Best Scopes for a Ruger 10/22 (2026): 5 Rimfire Scopes Compared
Affiliate disclosure: GunJoy may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page.
If you just brought home a Ruger 10/22 — or you've had one for years and finally want to see your groups shrink instead of guessing where your shots land — a dedicated optic makes a real difference. Finding the best scope for Ruger 10/22 rifles isn't about the biggest magnification or the most features; it's about matching the optic to how you actually shoot: plinking cans at 25 yards, working on small targets at 50, or teaching a new shooter the basics safely. Below are five rimfire-specific scopes we compared on specs, price and fit for the 10/22 platform, so you can pick one with confidence and spend the rest of your range day shooting instead of researching.
Prices below were checked Nov 8, 2026. Optics pricing moves fast, especially heading into Black Friday (Nov 27) and Cyber Monday (Nov 30), so treat every price here as a snapshot, not a guarantee, and check the current price before you buy.
Quick picks
- Best all-around: Vortex Crossfire II 2-7x32 Rimfire — a true rimfire parallax setting and a well-known reticle at a moderate price.
- Best step-up glass: Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40 Rimfire MOA — premium brand, rimfire-tuned reticle, higher price.
- Best holdover reticle for .22 LR: Athlon Neos 3-9x40 BDC 22 Rimfire — reticle built around a 40 gr .22 LR trajectory.
- Best value with drop points: Bushnell Rimfire 3-9x40 — budget price, reticle with marked drop points out to 125 yd, but stock may be limited.
- Best budget bundle: Simmons .22 Mag 3-9x32 — the only one here that ships with rings.
Comparison table
| Model | Key specs | Price checked Nov 8, 2026 | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vortex Crossfire II 2-7x32 Rimfire | 2-7x32; parallax set at 50 yd; V-Plex MOA reticle; 1 in tube; 11.5 in; 13.9 oz; 3.9 in eye relief; rings not included; MSRP $169.99 | $129.00 at Walmart (third-party seller) | Check price at Sportsman's Warehouse |
| Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40 Rimfire MOA | 3-9x40; fixed parallax 60 yd; Rimfire MOA SFP reticle; 1 in tube; 12.49 in; 12.2 oz; 4.2-3.7 in eye relief | $399.99 at SCHEELS | Check price at SCHEELS |
| Athlon Neos 3-9x40 BDC 22 Rimfire | 3-9x40; BDC 22 rimfire reticle built around 40 gr .22 LR; 1 in tube; 12.4 in; 17 oz | $162.49 at Athlon's store | Check price at GunDeals |
| Bushnell Rimfire 3-9x40 | 3-9x40; Drop Zone 22 reticle for 40 gr .22 LR with drop points to 125 yd (per Bushnell); 12.2 in; 3.6 in eye relief | $99.99 at Bushnell's store (some retailers list it as discontinued, so stock may be limited) | Check price at GunDeals |
| Simmons .22 Mag 3-9x32 with rings | 3-9x32; parallax preset at 50 yd; Truplex reticle; 1 in tube; 9.6 oz; 3.75 in eye relief; includes 3/8 in dovetail rimfire rings | $65.99 at KYGunCo | Check price at GunDeals |
The picks
Vortex Crossfire II 2-7x32 Rimfire — best all-around
Best for: shooters who want one scope that covers close plinking and medium-range target work without overpaying.
Key specs: 2-7x32, parallax set at 50 yd, V-Plex MOA reticle, 1 in tube, 11.5 in long, 13.9 oz, 3.9 in eye relief, rings not included, MSRP $169.99.
Why we picked it: Vortex is a known name in budget-to-mid optics, and this model's parallax is set for rimfire distances rather than the 100+ yard setting you'd find on a centerfire scope, so the image stays sharp where a 10/22 actually gets used. The 2-7x range covers close work and lets you dial in on smaller targets without going overboard on magnification.
Trade-offs: No rings included, so budget for a separate set of 1 in rings. The Walmart price listed is from a third-party seller, so check seller details before buying.
Check price at Sportsman's Warehouse ›
Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40 Rimfire MOA — best step-up glass
Best for: owners who want a premium-brand scope and plan to keep it on the rifle for years.
Key specs: 3-9x40, fixed parallax at 60 yd, Rimfire MOA second-focal-plane reticle, 1 in tube, 12.49 in long, 12.2 oz, 4.2-3.7 in eye relief.
Why we picked it: Leupold's reputation for glass quality and build is well established, and the Rimfire MOA reticle is purpose-built for .22 LR work rather than repurposed from a centerfire line. The 60 yd parallax setting suits slightly longer rimfire ranges than the 50 yd Vortex and Simmons.
Trade-offs: It's noticeably more expensive than the other four picks, and it can cost more than the rifle itself, so it makes the most sense if you plan to keep it for years. No rings included.
Athlon Neos 3-9x40 BDC 22 Rimfire — best holdover reticle
Best for: shooters who want built-in holdover references for 40 gr .22 LR loads without doing their own math.
Key specs: 3-9x40, BDC 22 rimfire reticle built around 40 gr .22 LR, 1 in tube, 12.4 in long, 17 oz.
Why we picked it: A reticle designed specifically around a common .22 LR bullet weight is a practical feature for shooters who want aiming references at different distances rather than a plain crosshair. At $162.49, it sits in the upper middle of this lineup for price.
Trade-offs: At 17 oz it's the heaviest of the scopes here with a confirmed weight, and like most here, rings aren't included.
Bushnell Rimfire 3-9x40 — best value with drop points
Best for: budget-minded shooters who still want a reticle with marked drop points for 40 gr .22 LR.
