Best Sight for Ruger Charger – Reviewed 2024

Plinkers best friend or varmints worst enemy? If you are the owner of a Ruger Charger finding the perfect scope to fit your needs can be difficult.

There are many great options on the market today, the perfect scope is out there somewhere, but where?

In this article I will present you with the seven best sights for the Ruger Charger based on what is best for your individual needs!

The Ruger Charger is the most popular semi-auto 22 rifle platform in America.

With the rise in popularity of take down, backpack sized quick guns, it is no surprise that Ruger brought back the Charger after its first release and consequential discontinuation in 2007. 

With the re-release in 2014, Ruger has improved the quality and ability of these Chargers every year since.

Historically the Ruger Charger was designed as a benchrest target gun, great for shooting varmint and plinking at the range.

In 2021 we find enhanced Ruger Chargers with picatinny rail systems built in, exchangeable pistol grips, adjustable buttstock attachment points, and increased magazine capacity.

Ruger sells the Charger in two differing formats. They sell a Ruger 22 Charger, and the Ruger PC (pistol caliber) Charger.

The Ruger PC Charger is chambered in 9mm caliber, and the Ruger 22 Charger is chambered in 22 LR (long rifle) caliber.

Ruger offers a standard and takedown version of the 22 Charger, and all PC Chargers are offered in the takedown format.

The takedown version of the 22 Charger will cost you more money while sharing identical specs to the standard model; with the exception of adding 1.5 ounces in weight over the standard.

When comparing the PC and 22 variations of the Ruger Charger we see more differences than commonalities. One important commonality, however, is having threaded barrels.

Ruger ensured that all models of the Charger were equipped with threaded barrels, allowing for the addition of silencers or flash suppressors.

Both options are also equipped with a built-in picatinny rail system for mounting optics. This is where commonalities end other than neither option being equipped with sights, which is why you are all reading this article now.

The Ruger 22 Charger comes standard with a 15 round magazine, and the PC Charger comes with two variants; the state compliant model 29101 utilizing a 10 round mag, and a model 29100 with a 17 round capacity magazine for those of us who live in better gun law states.

Considering the majority of Ruger Charger owners use them for benchrest target shooting, varmint hunting, or plinking, both red dot optics and scopes could prove useful on the Charger.

When choosing a sight for your Ruger Charger it comes down to both preference, and utility. Here are some considerations to keep in mind when searching for an optic for your Charger.

Considerations When Choosing A Charger Sight:

1. Use

• Are you varmint hunting, benchrest target shooting, or plinking?
• Magnification range matters

2. Sight Preference

• Do you prefer a red dot optic over a full length scope?
• Price consideration as well as overall weight added

3. Caliber

• Do you own the 22 Charger or a PC Charger?
• Recoil differences can come into play with every optic

4. Take down or Standard

• Do you have a take down or standard variation of the Charger?
• Quick detach options or permanent mounting options

Now that I have you thinking over the considerations mentioned above, I will review each optic selected and inform you on the best choices based on your answers to the above considerations.

Here is the list of the seven  best sights for the Ruger Charger.

7 Best Sight for Ruger Charger

1. Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight

The Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 starts off our list, and is the first red dot we have presented as an option for those who prefer to mount a red dot to their Ruger Charger.

Red dots are a special breed of optic that can cover the majority of the shooting you would be doing with a Ruger Charger.

The Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 features a 3 MOA Dot reticle with 11 brightness settings. The TRS-25 is designed to mount to picatinny rail surfaces and is compatible with pistols, shotguns, and rifles.

Luckily, the Ruger Charger is designed with built in picatinny rails allowing you to purchase a Trophy TRS-25 red dot and mount it without any additional pieces to purchase.

The TRS-25 is covered in a matte black color, and gains a waterproof rating through sealed o-rings which can be completely immersed in water.

If you're going to be doing any shooting outdoors, it is always a good idea to find a waterproof sight.

If you live in a state like I do where it can be 74 degrees one day and 24 and snowing the next, having a durable waterproof optic makes a difference.

The Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 is built to be shockproof, withstanding being in the rough environment of the field.

Additional fog-proofing is achieved through nitrogen purging, allowing you to shoot outdoors in any weather situation.

The Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 red dot weighs 3.68 ounces, and is only 5.4 inches long. Adding essentially nothing to your carrying weight on your Ruger Charger.

The magnification range on the Trophy TRS-25 is 1x (none) and it has an objective lens diameter of 25mm.

Bushnell backs their optics with their lifetime ironclad warranty, allowing you to have confidence in your red dot while in the field.

The 11 brightness settings allow you to shoot in essentially any lighting situation, and priced to be budget friendly, the Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 is a great red dot option for your Ruger Charger.

