NRL22: Which Scope Should You Use? (Rimfire Optics Deep Dive)

What optic should you put on your rimfire rifle? Seth Gardner of D-M Targets joins me to discuss the features you need for NRL22.

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Choosing a Rimfire Optic — Important Factors

Seth not only competes in NRL22, but he also runs matches and owns his own target company. I thought he would be the perfect subject-matter expert to help me work through a variety of scope choices from Athlon Optics. Seth and I recently discussed how to get into NRL22.

Many competitors will choose to run the same optic they use on their centerfire rifle on their rimfire rifle, but you do not have to. Athlon Optics has an online scopefinder to help you determine what best fits your needs.

FFP vs. SFP

The first thing to consider is focal plane (FFP vs. SFP). The subtensions remain accurate regardless of magnification on a first-focal plane scope, though the reticle is smaller on lower magnification. The reticle size is constant on a second-focal plane scope, but the subtensions will only be accurate at the magnification the gun was zeroed at.

FFP is ideal for dynamic shooting situations where you are changing magnifications. SFP scopes always have a clear reticle, but you trade hold-over ability for this. Hunting and shooting disciplines like F-Class are popular uses for SFP scopes. Most NRL/PRS shooters compete with FFP scopes as time constraints make it difficult to dial for targets at different distances.

Parallax (Range + DOF)

Rimfire matches feature closer targets than centerfire matches. If a target is closer than your minimum parallax, you may not be able to get a good, clean sight picture. This can also have a negative effect on your point of impact.

I regularly verify parallax when I’m shooting, moving my head back and forth with the parallax set to my shooting distance to make sure there is no reticle movement.

Athlon Cronus BTR Gen 2 — Parallax as seen through the UR Optics Test Rig

This ensures that your point of impact will not shift as your head shifts. Parallax error is more significant the closer you are to your target. An optic with a larger depth of field is more forgiving. If you have targets at different distances, you do not need to worry about parallax error as much as you would with a scope with a smaller depth of field.

Tube Diameter

Tube diameter comes down to giving the erector more range of movement, which translates to being able to dial more elevation or wind. The larger the tube, the larger elevation and windage ranges you will have. NRL22 matches are designed around a 100-yard range, though there are sometimes options to shoot further.

Reticle Style

“Christmas-tree” reticles are the most popular in precision rifle shooting because they allow for simultaneous elevation and windage holdovers.

“Christmas tree” reticles feature horizontal and vertical stadia with reference points coming down. These reference points may be a combination of dots, hash marks, and crosses.

MIL vs. MOA

Choosing MIL or MOA is a highly-debated personal choice. Both are effective ways to measure an angle, but MIL is the “language” of precision shooting. It will be easier to learn from those around you and compare notes if you are using the same units.

MILs allow you to think in decimals instead of fractions. That said, if you just want to try NRL22 and have a suitable MOA scope, use what you have. Invest time in learning more about the sport before upgrading your gear. You need to be proficient in whatever system you use. Some shooters are so accustomed to MOA that transitioning to MILs has a detrimental effect.

Turrets: Dial/Rotation, Total Range

Consider your total range of elevation in combination with the inclination of your scope rail. 20 MOA bases are now standard for centerfire/long-range applications.

30 MOA rails are popular for rimfire. Do not forget that you also are able to hold within your reticle to further extend your range. Having a zero stop is also extremely helpful so you can zero out your dope from each stage and start fresh without worrying about being off a revolution.

Weight

Heavier rifle set-ups are generally advantageous in precision rifle competition as they mitigate recoil. Weight comes into play when traveling long distances with your rifle, like while hunting. From a competition perspective, heavier is generally better as long as you can handle it.

Glass Quality

Glass quality generally increases with price. Lower tier glass does well on bright, sunny days, but is harder to see through in low light conditions. There may be some color distortion, but this will not impact how you shoot.

The picture may also not be as fine as you desire at long distances. Better glass is never a bad thing and will increase your capabilities, but most shooters do not need it to do well.

Athlon Lineup

We tested three Athlon scopes, a low, medium, and high option, on Bergara B-14R rimfire rifles on a mock NRL22 stage. All are FFP scopes and available in both MIL and MOA.

Affordable: Athlon Optics Helos BTR Gen 2 6-24×56

We used this scope during the Rock Chuck Olympics. Watch this video for an in-depth look.

Side focus goes down to 10 yards, the lowest out of the three samples, and it has a high depth of field. Locking turrets prevent the shooter from accidentally bumping the scope settings while moving.

Mid-Tier: Athlon Ares ETR UHD 4.5-30 x 56

The Ares ETR UHD has a minimum 25 yard parallax. This will work for NRL22, but you do not want a further minimum parallax. It has a medium depth of field, locking windage turret, and a variety of reticles. While the Helos BTR beats the Ares ETR in some features, the Ares features higher-quality UHD glass.

Top-Tier: Athlon Cronus BTR Gen 2 4.5-29 x 56

The Japanese-made Cronus has the highest quality glass of this comparison and like the Ares, has a minimum side focus of 25 yards. It has a shallow depth of field and thereby higher parallax sensitivity, but some shooters prefer this as the higher the sensitivity, the more effectively you can eliminate parallax error. In a sport like NRL22 where shooters engage targets at varying distances under time pressure, the shooter may have to take the time to adjust the parallax knob. The Cronus is also built to the highest standards of the three.

Conclusion

Whatever scope you choose, consider what features are most important to you. There are tradeoffs between price, glass, and features like parallax range. Balance your budget and needs to determine what will work best for you. Do not be afraid to try NRL22 with what you have to start!

Also remember that a scope isn’t the only optic you’ll need for competition. Binoculars and spotting scopes are handy for watching trace and zeroing, especially if they have a reticle. The Athlon Midas G2 UHD 12×50 Binoculars featured the same MIL reticle as we ran in our test scopes.

We were able to zero a new scope on a new rifle in three shots with one of us watching through the binoculars. (Be sure to support the binoculars on a tripod!) Athlon also offers a 22x ranging reticle eyepiece for their spotting scope.