Best Ruger 10/22 Scopes & Red Dots

The Ruger 10/22 is so popular that choosing an optic for it can be overwhelming. Luckily, we have some favorites.

Good optics are essential for shooting well. It doesn't matter if you’re poking holes in paper, hunting small game, or chasing precision rimfire glory.

No matter what you're after, we have recommendations for the best scopes and red dots for your Ruger 10/22.

Ruger 10/22 Scope & Red Dot Comparison Chart

How We Chose the Best 10/22 Optics

The entire team at Pew Pew Tactical had a hand in contributing to this post. Most of us have a Ruger 10/22 and have tinkered with all sorts of accessories for it, including adding optics. So, we know a thing or two about what goes into improving the 10/22 platform with scopes and red dots.

For this article we focused on models with a good blend fo features and performance that offer clear visuals and help the shooter -- not hinder them.

Backed by decades of experience, our expertise ranges from recreational shooters to prior law enforcement to instructors to competitors. We constantly test gear and regularly update articles as new models become available, so if you’re favorite isn’t here, check back soon.

Best Ruger 10/22 Scopes & Red Dots

1. Leupold VX-Freedom - Best Overall

Best Overall

Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire Riflescope

$299

at OpticsPlanet

Prices accurate at time of writing

$299 at OpticsPlanet

Brownells (see price)

Amazon (see price)

EuroOptic (see price)

Specs

• Reticle: Leupold Rimfire MOA
• Magnification: 2-7x, 3-9x
• Objective Lens Diameter: 33 mm, 40 mm
• Tube Diameter: 1”
• Adjustment Value: 1/4 MOA
• Weight: 11 oz

The Leupold VX-Freedom rimfire riflescope is designed specifically to be paired with a rimfire rifle like the Ruger 10/22.

It has rimfire-focused features like a 60-yard focus distance and Leupold’s Rimfire MOA reticle with thinner hash marks to accommodate rimfire targets.

The scope comes in 3-9x40 and 2-7x33 models. Either would be an excellent choice for your 10/22. Just choose the magnification that best fits your purposes.

Both options have a lengthy eye relief of 3.7 to 4.2 inches and a second focal plane reticle. They also feature Leupold’s Advanced Optical System for improved light transmission, glare reduction, and resolution.

The windage and elevation turrets are finger-click adjustable. These scopes are waterproof, shockproof, and fogproof, and they have scratch-resistant lenses. Leupold is known for durability and, to top everything off, they cover their scopes with a lifetime warranty. 

These scopes are pretty light, with the 2-7x model weighing 11.1 ounces and the 3-9x model coming in at 12.2 ounces.

2. Athlon Neos 4-12x40 - Best Value

Best Value

Athlon Neos 4-12x40mm BDC 22 Rimfire

$169

at Kygunco

Prices accurate at time of writing

$169 at Kygunco

Amazon (see price)

OpticsPlanet (see price)

Specs

• Reticle: Center X, BDC 500 IR
• Magnification: 4-12x
• Objective Lens Diameter: 40 mm
• Tube Diameter: 1”
• Adjustment Value: 1/4 MOA
• Weight: 18 oz

If you want to stretch your shots a little further, you'll need higher magnification and adjustable parallax.

Scopes with parallax adjustments tend to come at a financial premium. Luckily, Athlon offers their Neos 4-12x40mm with both a side-focus parallax and a dedicated .22LR reticle at an attainable price.

The illuminated BDC 500 IR reticle provides aiming points for 1.5, 3.5, 6.25, and 9.5 MOA of elevation. Plug your rifle and ammunition specs into a ballistic calculator to find out what those adjustments translate to in distance for your specific setup.

This is a second focal plane optic and those holdovers will only be accurate at maximum magnification. The center aiming point will remain set across the magnification range.

A basic crosshair reticle is available, too.

The parallax adjusts down all the way to 10 yards, and the optic has multi-coated lenses for improved glass clarity, and is nitrogen-purged and waterproof.

