A .22 LR that shoots half MOA groups does not care that you mounted a $40 department store scope on it. The scope will cap your accuracy well before the rifle does.
The Savage Mark II is one of the most accurate factory rimfire rifles built at any price point, and it deserves glass that keeps up.
Precision rimfire shooting is its own discipline. You need 50-yard parallax, repeatable turrets, and enough magnification to read wind at 75 to 100 yards.
Eye relief matter less than on a centerfire, but glass clarity at high magnification matter when you are calling your shots on a quarter-inch dot at 50 yards.
The seven scopes below were selected to match the Mark II’s precision capability across different shooting distances and budgets.
Top Picks at a Glance
- Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 – Best Overall
- Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7×33 – Best Glass Quality
- Primary Arms SLx 2-7×32 – Best Budget
- Nikon ProStaff Rimfire II 3-9×40 – Best for Longer Shots
- Bushnell Banner 3-9×40 Dusk & Dawn – Best Low Light Value
- Athlon Talos BTR 4-14×44 – Best for Precision Bench Work
- Vortex Diamondback 3-9×40 – Best Step-Up Option
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| Scope | Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 | Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7×33 | Primary Arms SLx 2-7×32 | Nikon ProStaff Rimfire II 3-9×40 | Bushnell Banner 3-9×40 | Athlon Talos BTR 4-14×44 | Vortex Diamondback 3-9×40 |
| Magnification | 2-7x | 2-7x | 2-7x | 3-9x | 3-9x | 4-14x | 3-9x |
| Objective | 32mm | 33mm | 32mm | 40mm | 40mm | 44mm | 40mm |
| Eye Relief | 3.9 in | 4.2 in | 3.5 in | 3.6 in | 3.3 in | 3.5 in | 3.5 in |
| Glass Tier | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Weight (oz) | 11.8 | 9.0 | 13.2 | 11.7 | 11.5 | 18.8 | 11.5 |
| Reticle | V-Plex | Duplex | Illuminated SFP | BDC 150 | Multi-X | APRS6 FFP | V-Plex |
| Parallax | 50 yd fixed | 50 yd fixed | 50 yd fixed | 50 yd fixed | 50 yd fixed | AO | 50 yd fixed |
| Warranty | Vortex VIP | Leupold Lifetime | Primary Arms Lifetime | Limited Lifetime | Limited Lifetime | Limited Lifetime | Vortex VIP |
| Precision Rating | Good | Very Good | Good | Good | Good | Best | Good |
| Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
1. Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 – Best Overall
The 2-7x magnification range is the right choice for a Mark II used across multiple roles: squirrel hunting at 30 yards, plinking at 50, and precision work out to 75 or 80 yards.
At 7x you have enough magnification to resolve a quarter-inch group at 50 yards and watch your impacts. The 32mm objective keeps weight at 11.8 ounces, which matter on a rifle you carry all day.
Fixed 50-yard parallax means the scope is optimized where the .22 LR spends most of its working life. No adjustment needed, no second-guessing at your most common shooting distance.
The Crossfire II’s glass is standard tier: honest and adequate in good light, and sufficient for precision rimfire use at distances where .22 LR is effective. The V-Plex reticle is clean and does not clutter the target when you are shooting small groups.
At 7x the image is clear enough to call shots at 50 yards without squinting. In bright overcast the glass holds up well. The limitation becomes apparent when compared side by side with glass costing twice as much.
Pros
- 2-7x range covers every realistic .22 LR distance
- Fixed 50-yard parallax eliminates a variable
- V-Plex reticle is clean and unobstructed
- Lightweight at 11.8 ounces
- Durable, fog proof, and waterproof construction
- Vortex VIP warranty: unconditional, lifetime, transferable
Cons
- Standard glass shows limits at the top of magnification range
- No illuminated reticle option
- Not ideal for 100-yard precision work
The Crossfire II is the starting point for any Mark II owner who wants reliable precision without overcomplicating the build. It fits squirrel hunters, small game shooters, and bench shooters at typical rimfire distances well.
The unconditional VIP warranty means you will never pay to fix or replace it. This is the scope to buy first and move up from if you find a specific limitation.
2. Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7×33 – Best Glass Quality
At 9.0 ounces the VX-Freedom is the lightest scope on this list by a meaningful margin. On a Savage Mark II that you carry through timber for squirrels or rabbits, that weight savings is felt by the end of the day.
The 2-7x range fits rimfire distances, and 7x is enough to make clean shot calls at 75 yards. The 4.2-inch eye relief is the most generous on this list — it makes positioning easy in field shooting positions where you are not behind the rifle.
Leupold’s Twilight Light Management System improves clarity and contrast at the edges of shooting light. On a bright overcast November morning shooting squirrels in hardwoods, the image separation between a squirrel and bark is better than standard glass.
At 7x the resolution is clean enough to identify your point of impact on a one-inch target at 50 yards without guessing. The duplex reticle is simple, uncluttered, and subtends well for field shooting at normal rimfire distances.
Pros
- Lightest scope on this list at 9.0 ounces
- Twilight Light Management System improves edge-of-day clarity
- 4.2-inch eye relief is the most generous here
- Clean duplex reticle is uncluttered at 7x
- American made
- Leupold lifetime warranty
Cons
- No illuminated reticle
- Narrower price advantage over step-up options than it once had
- Fixed parallax at 50 yards limits use at 100 yards
The VX-Freedom is the right call for a Mark II that doubles as a squirrel and small game rifle and a precision bench rifle. The glass is a clear step above standard tier in hunting light.
If the Crossfire II is the sensible choice, the VX-Freedom is the considered choice.
3. Primary Arms SLx 2-7×32 – Best Budget
At 13.2 ounces it is the heaviest scope in the 2-7x category on this list, so it is better suited to a bench rifle than a carried rifle. The illuminated reticle is an unusual feature at this price point and adds versatility for low-light squirrel hunting in timber.
The glass is standard tier and performs as expected: sharp and clear at 2x, adequate at 7x for 50-yard precision work. The illuminated reticle at the lowest brightness setting gives a usable aiming point in shaded timber where a standard black reticle can be hard to pick up against dark bark.
The SFP reticle holds its subtensions through the magnification range, which matter if you are using holdover points at different distances. Turret adjustments are repeatable and consistent; the most important mechanical attribute for a precision rimfire scope.
Pros
- Rimfire optimized with fixed 50-yard parallax
- Illuminated reticle unusual at this price point
- Repeatable turrets for precision shooting
- 2-7x range fits all standard rimfire distances
- Good value to performance ratio
- Primary Arms lifetime warranty
Cons
- Heaviest scope in the 2-7x category at 13.2 oz
- Glass does not compete with Leupold or Vortex Diamondback at 7x
- Best suited for bench use rather than carried afield
This is the scope for the Mark II owner who wants to get serious about precision shooting without paying for it yet. The illuminated reticle is a genuine field advantage for hunting use.
Primary Arms lifetime warranty provides the same coverage you would get spending twice as much on other brands.
4. Nikon ProStaff Rimfire II 3-9×40 – Best for Longer Shots
When your Mark II sessions include shots at 75 to 100 yards, the 3-9x range gives you more at the top end than a 2-7x. At 9x you can resolve targets at 100 yards enough for precision work, and at 3x the field of view remains usable for close shots.
The BDC 150 reticle is calibrated for .22 LR trajectory, giving holdover circles at 75 and 100 yards without requiring you to dial between shots. At 9x the holdover circles are visible but not obstructive.
The glass is standard tier and performs to the Crossfire II. The BDC 150 reticle is the distinguishing feature: at 9x and with standard velocity .22 LR, the holdover circles land close enough to actual drop at 75 and 100 yards to make follow-up shots faster than dialing.
Parallax is set at 50 yards and is not adjustable, which is accurate at 50 but introduces a small parallax error at 100 yards. At 9x in good light the image is sharp enough for serious small-group work.
