Anyone got a suggestion for a decent 200 yard RKD scope? Prefer MOA reticle, FFP, adjustable parallax, and most importantly, sufficient elevation for the 25+ MOA bullet drop at 200 yards from a 50 yd. zero. Bonus points if it doesn't cost more than a car! Double bonus points if an Appleseed instructor discount is available. TIA.
What rifle is it going on?
MAHA
Going on a 10/22. 20 MOA EGW rail.
With a 20MOA rail you should be fine with a more modest price point scope.
Reliable tracking is the most importantly consideration. Nothing you have to adjust with a screwdriver or that will break as soon as you put in a bunch of clicks.
Don't think you need FFP for RKD - it adds a lot of money. I have this scope on an AR and it has been great for KD...but a lot of scope and money for a 10/22 even with the 12% discount: https://www.eurooptic.com/vortex-viper-pst-2-10x32-ebr-4-moa-pst-2101
Adjustable parallax is nice and I have it on some of my rimfire rifles. Unfortunately the three scopes I have with it are all discontinued...But they were similar to this scope, just more in the $200 range: https://www.leupold.com/vx-freedom-3-9x33-efr-airgun-fine-duplex-riflescope. I also have the 2-7 MOA reticle Leupold Freedom without AO and it is solid for the event: even without adjustable parallax: https://www.cabelas.com/p/leupold-vx-freedom-rimfire-rifle-scope
I have seen many people qualify with lower cost Vortex Crossfires (like we offer in the store) and Primary Arms scopes and of course seen people qualify with even larger and more expensive PRS-type scopes. I have also seen multiple people qualify with irons at 200.
Good luck!
Quote from: 9mm4545 on October 25, 2025, 08:35:44 PMAnyone got a suggestion for a decent 200 yard RKD scope? Prefer MOA reticle, FFP, adjustable parallax, and most importantly, sufficient elevation for the 25+ MOA bullet drop at 200 yards from a 50 yd. zero. Bonus points if it doesn't cost more than a car! Double bonus points if an Appleseed instructor discount is available. TIA.
I'd take a look at ARKENs lineup of optics they have some nice FFP 4-16 optics with zero stops good reticles clear glass and all for under $400.
I have a couple and they are great.
Full disclosure I haven't used their
4-16 at a RKD yet but I have used a 1-8 from them that was great.
I had two sons qualify at a RKD this summer - one used a Precision Ruger with a Vortex PST 4-16 FFP and the other used a Ruger 10/22 with EGW Rail and a Vortex Diamondback. My daughter got close with her Tippman and Arken EPL 6-24 ( note when I moved this to the 6.5 Grendel AR I did notice that it wouldn't hold windage - between Saturday and Sunday the windage drifted 15 MOA).
My son with the Vortex Diamond back had no issues dialing, but it was more of a challenge than having external turret caps.
I qualified 200yd RKD with my 2-7 Vortex Crossfire scope. It was a little bit of a challenge keeping track of my zero without graduated turrets but it worked out. Someone else with a similar setup wasn't as lucky.
If I was doing it again, exposed elevation turret and light weight would be much higher on my list. I'd probably consider the Vortex Ranger 1-4 from my service rifle or something similar.
Edit: went shopping for a minute. This looks like a great option, I've never run it though. It's exactly what I'd want, personally. Huge tube with 86MOA total elevation. Wonder if you could get the job done without the 20MOA rail at this point. It's kinda long though. Might struggle to get it far enough forward.
https://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-viper-pst-2-5-10x44-riflescope.html
That would be a good option - I have the FFP version. With an extended 20MOA EGW rail, this will likely fit if all the way forward.
Go to the Appleseed Store. Check out AS234 AOK - Ruger 10/22 Scope Package (CF2-31003). It will come with a rail but easy to sell to another appleseeder or upgrade another 10/22. The scope will do everything you need at a RKD.
MAHA
I used the V-plex (standard cross hair) version of this scope at the 200yd RKD I shot. I qualified, so obviously good enough, but another instructor was using similar equipment at the same event and ended up lost in the turret because there are no rev indicatiors. Ended up having to re-zero and start over. It's a risky game to play, keeping track of whether you've dialed since the last string of fire without being able to double check.
