22 Hornet scope?

GaryO7 · August 31, 2011, 07:03 PM

I have a new Browning Low Wall in 22 Hornet that I wish to scope for ground squirrel hunting. What is the practical magnification range I should be looking at? Thanks...

bobn · August 31, 2011, 08:19 PM

my hornet has a 2.5x8 on it....fwiw, bobn

**44 AMP** · August 31, 2011, 10:00 PM

Traditionally, a 6x is about right for a Hornet. Higher powers can certainly be used, but 6x gives enough magnification for small targets at not too far range, without the smaller field of view and magnified wobbles that you get from high power varmint scopes.

This dates from the era when fixed power scopes still ruled the roost, back when vairables were large, heavy, and prone to change point of impact when you changed powers.

Today, anything under 9x, or 3-9x variable will do fine, provided it is small enough to not "unbalance" the rifle.

My Ruger No.3 currently has a huge old 3-9x on it, (just for testing purposes), and while it works, that scope seems like it is half the size of the rifle. I will be mounting a smaller scope on it for field work.

My .22 Hornet Contender barrel has a low power (<2.5x, I can't remembe right now, and am not going to go look,

) and it works pretty well, although spotting your misses at 100+yds is kind of tough.

Ideal Tool · August 31, 2011, 10:39 PM

Hello, Gary07. On mine, I knew I wanted to find just how accurate this little number was so I put a Leupold fixed 12 CPC on. It is in detatchable mounts so I can use vernier tang, & globe front.

Scorch · September 1, 2011, 12:06 AM

My old Krico 22 Hornet had a Weaver AccuTrac 4X scope on it. Worked fine, you are typically shooting within 150 yards with a Hornet.

trg42wraglefragle · September 1, 2011, 02:33 AM

a 2-7 or 3-9 or 4-16 or 3-12 or 4-12 or 2-12 or 2.5-8 or 4.5-14 or 4.5-30 or 2.5-16.

Something along those lines

hornetguy · September 1, 2011, 08:44 AM

my contender carbine wears a 3-9 Leupold. Makes it easier to see the little holes at 100 yds.

Doyle · September 1, 2011, 10:13 AM

For that particular rifle, I think I would want the lightest scope I could find. If you are talking about a variable power scope, then the lightest one I know of would be the Leupold VX-II 2-7. It weighs in at about 10.5 oz. I've got one of those on a Rem Model 7 and I've also got the VX-I version on a muzzle loader.

Clifford L. Hughes · September 1, 2011, 11:48 AM

Gary07:

I would select the lightest variable, with a AO, in the range of 2X7 through 4X12. When shooting targets as small as ground squrrels an AO is desirable. A 4X12 Leupold would complement your rifle just fine.

Gunnery sergeant
Cllifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired

GaryO7 · September 1, 2011, 12:04 PM

Do you folks figure Leupold low rings will work with a 40mm objective?
Thanks...

Doyle · September 1, 2011, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Do you folks figure Leupold low rings will work with a 40mm objective?

Depends on how high your bases are. I had low rings on my VX-II 2-7 (30mm) on a Leupold Std base. It was so close that I could't fit scope caps on it until I switched to medium rings. That tells me that a 40mm scope would not fit on low rings with that Std base. A Weaver base is taller, so that might provide enough clearance. Unfortunately, this is one of those cases where you are probably going to have to do some experimenting.

dgludwig · September 1, 2011, 06:18 PM

I have a Burris Compact, 3x9 scope with low ring/base mounted on my Browning Low Wall, chambered in .223. I would think a 2x7 Compact scope to be almost ideal for a .22 Hornet (which is what I have-another Burris- mounted on my Browning A-Bolt Micro, chambered in .22 Hornet). I'm of the opinion that petite rifles are best served with compact scopes to preserve the handling qualities inherent in small rifles.

GaryO7 · September 1, 2011, 06:46 PM

Maybe a Leupold 3x9 compact?

