The .22LR is where most British shooters begin on a Firearm Certificate, and it is where a great many of us happily stay. A rimfire is cheap to feed, quiet with a moderator and completely honest about your technique. It also asks slightly different things of an optic than a centrefire does: close parallax, a low mounting height over a slim sporter barrel, and enough magnification to pick out a rabbit at 55 m (60 yards) without losing the field of view you need for a bolting target. This page gathers the low-magnification scopes, micro red dot sights, one-inch rings and rimfire rail kits from our range that suit a .22 sporter or a Section 1 semi-automatic.
Choosing rather than browsing? Our guide to the best scopes for a .22LR rimfire works through magnification, parallax and mounting height. For rabbits, rats and fox after dark see optics for fox and night vermin control alongside where night vision and thermal stand. If the rifle in question is an air rifle rather than a rimfire, read what optics can be used on an air rifle in the UK.
Mounting: what fits, and what we do not stock. Every ring and mount we carry is Picatinny or Weaver pattern. We do not stock an 11 mm dovetail adapter, and we do not stock proprietary Tikka, Sako, CZ or Blaser bases — so if your .22 sporter has a dovetail receiver, nothing on this page will clamp straight onto it. Our article on 11 mm dovetail scope mounts explains what you actually need, and this piece covers the proprietary bases. For a rimfire that already carries a Picatinny or Weaver rail, browse rifle scope rings and Warne scope mounts for one-inch options, or rifle scope mounts.
For more glass see rifle scopes and Burris optics, or red dot sights if you want a dot for close work — red dot sights under £300 covers the money. A rifle bipod steadies a light barrel nicely. Everything ships from UK stock with no import fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What magnification suits a .22LR?
For live quarry inside 90 m (100 yards), 2-7x or 3-9x covers almost everything — the bottom end keeps the field of view for a moving target and the top end is plenty for a supported shot. A fixed low power such as the Scout 2.75x20 suits fast, close work and sits very light on a sporter.
Will these rings fit an 11 mm dovetail?
No. Everything listed here is Picatinny or Weaver pattern, and we do not currently stock a dovetail-to-Picatinny adapter. A good many British .22 sporters have an 11 mm dovetail receiver, so check what your rifle carries before ordering — our 11 mm dovetail article sets out the options.
