Best Night Vision Scopes for .22 LR Rimfire in the UK

The HIKMICRO Alpex 4K Lite LRF, at £499.00 (RRP £649.99), is the standout for a .22 LR because of its built-in laser rangefinder, which measures from 3 to 1,000 metres and feeds a ballistic calculation. On a rimfire, that is the single most useful feature you can have at night. It uses a 4K 3840x2160 CMOS sensor behind a 40mm f/2.0 lens, a 5.8x base magnification with digital zoom from 3.5x to 20.5x, and a 1920x1080 OLED display. It weighs 474g without the external battery, uses a 30mm magnesium tube so it fits standard rings, focuses down to 2 metres, runs for up to 7.5 hours on its internal battery plus an 18650, and records 1080p video to 32GB of built-in storage. It is IP67 rated.

The ATN X-Celsior-NV 3-9x, at £499.00, is the simplest route into day/night shooting on a rimfire. It uses a 2688x1944 sensor with a 1280 HD micro display, fits standard 30mm rings, and comes with its infrared illuminator included, so there is nothing extra to buy before your first night out. It offers one-shot zeroing, a stadiametric rangefinder, ATN's Predator ballistic reticle, video recording and more than ten hours of battery life from its internal lithium-ion cell. It weighs 745g, is 310mm long and is rated IP65. Availability varies between retailers, so check stock before ordering.

The ATN X-Celsior-NV 5-15x, at £549.00, shares the same sensor, display, included illuminator, battery life and feature set but steps up to 5-15x magnification. That extra reach helps on open grass where rabbits are feeding at 80-120 yards, though on a .22 LR that is already towards the edge of sensible range. It weighs 780g and is 330mm long, supports microSD cards up to 64GB, and has a 240-foot field of view at 15x. For hedgerow and paddock work inside 80 yards, the 3-9x version is the better match; for bigger fields, the 5-15x is worth the extra £50.

Use the rangefinder, not guesswork. A .22 LR zeroed at 50 yards drops sharply beyond 75 yards, so a rabbit you think is at 70 yards but is really at 95 will be missed or wounded. The Alpex 4K Lite LRF gives an instant laser distance; the ATN models use a stadiametric rangefinder, where you bracket the rabbit's known size in the reticle. Either is far better than estimating distance by eye in the dark.

The built-in illuminator decides how far you can actually see. Digital night vision relies on infrared light, and the range printed on a spec sheet rarely matches what you get on a damp, misty night. An 850nm illuminator gives the longest useful range, with a faint visible red glow at the emitter; a 940nm unit is invisible to the eye but has less reach. If you regularly shoot beyond 80 yards, budget for an add-on IR torch in addition to the scope's own illuminator.

Set up two zero profiles if your scope allows it. Many rimfire rabbit shooters run subsonic ammunition for quiet work close in and high-velocity ammunition for longer shots, and the two can print several inches apart at 75 yards. Zero each one at its own distance, label the profiles clearly, and always check which profile is active before you go out.

Night shooting is fully legal for rabbits in Great Britain with the right permission. Your Firearms Certificate must cover the .22 LR for rabbits and vermin on that land, and you must have the landowner's or occupier's authority to shoot there at night. Deer cannot be shot at night without a specific licence, so a .22 LR night setup is strictly for rabbits and other small vermin.