With any budget scope, you are giving up *something*. Each manufacturer has a different strategy for cost reduction. What will you give up? Mechanical Precision? Glass Quality? Durability? Reticle choice? FOV?
Nikon has done an excellent job in choosing what to give and not give in a budget rimfire optic. They kept what matters most in an optic like this. The glass is usefully good. The reticle is simple and not especially innovative, but far most useful because of the Spot On software.
The magnification range is about ideal for a rimfire. You won't be taking super long range shots with a rimfire, and 7x is more than sufficient. Better yet, the scope is usefully clear at that magnification-- no obvious distortion artifacts.
The adjustments are smooth. Magnification, diopter, and windage/elevation knobs all operate with good smoothness and refinement, with just the right amount of effort. The turrets aren't especially "clicky" but they aren't total mush, either.
I suspect that the accuracy of the turret adjustment is one area of cost reduction. The adjustments are 1/2 MOA, not 1/4 MOA, and I'm assuming they wouldn't set any "box test records". But who cares? You aren't going to be dialing in long range firing solutions with a $150 optic on a rimfire rifle. As long as it can achieve a zero and hold it, it's good enough.
The scope isn't super heavy, nor especially lightweight. On a Varmint-style .22, you won't really notice the extra weight. A light weight .22 will almost s...
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