Choosing the right scope for your rimfire — parallax settings, magnification, and top picks for UK rabbit control and target shooting
The .22 Long Rifle (LR) is the most popular rimfire cartridge in the UK by a significant margin, used for rabbit and pest control, squirrel shooting, informal target shooting, and introducing new shooters to the sport. Relatively quiet, low-recoil, affordable to shoot, and legal to own on a Firearms Certificate with minimal restrictions, it is the ideal all-round small-calibre rimfire for most UK users.
The scope needs to match the platform. .22LR performs best at 25–100m in most UK practical shooting scenarios. Beyond 100m, the subsonic bullet drops steeply and wind drift becomes significant with typical mild-steel plinking pellets. A high-magnification precision scope optimised for 800m use is wasted on a .22LR and usually has parallax set too far out to be accurate at rimfire ranges. The right .22LR scope is more modest in magnification, has parallax set or adjustable for 25–100m, and complements the practical uses of the cartridge.
Standard centrefire rifle scopes have parallax set at 100m. .22LR shooters primarily operate between 25m and 100m — often closer to the 40–60m mark for rabbit control. At distances shorter than the parallax setting, parallax error (apparent reticle movement when you move your eye position) introduces inaccuracy. For .22LR use, choose a scope with adjustable parallax (AO or side focus) starting from 25m or less, or find a fixed-parallax model set at your typical shooting range.
A 3-9x is the traditional rimfire scope and still a sensible choice for most uses. For longer-range target work at 75–100m, a 4-12x or 6-18x is more useful. Avoid very high magnification (20x+) for general rabbit control — at 25m, a 20x scope gives an extremely narrow field of view, making target acquisition difficult and magnifying shooter wobble uncomfortably.
Most .22LR shooters use either a standard duplex/crosshair, a Mil-Dot for basic ranging, or a BDC (ballistic drop compensating) reticle calibrated for .22LR subsonic or high-velocity loads. BDC reticles can be very useful for rabbit control where shots come at variable known distances — set your zero at 50m and hold the appropriate mark for 75m or 100m shots. Be aware that BDC marks are calibrated for specific ammunition — if yours differs, the marks may not match.
For a budget .22LR scope that handles the critical parallax issue, the Hawke Vantage AO is the most practical entry point. The AO adjusts down to 10m — covering close-range rabbit shots comfortably — and the 4-12x magnification range suits 20–100m .22LR use. Mil-Dot reticle allows basic range estimation. Strong UK warranty support from a British brand. Excellent value.
The Crossfire II 3-9x40 is an outstanding rimfire companion. Vortex's unconditional lifetime warranty provides peace of mind that stands apart from budget competitors. The Dead-Hold BDC reticle provides holdover references that work reasonably well for standard .22LR high-velocity loads at typical UK ranges. At 3-9x the field of view is practical for rabbit control in fields and hedgerows. A popular choice across UK shooting clubs for .22LR use.
Leupold's VX-Freedom Rimfire EFR is designed specifically for rimfire applications. The EFR (Extended Focus Range) system allows parallax focus from 15m to infinity — covering virtually all .22LR and air rifle shooting distances. Leupold's glass quality delivers a noticeably brighter, clearer image than budget alternatives, particularly in low-light rabbit control conditions at dawn and dusk. A quality long-term investment for a dedicated .22LR rabbit and pest control rifle.
For .22LR target shooting at 50–100m where maximum precision is the goal, the Sidewinder 30 SF in high magnification delivers exceptional image quality and fine reticle detail for precise shot placement. The 56mm objective gathers light well for early morning target sessions, and side focus parallax down to 10m handles the full range of rimfire distances accurately. A serious .22LR target scope.
Standard velocity .22LR (approximately 1050fps) and high velocity (approximately 1200fps) have meaningfully different trajectories. Subsonic ammunition runs below 1100fps and has a steeper arc. If using a BDC reticle, confirm which ammunition velocity it is calibrated for. For rabbit control, a consistent, reliable high-velocity hollow point load from the same batch gives the best results with any ballistic-marked reticle.
At 50m, .22LR high velocity drops approximately 15mm from a 25m zero. At 75m, approximately 65mm. At 100m, over 150mm. These figures mean that beyond 75m, precise holdover or turret dialling becomes important — high magnification and a good reticle pay dividends at these distances.
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Find Your Scope on Scope Finder →For rabbit and pest control at 25-75m, a 3-9x or 4-12x is ideal — enough zoom for precise shot placement without overly narrow field of view. For target shooting at 50-100m, 6-18x or 6-24x gives better precision. Avoid very high magnification (20x+) for field use.
Strongly recommended. Fixed-parallax centrefire scopes (set at 100m) produce parallax error at .22LR shooting distances (25-100m) that can put shots off by several millimetres at 50m. Choose a scope with AO or side focus adjustable to at least 25m, ideally 15m.
A BDC (Ballistic Drop Compensating) reticle has pre-marked holdover points calibrated for a specific cartridge's trajectory. For .22LR, BDC marks are useful for rabbit control at variable distances — zero at 50m and use the marks for 75m and 100m. Check which ammunition velocity the reticle is calibrated for, as different loads change the trajectory.
Most UK pest controllers consider 80-100m the practical ethical maximum for .22LR rabbit control, using quality expanding or hollow point ammunition. Beyond this, energy levels drop and bullet performance becomes less reliable. Wind drift is also significant at these distances.
Many spring-rated air rifle scopes with adjustable parallax work perfectly well on .22LR semi-automatic and bolt-action rifles. The .22LR has minimal recoil — far less than centrefire — and air rifle-rated scopes are built to handle it comfortably. The key benefit is appropriate parallax range.
The Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 (~£149) offers excellent value with Vortex's lifetime warranty. The Hawke Vantage 4-12x40 AO (~£85) gives adjustable parallax for rimfire ranges at a lower price. Both are well-regarded in UK rimfire shooting circles.