Optics Recommendation for Kimber M82 Government .22 LR Target Rifle

[yahamshari]

Hi.

I purchased in 2013 from CMP the NIB Kimber M82 Government rifle you see in the attached pictures. Although I have not fired it, I did disassemble and thoroughly cleaned it. Below are the shortlisted scopes based on feedback from other members.

• Sightron SIII Competition 45x45mm, 30mm tube, no Zero Stop, ED glass, SFP, TD 0.1 reticle, will focus from 10 yards (SKU: 25150) [$1,129.99]
• Sightron SIII Competition 36x45mm, 30mm tube, no Zero Stop, ED glass, SFP, TD 0.1 reticle, will focus from 10 yards (SKU: 25185) [$1,129.99]
• Sightron SIII Precision Long Range 10-50x60mm, 30mm tube, Zero Stop, SFP, MOA-2 illuminated reticle, will focus from 13 yards, sunshade and flip-up lens covers included (SKU: 28010) [$1,299.99]
• Sightron SIII Long Range 10-50x60mm, 30mm tube, no Zero Stop, SFP, non-illuminated reticle, will focus from 13 yards (TD 0.1 SKU: 25138) [$1,329.99]

Please further advise, which of the above scopes would be the better choice considering the following:

1. My vision is no longer what it used to be so I tend to lean toward higher magnification.
2. I am not a competitive shooter.
3. Target distance will be 15 to 100 yards.
4. I like illuminated reticles.
5. Value proposition (quality, optical clarity, ED glass, coating, fit, finish, reliability, durability, warranty, features, non-clunky illumination, elevation tracking, ability to focus from 15 yards, large eye box, Zero Stop, price). My budget is $2,700.

Thank you kindly!






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Original Post


Intended Purpose

Primary: Bench shooting at paper targets for fun (I don't compete)
Secondary: Shooting at paper targets from either a standing, kneeling, sitting or prone position


Target Distances

• 15 to 100 yards


Ammo

I plan on starting with cheaper CCI Blazer ammo, and when I get the minimum group size, I will experiment with the selection of ammo below.

1. Lapua X-Act
2. Lapua Midas+
3. Lapua Center-X
4. ELEY Tenex
5. ELEY Match
6. ELEY Club

My Expectations

I am aware that the 82G rifle is not a very good bench rest competitor in general. It was designed to be a position gun trainer for the military. While there are a few out there that shoot very well, the far majority are just average and a few were real dogs.

Considering that this is not a 0.30 inch accuracy guarantee "star" marked 82G sample, I hope that once I properly break-in the Wilson barrel and ensure that everything is snugged up tightly without additional improvements* (see bottom of post), this rifle would shoot 0.30 inches at 25 yards, 0.50 to 0.70 inch at 50 yards, 0.75 inch at 100 yards, 1 inch at 200 yards, and under 2 inches at 250 yards on a really calm day. Slightest breeze would open this up drastically.


Things I am keeping in mind

• When shooting .22 LR at 100 yards, whatever the muzzle velocity is, the ammo is going to go subsonic before it hits. So the accuracy will be impaired because the sound wave will catch up and perturb the bullet flight. Also, because it flies slowly and the bullet is light, it is inherently very sensitive to wind. As a result, if my average group is going to be 0.5 inch at 50 yards, my 100-yard group will not be 1 inch. It will be 1.5 inches, maybe even 2 inches
• A scope should complement not overpower a rifle. I prefer to select scopes that are proportional with the rifle, not only in terms of physical size and weight, but also magnification range
• The reticle is the most important thing then magnification and last is brand
• For a rimfire rifle, I prefer to go with with a SFP scope that features a fine crosshair or target dot reticle and a 1/8 or 1/10 MOA turret
• To me, an illuminated dot would add some contrast to targets
• 24x or greater with fine crosshairs and adjustable objective that will go down less than the 50 yards
• 32x should be the minimum for targets at 100 yards
• 1” or 30mm tube. I don’t want to go with larger than 40mm objective lens; otherwise the scope rings won’t be tall enough
• Using a rail will give the most flexibility in scope positioning and therefore a greater number of scopes that will work. With a weaver-style rail, ring choices become greater and will offer greater flexibility on exactly how high to mount a scope


