Best Overall

The Athlon Midas TAC GEN2 HD 6-24×50 offers a strong balance of target-friendly magnification, close parallax adjustment, precision controls, and manageable weight.

Athlon lists a 6-24x range, 10-yard parallax adjustment, first focal plane reticle, precision zero stop, and 26.3-ounce weight. MIL and MOA versions are available.

That combination works well for shooters who want one optic for 50-yard groups, 100-yard precision, and occasional multi-distance rimfire shooting. The 24x top end provides useful detail on small targets without moving into the size and narrow field of view of a dedicated 40x–60x benchrest scope.

Its relatively low weight is another advantage. Many precision optics in this category are heavier, which can noticeably change the balance of a light rimfire rifle.

Best for: Shooters who want one versatile scope for recreational and precision target shooting.

Watch for: A dedicated benchrest shooter may still prefer more magnification and finer adjustment increments.

2. Billings HIII 4-12×40 AO — Best for 25–50 Yard Target Shooting

The Billings HIII 4-12×40 AO is a simpler option for shooters who spend most of their time on paper targets at short rimfire distances.

The current specification lists 4-12x magnification, a 40 mm objective, 25.4 mm tube, 3.25-inch eye relief, and adjustable-objective parallax from 10 yards to infinity. The HIII range also uses 1/4-inch windage and elevation turrets.

At 25–50 yards, this configuration is often more useful than a large competition optic. Twelve-power magnification provides enough detail for normal paper targets, while the close AO setting addresses a more important rimfire issue: correcting parallax at the distance actually being used.

The 1-inch tube and moderate magnification also suit shooters who want a less bulky range setup.

Best for: Recreational paper targets and 25- to 50-yard accuracy practice.

Watch for: Shooters who regularly dial between multiple distances will benefit from a more competition-oriented turret and reticle system.

3. Athlon Argos BTR GEN3 6-24×50 — Best Value

The Athlon Argos BTR GEN3 6-24×50 is a strong value for shooters moving from basic target shooting into precision-style rimfire use.

Athlon’s current 6-24×50 MIL model combines an FFP illuminated reticle, 10-yard parallax adjustment, 0.1 MIL clicks, and a precision zero stop. A corresponding MOA version uses 0.25 MOA adjustments. Both weigh 30.3 ounces.

The FFP reticle supports consistent angular holds as magnification changes, while the close side focus makes the scope practical at normal .22LR distances.

Its main tradeoff is weight. At just over 30 ounces, it makes more sense on a range or precision rifle than on a lightweight sporter.

Best for: Buyers who want FFP, close parallax, and a zero stop without moving into a higher-priced competition optic.

Watch for: Consider rifle balance before pairing it with a very light rimfire platform.

4. Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25×50 SFP — Best for 100-Yard Precision

A 100-yard target rifle does not automatically need an FFP scope. When most shooting happens at a known distance and consistent magnification, the Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25×50 SFP can be an excellent fit.

The Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25×50 SFP provides 25-yard-to-infinity parallax, exposed turrets, 1/4 MOA adjustments, 70 MOA of maximum elevation adjustment, and a listed weight of 31.2 ounces.

The 5-25x range gives a 100-yard shooter enough magnification to resolve small aiming points without entering specialized benchrest territory.

Its SFP design is less convenient if you frequently change magnification while relying on reticle subtensions. For fixed-distance paper shooting, that limitation matters much less.

Best for: Precision groups and small target work around 50–100 yards.

Watch for: It is heavier and more complex than necessary for casual short-range shooting.

5. Bushnell Match Pro ED 5-30×56 — Best for NRL22 and Precision Rimfire

The Bushnell Match Pro ED 5-30×56 is designed much more closely around the needs of practical precision shooting.

Bushnell lists an FFP DM2 grid-style reticle, 0.1 MRAD adjustments, exposed locking turrets, a zero stop, 15-yard side focus, 29 MRAD of elevation adjustment, and a 32-ounce weight.

That feature set makes sense when target distance changes during a stage. The shooter can dial elevation, use the reticle for wind or holdovers, reduce magnification when more field of view is needed, and return to the established zero.

Current NRL22 scope guidance strongly recommends FFP optics, matching turret and reticle units, exposed repeatable turrets, a zero stop, and parallax adjustment to 25 yards or closer. These are recommendations rather than universal equipment requirements.

Best for: NRL22 and other multi-distance precision rimfire shooting.