2. Vortex Optics StrikeFire 2 Red Dot Sight

No list of any optic comparison is complete without a contribution by Vortex. Vortex is a leading name in the scope and optic industry, and the StrikeFire II red dot sight is a great example of the quality of optic produced by Vortex.

The Vortex StrikeFire II is a red dot choice of shooters who want the best red dot technology has to offer, with no compromise.

You pay a premium price for great optics, but Vortex makes it worth your while by offering this red dot in both solely red, and a red/green dot color for the same price.

Green dots are great for shooters, like myself, that suffer from astigmatisms. Green dots are easier for people with astigmatisms, or blurred vision to not only see, but provides a more clear and crisp dot.

Green dots are less harmful to your eye, allowing for longer durations of shooting due to not fatiguing your eye as much.

Green dots are also 30x brighter in low-light settings than a red dot.

With all of the benefits of a green dot, why not purchase an optic that offers both green and red in the same optic, for the same price as a normal red dot.

The Vortex StrikeFire II has a magnification of 1x, and an objective lens diameter of 30mm.

Weighing in at 7.2 ounces, and 5.6 inches long, the Vortex StrikeFire II takes essentially no space away from your picatinny rail system, allowing you to add more attachments if so desired. 

Built with a hard anodized finish, the StrikeFire II presents a low profile matte black finish.

Completely waterproof, shockproof, and fog-proof the StrikeFire II offers 10 brightness settings for easy adjustments in changing environments.

Fully multi-coated lens’ provide a great and clear sight picture and an offset cantilever mount is provided; allowing space for use of a magnifier and backup iron sights all on the same rail. All protected by Vortex Optics legendary VIP warranty.

3. UTG 3.8″ ITA Red/Green CQB Dot Sight

The Leapers UTG 3.8” ITA Red/Green CQB dot sight is a mouthful to say aloud, but speaks wonders on the range for such a budget friendly red dot sight.

The UTG 3.8” is another red dot sight offering both red and green dot reticles, the benefits of green dots can be viewed in detail above.

The UTG ITA CQB sight is designed for close quarter battle, fast target acquisition types of scenarios as the name suggests.

Built with a 4 MOA red/green illuminated dot reticle the UTG 3.8” has a 38mm tube with a coin-windage and elevation adjustments knobs.

Each click of either adjustment knob is ½ MOA and the lens’ are coated in an emerald coating for maximum clarity in all shooting environments.

This red dot sight is great for the plinkers and benchrest target shooter owners of the Ruger Charger.

Magnification on the UTG 3.8” is set at 1x, which provides a great field of view and unlimited eye relief.

Weighing in at 13.02 ounces and measuring 4 inches, the UTG 3.8” is neither small nor big for the Ruger Charger platform.

The UTG 3.8” comes with an integrated picatinny rail mount system and flip-open lens caps. Complete with a lifetime warranty, the UTG 3.8” is a Ruger Charger owner's budget go-to red dot.

4. CVLIFE 1X22X33 Green/Red Dot Gun Sight Scope

CVLIFE is a brand I am not sure many of you are familiar with. CVLIFE is a smaller company manufacturing dot sights, scopes, bipods, flashlights, and laser sights.

The CVLIFE green/red dot sight is the cheapest reflex sight on our list but is worth its weight in aluminum.

Weighing in at only 4.59 ounces, and with a length of 3.23 inches this green/ red dot sight is made from high grade aluminum alloy making it both durable and lightweight.

With a screen size of 22mmx33m the CVLIFE red dot provides a wide field of view of 15.8 meters at 100 meters.

This CVLIFE red dot comes equipped with a reflex sight reticle offering four different reticle choices which can be selected at the bottom of the sight.

A circle dot, dot, cross, and boxed cross design, the reticles vary in size from 3 MOA to 10 MOA.

The CVLIFE red dot offers five illumination intensity settings; mixed with four reticle choices makes the CVLIFE an all lighting scenario shooter.

A magnification range of 1x, unlimited eye relief, 33mm objective lens diameter, and a choice in reticle design and color the CVLIFE red dot is a great choice again for the benchrest target shooters and plinkers.

This would be a great budget friendly option for a CQB course or 3-gun competition as well.

5. Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Riflescope

Another Bushnell is in our ranks, this time in a full length scope offering. This Bushnell scope is offered in a black plastic outer casing with multi coated lenses for clarity and light control.

This is a great low-light scope with a magnification range of 3-9x it lends itself well to our varmint/ small game Ruger Charger hunters.

The Bushnell Banner Dusk and Dawn is waterproof, shockproof, and fog-proof which proves its durability.