Pros
- BDC 150 reticle calibrated for .22 LR trajectory
- 9x upper limit handles 100-yard precision work
- 40mm objective improves light gathering versus 32mm
- Rimfire-specific parallax setting
- Clean image at 9x in good light
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Fixed 50-yard parallax creates error at 100 yards
- No illuminated reticle
- 3x lower limit is less versatile than 2x for close shots
The ProStaff Rimfire II is the right scope for a Mark II owner whose primary use is 75 to 100-yard precision work or pest control at extended rimfire distances. The BDC reticle makes shooting fast at known distances without turret adjustments.
It is less suited to close-range squirrel hunting where 3x can feel restricted.
5. Bushnell Banner 3-9×40 Dusk & Dawn – Best Low Light Value
The Banner Dusk and Dawn version uses Bushnell’s multi-coated optics designed to improve transmission at low light. For a Mark II that sees squirrel hunting duty in October timber where you have maybe 20 minutes of usable shooting light before last light fades, that coating difference is a real field advantage.
At 11.5 ounces it is comfortable on a carried rifle. The 40mm objective provides a practical light-gathering advantage over 32mm scopes in the group.
The Dusk and Dawn coating is not marketing language. In side-by-side comparison with an uncoated scope at dusk in shaded timber, the image stays brighter and the target stays visible longer.
That margin at 6:45 PM in October can be the difference between identifying a legal shot and passing. For precision shooting in standard range conditions, the glass is adequate and clean through 9x.
The Multi-X reticle is simple and works. For a squirrel hunter who is not shooting past 60 yards, holdover circles add complexity without benefit.
Pros
- Dusk and Dawn coating provides real low-light advantage
- 40mm objective for improved light transmission
- Lightweight for a carried rimfire rifle
- Clean Multi-X reticle does not obstruct in timber
- Good value for a hunting-focused rimfire scope
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- No BDC reticle for field holdovers
- Standard glass shows limits at 9x for precision work
- Fixed 50-yard parallax
- Not the sharpest at maximum magnification
If your Mark II is a hunting rifle that also sees some precision work, the Banner Dusk and Dawn is the scope that earns its keep at last light. It is the best choice for a small game hunter in eastern hardwoods who needs to identify a squirrel in a shadow at 40 yards at dusk.
6. Athlon Talos BTR 4-14×44 – Best for Precision Bench Work
If you are shooting the Mark II from a bench for group testing, 50-yard rimfire competition, or pest control past 100 yards, the Talos BTR is the scope that matches the rifle’s actual mechanical accuracy potential.
The 4-14x range and adjustable objective let you dial in perfect parallax at any distance from 10 yards to beyond 100 yards. At 18.8 ounces it is a bench rifle scope, not a carried rifle scope.
At 14x the Talos BTR resolves groups at 50 yards well enough to call individual bullet holes on a standard target. The APRS6 first focal plane reticle maintains correct subtensions at every magnification setting; your MIL or MOA holds are valid at 4x and at 14x without recalculating.
Adjustable objective parallax is the most important feature on this scope for 100-yard rimfire work. At fixed 50-yard parallax, 100-yard shots carry a parallax error the eye can compensate for but cannot eliminate. The Talos BTR removes that variable.
Pros
- 14x upper limit handles 100-yard precision rimfire work
- Adjustable objective eliminates parallax error at all distances
- First focal plane reticle maintains subtensions at all magnification
- Sufficient resolution at 14x to call bullet holes at 50 yards
- Good turret repeatability for precision use
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- 18.8 ounces makes this a bench-only scope for most Mark II setups
- 4x lower limit is not practical for close-range hunting use
- More scope than casual shooters will use
This scope is for the Mark II owner who has gotten serious: shooting benchrest, chasing one-hole groups, or using the rifle for pest control at 100 yards. Do not put this on a carried hunting rifle.
7. Vortex Diamondback 3-9×40 – Best Step-Up Option
The Diamondback is the right call when you want to step past the Crossfire II’s standard glass without leaving the Vortex or the VIP warranty. The 3-9×40 format fits the Mark II , and at 11.5 ounces it carries without complaint.
The extra magnification over a 2-7x becomes useful when the Mark II comes out for longer pest control work or precision drills at 75 to 100 yards. The 3.5-inch eye relief is adequate for a .22 LR in any shooting position.
