The Ruger Charger is a very interesting firearm. I don’t know if I would consider the Ruger Charger a pistol, but that’s exactly how the ATF classifies it. Regardless of the classification almost everyone agrees that the Ruger Charger is a fun and accurate firearm. It will take your plinking game to the next level. This relatively new pistol rifle hybrid is based on the 10/22 platform so it fires 22LR rounds. To get the most out of your Charger you’ll have to pair it with an excellent scope. Continue reading to see a few of the best Ruger Charger scopes on the market.
Red Dot vs Traditional Scope
Customization is one of the main things that make plinking rifles fun. The Charger can be paired with just about any type of scope imaginable, but I tend to lean towards red dots or low end traditional scopes. Both of these scopes have their advantages.
Red Dot: Red dots work well on just about any firearm. Red dots can work on anything from the tricked out AR15 to your daddy’s hunting rifle. You’ll be able to quickly get on target and stay there for follow up shots. They excel at ranges under 100 yards, but can easily extend out to a few hundred. Low MOA red dots are an excellent choice for any plinking rifle. The only downside is the lack of magnification. With minimal rail space you probably won’t be able to squeeze on a magnifier.
Traditional Scope: Well what can I say about traditional scopes that you don’t already know. Even a modestly magnified scope will extend out to the outer limits of the 22 cartridge. Personally I like to pair my plinking rifles with a 3-9x40mm scope. If you have poor eye sight you might want a little more magnification.
What’s The Best Ruger Charger Scope?
1. Bushnell Banner Dawn & Dusk 3-9×40 Riflescope
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Not all quality scopes need to break the bank. The Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn scope is a very nice scope for the price. You’re going to get a very durable scope that doesn’t cost a lot of money. What more can you ask for out of an entry level scope. The durable design and adjustable 3-9x magnification setting makes this a viable solution for most entry level shooters.
As long as you realize that you’re not going to get the quality of a Leupold for this price, I think you’ll be satisfied with this optic. At this price range you will be hard pressed to find a scope that is 100% fogproof and waterproof. Not only is this sight waterproof it can be used in just about any brightness, from dawn to dusk. I really wish the clarity was a bit better, but you can’t complain at this price. It really does look good, but you will see a slight amount of distortion at the edge of the magnification range. You will be able to extend your target shooting farther than the 22LR round can accurately shoot. When you need a durable scope that doesn’t break the bank look no farther than the Bushnell Banner Dawn & Dusk riflescope.
2. Vortex Optics StrikeFire 2 Red Dot Sight
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You can also pair your charger with a moderately priced red dot. One of my favorite red dots on the market is the affordably priced Vortex Strikefire 2. Vortex makes some of the best optics in the industry and if you haven’t tried it now is the time. The Strikefire 2 will work just as well on your Charger as it will on your AR 15. Regardless of what you mount this optic on you will be impressed. Along with a few of the Vortex Spotting Scopes this is probably my favorite vortex product.
The Strikefire 2 walks the fine line between high quality and value. You might not get the same durability as with an Aimpoint but this optic can really take a beating. I’ve honestly never seen one of these red dots break, but if they do Vortex has one of the best warranties in the business. They offer a lifetime no questions asked warranty on most of their products. Vortex Strikefire has 10 adjustable brightness levels and can be used with either a red or green reticle. The parallax free design will allow you to quickly find your target in almost any environment. This scope works just as well at noon as it does at dusk. If you are looking for a mid priced red dot look no further than the Vortex Strikefire 2.
3. Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight
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When you need a compact red dot the Bushnell TRS-25 is one of the best. With the TRS-25 you get an extremely nice red dot at a very low price. This isn’t the cheapest red dot but it’s arguably the cheapest that I would confidently recommend. The cheaper Chinese knockoffs are either hit or miss in the quality department. Bushnell on the other hand stands behind their product with a decent warranty option. Millions of people have used this red dot on a wide variety of rifles and shotguns so it should easily hold up on the Ruger Charger.
The best thing about the Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 is the size. At about half the size of a playing card it’s easily one of the smallest red dots on the market. Pictures really don’t do the TRS-25 size justice. You can’t find a better quality micro red dot in this price range. This 3 MOA red dot is perfect for even the longest shots the 22LR bullet can take. This adjustable red dot can be used in just about any light setting. Higher intensity levels can make the dot blurry if you don’t properly match the ambient brightness. For the price the Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 is an extremely durable product. It is touted by Bushnell as being 100% waterproof, fogproof and shockproof. It would take more than the occasional light drop to damage this high quality red dot. There’s no better micro red dot even close to the price of this Bushnell product.