Watch for: Its size, weight, and competition-focused controls are unnecessary for most casual 50-yard shooters.

6. Sightron S6 10-60×56 ED BR — Best for Benchrest

The Sightron S6 10-60×56 ED BR illustrates why benchrest should not be grouped with practical rimfire competition.

Sightron lists 10-60x magnification, 9-yard-to-infinity side focus, an SFP reticle, 1/8 MOA clicks, a zero stop, 55 MOA of elevation adjustment, and a 33.6-ounce weight.

The high magnification and fine adjustment increments suit a supported rifle aimed at very small scoring areas. Wide field of view and low weight are less important in this setting than they are during positional stages.

Its SFP design also shows why FFP should not be treated as automatically superior. If the shooter works at a fixed distance and known magnification, SFP can be entirely appropriate.

Best for: Dedicated benchrest rifles and shooters pursuing very small groups from a stable position.

Watch for: Its size, premium positioning, and 60x top end are excessive for general-purpose .22LR use.

Choose a Scope for Your Type of Target Shooting

The most useful way to choose a .22LR target scope is to start with the discipline, not the specification sheet.

25–50 Yard Recreational Target Shooting

For recreational paper targets at 25 or 50 yards, prioritize close parallax adjustment, a clean aiming point, manageable size, and simple controls. Capped turrets are entirely reasonable when the rifle stays zeroed at one distance; a heavy competition optic can add cost and bulk without adding useful capability.

50–100 Yard Precision Shooting

For 50- to 100-yard precision, prioritize adjustable parallax, a fine center aiming point, and enough optical resolution to define small scoring areas. Both FFP and SFP can work; if the rifle is used mainly at one distance and one magnification, SFP remains a practical choice.

NRL22 and Practical Precision Rimfire

Practical rimfire competition places different demands on an optic. Targets vary in distance, stages may require positional shooting, and shooters often need fast elevation or wind corrections.

Current NRL22 guidance recommends FFP, matching measurement units, exposed repeatable turrets, a zero stop, and parallax adjustment to 25 yards or closer. It also notes that experienced competitors often reduce magnification to around 10-15x during positional stages to gain field of view and reduce apparent wobble.

The current NRL22 rules, valid from May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027, do not require FFP or MIL. They permit scopes, iron sights, or electronic sights while highly recommending magnified scopes with externally adjustable turrets and holdover-capable reticles. If you plan to compete in Base division, check the equipment budget before buying: the current rifle-plus-scope MSRP threshold is $1,650, subject to the rulebook’s eligibility details.

Benchrest

Benchrest shifts the priority toward precise aiming from a stable position. Fine reticle subtension, exact parallax control, optical resolution, and small adjustment increments matter more than wide field of view or low weight. SFP remains entirely appropriate when the shooter works at a fixed distance and known magnification.

Always check the rules for the event you intend to shoot. Not every .22LR competition permits high magnification. CMP Rimfire Sporter, for example, limits telescopic sights in T-Class to 6x, illustrating why a high-power scope is not automatically the right choice for every rimfire competition.

What Magnification Do You Really Need for .22LR Target Shooting?

There is no single best magnification for every .22LR target rifle.

At 25–50 yards, approximately 4-12x covers most recreational paper shooting. At 50–100 yards, ranges such as 4-16x or 6-24x provide more room to resolve small aiming points.

Practical precision is different. A scope may offer 25x or 30x, but shooters often reduce magnification during positional stages to gain field of view and make apparent wobble easier to manage. NRL22 guidance specifically notes that many experienced competitors work around 10-15x during positional shooting.

Benchrest is where very high magnification becomes more useful. A supported rifle and tiny scoring areas can justify 30x, 40x, or 60x.

The key distinction is maximum magnification versus usable magnification.

Higher power narrows field of view, makes natural movement more obvious, and can make atmospheric mirage more noticeable. The goal is to buy enough magnification to resolve the target clearly, not simply the largest number on the magnification ring.

What Matters Most in a .22LR Target Scope?

Once the magnification range fits your shooting style, the following factors determine whether the scope will actually work well at rimfire distances.

Parallax Range

Close rifle scope parallax adjustment is one of the most important differences between a good rimfire target setup and a poorly matched centerfire hunting scope.

A scope fixed at 100 yards is a poor match for serious 25-yard target work, especially as magnification increases. For short-range precision, look for an adjustable objective or side-focus system that reaches approximately 10–25 yards.