The best part about all of this is that the scope still manages to come in under $200, making it a great pairing for those wanting to squeeze a bit extra out of their 10/22 without breaking the bank.

Shooting a .22 is supposed to be cheap, after all!

What do you think of the Athlon Neos? Rate it below!

3. Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 Gen IV - Best LPVO

Primary Arms SLx 1-6×24 Gen IV

$348

at Primary Arms

Prices accurate at time of writing

$348 at Primary Arms

Amazon (see price)

MidwayUSA (see price)

Specs

• Reticle: ACSS Nova
• Magnification: 1-6x
• Objective Lens Diameter: 24 mm
• Tube Diameter: 30 mm
• Adjustment Value: 0.1 mil
• Weight: 18 oz

Low-powered variable optics (LPVOs) are all the rage these days -- and with good reason. One that's a particularly good value is the Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 Gen IV.

The ability to go down to 1x for quick, close shots and crank up the magnification for long-range shots is appealing.

This is a second-focal-plane scope, so the reticle's subtensions are only accurate at maximum magnification. The illuminated center dot stays put at all settings.

At 1x, ACSS Nova reticle looks like a basic crosshair reticle.

These scopes are tough, versatile, track well, and are covered under Primary Arms' Lifetime Warranty.

Whether you are looking for something more tactical or are just stuck choosing between a red dot and a scope, the SLx 1-6x24 Gen IV is a great option.

Want to know more? Check out our Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 Gen IV review and watch the video to see it in action!

4. Burris XTR III 5.5-30x56 - Best for Competition

Best for Competition

Burris XTR III 5.5-30X56mm SCR2 MIL

$1449

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$1449 at GrabAGun

OpticsPlanet (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

Specs

• Reticle: SCR 2
• Magnification: 5.5-30x
• Objective Lens Diameter: 56 mm
• Tube Diameter: 34 mm
• Adjustment Value: 0.1 MIL
• Weight: 35 oz

When pushing .22LR to its absolute limits, you need glass that can keep up. Being able to track shots and tiny targets at long distances is the name of the game. One scope that is a popular choice among NRL22 competitors is the Burris XTR III 5.5-30x56mm.

It's unique on this list because it's the only scope here with a first focal plane reticle. That means the reticle changes size as you sweep through the magnification range, so your holdovers are always usable. Jumping from SFP to FFP bumps the cost up but you'll be glad to have it if you get into competitive shooting.

This scope features Hi-Lume multi-coated lenses for outstanding optical clarity. Zero-stop adjustment knobs allow the shooter to easily revert back to their original sight-in zero.

With tons of internal elevation adjustment, most of your rimfire needs will be covered.

Multiple reticles are available. Our favorite is the illuminated SCR2 in milliradian (MRAD).

The high magnification range is complemented by a massive 34mm main tube and 56mm objective lens to offer extreme light-gathering capabilities and phenomenal low-light performance.

Even though these scopes are spendy, they punch above their price range. Crisp glass, rugged build quality, and a no-questions-asked Forever Warranty have made these popular for competitions nationwide.

5. Sig Sauer Romeo5 Red Dot - Best Red Dot

Best Red Dot

Sig Sauer Romeo5 Gen II

$119

at Palmetto State Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$119 at Palmetto State Armory

Amazon (see price)

Primary Arms (see price)

Specs

• Reticle: 2-MOA red dot
• Magnification: 1x
• Objective Lens Diameter: 20 mm
• Tube Diameter: N/A
• Adjustment Value: 1/2 MOA
• Weight: 5 oz

Red dots are still a great option if you just want something better than the 10/22’s sights without jumping to a magnified optic.

And when it comes to red dots, we love the SIG Sauer Romeo5.

This thing boasts 40,000 hours of battery life on the medium brightness setting!

It also features a shake-awake system that automatically turns the dot on when it senses any motion. It will shut itself off after two minutes with no movement.

