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5 Best Rimfire Scopes under $100 in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

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Rimfire Scope Close UpDid you know that rimfire rifles are more often a favorite among shooters?

They also always have low recoil. As such, people always use them to acquaint themselves with shooting and acquire the skills. Eventually, they end up loving them and continue using them instead.

Also, rimfires are known to be pretty economical since they require less powder and brass. They are simply the people’s favorite and getting one is not a problem.

The real issue is finding a rimfire scope to complete the experience.

This is because there are myriad brands out there, each with unique magnification options, reticle, and even weight. That means going the extra mile to find out which one would best serve the purpose among the many.

To make sure you don’t have to go through all the trouble, we have carried out some reviews and compiled a list of the best five rimfire scopes. Let’s dive in.

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A Quick Glance at our Favorite Picks in 2024

Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Simmons 3-9x32mm .22 Riflescope Simmons 3-9x32mm .22 Riflescope
  • Compatible with most .22 rifles
  • Adjusting is easy
  • Perfect visibility
  • Best Value
    Second place
    BARSKA 4x32 Plinker-22 Riflescope BARSKA 4x32 Plinker-22 Riflescope
  • Affordable
  • BDC reticle
  • Great for plinking
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    TRUGLO 4x32mm Compact Rimfire Scope TRUGLO 4x32mm Compact Rimfire Scope
  • Scratch-resistant
  • Has an eye relief
  • Doesn’t reflect light
  • TASCO MAG39X32D Rimfire .22 Riflescope TASCO MAG39X32D Rimfire .22 Riflescope
  • Compatible with .22 rifles
  • Lightweight
  • Multi-coated lenses
  • Bushnell 613510A Rimfire Optics Scope Bushnell 613510A Rimfire Optics Scope
  • Adjustable objective
  • Wide magnification range
  • BDC reticle
  • The 5 Best Rimfire Scopes under $100

    1. Simmons 3-9x32mm .22 Riflescope – Best Overall

    Simmons 3-9x32mm .22 Riflescope

    Just like its performance, the popularity of Simmons rifle scope precedes it. It was our best overall pick, thanks to the numerous perks that it brings along. To begin with, this riflescope can be used with most .22 rifles.

    Simmons also comes with multi-coated lenses, producing an unrivaled view and preventing reflection. As such, you will be able to spot sharp and bright images regardless of your shooting range.

    It also features hydroshield coating on the lens to improve visibility even during bad weather. You will have an effortless experience spotting your target, including those at far distances.

    Simmons uses SureGrip rubber technology for its surface such that adjusting the scope becomes seamless and convenient regardless of the shooting position. You can also correct any parallax errors occurring from about 50 yards going upwards.

    With a magnification range starting from 3-9x and an objective diameter of 32 mm, Simmons rimfire scope is the best for hunting or any other shooting spree you are up to. Overall, this is the best rimfire scope under $100 we have reviewed.

    Pros
    • Compatible with most .22 rifles
    • Adjusting is easy
    • Can endure extreme weather conditions
    • Perfect visibility
    • It’s shockproof
    Cons
    • Can sight unwanted objects

    2. BARSKA 4×32 Plinker-22 Riflescope – Best Value

    BARSKA 4x32 Plinker-22 Riflescope

    If you want value for your money at a reasonable price, this is the rimfire scope you want to buy. Right from the design, it features a strong and sturdy construction that will withstand any punishment you subject it to.

    The tube is filled with nitrogen to ensure that the scope remains fog-free and waterproof. It can be used even during rainy periods.

    BARSKA features a bullet drop compensation reticle. The shooter will tell the exact place where the shell will fall once the rifle is released. This helps you to make precise shots with little to zero errors.

    Like the other rimfire scopes, this one has multi-coated lenses that maximize the amount of light getting into the ocular lenses. Combined with its non-reflective ability, this becomes a great advantage to you.

    At a distance of 50 yards, the BARSKA riflescope is free from parallax errors for precision. However, this scope has a fixed-power magnification setting that restricts the length from which you can shoot your target.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • BDC reticle
    • Great for plinking
    • Fog-free and waterproof
    • Great precision
    Cons
    • Fixed-power magnification
    • Included rings incompatible with some rifle receivers

    3. TRUGLO 4x32mm Compact Rimfire Scope

    TRUGLO 4x32mm Compact Rimfire Scope

    TRUGLO compact rimfire managed to secure a spot in our top three. If you like hunting those wild gobblers and other game, this is the scope for you. It has been designed with a Realtree Xtra color that will help with camouflaging while in the woods.

