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I need a 'scope to test rimfires with, it will be either 25m or 50m most of the time and only used on .22 Rimfire rifles so there is no real need for expensive glass and to this end there are hundreds of sub GBP50 'scopes from the usual sources however I have absolutely no idea how they will perform so can anyone recommend a cheap rimfire scope please, ideally around 9 to 12x to make it interesting.

I have a Nikon P22 on my Ruger but it only goes up to x7. This is usually good enough for me on a 25 through to 50m range that I use. It uses a BDC recticle. I think they have just brought out a ProStaff 3-9 as well. Glass is very good only issue was finding one in the UK and I ended Ebaying from Germany.

Get a used Japanese made Nikko Stirling
Lots around 2nd hand

I have a Sightron SIH Tactical x4-12 AO scope for my CZ 452 @ €227 (~£180) and I really like it. The glass is nice and clear and there's enough magnification for me to shoot 25m - 100m. The adjustable objective is great, I can parallax down to 25m which I couldn't do with the other scopes I have. They would be just too blurry and I would struggle to focus on the target at this range. This scope has exposed turrets, if you're into that kinda thing on a rimfire and seeing that in your case it is to test rimfire rifles it might be beneficial to have exposed turrets. There is a x3-9 version which is €40 cheaper (~£30) if you don't need that much magnification.

https://www.optics-trade.eu/en/riflesco ... 40-ao.html

I run a Leapers UTG 30mm SWAT 3-12x44 AO on my S&W, which I'm very fond of for indoor use and running boar at BSRC.

You can pick them up from ~£150

We use a Hawke 3-9x40 MilDot scopes on our S11 rifles, great quality scope for little money. They have a nice range of magnification and the mildot allows quick adjustments to be made.
They are sturdy enough to withstand the tough use that the uninitiated give them and easy enough to use that we don't need to spend time explaining it.

There's a rather nice Nikon Prostaff 4-12x40 Nikoplex in the for sales section that would do the job nicely.

Seriously though, I've used Prostaff's on both air rifles and rimfires and have to say I think that they are excellent quality for the money, very clear, good in low light, and hold zero.

Just about any of the Hawke scopes will do the job. The cheap and cheerful end of their range is, er, cheap and cheerful, but well worth a look. The higher end - around £200+ - are excellent value for money. The glass is clear, and everything works as it should, and Hawke guarantees their products for the lifetime of the original owner. Not many places will match that!

Triple2 - I had spotted the Nikon however the Hawke scopes and the Simmons are also very appealing. Whatever I use will just sit on a one piece to suit an 11mm dovetail and allow me to swap easily from rifle to rifle for testing.

I will probably get handbagged here but here we go.

As its a rimmie, why not try an MTC Viper connect.

I had these exclusively on my hunting air rifles (in fact the only one I kept still has a prototype viper connect on it, if the rifle goes the scope wont).

The short couple allows for a much better FOV for the same mag with conventional scopes, the are however short or no eye relief so wont be good on a recoiler, although there is some leeway.

Mine also (again because of the close couple and wide FOV) allowed me to shoot rabbits much later than I would normally have packed up and gone home, almost by moonlight on some evenings.

http://mtcoptics.co.uk/products/riflescopes/connect/

Blimey....£300....oh well I still would