The BDC version in the store is no better; calibrated according to Vortex's manual, the furthest distance you can get is 130yd with a 22LR.
Respectfully, if building a dedicated rifle like it sounds like OP is, pick something with exposed turrets.
Quote from: Mahamotorworks on October 26, 2025, 10:49:21 PMGo to the Appleseed Store. Check out AS234 AOK - Ruger 10/22 Scope Package (CF2-31003). It will come with a rail but easy to sell to another appleseeder or upgrade another 10/22. The scope will do everything you need at a RKD.
MAHA
I have a diamondback 4-12x40 that has 60 MOA of elevation on a 20 MOA rail. Had plenty of adjustment for a 200 yard RKD. The 2-7 in the store has 60 MOA of adjustment too. I don't think it would be a problem.
Better notes and paying attention will help with keeping the adjustment in check when changing. I not only write down the come up in MOA, I also not what the turret is at. So helps with knowing if you dialed right. Take you time when dialing, and double check before your spin the dial.
At the end of the day, buy what you think works best. There are great option in the store at great prices.
MAHA
Honestly, I have a Vortex Crossfire 2-7X that works extremely well. It's everything you need. You'd be fine with a fixed 4X. Don't need magnification, BDC or anything else.
If you don't have rev markers (my 2-7 doesn't), you can only write down what the turret is at on that rotation. If you end up off a rotation, you're no longer on paper. That means you're done shooting until you re-zero at 50yd on our ranges. No question about whether it can be done- I did it. The only way I was successful was by working my way up and down the dope book, putting a mark every time I made the scope adjustment. Ended up with a column of marks for every AQT. Worked great. Just very tedious and I would have loved an opportunity to double-check, as my turrets with rev markers provide.
Quote from: Mahamotorworks on October 27, 2025, 07:57:42 PMI have a diamondback 4-12x40 that has 60 MOA of elevation on a 20 MOA rail. Had plenty of adjustment for a 200 yard RKD. The 2-7 in the store has 60 MOA of adjustment too. I don't think it would be a problem.
Better notes and paying attention will help with keeping the adjustment in check when changing. I not only write down the come up in MOA, I also not what the turret is at. So helps with knowing if you dialed right. Take you time when dialing, and double check before your spin the dial.
At the end of the day, buy what you think works best. There are great option in the store at great prices.
MAHA
Quote from: SteelThunder on October 27, 2025, 09:25:59 PMHonestly, I have a Vortex Crossfire 2-7X that works extremely well. It's everything you need. You'd be fine with a fixed 4X. Don't need magnification, BDC or anything else.
+1. The Vortex 2-7 package is ideal (and we stock it specifically) for RKD.
Does it have every feature that *I* prefer in a scope? Of course not, but it's an amazing value at that price point.
To assert that the scope is lacking because someone once got lost in their clicks? Many Riflemen have made the same mistake on much more expensive optics. We come to Appleseed shoots to improve our craft as a Rifleman and learn our equipment. Sounds like a good lesson learned cheaply.
Of course, you should buy what you like. There's that Liberty thing. :)
I like the Leupold 2-7x Rimfire scope. Glass is clearer than the Vortex option. That's what I use on my personal Tipman and 10/22.
I used a 1.5 x 4.5 weaver classic, was good for sub 4 MOA groups at 200 at KYD. Recently mounted an athlon 4x12 40mm with the side parallax adjustment in the 22 BDC reticle on a 10/22. Got a great price on it during black friday, I do like the solid clicks vs a similar vortex I have that would be in that budget price line which for whatever reason to me doesn't feel quite as positive, just my .02 and they may have stepped that up in the newer models. The athlon eyebox is tight. I have found the BDC to pretty accurate for general use with the hi velocity ammo. I don't think I would trust it vs come ups for a KYD, but for ringing steel at the different yardages it appears to be good enough, again with the recommended Hi velo 22 which matches the recommended FPS.
The trouble with tight eyeboxes is they can be fatiguing at events and make the timed events a bit of a challenge if you aren't locked in. Overall though, I think it is a great value for the price and feature set.
would like to try the luepold or a higher quality scope to see how much better the eyebox can be. Will echo what others have said, I had no problem with 4.5X magnification for the KYD event, all though I think everyone else was using higher power optics.