    Birds with sharp eyesight might not escape your trail since it also boasts a matte finishing that doesn’t reflect light.

    With an objective lens diameter of 32 mm, it allows in just enough light for your day shooting activities. The riflescope has lenses that are fully coated to ensure maximum brightness for clear images.

    Your eyes will enjoy some comfort, courtesy of the eye guard in the scope. Plus, the duplex and diamond reticles come with some mounting rings ideal for your rimfire or air rifle.

    Finally, the scope is made from durable, scratch-resistant material so that it serves you for quite some time.

    On the downside, however, it has a fixed magnification of 4x.

    Pros
    • Scratch-resistant
    • Has an eye relief
    • It’s durable
    • Doesn’t reflect light
    • The finishing allows for camouflaging
    Cons
    • It is a fixed scope

    4. TASCO MAG39X32D Rimfire .22 Riflescope

    TASCO MAG39X32D Rimfire .22 Riflescope

    Are you looking forward to shooting in style? TASCO rimfire riflescope is the product you are looking for. It features an elegant design that comes with high performance. Still, on design, it has a sturdy and durable construction that stands the test of time.

    Just so you know, TASCO rifle scopes are compatible with all .22 rimfire rifles, giving it a competitive advantage.

    As for the magnification, this is a variable scope that will go a long way to give you the comfort you want while shooting. You will be in a position to adjust between 3-9x magnification ranges depending on whether you are a short or long-range shooter.

    It comes equipped with a 50-yard parallax setting which allows you to eliminate parallax errors that might result from adjusting the scope. In turn, this will ensure that you have precise shots with minor mistakes.

    With an objective lens of 32 mm and fully multi-coated optics, you will get to see bright and clear-cut images.

    Pros
    • Compatible with .22 rifles
    • Lightweight
    • Multi-coated lenses
    Cons
    • Limited to 50-yard parallax settings

    5. Bushnell 613510A Rimfire Optics Scope

    Bushnell 613510A Rimfire Optics Scope

    All rimfire shooters should be able to meet their unique needs without sacrificing too much on their end. With this in mind, Bushnell would be a great buy. Let’s dive into the specs.

    For starters, this riflescope is equipped with a bullet drop compensation type of reticle, which works perfectly fine for both long-range shooters and their short-range counterparts. If you are looking to gun down some game or other activities, you should give this a shot.

    Further, the scope has a variable-power magnification system that can be adjusted between 3.5-10x. You wouldn’t have to shift the entire rimfire or even change your body position to have a clear view of your target.

    It features an adjustable objective with a 36 mm diameter lens. Enough light will be let through to the ocular lens for a clear view. With multi-coated lenses, adequate light is allowed in to produce sharp images.

    Bushnell features a matte finishing to prevent the reflection of light. If you are a hunter, this will work to your advantage.

    Pros
    • Adjustable objective
    • Wide magnification range
    • BDC reticle
    Cons
    • Not perfect for low-light conditions

    Buying Guide – Purchasing the Best Rimfire Scopes under $100

    Before you invest, you want to make sure that the product you wish to purchase is worth the value of your money. With so many brands flooding our markets, it is not uncommon to come across counterfeit products in disguise as the originals.

    Even further, the different products all have varied features depending on the manufacturer. Therefore, you want to ensure that you are not spending on a product with unnecessary features or on one that will not serve the purpose.

    Hopefully, after reading our buyer’s guide, it will be a tad easier for you to navigate through the thousands of rifle scopes out there and find what works for you.

    1. The Weight of the Scope

    Generally, rifles are already heavy. Most of them will weigh about 5 pounds or more. While it is necessary to have a rimfire scope so as to easily spot your target, having the wrong weight will work to your disadvantage.

    Heavy scopes will make the rifle unstable and lose its balance. What this means is that it might also affect your speed of movement, or your arms will become easily exhausted. The implication is that you may not be in a position to gun down those fast-moving targets or games that you wanted.

    To stay on the safer side, always check out to ensure that the rimfire scope you want to buy does not weigh more than 2 pounds. You don’t want to buy a rifle that you will not be in a position to move with throughout the entire day as you intended, as it won’t be worth the value of your money.

