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5 Best Scope for Henry Mini Bolt – My Top Rimfire Scope Recommendations for Youth and Precision Shooters

When it comes to rimfire rifles designed for young shooters or light, precise plinking sessions, few rifles are as iconic as the Henry Mini Bolt.

Finding the best scope for Henry Mini Bolt requires understanding its unique characteristics: it’s lightweight, single-shot, .22LR caliber, and intended for both beginners and seasoned rimfire enthusiasts.

Over the years, I’ve tested multiple optics across .22 platforms, from budget-friendly 3–9x scopes to high-end illuminated reticles, and in this article, I’ll share the ones that best balance size, clarity, and reliability.

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Top Product List: 5 Best Scope for Henry Mini Bolt of 2025

Here’s a quick overview of my top recommendations for pairing with the Henry Mini Bolt:

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Simmons .22 Mag 3-9x32 Rimfire Scope⁠

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Hawke Vantage 3-9x40 AO IR⁠

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Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40 Rimfire MOA⁠

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Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 (Dead-Hold BDC)⁠

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CVLIFE 4x32 Compact Rifle Scope⁠

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Each of these optics brings a unique advantage—lightweight design, clear glass, and dependable zero retention—all critical for maximizing the accuracy potential of a small-frame rimfire rifle.

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1. Simmons .22 Mag 3-9x32 Rimfire Scope

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The Simmons .22 Mag 3-9x32 has long been a staple among rimfire shooters for its affordability and solid performance. It’s an ideal fit for the Henry Mini Bolt thanks to its compact form factor and parallax set for 50 yards—perfect for .22LR trajectories.

Product Specs

Magnification: 3–9x

Objective Lens: 32mm

Reticle: Truplex

Tube Diameter: 1 inch

Parallax: 50 yards

Adjustment Click: ¼ MOA

Pros

Lightweight and rimfire-specific parallax

Affordable yet crisp optics

SureGrip turrets easy for kids to adjust

Cons

Slight color fringing at edges

Not ideal for low light

Glass Clarity & Reticle

Glass is better than most budget scopes. I noticed minor edge distortion, but the center clarity remains sharp. The Truplex reticle is simple and perfect for training new shooters.

Eye Relief & Eye Box

Eye relief at 3.75 inches is forgiving—perfect for beginners learning proper cheek weld. The eye box is generous across the zoom range.

Durability

Nitrogen-purged and fog-proof, this scope endured rain sessions without issue. It held zero after 400+ rounds of standard .22LR CCI ammunition.

Elevation & Windage Knobs

Each ¼ MOA click felt defined but slightly mushy. Still, the adjustments tracked well during a basic box test.

Magnification & Parallax

The 3–9x range is ideal for the Mini Bolt. The parallax preset at 50 yards keeps the focus consistent for typical .22LR shooting distances.

Mounting & Accessories

I used low-profile rimfire rings on the Mini Bolt’s dovetail rail—zero clearance issues.

My Experience

I mounted this on my Henry Mini Bolt using Warne 1-inch rimfire rings. Zeroing took just six rounds at 50 yards. The scope retained zero for weeks of youth training sessions—proving ideal for reliability and teaching fundamentals.

Online Customer Feedback

Rimfire enthusiasts on Reddit and rimfirecentral.com echo the same sentiment: unbeatable clarity and durability for under $60.

Verdict

If you’re outfitting a Henry Mini Bolt for a young shooter, the Simmons .22 Mag 3-9x32 offers unmatched simplicity and value.

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➡️➡️➡️ Explore User Feedback and Current Pricing on Amazon⁠

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2. Hawke Vantage 3-9x40 AO IR

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The Hawke Vantage series brings features often found in pricier optics: adjustable objective (AO), illuminated reticle, and clear multi-coated glass. It’s a step up in optical quality for rimfire accuracy.

Product Specs

Magnification: 3–9x

Objective Lens: 40mm

Reticle: Mil-Dot Illuminated (Red/Green)

Parallax: Adjustable from 10 yards to infinity

Tube: 1 inch

Weight: 17 oz

Pros

Adjustable parallax down to 10 yards

Excellent illumination in low light

Crisp image even at high zoom

Cons

Slightly heavier for small rifles

Needs high rings to clear the bolt handle

Glass Clarity & Reticle

Glass is sharp edge-to-edge with little chromatic aberration. The illuminated reticle aids in shaded or evening sessions.

Eye Relief & Eye Box

At about 3.5 inches, it’s still forgiving. The Mini Bolt’s compact length benefits from adjustable mounting flexibility.

Durability

The anodized aluminum body feels premium. It handled rough handling and damp mornings well.

Elevation & Windage Knobs

Tactile clicks, consistent tracking—Hawke’s turrets are more refined than most scopes in this price class.

