The Best Scope For 22-250 (Top 5 Review)

You own the amazing 22-250 rifle and are in need of a decent scope to equip it with. The best scope for 22-250 can be found in our quick access table below. We’ve reviewed 5 scopes that make a great fit for your rifle. They aren’t in any particular order and if you would like to see each scope broken down in more detail we’ve done so further down this article.

Any one of these 5 options would make an excellent option but you may want to see which of these five suit your personal needs more than the others.

The 5 Best 22-250 Scopes

You’ll find a breakdown of the 5 scopes we recommend for the 22-250. They’re not in any particular order and any of these 5 scopes would make an excellent pick. Look through these 5 and see if there’s one that have traits more suitable for you.

Nikon ProStaff

This is the Nikon ProStaff 4-12×40 BDC scope. We really like this scope because it checks off all the boxes on our recommendations for the best scope for 22-250. It’s a 4-12x magnification scope that’s very durable and has a BDC reticle. All our favorite traits in a 22-250 scope.

Additionally, the scope has a 40mm objective lens and a fully multi-coated optical system that is capable of transmitting 98% of the available light. The turrets are capable of auto resetting zero and the scope has a generous 3.7″ inch eye relief.

The body is nitrogen filled, o-ring sealed, and is 100% water & fog proof. You’ll love the BDC reticle and quick-focus eye piece which is important when you’re hunting quick small game. Overall, this scope really ticks every box for a excellent 22-250 scope option.

Warning this scope may turn you into a Nikon fanboy as one customer states. There are tons of great things to talk about with this scope. It’s very accurate, holds zero, and has great quality. The downside we came across were with the cross hairs appearing thick and covering more of the view space.

Something else we came across were a few people saying the eye relief was short. The advertised eye relief is 3.7″ inches which should be enough but eye relief is unique to each person.

Positives Recap for This Product

• Very Durable
• Good Magnification Range for Varmint
• BDC Reticle

Negatives Recap for This Product

• Thick Crosshairs
• Mixed Eye Relief Reviews

Leupold VX-2

This is the Leupold VX-2 4-12x scope. Leupold is a strong brand known for making a great product. They’re one of a couple leading brands in the scope industry. This scope provides quick parallax adjustments that will be beneficial for acquiring quick moving targets.

Adjustments are made in 1/4 MOA so they’re small precise adjustments. This is done using a one finger click adjustment system for both windage and elevation. This scope is 100% water & fog proof.

It provides you with brightness and clarity in any weather condition. This helps you early morning hunters fight fog and low light conditions. You’ll also receive a full lifetime guarantee on the scope. Any scope issues will be fixed by Leupold and their reputation on their warranty is pretty good.

Customers have a lot of great comments on this scope. Classifying it ass typical Leupold quality: excellent. Very clear optics and a good reticle. Always holds zero without issue. You get a lot of bang for the buck. A good number of these customers are using this scope for small game and varmint hunting or coyote hunting.

Some of the negative comments from customers we came across included: not great shooting over 400 yards, fog issues on long distance shots, and a short eye relief box.

Positives Recap for This Product

• Great at Holding Zero
• A lot of Bang for your Buck
• Excellent Quality
• Lifetime Warranty

Negatives Recap for This Product

• Visual Issues at Longer Distances
• Short Eye Relief

bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn

This is the Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn 3-9x scope. The selling point behind this scope is it’s ability to perform in any low light condition from dusk to dawn hints the name. It provides you with quality optics and stunning HD clarity.

The power of this scope is in its glass. It’s extremely high quality and the real focal point for this product. The lenses are multi-coated for clarity and brightness. It uses a multi-x reticle with 1/4 MOA adjustments. It’s 100% water & fog proof and made with a durable construction.

This scope also offers a greater eye relief box at 6″ inches. With eye relief being a difficult issue to address since it’s different with each scope and also depends on the person aiming through it this scope giving 6″ inches should cover nearly anyone. Even those who find themselves having eye relief issues on most scopes.

The main thing to keep in mind is that this is a starter or beginner scope. It’s a great introduction scope or if you’re on an extreme budget it’s also great for the money. It’s a solid scope for what you pay for it. The adjustments are solid, glass is clear, and at its price point it is worth every penny.

The negative comments from customers we came across were saying the clarity is over hyped. Some calling it a mediocre scope but in our opinion it looks like these people are comparing this scope to ones that are 3-5 times the price of this one. If you’re comparing this scope to scopes in the mid-high range of course it’s not going to stand up to them.

So, for what this scope is it’s excellent. Budget friendly, beginning friendly, and worth every penny.

Positives Recap for This Product

• Very Budget Friendly
• Clicks are Solid
• Clear Glass

Negatives Recap for This Product

• nothing to mention

Truglo Tri-Bright 30 Series

This is the Truglo Tru-bright 30 series 1-6x scope and includes mount. Truglo is a little lesser known than some of the other brands on our list but this scope still holds up. These 1-6x scopes typically offer quicker target acquisition with their lower magnification.

This is very helpful while hunting small game that are usually quicker moving. While they still give you the ability to zoom in for medium range shots when needed. This scope offers a 1/2 MOA adjustment. The turrets are pre-calibrated BDC turrets and make a claim of engaging targets up to 800 yards.

Customers of the scope say don’t hesitate to pick it up. It competes with the quality and effectiveness of higher end scopes. The main drawback around the scope is its weight. Its a bit heavy but other than that the scope has good marks across the board.

The weight shouldn’t stop you from equipping it to a 22-250 rifle. It’s more troublesome for the guys adding this to an AR15 and trying to keep the rifle lighter with several attachments.

