I am looking for the best rifle scope under $80 in the range of 3x-10x and 10" or less in length.

I have a vortex red dot but looking for a cheap option for longer distance.

Thanks!

Range or field........

Nice .22 field scope is the Weaver 1-3x20 about 9" long if IRC...but about $160.

Under $80... would be tough to get "best" maybe an "OK"........

Range.

Just looking for best performing scope in that price range.

I was looking a to the barska 3-9x40 contour rifle scope which got decent reviews on Amazon but nobody around here seems to like barska

Not too bad. I wish they made a cantilever or 1-piece mount for it though..

Leapers® UTG 3-9x32 Compact CQB Bug Buster Rifle Scope - SCP-M392AOLWQ

Go to WalMart and check out their Center Point scopes. They have a small version made for .22lr for about $59, give or take $10.

Not expensive and guaranteed forever. My neighbor sent his back to the company for some work and it came back to him w/in a few days fixed at no cost, shipping included.

That's the other one I was looking at.

How is this one from bsa? Rifle Scopes | Tactical Weapon Scope TW4x30 | BSA Optics

You can get inexpensive scopes that are good. Given that **** scopes are $50, anything in the 100-300 price range is inexpensive. There are PLENTY of quality scopes in that range. In the $80 range the OP is asking for, and compact, not so much...

PSA has a good scope for ~120 (1-4x). But it's not compact.. And it needs a mount. Generally, a good mount will cost ~75-100, if not more....

I'll give another vote for the Center Point. I have a 4-16X40 on my browning 30-06 and the darn thing has proven to be indestructible, holds zero extremely well and tracks very true. for low light it's not the best but what do you want for a $60 scope? They also make .22 specific scopes.

Bob

Check out Primary Arms....... their optics seem to have a good rep. and the prices are right.

Take a look at the Simmons line. They make several .22 scopes that are .22 specific in that they have windage and elevation dials pre-marked for rimfire velocities. I have one of their .22 "MAG" scopes on a rifle, and it is quite clear, with accurate adjustments. Is it a Leupold? - No. Is it $300? - No, not even close. Under $80. A set of cheap, tall Weaver type rings for your rifle can be had for under $20. Not sure about the scopes Length without measuring...

Larry

I opted for a very 'tactical looking' BSA scope, which was in their higher price range and i had problems with it. I wished i had spent a little more and got a better scope....eventually it broke and when i contacted the place i got it they said they didn't carry that model anymore and would have to give me a credit note....that i could put toward a better scope.

One of my shooting buddies told me that since BSA had contracted out to the Chinese....BSA began to stand for 'Better Stay Away'

It's your choice but that's my opinion.

Mueller?
Just got mine.
Looking forward to compare it to a tasco 6-24 and 10-40.
Wonder how clear it is compared to a sightron s3

How would performance of a scope specifically designed for .223 be affected on .22lr? Like the Nikon P223.

The performance will be fine. But any bullet drop compensation (bdc) or similar will be off...

Monstrum Tactical 3-9x40 Rifle Scope with Illuminated Range Finder Reticle, out of stock
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Monstrum Tactical 3-9x40 Rifle Scope with Illuminated BDC Reticle
List Price: $79.95
Price: $64.95 & FREE Shipping. Details
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amazon
,
works for me, lots more in that price range, you just have to buy one & try it. they will take it back just make sure you have a reason other than you did not like it or you will pay ship & restock.

I have the Bug Buster on a spring piston air rifle, it is tough enough for the reverse recoil of a springer a .22lr should be no problem. I found it to be a very decent scope for the money.

__________________
Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

BSA Sweet 22 2-7x32 or 3-9x40. Have bullet drop compensating elevation turrets for .22LR. I used one to win a freestanding metallic silhouette club title once.

For the price, ya can't beat a Weaver or Bushnell

__________________
John

I have the Monstrum 4x30 S-430 ... All of 5 inches long... I can group 2 inches at 75 yards..... Pretty damn good for a $65 scope with red and green recticle and range finder.

This really doesn't well fit your criteria, but I happened to run across this today and it's somewhat different with an ACSS .22LR reticle.

https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_...a6x32-22lr.htm

This is out of your price range @$119.95 at SWFA, the one place I checked the Nikon 3-9x40 ProStaff Rimfire II Scope:

ProStaff Rimfire II | SWFA

My club has an active IHMSA program and each year the match director purchases a "club gun" for newcomers and us oldtimers to shoot. Each entry fee with it includes ammo and a chance to win it at a drawing.

This go around it is a Ruger Charger and has the aformentioned Nikon Scope on it. All I have spoken to have had favorable comments on it, with most liking the sharpness and brightness.

I have a Nikon Prostaff 3x9 Target EFR Rimfire on my M&P 22 MOE and, while more than 80 buckets, it is a great optic. I have tried what you are trying and you will find that you spend more trying for that "perfect, but cheap optic". Buy a quality optic and mount to begin with and concentrate on shooting.

I put Nikon Prostaffs on both my 22 rifles. They are more than $ 80.00 but excellent scopes

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I decided on a Vortex mostly because of the warranty and the quality of my red dot.

Personally I would not depend on any Barska or UTG scopes as they do nothing for a .22 rifle.
The best cheap scope for a .22 is the BSA Sweet 22, the 3-9x40
AO version which can usually be had for under $50. The Sweet 22 line has bullet drop compensating turrets for 36, 38, and 40 g ammo. So once you zero the rifle at 50 yards the turrets just need to be dialed to the range you want to shoot at to be on target (or close depending on variables). They are marked for 50 yards to 175 yards. They also make a more expensive version with side focus in a 6-18x40 size for a little over $125 with the same turrets (I own one of each in spite of the fact that I own scopes costing as much as $1000 on some of my centerfire rifles).

I am a little leary on the cheaper lines of Vortex scopes. I have a Viper 6.5-20x44 on my 6.8mm DMR AR and it had worked well, but my buddy had a Crossfire II on his 6.8mm AR and he was shooting it and the lens fell out of the back of the tube. They were willing to give him another but what's to say that could not have an issue. They offered him a better one (Diamondback II) but wanted him to pay the difference and he kind of balked at that (ex-LEO). Ended up taking a refund and replacing it with a Sightron SII scope.

If most shooters compared the length of time they spend behind a .22LR and the time they spend behind their favorite centerfire and scoped them accordingly, they would hang a Zeiss or Swarovski on the .22 and a cheap scope on the centerfire.

Perhaps not so important for casual shooting,but rimfire scopes are parallax free at 60 yards.All others are set at 100-150.