Magnification & Parallax

Having an AO makes close-range accuracy exceptional. I was hitting bottle caps at 25 yards with pinpoint consistency.

Mounting & Accessories

Mounted via 1-inch medium-height rings. Some shooters prefer high rings for bolt clearance.

My Experience

After zeroing with CCI Standard Velocity .22LR, I shot from 20 to 100 yards. Adjusting parallax allowed tack-driving accuracy—proof that this scope suits both paper and small game targets.

Online Comments

Many on RimfireCentral praise the Vantage AO for its “unbelievable value for the clarity,” especially for air rifles and rimfires alike.

Verdict

The Hawke Vantage 3-9x40 AO IR is perfect for shooters wanting premium glass and flexible focus capability on the Henry Mini Bolt.

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➡️➡️➡️ Explore User Feedback and Current Pricing on Amazon⁠

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3. Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40 Rimfire MOA

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Leupold’s VX-Freedom series offers legendary durability and top-tier glass in a lightweight body. Specifically, the Rimfire MOA version is tuned for .22LR drop profiles.

Product Specs

Magnification: 3–9x

Objective Lens: 40mm

Tube: 1 inch

Weight: 12.2 oz

Parallax: 60 yards fixed

Reticle: Rimfire MOA

Pros

Crystal-clear optics with no distortion

Lightweight and compact

Lifetime warranty

Cons

Higher cost

No illumination

Glass Clarity & Reticle

Edge-to-edge clarity is exceptional. The MOA reticle offers precise holdover marks for various rimfire distances.

Eye Relief & Eye Box

At 3.7–4.2 inches, eye relief is generous, making it perfect for young shooters to avoid scope bite.

Durability

Built in the USA and waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof. I’ve banged this scope against range benches and it never lost zero.

Elevation & Windage Knobs

Positive, tactile ¼ MOA clicks. I performed a full box test—return to zero was flawless.

Magnification & Parallax

At 3x, wide field of view for short ranges; at 9x, I was comfortably engaging 100-yard steel.

Mounting & Accessories

Lightweight enough to mount with low rings on the Henry Mini Bolt’s dovetail base.

My Experience

I tested the VX-Freedom during squirrel season. It tracked perfectly for elevation adjustments and retained zero through temperature swings from 40°F to 80°F.

Online Comments

Shooters on r/22lr consistently rank the VX-Freedom as the top “buy once, cry once” rimfire scope.

Verdict

For long-term users who want to grow with their Henry Mini Bolt, the VX-Freedom Rimfire is the ultimate precision companion.

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➡️➡️➡️ Explore User Feedback and Current Pricing on Amazon⁠

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4. Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 (Dead-Hold BDC)

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Vortex’s Crossfire II is a tried-and-true optic that balances affordability with rugged performance. Its Dead-Hold BDC reticle is a great feature for learning holdovers on light rifles.

Product Specs

Magnification: 3–9x

Objective Lens: 40mm

Reticle: Dead-Hold BDC

Eye Relief: 3.8 inches

Adjustment Click: ¼ MOA

Pros

Excellent glass for the money

Lifetime VIP warranty

Consistent tracking

Cons

Slight tunnel effect at high magnification

Heavier than typical rimfire optics

Glass Clarity & Reticle

Crystal-clear center with BDC marks tuned nicely for .22 trajectories. The coatings resist glare even in bright sun.

Eye Relief & Eye Box

Wide and forgiving, making target acquisition fast and natural for beginners.

Durability

Aircraft-grade aluminum body, fog-proof and waterproof. I dropped it once from waist height—no zero shift.

Elevation & Windage Knobs

Soft but accurate tactile feedback. Return-to-zero test confirmed consistent adjustment.

Magnification & Parallax

Fixed at 100 yards—still perfectly usable from 25–100 with the Mini Bolt.

Mounting & Accessories

Needs medium rings for bolt clearance. Works beautifully on a dovetail-to-Picatinny adapter mount.

My Experience

Mounted on my Mini Bolt, it took 8 shots to zero. Grouping at 50 yards was under 0.5”. Clarity and reticle usability outclass its competitors.

Online Comments

Vortex owners love its warranty and clarity. Many use this model as an entry-level scope on rimfires before upgrading to higher-tier optics.

Verdict

The Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 is a durable, feature-rich option that will last well beyond your first rimfire rifle.

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➡️➡️➡️ Explore User Feedback and Current Pricing on Amazon⁠

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5. CVLIFE 4x32 Compact Rifle Scope

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For those who want a fixed-magnification, no-fuss optic, the CVLIFE 4x32 Compact Scope provides simplicity, lightweight construction, and a surprisingly clear image for its price.