Best .22LR Scopes for 100-Yard Precision in 2026

Rimfire precision shooting has exploded in popularity across the UK, and for good reason. Disciplines like NRL22, NSRA long-range rimfire, and informal club challenges at 100 yards and beyond have pushed the humble .22LR well past the ranges most people associate with it. Hitting steel at 100, 150, or even 200 yards with a rimfire cartridge is entirely achievable — but it demands optics that can keep up. The scope on your rifle is arguably more important than the rifle itself once you move past 50 yards, and choosing the wrong one is the fastest way to waste both ammunition and enthusiasm.

Finding the best scope for a 22lr in the UK market specifically presents its own challenges. Not every scope sold globally is readily stocked by UK dealers, warranty support varies, and pricing in GBP does not always track US dollar equivalents. More importantly, the features that matter most on a rimfire scope — low parallax settings, generous elevation travel, precise and repeatable turrets — are not always the same features that headline marketing copy aimed at centrefire shooters. A scope that is superb on a .308 at 600 yards may be mediocre on a .22LR at 100 because its parallax won't adjust below 50 yards.

This guide is built around a single question UK shooters keep asking: what is the best scope for a 22lr when the target is at 100 yards or further? We have focused on scopes that are actually available through UK retailers, that handle the specific ballistic profile of the .22LR cartridge, and that offer genuine value whether your budget is under £200 or comfortably north of £500. We cover magnification ranges, reticle planes, turret systems, parallax adjustment, and mounting considerations so you can make a genuinely informed decision.

Before we get to product picks, a word on expectations. The .22LR is a subsonic or barely transonic round past about 75 yards with most standard-velocity ammunition, which means wind drift and drop become significant factors very quickly. At 100 yards a typical 40-grain round will have dropped roughly 4–6 inches below a 50-yard zero depending on muzzle velocity. At 150 yards, that figure can exceed 15 inches. Your scope must have enough elevation adjustment — and fine enough clicks — to dial or hold for these corrections reliably. That is the central theme of everything that follows.

Buying Advice

When evaluating a rimfire scope, start with the specifications that actually matter at range. Elevation travel is critical: you need enough internal adjustment to dial from a 50-yard zero out to your maximum intended distance. For 100 yards, 20 MOA of upward travel is usually sufficient, but shooting beyond 150 yards can demand 30 MOA or more. Check the total travel and remember that roughly half sits above the optical centre. Turret click values matter too — 1/4 MOA clicks give you adjustments of roughly 0.26 inches at 100 yards, while 0.1 MRAD (mil) clicks move the point of impact 1 centimetre at 100 metres. Both systems work; what matters is that the clicks are crisp, consistent, and repeatable. Parallax adjustment range is the third pillar: a side-focus or adjustable objective that goes down to at least 25 yards, ideally 10 yards, prevents parallax error at the short-to-mid distances where rimfire shooting lives.

Budget tiers in the UK rimfire scope market break down fairly neatly. Under £200, you can find a perfectly capable scope for a 22lr — expect a second focal plane reticle, capped turrets suitable for hunting or informal target work, and acceptable glass clarity. This is the best budget tier for newcomers and casual plinkers, and several well-regarded models from Hawke, MTC, and others sit here. Between £200 and £500 you enter the sweet spot for competitive rimfire shooters: exposed locking turrets, better glass coatings, wider magnification ranges, and sometimes first focal plane reticles. Above £500 you get premium optics from brands like Vortex, Athlon, Bushnell, and others, with top-tier glass, zero-stop turrets, and the mechanical precision that serious NRL22 competitors demand. Spending more does bring tangible returns in tracking accuracy, optical clarity in low light, and long-term durability — but diminishing returns set in above £800 for most rimfire applications.

Common mistakes buyers make when choosing a 22lr long range scope include prioritising maximum magnification above all else, neglecting parallax range, and ignoring turret tracking quality. A 6-24x scope sounds impressive, but if the turrets do not track accurately through a tall-target test, that magnification is wasted. Similarly, buying a scope whose parallax only adjusts down to 50 yards will introduce visible point-of-impact shift at 25 or 30 yards — problematic for rimfire disciplines that mix short and long stages. Another frequent error is mounting a scope with insufficient elevation by using a flat rail and low rings, then running out of upward adjustment at distance. A 20-MOA canted base or Picatinny rail can reclaim valuable travel and is one of the best investments a rimfire precision shooter can make.

UK-specific context matters more than many guides acknowledge. Rimfire rifles are held on a firearms certificate (FAC), so you already have the legal framework to own and shoot them — but access to certain brands and models depends on UK dealer stock and import availability. Retailers like Optics Warehouse, Uttings, John Rothery, and RUAG supply a wide range of rimfire optics, and buying from a UK dealer ensures you get proper warranty support without shipping scopes back to the US. VAT is included in advertised prices, so what you see is what you pay. For disciplines, NRL22-style competition is growing rapidly through clubs affiliated with the NRA and NSRA, and many clubs now run dedicated rimfire long-range evenings at 100 yards on their existing centrefire ranges. This is the context in which a quality rimfire scope earns its keep.

Matching a scope to your specific use case is the final piece of the puzzle. If you shoot primarily for pest control at modest ranges but want the option to reach out to 100 yards, a 4-16x or 6-18x SFP scope with a holdover reticle and capped turrets is practical and cost-effective — and you can find a good scope for a 22 in this category without breaking the bank. If you compete in precision rimfire matches, an FFP scope in the 5-25x or 4-24x range with exposed, locking MRAD turrets and a Christmas-tree-style reticle will let you hold wind and elevation corrections simultaneously, which speeds up stage transitions enormously. Pard and other digital or thermal optics brands with strong UK mindshare serve a different niche entirely — primarily night-vision-assisted pest control — and are not the right tool for daylight precision shooting, so keep the intended discipline firmly in mind.

The brand landscape for rimfire scopes in the UK in 2026 is broader than ever. Hawke and MTC Optics remain dominant at the entry and mid-price points, offering scopes specifically designed for rimfire with appropriate parallax ranges and reticles. Vortex has a huge following thanks to its unconditional lifetime warranty and strong dealer network. Athlon has gained ground rapidly among competitive shooters seeking high specification at mid-tier prices. Bushnell and Nightforce cater to the premium end. Element Optics, a relative newcomer, has earned a devoted following for scopes that punch above their price. When considering any brand, verify UK availability, check the warranty terms for UK-based customers, and — wherever possible — look through the glass in person at a dealer or club before committing. No specification sheet can replace the experience of seeing a reticle at 20x against a grey English sky.