Key specs: 3-9x40, Drop Zone 22 reticle for 40 gr .22 LR with drop points to 125 yd according to Bushnell, 12.2 in long, 3.6 in eye relief.
Why we picked it: At $99.99 it's one of the least expensive scopes here with a dedicated rimfire reticle and drop-point markings, which is a lot of feature for the price if you can find stock.
Trade-offs: Some retailers list this model as discontinued, so availability may be limited — check stock before you build a purchase around it. Rings are not included.
Simmons .22 Mag 3-9x32 with rings — best budget bundle
Best for: first-time scope buyers who want to mount and shoot without ordering a second part.
Key specs: 3-9x32, parallax preset at 50 yd, Truplex reticle, 1 in tube, 9.6 oz, 3.75 in eye relief, includes 3/8 in dovetail rimfire rings.
Why we picked it: This is the only scope in our comparison that ships with rings — specifically 3/8 in dovetail rings, which fit the .22 tip-off side of the scope base adapter Ruger includes with the 10/22. At $65.99 it's also the least expensive option here, and it's the lightest scope on the list at 9.6 oz.
Trade-offs: Lower price generally means fewer premium touches than the Leupold or Athlon, and the objective lens is smaller at 32mm versus 40mm on several competitors.
Why a rimfire scope
A scope marketed as "rimfire" isn't just a smaller, cheaper centerfire scope — the parallax is usually preset for the shorter distances where .22 LR shooting actually happens. The Vortex and Simmons scopes here are set for 50 yd, and the Leupold is set for 60 yd, compared with the 100-150 yd parallax setting typical of centerfire scopes. That matters because parallax error — the apparent shift of the reticle against the target as you move your eye — is worst when the scope's parallax distance doesn't match your actual shooting distance. A rimfire-specific parallax setting keeps the sight picture sharper and more consistent at the ranges where most 10/22 shooting takes place.
Several of these scopes also use reticles with .22 LR holdover references built in, such as the Athlon's BDC 22 and the Bushnell's Drop Zone 22, both tuned around a 40 gr .22 LR bullet. That can save you some guesswork at the range once you've confirmed your own zero and ammo.
Mounting a scope on a 10/22
Ruger's own spec sheet for the 10/22 notes that the rifle includes a combination scope base adapter that works with both Weaver-style scope bases and the .22 tip-off (3/8 in dovetail) mount, so you have flexibility in how you mount an optic. Most of the scopes in this guide do not include rings, so budget for a separate set of 1 in rings sized to match your base — the Simmons is the exception, since it ships with 3/8 in dovetail rings already included.
We're describing this at a high level only. For the actual mounting steps — base and ring installation, torque specs, leveling the reticle, and eye relief adjustment — follow the instructions that come with your specific scope and rings, or have a gunsmith or gun shop mount and bore-sight the optic for you. Always confirm the rifle is unloaded before mounting or adjusting a scope, and wear eye and ear protection once you move to live-fire sighting-in at the range, with a safe backstop in place.
Feed it good ammo
Scope aside, accuracy with a 10/22 depends a lot on the ammunition you feed it. .22 LR loads vary in bullet weight, velocity and consistency from one brand to the next, and a rifle that groups poorly with one load can tighten up noticeably with another. It's worth trying a few different .22 LR loads once your scope is mounted and zeroed, so you can see which one your particular rifle shoots best.
Where to find the current deal
Scope and optics pricing can shift day to day, and it tends to move even more between now and Cyber Monday (Nov 30) as retailers run Black Friday (Nov 27) promotions. Before you buy any scope on this list, compare the final price, shipping cost and return policy across a couple of retailers — a lower sticker price isn't always the better deal once shipping and restocking fees are factored in. For a running list of current markdowns, check today's best deals.
If you're still deciding on the rifle itself, our guide to Best Rimfire Guns Under $500 (Black Friday 2026) rounds up other budget-friendly .22 options worth a look.
FAQ
What's the best budget pick?
The Simmons .22 Mag 3-9x32 is the strongest budget pick since it's the lowest priced option here and the only one that includes rings, so there's no separate ring purchase to plan for. The Bushnell Rimfire 3-9x40 is a close second on price and adds a drop-point reticle, though stock may be limited since some retailers list it as discontinued.
Is a 3-9x scope too much magnification for a .22?
No. The low end of a 3-9x scope (3x) works fine for close plinking, while the high end (9x) helps you see small targets clearly at longer rimfire distances. You're not locked into 9x all the time — you can dial it down for faster target acquisition up close.
Do centerfire scopes work on a 10/22?
Yes, a centerfire scope will physically mount and function on a 10/22. The difference is parallax: centerfire scopes are usually set for 100-150 yd, while rimfire scopes in this guide are set for 50-60 yd. Since most 10/22 shooting happens at 25-75 yd, a rimfire-specific scope will generally give you a clearer, more parallax-free sight picture at those distances.
Do I need to buy rings separately?
In most cases, yes. Of the five scopes compared here, only the Simmons .22 Mag 3-9x32 ships with rings (3/8 in dovetail). For the Vortex, Leupold, Athlon and Bushnell scopes, plan to buy 1 in rings separately that match your mounting base.
Whichever scope you choose, remember the basics: keep the rifle unloaded until you're ready to shoot, always use eye and ear protection at the range, shoot with a safe backstop in place, and store the rifle unloaded and locked away from children when it's not in use. Any firearm purchase should go through a licensed dealer and comply with applicable federal, state and local law.