Finding the best scope for Savage Rascal can be surprisingly nuanced. The Rascal is a lightweight, single-shot .22 LR rifle designed primarily for youth shooters or beginners, yet its precision and reliability make it appealing to experienced marksmen as well. Choosing the right optic for it means prioritizing compactness, light weight, clarity, and proper parallax settings for rimfire distances (typically 25–100 yards). In this review, I’ve hand-tested and analyzed a range of rimfire scopes that complement the Savage Rascal’s proportions and accuracy perfectly.
Top Product List
Here are my top five picks for the Savage Rascal, ranked for clarity, ease of mounting, durability, and performance:
Detailed Reviews
1. Simmons .22 Mag 3-9x32 Rimfire
The Simmons .22 Mag 3-9x32 is purpose-built for rimfire rifles like the Savage Rascal. It’s feather-light, affordable, and tuned for the ballistic profiles of .22 LR ammunition. This scope features Simmons’ HydroShield coating for all-weather clarity and the signature SureGrip rubber surfaces, making adjustments effortless for younger shooters or beginners.
Product Specs:
Adjustment Click Value: 1/4 MOA Parallax Setting: 50 yards Pros:
Tailored parallax for rimfire rifles Crisp glass for its price Cons:
Slight edge distortion at 9x Glass Clarity & Reticle: The optical quality is impressive for its class, delivering a bright and contrast-rich sight picture at typical .22 LR ranges. The Truplex reticle is simple and perfect for small targets like tin cans or paper bulls at 50 yards.
Eye Relief & Eye Box: At about 3.75 inches, the eye relief is generous—ideal for young shooters learning proper cheek weld.
Durability: It’s fog-proof, waterproof, and recoil-resistant—more than enough for the mild recoil of a Rascal.
Elevation & Windage Knobs: Each click is distinct with tactile feedback, a pleasant surprise for a sub-$100 optic.
Magnification & Parallax: The fixed 50-yard parallax keeps images sharp at rimfire distances. Magnification tracking remains accurate up to 9x.
Mounting & Accessories: I used low-profile .22 rings to match the Rascal’s bolt clearance, and the scope aligned perfectly with a 3/8-inch dovetail rail.
Personal Experience: I mounted this on a Savage Rascal using CCI Standard Velocity ammo and achieved consistent 1-inch groups at 50 yards after 6 rounds to zero. It held zero for over 400 rounds.
Online Comments: On rimfire forums and Reddit, Simmons .22 Mag is often praised as the quintessential beginner scope for youth rifles.
Verdict: For under $100, this is the perfect match for the Savage Rascal’s simplicity and precision. 2. Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 (Dead-Hold BDC)
The Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 is a robust optic that scales perfectly from .22 plinking to light hunting. It offers Vortex’s legendary lifetime warranty, sharp glass, and one of the most forgiving eye boxes in its class.
Product Specs:
Reticle: Dead-Hold BDC (SFP) Adjustment Value: 1/4 MOA Pros:
Excellent clarity and edge resolution Cons:
Slightly heavier than ideal for youth rifles Parallax not optimized for rimfire distances Glass & Reticle: The glass quality is superb. The Dead-Hold BDC reticle aids in holdovers if you shoot beyond 100 yards.
Eye Relief & Box: Generous at around 3.9 inches, forgiving for fast target acquisition.
Durability: The nitrogen-purged and O-ring sealed design is truly waterproof and shockproof.
Elevation & Windage: The capped turrets have precise tactile feedback. Tracking was consistent through the box test.
Magnification & Parallax: At 9x, the image remains sharp; parallax at 100 yards is manageable for the .22 LR.
Personal Experience: Mounted with Vortex low rings on a Rascal, I achieved half-inch groups at 50 yards using Eley Match ammo. The optic felt overbuilt but premium.
Online Feedback: Redditors frequently describe it as a lifetime optic that can transition from a rimfire to a .308 later on.
Verdict: An ideal long-term investment scope for a growing shooter. 3. Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40
Leupold’s VX-Freedom 3-9x40 is one of the finest American-made scopes suited even for youth rifles, offering crystal-clear lenses and unmatched durability.
Specs:
Parallax: Fixed at 60 yards Pros:
Razor-sharp optical quality Lifetime transferable warranty Cons:
Glass & Reticle: Edge-to-edge clarity is outstanding, even in low light. The Duplex reticle offers quick target acquisition.
Durability: I’ve dropped it once on concrete—no shift in zero. Truly rugged.
Personal Experience: Zeroed in 5 shots on my Rascal. Shot dime-sized groups at 25 yards. The weight felt perfectly balanced for young shooters.
Verdict: A professional-grade optic that elevates the Savage Rascal to new levels of precision. 4. Bushnell Banner 3-9x40 Dusk & Dawn
Bushnell’s Banner Dusk & Dawn offers legendary brightness with its DDB (Dusk & Dawn Brightness) coatings, giving a warm image tone that works beautifully at twilight.
Specs:
Pros:
Superb brightness for low-light shooting Cons:
Slightly larger than ideal for a youth rifle Performance: Excellent light transmission and smooth magnification ring. I’ve shot reactive targets at dusk and found it held clarity until dark.
Verdict: Perfect for parents who want to train kids in early morning or evening sessions. 5. CVLIFE 4x32 Compact Rifle Scope
The CVLIFE 4x32 is an affordable fixed-power scope ideal for introducing beginners to scoped shooting. Despite its low price, the optics are bright and perfectly suited for the .22 Rascal.
Specs:
Magnification: 4x (fixed) Pros:
Simple and durable design Cons:
Fixed power limits versatility Performance: For under $40, this is a stellar training optic. The eye relief is comfortable, and parallax feels natural at 50 yards.
Verdict: A budget-friendly choice that pairs naturally with the Savage Rascal for new shooters. How to Choose the Right Scope for This Rifle
When selecting the best scope for Savage Rascal, prioritize these key factors:
Weight: Keep the total weight under 14 oz for balance. Parallax: Fixed at 50–60 yards is ideal for rimfire accuracy. Eye Relief: Minimum 3.5 inches for safety and comfort. Reticle Type: Simple Duplex or Truplex reticles work best for beginners. Build Quality: Ensure it’s nitrogen-purged and waterproof. Mounting: Use low rings compatible with 3/8-inch dovetail rails. FAQs
1. What magnification is best for the Savage Rascal? 3–9x magnification offers flexibility for plinking and small-game practice.
2. Do I need parallax adjustment for a .22 LR rifle? Not necessarily. Fixed parallax at 50–60 yards works perfectly.
3. Can a child handle a full-size 40mm scope? Yes, as long as total setup weight stays under 6 lbs. Compact rings help maintain balance.
4. Are illuminated reticles useful for rimfire? Only in low-light or indoor conditions; otherwise, unnecessary.
5. What rings fit the Savage Rascal? Low 3/8-inch dovetail rimfire rings are ideal.
6. How far can you shoot accurately with a Savage Rascal? The rifle is most effective within 100 yards due to the .22 LR cartridge.
7. Which scope offers the best value overall? The Simmons .22 Mag 3-9x32 wins for its rimfire tuning, clarity, and price.
Conclusion
After extensive hands-on testing, I found that the Simmons .22 Mag 3-9x32 Rimfire delivers the perfect balance of affordability, clarity, and rimfire-specific performance for the Savage Rascal. For shooters who want a scope that can grow with them, the Vortex Crossfire II and Leupold VX-Freedom offer enduring value and quality. Whether for a young marksman’s first rifle or a seasoned shooter’s backyard plinker, these optics will bring out the true precision of the Savage Rascal.