Best Rimfire Scopes for .22LR: UK Guide 2026

Choosing the best scope for a 22lr rifle in the UK is a different exercise from picking glass for a centrefire deer-legal calibre. Rimfire cartridges generate far less recoil, their trajectories arc steeply beyond 75 yards, and typical UK engagement distances—whether you are lamping rabbits in Norfolk or shooting benchrest at Bisley—rarely exceed 100 metres. That modest operating envelope actually makes optic selection harder, not easier: the scope must offer fine aiming resolution and reliable parallax correction at short range, yet it need not weigh or cost as much as a long-range centrefire setup. Understanding these trade-offs is the key to getting genuine value from a rimfire scope purchase in 2026.

The UK rimfire market is thriving. Affordable bolt-actions from CZ, Tikka and Ruger dominate club lines, while semi-autos such as the Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 are increasingly popular for practical-rifle competitions. Each discipline puts slightly different demands on your optic: a 50-metre prone shooter wants maximum magnification and a fine crosshair, a rabbit hunter needs a wide field of view at dusk, and a practical-rifle competitor benefits from a low-power variable with a bold reticle. This guide addresses all three use cases so you can match the glass to the job rather than simply chasing headline specifications.

Throughout this buying guide we will explain the genuine difference between rimfire scope and regular centrefire models, demystify parallax adjustment, walk through budget tiers from a 22lr scope under 100 pounds right up to premium optics, and highlight brands with proven UK availability. We have also folded in the most common questions our readers ask—covering everything from whether a centrefire scope will hold zero on a .22LR to what magnification range makes sense on British permissions. Our aim is to make this the single most useful rimfire scope review resource for 2025 and 2026.

A quick note on context. UK firearms law requires a valid firearms certificate to own a .22LR rifle, and many shooters combine target work at their club with vermin control on farmland. That dual-purpose reality shapes how we evaluate optics: durability, versatility, and value matter more than exotic features you will never use. Whether you are a new FAC holder fitting glass to your first CZ 455 or an experienced shot upgrading a well-worn Anschütz, the advice below will help you spend wisely and shoot better.

Buying Advice

Start with the specifications that genuinely affect rimfire performance. Magnification range matters most: for general UK use a 3-9×40 or 4-12×40 covers everything from close-range rabbit shooting to 100-metre target work. If you shoot exclusively from a bench at known distances, a higher-power 6-24×50 makes sense, but it adds weight and narrows field of view. Objective lens diameter dictates light-gathering; 40 mm is the sweet spot for rimfire because it keeps the scope compact and the mounts low, avoiding the high-rail setups that ruin cheek weld. Tube diameter is usually 1 inch (25.4 mm) on budget rimfire scopes and 30 mm on mid-range models—30 mm tubes allow more internal adjustment travel, which is helpful if you plan to dial elevation rather than use holdover.

Budget tiers in the UK break down roughly as follows. Under £100 you will find perfectly serviceable scopes from brands such as Hawke, MTC and Nikko Stirling—expect coated (not fully multi-coated) lenses, capped turrets and SFP reticles. Between £100 and £300 the best budget rimfire scope options emerge: fully multi-coated glass, side-focus parallax, exposed tactical turrets with reliable tracking, and illuminated reticles become available from Hawke, MTC Viper, and others. Above £300 you enter territory occupied by Vortex Diamondback Tactical, Athlon and even entry-level Leupold models with lifetime warranties and premium lens coatings. The law of diminishing returns is real, but for serious target shooters the jump from a £150 to a £350 optic is noticeable in edge-to-edge clarity and turret repeatability.

Common mistakes UK buyers make with rimfire optics include ignoring parallax settings, buying far too much magnification, and fitting a scope with turrets calibrated for centrefire trajectories. Many cheap scopes have a fixed parallax set at 100 yards (or even 150 yards), which introduces significant aiming error at the 25-50 metre distances typical of UK rimfire shooting—always choose adjustable parallax if your budget allows. Over-magnification narrows your field of view, slows target acquisition in the field, and amplifies every wobble from an unsupported position. Finally, some centrefire scopes have turret graduations designed around higher-velocity cartridges; while the clicks themselves are universal (1/4 MOA is 1/4 MOA regardless of calibre), BDC reticle subtensions and turret revolution markers may not match .22LR drop tables.

UK-specific considerations are worth highlighting. Firearms certificate conditions usually specify which rifles and calibres you may own, and there is no separate restriction on scope type—so legally you can fit any optic to any rifle. However, moderators are near-universal on UK rimfire rifles and they add length to the barrel; check that your scope's eye relief (ideally 80-100 mm) and mount height allow comfortable head position with your moderator fitted. For night shooting under the terms of your FAC, digital night-vision clip-on units from brands like Pard are increasingly popular; these attach in front of your day scope, so ensure your objective bell diameter leaves room for the adapter. Always buy from a UK-stocked dealer for warranty support and to avoid import duty surprises.

Matching the optic to your specific use case is the final step. If you primarily hunt rabbits at dusk on farmland, prioritise light transmission, a wide field of view at low magnification, and a simple duplex or Mil-Dot reticle—a 3-9×40 with adjustable parallax is hard to beat. If you shoot 50-metre or 100-metre benchrest competitions, go for the highest magnification you can afford with fine crosshairs, target turrets and a 30 mm tube for maximum adjustment range. Practical-rifle and gallery-rifle competitors should look at low-power variables (1-6× or 2-7×) with illuminated centre dots for fast transitions. There is no single best scope for a 22—there is only the best scope for how you shoot your 22.

The brand landscape for rimfire scopes in the UK is healthy and competitive. Hawke dominates the entry and mid tiers with excellent UK-based warranty support and models purpose-built for rimfire. MTC Optics, a British brand, offers outstanding value in the £100-£250 bracket with features that rival scopes costing twice as much. Vortex provides an unconditional lifetime warranty that appeals to hard-use hunters. At the premium end, Leupold, Nightforce, and Athlon have niche followings among serious target shooters. For digital night-vision add-ons, Pard has rapidly built UK mindshare with affordable thermal and NV clip-on units that pair well with conventional day scopes. Wherever possible, buy from established UK retailers such as Uttings, Surplustore, or your local RFD—they can advise on stock, compatibility, and after-sales support.