Some Scopes I Read About

• Athlon

o Argos BTR Gen2 10-40×56mm, 30mm tube, SFP, MOA reticle, BLR (SKU: 214071) [$574.99]. Parallax adjustment down to 10 yards​

o Argos BTR 6-24x50mm, 30mm tube, FFP, Illuminated APMR MIL reticle [$444.99]. Add an Athlon Optics 50mm sunshade compatible with Helos BTR Argos BTR Talos [$23.95]​

o Ares ETR UHD (China) 4.5-30x56mm, 34mm tube, MOA / illuminated reticle and floating center dot. Tracking is excellent​

o Chronos BTR UHD (Japan) 4.5-29x56mm, 34mm tube, MOA illuminated reticle (daylight too). Tracking is excellent​

o Ares BTR (Gen 2) HD 4.5-27x50mm (China), 30mm tube, MOA (illuminated) reticle. Rated: 4.7 stars​

o Midas TAC 6-24x50mm, 30mm tube, MOA (non-illuminated) reticle. Parallax adjustment down to 10 yards​

• Mueller Optics

o 8-32x44mm, 30mm tube feat. side focus, SFP, MOA (non-illuminated) target dot reticle (MPN MU83244TD / UPC: 857727001182) [$259.99 -15% discount = $221.00 to $269.90]. Their scopes are assembled in China. They use Japanese lenses with German coatings​

o 8.5-25x50mm Eraticator (MPN MU852550IGR) [$259.95]​

• Sightron

o SIII Competition 45x45mm, 30mm tube, no Zero Stop, ED glass, SFP, TD 0.1 reticle, will focus from 10 yards (SKU: 25150) [$1,129.99]​

o SIII Competition 36x45mm, 30mm tube, no Zero Stop, ED glass, SFP, TD 0.1 reticle, will focus from 10 yards (SKU: 25185) [$1,129.99]​

o SIII Precision Long Range 10-50x60mm, 30mm tube, Zero Stop, SFP, MOA-2 illuminated reticle, will focus from 13 yards, sunshade and flip-up lens covers included (SKU: 28010) [$1,299.99]​

o SIII Long Range 10-50x60mm, 30mm tube, Zero Stop, SFP, MOA-2 non-illuminated reticle, will focus from 13 yards (SKU: 25176) [$1,349.99]​

o SIII Long Range 10-50x60mm, 30mm tube, no Zero Stop, SFP, non-illuminated reticle, will focus from 13 yards (MOA-2 SKU: 25003) (TD 0.1 SKU: 25138) [$1,329.99]​

o Discontinued SII Big Sky 36x42mm, 1” tube, adjustable parallax down to 10 yards [used condition $375 to $450 w/ shipping]​

• Discontinued Weaver Classic T-Series 36x40mm, 1” tube, A/O, FCH reticle (Model 849970) [$413]
• Discontinued Weaver Classic V-Series 6-24x42mm, 1” tube, A/O, Varminter reticle, adjustable parallax down to 20 yards (Model 849411) [$369.95]
• Discontinued Weaver Classic V-Series 4-16x42mm, 1” tube, A/O, TD 0.25 MOA reticle (Model 849410) [$349.99]
• Discontinued Kahles 2-7x36mm AH, 1” tube
• Leupold VX-3i 6.5x20x40mm EFR, 1” tube (Part # 170885) [$749.99]
• Discontinued Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40mm MC, 1” tube with 50 yards parallax in a rimfire version (Product # 239324 / MPN 521460-9920-050 / UPC: 740035996441) [$499.99]
• Discontinued Leupold VX-2 Ultralight 3-9x33mm EFR version, 1” tube (Part # 133390 / MPN 110827 / UPC: 030317108274) [$399.99]
• Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7x33mm Rimfire Finger Click (Part # 174179) w/ Rimfire MOA reticle [$351.98]
• Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40mm Rimfire Finger Click (Part # 174181) w/ Rimfire MOA reticle, 1” tube
• Leupold VX-2 4-12x40mm A/O fine duplex, 1 “ tube. Ability to focus on 12x to approx. 25 yards. [$349.99]
• Swarovski Z3 3-9x36mm, 1” tube OD 36mm [$699.00]. It is nicely proportioned for a rimfire, being 12" long, with objective OD of 1.65", and weighs only 12 oz. However, it comes parallax-free at 100 meters and would have to be adjusted by Swarovski to change the parallax-free range to 50 yards. Swarovski will charge ~$50 for this service, which sure beats the Kahles service fee of $340 for the same adjustment
• Above the budget I set for this rimfire rifle is the Nightforce 2.5-10x42mm NXS Compact, 30mm tube, which has parallax adjustment to 10 yards [$1,600]
• Arken EP5 5-25×56mm, 34mm tube, FFP MOA VPR illuminated reticle with Zero Stop (SKU: EP5-5250VPR) [$564.99!!!]