The yardage marks on a focus knob should be treated as guides rather than exact range measurements. A practical check is to keep the rifle still and move your eye slightly. If the reticle appears to shift across the target, continue adjusting until that movement is minimized. This method is also described in parallax testing guidance published by NRA Shooting Sports USA.

In practice, minimum parallax distance often matters more than whether the manufacturer labels the scope “rimfire.”

Reticle Subtension and Aiming Precision

A reticle name does not tell you whether it is suitable for small targets.

What matters is reticle subtension—how much of the aiming point the center crosshair or dot covers. A thick hunting duplex or large illuminated center can hide a small bullseye even when the scope has plenty of magnification.

For benchrest and small-group work, a fine center reference is usually more useful. For practical precision, additional elevation and wind references can provide faster holds.

A high-magnification scope is still a poor target optic if its center aiming point is too coarse.

Turret Tracking and Click Resolution

The importance of turret tracking rises sharply when you regularly dial for different distances.

For practical precision, the scope should make repeatable corrections and return predictably to zero. A zero stop is useful because it provides a fast mechanical reference after larger elevation changes.

Fixed-distance benchrest has a different need. Small adjustment increments can be more valuable than large amounts of turret travel. The Sightron S6, for example, uses 1/8 MOA clicks.

MOA is not inherently more accurate than MIL. Adjustment resolution and mechanical consistency matter more than the unit name.

FFP vs SFP

FFP is most useful when you rely on reticle measurements while changing magnification. The reticle scales with the image, so its angular references remain consistent.

SFP keeps the reticle visually the same size. That works well for fixed-distance shooting and benchrest when the shooter uses a known magnification.

FFP is therefore a practical advantage for many precision-rimfire competitors, not a universal upgrade for every .22LR target rifle.

Match the Reticle and Turret Units

A MIL reticle with MIL turrets lets a correction observed in the reticle transfer directly to the turret. The same principle applies to MOA/MOA.

Mixing systems creates unnecessary conversion. NRL22 guidance currently describes MIL/MIL as the preferred setup for many competitors while confirming that MOA remains allowed and competitive.

For most new precision-rimfire shooters, choosing one measurement system and using it consistently is more important than deciding that MIL or MOA is inherently superior.

Usable Elevation and Rail Cant

Total elevation travel is not the same as the amount available above your zero.

Once the rifle is mounted and zeroed, only part of the scope’s internal travel may remain for dialing upward. This becomes more important as .22LR target distance extends beyond normal 50- or 100-yard use.

A canted base shifts more of the scope’s adjustment range in the direction needed for longer shots. Current NRL22 guidance identifies a 20 MOA rail as a common all-around precision-rimfire option and discusses additional cant for extended-distance setups.

For extended-range rimfire, usable elevation may add more practical capability than simply increasing maximum magnification.

Do You Need a Rimfire-Specific Scope?

No. A scope does not need “rimfire” in its product name to work well on a .22LR.

A general rifle scope can be an excellent choice if it focuses at your normal target distance, has a suitable reticle, provides the adjustment range you need, and fits the rifle without making it awkwardly heavy.

Dedicated rimfire scopes remain attractive for lighter recreational rifles because they often combine moderate magnification, compact dimensions, and short-range parallax settings.

Judge the actual specifications before the marketing category.

Common Buying Mistakes

Common mistakes include buying more magnification than you can use, pairing a fixed 100- or 150-yard parallax scope with mostly 25-yard shooting, choosing a reticle that covers small targets, assuming FFP is always better, mixing MIL and MOA without a reason, ignoring usable elevation for extended-range shooting, making a light rifle top-heavy, or following an outdated model recommendation.

Conclusion

The best .22LR rifle scope for target shooting depends on the shooting discipline. For 25- to 50-yard practice, moderate magnification and close parallax adjustment are usually more valuable than a large competition optic. At 100 yards, optical resolution and a finer aiming point matter more. NRL22 and other multi-distance disciplines place greater value on reticle and turret systems, repeatable adjustment, and usable elevation, while benchrest can justify very high magnification and finer clicks.

Choose the scope around the targets you actually shoot rather than one specification in isolation. Magnification, parallax, reticle design, focal plane, adjustment system, weight, and elevation range should work together.

If you are sourcing or developing a .22LR target scope, contact Billings Optics to discuss target distance, magnification range, parallax configuration, reticle design, turret options, samples, customization, and order requirements. Matching the optic to the intended shooting discipline creates a more useful product than simply adding more specifications.