The Diamondback’s glass is a step above the Crossfire II and is noticeable at 9x in direct comparison. The image is sharper and brighter at the top of the magnification range, and edge-of-frame clarity holds better.
For precision rimfire work where you are studying your groups after each string, that resolution improvement is a real advantage. At dawn or dusk in hunting conditions, the Diamondback’s improved coatings give a better image than the Crossfire II; not the leap that HP or Leupold Twilight glass provides, but measurable.
Pros
- Glass quality step above the Crossfire II at 9x
- VIP warranty is the best in the rimfire scope category
- 3-9x range practical for 75 to 100-yard work
- 40mm objective improves light gathering over 32mm
- Clean V-Plex reticle for unobstructed aiming
- Vortex VIP warranty: unconditional, lifetime, transferable
Cons
- Standard glass rather than HP or XD
- 3x lower limit reduces versatility for close hunting
- Not a dramatic step over the Crossfire II in most shooting conditions
The Diamondback is the scope for the Mark II owner who started with the Crossfire II and found a reason to step up. It is not a dramatic upgrade in capability but it is a meaningful one in glass quality.
The VIP warranty travels with the scope regardless of who owns it.
What Parallax Setting Means at 50, 75, and 100 Yards
Fixed 50-yard parallax scopes and where they work
A scope set at 50-yard parallax is correct at that distance. Move the target to 75 yards and the parallax error is small but present: less than one-third MOA.
At 100 yards, parallax error on a fixed 50-yard scope can reach 0.5 to 1 MOA depending on the scope; enough to obscure the Mark II’s actual mechanical accuracy. For casual shooting this is acceptable. For serious group work at 100 yards, it is not.
When adjustable objective matter
If you shoot the Mark II past 75 yards, an adjustable objective scope like the Athlon Talos BTR removes parallax error from the equation. You set the AO to your target distance and the scope is parallax-free.
At 100 yards on a calm day, a Mark II capable of one-inch groups will show those groups. A fixed-parallax scope will obscure them with error.
The practical solution for most shooters
Most Mark II owners shoot at 25 and 50 yards. For that application, any fixed 50-yard parallax scope on this list is accurate and appropriate.
If your range sessions include 100-yard strings, the Athlon Talos BTR is the scope that will let the rifle show what it can do.
Field Notes: Precision Rimfire Scope Selection
Magnification range and your typical shooting distance
A 2-7x scope fits 90 percent of Mark II use cases: small game hunting at 30 to 60 yards, plinking and group work at 50 yards, and precision drills at 75 yards. At 7x you can call your shots at 50 yards and watch your bullet holes open up in a target.
If your sessions extend to 100 yards, the 3-9x or 4-14x options give you the top-end magnification to make the work precise.
Reticle type and field reality for rimfire
A simple duplex or V-Plex reticle is not a limitation on a precision rimfire setup if you dial your turrets. A BDC reticle built for .22 LR is a genuine advantage for a field hunter making shots at unknown or changing distances where dialing is not practical.
The BDC works at the magnification it was calibrated for so check that before relying on holdovers.
Glass tier and the .22 LR’s real capability
The Savage Mark II in Accu-Trigger configuration is capable of shooting under 0.5 MOA at 50 yards with quality ammunition. Standard glass will not cap that accuracy at 50 yards.
It may cap it at 75 to 100 yards where image resolution becomes a genuine variable. If your precision goals include 100-yard group shooting, the Leupold VX-Freedom or Athlon Talos BTR will show you results that standard glass cannot.
Final Thoughts
The Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 is the right starting scope for most Mark II owners: clean glass, correct parallax, VIP warranty, and a magnification range that fits rimfire distances without overthinking it.
When small game hunting is the primary role, the Bushnell Banner Dusk and Dawn earns its keep at last light in timber. For the shooter who has gotten serious about precision at 75 to 100 yards, the Athlon Talos BTR 4-14×44 removes every limiting variable and lets the Mark II show its actual capability.
The Leupold VX-Freedom is the choice when glass quality matter more than the other variables. Pick the scope that matches what you do with the rifle, mount it solid, and the Mark II will take care of the rest.