Scope Rings I Read About

• Talley scope rings for 11mm dovetail set up ($59.95). Height option: Low (.350 inch) or High (600 inch) MPN # 22AZL? The dovetail on the receiver is 3/8” and the mounts on the barrel are 11mm
• Warne 721LM 1” $41.49. For Athlon 30mm tube scopes order (MPN 701003 - Medium) and for a 34mm tube order (MPN 701006 - Medium)
• Kelbly’s rings are supposedly the best and most precise rings. Must tell Kelbly when ordering that the rings are for an 11mm Anschütz grooved round top receiver, as there is an extra machining step they do for them. The important thing to remember is that the receiver has the same rail dimensions (11mm and domed) as an Anschütz
• Leupold Weaver style PRW2 rings [$89]
• EGW scope rings in Pennsylvania. Will need a 1.2” from the rail to the centerline of the ring to clear the taller objective
• Burris XTR Signature rings (SKU 420223)


Scope Mounts I Read About

• DIP, Inc.
• EGW picatinny rail 0 MOA (SKU 42700) or 20 MOA (SKU 4271) [$39.99]


* Optional Future Improvements by Gunsmith

• Torque the action screws. Start at 18-inch pounds for both screws, shoot bi-shot group, then go to 20-inch pounds and see if the group gets larger or tighter. Might wind up even as high as 26-inch pounds. Rear screw might be at 18-inch pounds yet the front at 20-inch pounds
• Add aluminum pillars into the stock [$200+], then bed around it so the barrel would free float or add aluminum bedding blocks to give a solid bed to bolt the action to
• Have a machinist recrown the barrel with 11-degree target crown [$50 to $75] on a Logan lathe. The guys who recommend the use of a spherical lapping tool, grinding compound, and a brass screw to grind in a new crown do not shoot against national level competitors
• Install a Harrell’s Precision muzzle tuner [$150]. The Hopewell tuning method works well to do this with at least 25 different POAs
• Install a new firing pin spring since many of them get weak over the years. The simple fact is that the firing pin springs are old and no longer sufficient. I think they were all stored cocked. I expect that this is true for many if not most of the CMP guns. A new $10 replacement will be necessary for these rifles
• The screw in the bolt is a high wear part that needs replacement often after shooting a few thousand rounds
• While the trigger can be tuned to a little over a pound, most serious guys end up buying an adjustable 2-stage Kimber 82G target trigger, e.g., XTSP Model 22 [$300 + $10 shipping]

 

[ebb]

I wouldn't begin to tell you what scope to use, I will say that it is a beautiful rifle. Most of my 22s have variable power scopes that the highest power is 14 or 15. Thats OK to 100yds but further you may want more power. None of mine have enough internal adjustment to get to 200yds. If making the main crosshairs POI at over 100yds look for a better scope that has plenty of internal adjustment

 

[diyj98]

You might try the rifle out with whatever scope and rings you have available before investing in anything else. The 82 Government I had shot "o.k.", but not what I'd expect from a heavy barrel target rifle. I've heard similar reports from others.

 

[CADDIE5]

I use BKL-558 MB base on my Anschutz smallbore rifle with Sightron S3 10-50×60mm with illuminated moa reticle for smallbore f class. Bought Sightron from LanceXXX. Burris low Signature xtr rings.

 

[gtl1946]

First of all I am not a competitor. Second, I have 2 of the Kimber 82’s . Of the scopes you’ve mentioned I have/use the following: Weaver 36x, V16&V24, Muellerworks 8-32 & the new 45,and Sightron 8-32x ,10-50x & the Blue Sky36x which is discontinued.
After shooting the rifles at 50yds with several of the match grade ammo’s and mid-level SK ammo my 2cent opinion. The Kimber is a good but average target rifle even with target ammo. Spending big dollars on a scope isn’t going to make it shoot great. My choice of TARGET scope based on price/ quality and doing the job would be Muellerworks , Weaver 36x and Sightron 36 or their Blue Sky if you can find one. In short it is what it is AND…. it’s a worthwhile rifle to learn how to shoot with. Please remember you only spent 2 cents IF you take my opinion. You can PM me if you want to spend 2 more cents.

 

[mattt]

get the xtsp trigger turns it into whole new rifle

 

[dgeesaman]

The Sightron you mentioned is large and does not focus down to 15y.

I’d get a Leupold 6.5-20x40 EFR if you can locate one. Classic lines and excellent glass.

 

[MarkS]

If you think you may go long range ( 200 yds ). You need to think about some extras. A picatinny rail base with 20 to 25 MOA. Then I like Burris XTR Signature rings ( they have up to 40 moa in the rings). If you use these, you do not have to go long, but you can.