I honestly doubted the durability of this scope at first glance due to its plastic construction. Once you hold this scope, however, you can feel the Bushnell high quality tested material difference.

As the name dictates the Bushnell Banner Dusk and Dawn utilizes a multi-x second focal plane reticle design.

With a weight of 13 ounces, and length of 12 inches the Banner Dusk and Dawn was built to be lightweight to help endure those long hunting treks.

Equipped with a fast focus eyepiece, the Banner Dusk and Dawn is great for getting those pesky varmints off your property.

Whether you purchased the Ruger PC Charger or 22 Charger this scope will get the job done. Bushnell is a strong brand with great products and an excellent lifetime ironclad warranty. You can find one for a great price on Amazon.

6. Burris Handgun 2-7x32mm Pistol Scope

On the other end of the budget spectrum we have the premium priced Burris Handgun 2-7x32mm Pistol Scope.

If you cannot tell by the name of this scope, Burris built a purpose driven scope, hoping to make a splash in the pistol scope market.

The Burris Handgun Pistol scope is offered in two different reticle patterns, the plex pattern and the ballistic plex pattern.

Both reticles have their positives and negatives but really it comes to preference of style and shooting.

I prefer the Plex reticle for the simplicity in design for target shooting and plinking.

With a weight of 13 ounces, and a length of 9.7 inches the Burris Pistol Scope fits perfectly atop your Ruger Charger.

Magnification on the Burris Pistol scope is 2-7x with an objective lens diameter of 32mm.

The specifications of the Burris Pistol Scope makes it an ideal scope for hunting and handling harsh recoil.

Eye relief sits at 11-21 inches which is ideal for powerful handgun hunting. The Burris Pistol Scope is waterproof, shockproof, and fog-proof which we expect from a scope in this price range.

The Burris Pistol Scope features a patented PosiLock lock system that uses a retractable steel post in addition to the normal adjustment springs to firmly lock the turret adjustments.

Providing extra security when firing large caliber handguns with significant recoil. This means that this scope can transfer to any other handgun you feel you want to mount it on.

Finished in either matte black or nickel, the quality of material, glass, and internal design are what make this pistol scope a premium priced option. Paired with Burris’s Forever Warranty, this multi-reticle pistol scope is what you shoot when you don't enjoy missing.

7. Leupold FX-II Handgun Scope

Last and certainly not least is our most expensive option on our list today.

The Leupold FX-II Handgun Scope is this author’s choice scope of the day, for many reasons.

The FX-II handgun scope eliminates the need to focus on the front sight, and eliminates the inaccuracy common with the handgun's short sight radius.

The FX-II handgun scope is a fixed magnification scope at 4x, and has an objective lens diameter of 28mm.

With great glare reduction, resolution, clarity, and rugged durability the FX-II is the scope you buy when you don’t mind paying more to receive more.

Completely waterproof, shockproof, and fog-proof the FX-II is completely designed, machined and assembled in the USA.

The Leupold FX-II is a scope that can handle any type of shooting you are wanting to participate in.

This is a true do-it-all scope that can handle recreation shooting, hunting, varmint control, target shooting, and plinking.

Weighing in at 7 ounces, with a length of 8.4 inches and long eye relief scope at 18 inches the FX-II lets the specs speak for themselves.

Built with a duplex reticle design, the FX-II is made from T6 Aluminium and features Leupold’s twilight light management system.

The twilight light management system lends itself well to hunting applications as well as conquering any lighting scenario you encounter.

The Leupold FX-II Handgun Scope is offered in gloss black, matte black, and silver finishes and includes Leupold’s gold ring full lifetime guarantee. To top it all off I think the Leupold FX-II is the coolest looking scope in the bunch as well with the matte black and gold accent ring design.

Parting Shots

In this article we have covered the best scope options you have for the Ruger Charger. I put together a list of the seven best scopes for the Charger, and explained their differing applications.

With use, sight preference, and caliber in mind; you now have the necessary tools at your disposal to choose an option that best fits your Ruger Charger with varying price options.

There is bound to be an option on the list for your needs.

You also learned a bit of history on the Ruger Charger, if you hadn't heard of them before.

If you have never shot one I encourage you to do so! Benchrest target shooting has never been easier than with the Ruger 22 Charger.

Whether you're shooting in the backcountry, at your local range, or storing your breakdown Charger in your bug out backpack, all of these quality optics are ready to go when you are.

Which of these sights did you like best? Do you plan on adding a sight to your newly acquired Ruger Charger? Or are you simply looking to add to your collection?Let us know in the comment section below.

Also check out, “BEST PISTOL SIGHTS FOR OLD EYES [ALL OPTIONS]” to learn about more pistol sight options.

References:

Ruger 22 charger scope Image ViperByteNetwork