Positives Recap for This Product

• competitive with higher end scopes
• not expensive
• quick target acquisition

Negatives Recap for This Product

• heavy

Vortex Optics Strike Eagle

This is the Vortex Optics Strike Eagle 1-6x scope. Another 1-6x scope for quick and reliable target acquisition. Vortex is a popular brand in the rifle scope community known for great products and an incredible warranty. This scope is considered a true one power scope.

The glass is clear, high quality, and fully multi-coated to deliver a crisp clear image of the varmint you’ll be slaying. It performs well in low light conditions and the reticle is glass etched and illuminated. It includes 11 illumination settings to adjust to different light conditions. Plus you can store an extra battery in the windage cap.

It comes with a fast focus eye piece. It’s water & fog proof for use in all weather conditions. It’s very durable and if anything goes wrong you have the Vortex lifetime warranty to fix or replace the issue.

Customers of this scope said it’s very well built from end to end. The body is thick and solid and appears it could take some dings and drops. The glass lives up to its reputation and it being a true 1x at 20ft or further away. Overall the people who own this scope are very satisfied with it and some so much so they went back to buy more than one for their other rifles.

The downside we came across was the scope having an unforgiving eye box. A few people found the reticle difficult to use as well. The goods news is these type of comments were far and few in between.

Positives Recap for This Product

• True 1x Magnification
• Durable Body and Build
• Strong Lifetime Warranty

Negatives Recap for This Product

• Difficult Eye Box
• Some found reticle hard to use

What Will You Be Shooting?

While you’re looking for a good scope to pair with your 22-250 think about what you’re mainly going to be shooting. The good thing about the 22-250 is it’s a very flat shooting round and with the precision it offers you have both a great gun for target shooting and varmint.

If you’re goal is target shooting then you can simply narrow your scope selection down to one that performs well in your environment. Find the magnification, focal plane, and reticle style that suits your shooting and you’ve got it narrowed down pretty good.

If you’re going varmint hunting you could go with a precise 1-6x scope or something like a 4-12x but if you’re hunting something like coyote zooming in at 12x may be on the high side. You will typically do alright with a low to medium magnification scope for your 22-250 in this case.

The 22-250 makes for an excellent vermin hunting rifle and it is what I would recommend using it for. Either hunting varmint or target shooting. Either way this rifle is very accurate, nearly no kick back, and fun to shoot.

Traits of a Good 22-250 Scope

So we know this rifle is great for small game hunting. This also means the scope attached to it is likely going to take some abuse. You may have it in a wooded or thick area, typically slung around a bit, carried by hand and not case, etc… With this type of usage you need a scope known to be more durable preferably shock resistant, scratch resistant, with decent glass.

Durable

Our recommendation is to go for something with a reputation for being durable and reliable. The good news is for a scope to be like this it doesn’t have to be expensive. Most scopes are built to take a little damage but you want to look for something that current customers brag on it’s ability to take abuse.

Magnification

Your best bet is a scope in the 1-6x or 4-12x range. Any maximum magnification greater than this isn’t recommended for the 22-250 and varmint hunting. My personal preference are the lower magnification scopes because I like quicker target acquisition and when it comes to small game this can make a great difference in the way your hunting goes. You don’t always have the time to dial in a shot.

These two things are the main traits to focus on when looking for the best scope for 22-250. You don’t need to spend any energy focusing on other features. For everything else from focal plane, reticle, etc… just get what you’re used to. If you’re a beginner then our recommendation is a MOA reticle on the first focal plane.

Bullet Drop Compensator (BDC)

If you find yourself shooting varmint beyond 400 yards you’ll be amazed how accurate a 22-250 BDC scope can be. Using an accurate BDC combined with how flat the 22-250 ammo shoots will give you a wildly accurate shot on small game at further distances.

It also makes a great combination scope for the shooting range. You can bring in some tight grouped shots at 600 yards. If you’re someone who enjoys shooting often this may be the route you want to take. The 22-250 ammo is cheap and a BDC scope is great at the range and longer distance small game hunting.

Deer Hunting With The 22-250

Keep in mind that deer hunting with the 22-250 isn’t legal in roughly 80% of the United States. Please make sure your state allows hunting deer with the 22-250 before attempting to do so.

There’s always been a debate about the effectiveness of this rifle on deer. Some people will argue that you just need an accurate shot others claim it’s best for smaller deer and it can be adequate with the right bullet. However, it’s only going to be “decent” at best.

Hunting deer with the 22-250 can be done but it’s not recommended. Why not leave the 22-250 for small game and varmint and choose another rifle for deer hunting. You’ll do much better with a .308 or any other more suitable caliber.

So, yes it can be done but it’s just not recommended.

Commonly Asked Questions

What is a 22-250 rifle used for? – This rifle is mostly used for varmint hunting. Hunting small game or coyote. You can use it for nearly anything you would like but this is where the rifle excels. In a few states you can use it for deer hunting but it’s isn’t recommended.

Is the 22-250 rifle good at shooting long distance? – If you’re shooting at targets long distance the 22-250 will perform well. It’s a very flat shooting round that travels fast and this helps your accuracy at long distance. I wouldn’t use it for long distance hunting.

Conclusion

That’s it for our review of the best scope for 22-250. I hope you found one of the five scopes we recommended suitable for your personal needs. The 22-250 rifle is a fun rifle for target practice and varmint hunting. You don’t have to go crazy on a scope to get something suitable for this rifle. A mid-range scope will serve you well and that combined with the affordable ammo this gun uses you’ll be having tons of fun.

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