I shoot long range 22 LR steel matches. I have 3 guns set up with Vortex Strike Eagle 5 x 25 FFP Mils with 31 mils ( 110 Moa ) of adjustment. with the Burris XTR ring. I can dial to 500 yds. with a 50yds zero.

There so many scopes out today. I would pick one with a lot of total adjustment. I like 20X + for power. One scope to look at is a SWFA SS. they are fixed power 10,12,16 and 20X Great scopes
for the money ( $299.00 ). they can take the recoil from a 50 BMG and have 110 moa of adjustment. https://www.swfa.com/swfa-ss-20x42-tactical-30mm-riflescope-6.html?___SID=U
Mark

 

[Topstrap]

I've had a lot of 20x SWFA scopes and was a huge fan but lately have been switching over to the Arken SH-4. With the 30% off now that puts them at $325. Way more scope that the SWFA, the new EP-5 is even better but has a waiting list and is not covered with the 30% off offer.

It has over 120 moa of travel so a 20moa mount wouldn't even be needed but with one you could probably get to 400 yards with no holdover. Check them out.

Topstrap

 

[Pyscodog]

If your 82 won't shoot well under 3 inchs at 25 yards, I'd recommend a new barrel and worry about a scope later. While not a bench rest rifle it should at least shoot an inch at 50yds with decent ammo. If it doesn't, I'd re-barrel or send it down the road.

 

[jps2486]

I have a couple of Arken 6-24X50 SGH Gen 2 scopes and find them wonderful for something in their price range. Clear, accurate, good illuminated reticle, Right now, Arken stuff is 30 percent off if you use code SAVE30% or if you use code CYCLOPS, you get the combo pack free including rings, scope caps, level and other stuff. Their one piece mount is terrific. I have an Athlon Helos Gen 2 coming to compare. I also have two Athlon Midas Tac 6-24X50. These are excellent scopes as well. For serious BR shooting, I use a Sightron S3 10-50X60 with an MOA-2 reticle. If you need greater magnification, you can't beat this one. All these are excellent scopes that won't break the bank and can compete with the really high priced stuff.

 

[perry42]

I used Weaver T-22 mounts, Burris signature rings 30mm, and a Mueller 40x scope on a CMP Kimber for a friend of mine. The rifle likes Lapua Polar Biathlon.

 

[Jeff Porter]

I have used a SII sightron with the 1/8 moa target dot on my kimber 82. I can clean the small bore targets from a sling with it but that is a big target.

 

[moorepower]

The ones with good barrels can shoot much better than 1/2" at 50yds. If you wrote it down, I did not see it, but what is your $$$ that your willing to spend? I would slug the bore, before I spent a bunch on money on it. I read about someone that slugged his that shot lousy, then discovered that the muzzle was the larger than the rifling on the chamber end. He cut it down and swapped ends, and fit the barrel and it became a very good shooter. QC was lacking in some areas.

 

[holstil]

Gonna be hard to beat 10-50x siii with hash reticle here no matter how much money you spend imo.

Swfa (Japan) really good glass and tracking!

 

[Gabe22BR]

I use the Leupold PRw2 rings on a March 8-80, Ken Ferrell 0 MOA base on my Cooper-
Plenty of clearance ….

 

[yahamshari]

Hi.

I ordered a Sightron SIII Precision Long Range 10-50x60mm, 30mm tube (SKU: 28010) and an EGW picatinny rail 20 MOA (SKU 42702). I need to decide on scope rings. Which of the following 4 scope rings do you all recommend?

• Kelbly’s rings [$207]
• Seekins rings [$149]
• Leupold Weaver style PRW2 rings (SKU 174085) [$89]
• Burris XTR Signature rings (SKU 420223) [$86.30]. A member advised me that the Burris rings are the only ones that will allow me to choose my best sight in distance for shooting at 200 yards and beyond and then be able to set my scope up optically centered. There is some benefit to being optically centered and my Sightron SIII only has 25 MOA up or down in the specifications from its center. If I plan on only shooting 25-50 yards, anything will work

Thank you kindly!

 

[Gabe22BR]

I chose the Leupold

 

[HTSmith]

In this case the cheapest are the best. JMHO

 

[JLT]

Given what you said about your eyesight not being what it used to be (me too!), I'd take the Athlon Argos BTR Gen2 10-40x56 off your list. The reticle is very fine and can be difficult to see on dark backgrounds unless the conditions are perfect. Great for precise aiming when the atmosphere is dead still, but cloud cover and mirage will test your patience.