The glass is clear and not too blue, and the dot is crisp.

Its housing is made of high-grade aluminum, and most models come with both a low and high Picatinny mount. Our models have withstood 5.56 NATO rounds and full-auto 9mm, so it should do fine on anything rimfire.

The Romeo5 has become the de facto go-to for many people thanks to its feature set and attractive price.

See the full review here!

6. Vortex Crossfire II 2-7x32 Rimfire - Best Warranty

Best Warranty

Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32

$129

at Kygunco

Prices accurate at time of writing

$129 at Kygunco

Amazon (see price)

AR15 Discounts (see price)

Specs

• Reticle: V-Plex
• Magnification: 2-7x
• Objective Lens Diameter: 32 mm
• Tube Diameter: 1” 
• Adjustment Value: 1/4 MOA
• Weight: 14 oz

For a slightly more affordable option that’s also not short on features, consider the Vortex Crossfire II 2-7x 32 Rimfire.

It’s constructed from a single piece of hard-anodized aircraft-grade aluminum, and nitrogen-purged to make the scope waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof.

The scope is durable enough that it should have a long service life, but Vortex offers an unconditional, unlimited lifetime warranty on all optics.

All air-to-glass surfaces are fully multi-coated to allow plenty of light to travel through them while minimizing reflection and glare and protecting the lenses from scratches, dirt, and oil.

The result is a clear, bright picture that persists even at extended ranges and in low-light conditions. An integrated sunshade further eliminates glare on the objective lens.

The simple V-Plex reticle is well-suited for both hunting and target shooting. Since there are no holdovers, you can save some money with this approachable SFP reticle.

Capped turrets prevent your reticle from being moved out of position unless you're intentionally dialing for wind or elevation.

How to Choose the Best Ruger 10/22 Scope

The Ruger 10/22 is a versatile platform, so your optic needs may not be the same as the next person’s. To pick the right scope or red dot, start by considering what kind of shooting you’ll use the rifle for. 

Magnification

Got some backyard plinking on the agenda? A 1x red dot will help you make quick shots without breaking the bank.

Pest control and small-game hunting are well served by a mid-power scope or LPVO. They’re versatile, reasonably light, and fairly affordable.

If you have long-range aspirations, spending more money on magnification will help you place shots with more precision.

Reticles

There are lots of reticle options out there, and they all serve a specific purpose.

Red dots are fast and easy to get on target. You can adjust them, but that’s for setting zero rather than making elevation and wind calls. These are good for closer shots.

Simple crosshair reticles are similar to a red dot but they generally come with magnification that’s useful on longer shots. These show vertical and horizontal lines with no additional markings.

Technical reticles are great for engaging multiple targets at varying distances. Some scopes feature a bullet-drop compensator (BDC) that gives you aiming points for specific distances. That’s quick and easy but accuracy will vary with different ammunition loads. Others show measurements in minutes of angle (MOA) or milliradian (MRAD) and let you find more precise ballistic solutions.

Why Trust Pew Pew Tactical

This article comes to you from Wyatt Sloan, Pew Pew Tactical editor. Wyatt is an NRA-certified instructor with previous experience as a USPSA competitor. Wyatt personally owns over 200 firearms and has 10 years of home-based FFL firearm sales. He has used his extensive experience with firearms at large to test guns for Pew Pew Tactical — evaluating them based on our standards and metrics.

Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.

Final Thoughts

The options we've covered here are just a few of our choices, each with its own little nuances that make them best suited for different things.

Choosing an appropriate optic goes a long way in improving your shooting, so make sure that you’re investing in a quality scope that’s suitable for your needs, whether they are eliminating pests in your backyard, long-range target shooting, or something in between.

Need .22 LR ammo? Take a look at the Best .22 Long Rifle Ammo! Or want to fully kit out your rifle? Check out Best 10/22 Upgrades.

Latest Updates

March 2025: Removed the Simmons .22 Mag and Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 Gen III. Added the Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 Gen IV.