August 31, 2011, 07:03 PM	#1
GaryO7 Member Join Date: November 14, 2007 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 48	22 Hornet scope? I have a new Browning Low Wall in 22 Hornet that I wish to scope for ground squirrel hunting. What is the practical magnification range I should be looking at? Thanks...

August 31, 2011, 10:00 PM	#3
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,820	Traditionally, a 6x is about right for a Hornet. Higher powers can certainly be used, but 6x gives enough magnification for small targets at not too far range, without the smaller field of view and magnified wobbles that you get from high power varmint scopes. This dates from the era when fixed power scopes still ruled the roost, back when vairables were large, heavy, and prone to change point of impact when you changed powers. Today, anything under 9x, or 3-9x variable will do fine, provided it is small enough to not "unbalance" the rifle. My Ruger No.3 currently has a huge old 3-9x on it, (just for testing purposes), and while it works, that scope seems like it is half the size of the rifle. I will be mounting a smaller scope on it for field work. My .22 Hornet Contender barrel has a low power (<2.5x, I can't remembe right now, and am not going to go look, ) and it works pretty well, although spotting your misses at 100+yds is kind of tough. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

September 1, 2011, 12:06 AM	#5
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	My old Krico 22 Hornet had a Weaver AccuTrac 4X scope on it. Worked fine, you are typically shooting within 150 yards with a Hornet. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

September 1, 2011, 12:04 PM	#10
GaryO7 Member Join Date: November 14, 2007 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 48	Do you folks figure Leupold low rings will work with a 40mm objective? Thanks... __________________ Gary NRA Member

September 1, 2011, 06:18 PM	#12
dgludwig Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2005 Location: North central Ohio Posts: 7,486	I have a Burris Compact, 3x9 scope with low ring/base mounted on my Browning Low Wall, chambered in .223. I would think a 2x7 Compact scope to be almost ideal for a .22 Hornet (which is what I have-another Burris- mounted on my Browning A-Bolt Micro, chambered in .22 Hornet). I'm of the opinion that petite rifles are best served with compact scopes to preserve the handling qualities inherent in small rifles. __________________ ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED ...Aristotle NRA Benefactor Life Member

August 31, 2011, 08:19 PM	#2
bobn Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 1,105	my hornet has a 2.5x8 on it....fwiw, bobn

August 31, 2011, 10:39 PM	#4
Ideal Tool Junior member Join Date: October 6, 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,080	Hello, Gary07. On mine, I knew I wanted to find just how accurate this little number was so I put a Leupold fixed 12 CPC on. It is in detatchable mounts so I can use vernier tang, & globe front.

September 1, 2011, 02:33 AM	#6
trg42wraglefragle Senior Member Join Date: April 21, 2008 Location: new zealand Posts: 856	a 2-7 or 3-9 or 4-16 or 3-12 or 4-12 or 2-12 or 2.5-8 or 4.5-14 or 4.5-30 or 2.5-16. Something along those lines

September 1, 2011, 08:44 AM	#7
hornetguy Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2011 Location: on the north side of DFW Posts: 970	my contender carbine wears a 3-9 Leupold. Makes it easier to see the little holes at 100 yds.

September 1, 2011, 10:13 AM	#8
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	For that particular rifle, I think I would want the lightest scope I could find. If you are talking about a variable power scope, then the lightest one I know of would be the Leupold VX-II 2-7. It weighs in at about 10.5 oz. I've got one of those on a Rem Model 7 and I've also got the VX-I version on a muzzle loader.

September 1, 2011, 11:48 AM	#9
Clifford L. Hughes Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2011 Location: Southern Californis Posts: 795	Gary07: I would select the lightest variable, with a AO, in the range of 2X7 through 4X12. When shooting targets as small as ground squrrels an AO is desirable. A 4X12 Leupold would complement your rifle just fine. Gunnery sergeant Cllifford L. Hughes USMC Retired

September 1, 2011, 06:46 PM	#13
GaryO7 Member Join Date: November 14, 2007 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 48	Maybe a Leupold 3x9 compact? __________________ Gary NRA Member