Vortex Diamondback Rimfire 2-7x35 review: the rimfire benchmark
Our verdict: 4.6/5. The Diamondback Rimfire is our best overall rimfire scope, and it earns that by putting centerfire-grade hardware on a .22. You get XD glass, a magnum-rated erector that shrugs off recoil, a huge 64.3-foot field of view for tracking small game, and a 50-yard parallax tuned to rimfire ranges, all under the Vortex VIP lifetime warranty. It has real ergonomic quirks, but for the money it turns a plinker into a serious small-game rifle.
Rated 4.9 stars across 54 verified owner reviews on OpticsPlanet. Price verified August 18, 2026; confirm the current price on the retailer page.
How we reviewed it: a research-based review built from manufacturer specifications, independent hands-on tests, editorial coverage and 54 verified owner reviews on OpticsPlanet (4.9 stars, attributed to the retailer, not our own rating). We have not bench-tested this unit ourselves; the score is our editorial opinion. See how we evaluate.
What it is
The Diamondback Rimfire 2-7x35 is Vortex's dedicated rimfire scope, and its whole idea is to bring mid-tier centerfire hardware to a .22. It uses the same solid one-piece aircraft-grade aluminum chassis and magnum-rated Precision-Glide erector as Vortex's recoil-heavy hunting scopes, adds XD (extra-low dispersion) glass, and then tunes the parallax to a fixed 50 yards for rimfire ballistics. The result is a scope that is genuinely overbuilt for a .22 LR, which is exactly why owners trust it and even run it on springer airguns.
Glass and field of view: the standouts
Two things set it apart in its class. First, the XD glass with fully multi-coated lenses gives clarity and low color fringing that reviewers repeatedly say rivals scopes twice the price, easily out-resolving old budget names like Tasco and BSA. Second, the field of view is exceptional: 64.3 feet at 2x, versus about 42 feet on the comparable Crossfire II. That wide view makes it fast to get on a squirrel or rabbit moving through brush, and the 50-yard parallax keeps close shots optically flat where a 100-yard centerfire scope would shift.
Build, tracking and the V-Plex reticle
The chassis is the other headline. Machined from a solid block of aluminum and argon purged (argon resists micro-leaks and fogging better than the nitrogen used in cheaper scopes), it holds zero under stress that destroys ordinary rimfire glass. The finger-adjustable 1/4 MOA capped turrets track cleanly, and the 100 MOA of adjustment is generous for a 1-inch tube. The V-Plex reticle is a clean duplex: bold outer posts draw your eye to a fine center cross, uncluttered for fast shots in timber. It is a simple, honest aiming system rather than a busy holdover tree.
What owners say
“Love this scope on my 10/22. Really clear glass at the price point, and the Vortex warranty is great peace of mind. Also able to mount very low profile on the 10/22.”
Drew, owner (IL) via OpticsPlanet
“Excellent for close range, clear glass. For 0 to 150 yards I prefer these because they focus closer and I just do not need any more than 7x to get small game. Holds true, no problems.”
verified owner (ID) via OpticsPlanet
Trade-offs, plainly
- Short 3.1-inch eye relief: perfectly safe on a .22 or .17 HMR, but a scope-bite risk if you move it to a hard-recoiling centerfire or shotgun (do not).
- Oversized ocular bell (about 1.6 in): it often forces medium or high rings so the bolt clears, which can compromise a low cheek weld on some rifles.
- The eye box tightens at 7x: at full magnification the head position gets fussy ("winky"), so a slight shift brings in shadow. Easy at 2x to 4x.
- The hard-anodized finish marks more easily than some rivals when using tight steel rings.
- A little fish-eye distortion appears at the extreme edges at 2x; it clears by 3x.
Price
The MSRP is around $340, but the everyday street price runs around $240 to around $250, and it drops to roughly $203 during sales and with retailer coupons. At the sale price it is one of the best value rimfire optics you can buy, giving XD glass and a lifetime warranty for what mediocre scopes cost. Do not pay full MSRP; wait for the street price. Confirm the current number on the retailer page.
Key specifications
| Type | Rimfire riflescope, second focal plane |
|---|---|
| Magnification | 2-7x |
| Objective | 35 mm |
| Reticle | V-Plex (non-illuminated) |
| Tube | 1 in |
| Parallax | Fixed 50 yds |
| Field of view | 64.3 ft at 2x to 19.3 ft at 7x (at 100 yds) |
| Eye relief | 3.1 to 3.5 in |
| Exit pupil | 5 to 17.5 mm |
| Turrets | 1/4 MOA capped, finger-adjustable |
| Adjustment range | 100 MOA |
| Glass | XD (extra-low dispersion), fully multi-coated |
| Gas purge | Argon (waterproof, fogproof) |
| Weight | 14.2 oz |
| Length | 11.6 in |
| Warranty | Vortex VIP unlimited lifetime, transferable |
Should you buy it, and what else to consider
- Buy it if you want the best all-round .22 LR or .22 WMR scope for hunting and plinking inside 100 yards: our best rimfire scope overall and a top Ruger 10/22 scope.
- On a tight budget? The Barska 3-9x32 Plinker-22 (around $75, rings included) is the entry pick on our rimfire guide.
- Shooting .17 HMR at distance? The Hawke Vantage 4-16x50 AO with its calibrated 17 HMR reticle is the precision pick.
- New to this? Read rimfire vs centerfire scopes to understand the 50-yard parallax and eye-relief differences.
FAQ
Is the Vortex Diamondback Rimfire good for a Ruger 10/22?
Yes, it is one of the most popular 10/22 scopes for a reason. Its 50-yard fixed parallax is tuned to the ranges a .22 LR is shot at, the huge 64.3-foot field of view at 2x makes it easy to get on small, moving game, and owners report mounting it low and clean on the 10/22 receiver. The 2-7x range covers plinking and small-game hunting inside about 100 yards, which is where a 10/22 lives.
Why does a rimfire scope have 50-yard parallax instead of 100?
A centerfire hunting scope is set parallax-free at 100 or 150 yards, but a .22 LR is usually shot much closer, from 25 to 75 yards. If you use a 100-yard scope at 25 yards, small head movement shifts the reticle off target (parallax error). The Diamondback fixes its focus at 50 yards, right in the middle of rimfire distances, so your aim stays true at the ranges you actually shoot.
Can I put it on a centerfire rifle or shotgun?
It is built tough enough (it is magnum-rated and survives springer airgun recoil), but you should not, because of the eye relief. At 3.1 inches the eye relief is short, which is fine for the negligible recoil of a .22 LR or .17 HMR but a real scope-bite risk on a hard-kicking centerfire or 12-gauge slug gun. Vortex itself warns against mounting it on heavy-recoiling firearms.
Has it won any awards?
No formal industry award, and we will not claim one it did not earn. It does have strong editorial recognition: Outdoor Life called it a very close runner-up for its Great Buy award in a scopes-under-$250 test, and Target Tamers named it best for close-range in a .22 LR rimfire roundup. Those are editorial recommendations, not standardized awards, but they match what owners report.
More: best rimfire scopes · best Ruger 10/22 scope · best rifle scopes.