4. Aimpoint Micro H-2 2MOA Red Dot
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The Aimpoint Micro H2 might be a little bit overkill for the Ruger Charger, but it is probably the best match for the gun. If you are considering a night vision optic check out the Aimpoint T2. Both of these optics are made by Aimpoint, which is one of the best optic companies in the world. Aimpoint has been making quality red dot sights since the 70’s and Micro H2 is easily one of their best. If you can afford it this is the best scope for the Ruger Charger.
What really make the Aimpoint H2 stand out is it’s size. It was designed on Aimpoint’s micro platform so it is the perfect size for this rifle pistol hybrid. Weighing less than 4 oz the Micro H2 is one of the Lightest red dots on the market. When you consider how durable this scope is at this small size it looks even more impressive. You could throw this sight off your roof and it would survive with minimal scuffs. Completely waterproof up to 15 feet this red dot can handle just about any conditions. Another cool feature of the Micro H2 is the battery life. You don’t have to worry about turning this red dot off after use because it has a 5 year continuous use battery life. If you can afford it the Micro H2 the Micro H2 is a perfect addition to your Charger.
5. UTG 3-9X32 BugBuster Scope
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If you need a little bit of magnification on your plinking gun the UTG BugBuster is an excellent choice. UTG is a company that was originally from Europe that is quickly finding their place in the American Firearm industry. Like Vortex,UTG makes high quality products at an affordable price point.
The majority of people find that a 3-9x scope is the perfect amount of magnification for a 22LR pistol. You can plink accurately at both short range and long range with this level of magnification. The Bugbuster is a very durable product and can be used in just about any environment. Though not entirely waterproof the Bugbuster is water resistant and can be used in the rain if necessary. So don’t leave your rifle in your truck box if it’s going to rain(I’ve found this tip out the hard way). Another cool feature on this optic is the adjustable reticle. The reticle can be adjusted to red green and black. It has a nice range estimation feature which is nice especially when shooting a round that drops as quickly as the 22LR. This is a definite contender if you are looking for more of a traditional scope.
Finding The Right Scope For Your Plinking Gun
The Ruger Charger is easily one of the most confusing guns on the market. It’s not quite a rifle, but not quite a pistol either. Just like the 10/22 this hybrid is the perfect candidate for extreme customization. Throw on a bipod and a nice scope and call it a day. There are a few things that go into choosing a scope for the Charger. You’re going to want to primarily focus on the magnification, clarity and price.
Magnification: Due to the relatively short ballistic properties of the 22 it doesn’t make sense to go overboard on magnification. The real sweet spot for a 22 is going to be right around 3-9x. It definitely helps that it’s the most popular magnification range and therefore the cheapest. You can also pair the Charger with a 1x magnification red dot. I put one of the Bushnell TRS-25 red dots on my gun and it’s extremely accurate.
Clarity: You’re going to need a crystal clear scope if you want to see the small 22 impact holes. You’ll be out of luck with a red dot, but a good 3-9x scope should be enough.
Price: If there’s one platform that people seem to go all out on it’s the Ruger 10/22. The Charger is based on the 10/22 and offers many of the same customization options. Paired with some of the more expensive optics and a match grade barrel you can turn this gun into a real tack driver. I can’t believe how many times I’ve seen the Charger paired up with an Aimpoint. To each his own, but I tend to match the scope to the gun. If a gun cost me 200 dollars that’s about how much I’m willing to put into the optics. Hunting rifles are a different story altogether.
What’s The Best Scope For Your Ruger Charger?
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a quality scope for your Ruger Charger. Due to the low recoil 22LR round it can be used with just about any mid priced optic. This gun performs well with just about any optic. Personally I like to pair this gun with a micro red dot, but any traditional scope will work as well. Due to the relatively short range of the 22LR round you don’t need a high magnification setting. I’ve found that the best magnification for most 22LR rifles is the 3-9x magnification range.
In my opinion your best option is going to be either the Bushnell TRS-25 or the Vortex Strikefire. Both of these red dot sights are the perfect size for the Ruger Charger. If you are looking for an expensive yet extremely durable red dot choose the Aimpoint Micro H2. If you want a traditional scope check out the UTG Bugbuster or the Bushnell Banner optics.