    2. Magnification

    The magnification power that your intended scope has is a feature whose importance cannot be overstated. Why is this the case? It affects the shooting range that you must adopt to hit your target.

    In most cases, scopes with fixed-power magnification will not be ideal unless you are a short-range shooter. They will restrict your flexibility, demanding that you change your body position often to align the rifle with the target.

    Believe it or not, this will pose a big risk if you are a hunter aiming for big animals that also happen to have sharp hearing. At the slightest movement, they will have sensed that you are around, and they will flee or, worse still, attack!

    That then means that the best chance you have is going for a variable riflescope. When we say variable, it means that you can adjust the magnification powers to your convenience. If you want to hit an object that is far away, you simply have to increase the magnification.

    Likewise, if your object is so near, you reduce the magnification power. One advantage that you might reap from variable rifle scopes is that you can easily hit a moving target.

    3. Reticle

    The type of reticle that your rimfire scope has will affect your shooting accuracy. Reticles are usually some dotted lines that will help you predict where your bullet will land once it leaves the rifle.

    The better the reticle, the more precision you get. Broadly speaking, there is no specific reticle that can be said to be better than the other. It is upon the shooter to test out those that are available and see what works for them.

    In most cases, however, a bullet drop compensation reticle is more desirable.

    4. Quality of Optics

    Just like the magnification of the scope, the quality of the optics cannot be overlooked. It is either you get it all or lose it all. Look at it from this point. Optics function to focus the image and give out a clear picture.

    In case they are poor, your view will not be pleasant. But if the optics are excellent, you will be able to see your target clearly and even follow their trail. There are two main types of optics that can be used with the scope.

    The best type is high-quality glass. That means that they will also be a tad expensive.

    In addition, you might also want to go for a scope that has fully multi-coated lenses. These multiple layers of coatings come in handy to ensure adequate transmission of light through the scope, giving clear-cut images.

    Rimfire Scope

    5. The Price

    Another essential feature that should be considered is the price of the scope. As a general rule, quality products always cost more than their substandard counterparts. That does not mean that all affordable products are fake.

    At the end of the day, you can get scopes that cost half the price but serve the intended purpose perfectly well.

    Also, don’t settle for those that are too cheap since you might find yourself buying a counterfeit product. Aim for somewhere in the middle.

    6. Durability

    The longevity of a product is of paramount importance. Generally, it is not advisable to buy something that will break down after a few weeks of use. That means you have to go out of your way to make replacements.

    At the end of it all, it will become uneconomical and unsustainable since the liabilities far outweigh the benefits.

    Talking of durability, you want to check out the type of material that has been used in the construction of the riflescope. It should be strong enough to withstand the test of time. One aspect that will denote durability will be the ability to resist scratches.

    Also, you want to consider its ability to withstand adverse weather conditions. That is to say, it should still work perfectly fine even when it is exposed to some rain. See to it that the scope is waterproof.

    7. Purpose

    The last but equally important aspect that you should consider before buying a rifle scope is the purpose for which you want it. It could be that you wish to get a rifle scope to use during hunting or simply for some sporting activity.

    A rimfire scope that might be perfect for hunting may not be the chosen one for other shooting activities. Plus, you might end up spending on a scope that has features not necessary for the purpose you want.

    In as much as this factor comes last here, it should actually be the first thing you have to figure out before proceeding to deal with other factors. It is the building block of everything.

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    Conclusion

    Having gone through our reviews of the top 5 rimfire scopes and the step-by-step guide on how to identify the best rimfire scope, we hope that your mind is now cleared and that you can make a decision with ease.

    Simmons 3-9x32mm .22 Riflescope is our all-time favorite, and it comes with an array of benefits compared to the rest.

    On the other hand, TRUGLO 4x32mm Compact Rimfire Scope is the best brand for the money.

    We hope one of these fits the bill for your next outdoor adventure.

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    About the Author Robert Sparks

    Robert’s obsession with all things optical started early in life, when his optician father would bring home prototypes for Robert to play with. Nowadays, Robert is dedicated to helping others find the right optics for their needs. His hobbies include astronomy, astrophysics, and model building. Originally from Newark, NJ, he resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the nighttime skies are filled with glittering stars.