I have a 10/22 and a Charger with the evil folding stock. Need an optic for them, should I go with a red dot or a cheap scope? It's just for plinking and range use. Don't want to spend too much money.

and the distance you like to shoot is? for what? at what?

My experience with 22's is I found the red dot to be more useful at ranges out to 100 yards. My problem with magnified optics is paralax issues give me POA\POI shifts when I'm shooting under 100 yards.

I went with a red dot on my Charger. Accurate enough.

As mentioned it depends on what you want to do with it. Bargain tin can plinker? Red dot is fine. For more precision a magnifying scope is preferred

I braced my Charger and put a Sig Romeo5 on it. Great little plinker! Now, I'm looking to make it quieter with a Mask.

quote:

Originally posted by captain127:
Bargain tin can plinker? Red dot is fine. For more precision a magnifying scope is preferred

Nonmagnifying illuminated dot reticle sights are best for fast target engagements at close distances when we might be shooting from unconventional positions and/or when the rifle might not be held for shooting just as it should and we want to minimize (though not eliminate) potential parallax problems.* In other words, if the 10/22 might be used in dim or reduced light for fast close quarters situations such as room clearing then a typical red dot sight would be better.

On the other hand if the rifle will be used when it can be mounted to a proper firing position and fired more leisurely under normal lighting conditions, and there is a desire for more precision and accuracy with sometimes small targets, then a conventional magnifying scope with traditional reticle is better. I have scopes like that on my 10/22 and on two 77/22 rifles and am perfectly content with them. One drill is to set up 10 bowling pins at various distances and time myself shooting them in the “head” with the bolt action gun. I never feel handicapped by not having anything other than a traditional scopesight. Although I’m not a hunter any longer, it’s good practice with a sight and gun of the types that I would use if I were.

Sights with large, coarse reticles can become frustrating to use when we move beyond soda cans at 25 yards and want more challenge, even with a garden variety 10/22.

* The Aimpoint sights I’m familiar with do exhibit parallax shifts at close enough distances, although not as much as most magnifying sights. Also, parallax is an issue only if the shooter’s eye is not centered directly in line with the axis of the sight; hence, proper shooting positions help prevent any problems. In addition, some sights intended for rimfire rifle use have factory parallax settings adjusted closer than those intended for longer ranges.

scope

Red dot. I have a variable scope on a 22 rifle and didn't like it at all. It wasn't fun and wasn't as fast to acquire as the red dot I replaced it with.

I have both. A Primary Arms red dot on a 10/22 Takedown and a Vortex Crossfire 2-7x32 on a 10/22 Sporter Deluxe.

I recommend a red dot for your intended useage.

I have a red dot on my 10/22 charger

I have an old leupold 3x9x40 VXII on one and a Sig Romeo 5 on my take-down. One is for short distance hunting of small game and survival purposes, the other is for longer distances...mostly range plinking, but it's deadly for rabbits out to 100 yards.

Like others have said, It'll depend on what your primary use will be.

I have 5 1022's. 4 rifles and 1 charger. 3 of the rifles have scopes on them because they are primarily for precision shooting. the 1 with the red dot on it is for plinking and quick target acquisition, I had it out this last weekend to try out my new Binary trigger that I just installed in it. The steel plate at 40 yards was fairly easy to keep the red dot on it while firing in binary mode and BX 25 mags. I could have never kept a scopes crosshairs on the plate as easy as the reddot was to.

My Charger currently has a scope on it and was one of the first to come out with the one piece laminated stock, When I can find the current stock that lets a brace be attached I will be changing the stock out and removing the scope for a red dot sight.

I shoot squirrels with mine all the time with the CCI Quiet 22 segmented HPs. My 10/22 has a Nikon Rimfire 3-9 on it and one of the BX triggers. The squirrels don’t have a chance.

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I’d say it depends on your eyes and what you are looking to achieve ... itty bitty groupe at 100, you’ll need a scope but if you can see it and all that matters is that you hit it, a red dot should be fine.

My eyes suck, so if I want to hit it at 25 yards, a red dot is fine but if I want do more, like hit the middle at 25yarde, then I need a scope ... I did have red dot on my Charger, but recently decided I wanted more and I had a 1-4 Bushnell not doing anything so now the red dot is feeling lonely.