If you are looking for more magnification on your squirrel rifle the Weaver V16 is a solid choice. For the money spent I would say you get a pretty good value. I think many times scopes of this size and magnification range are overlooked in the world of squirrel hunting. I’m one that likes a little more power on top of my squirrel rifle, not only for hunting, but for squeezing all the accuracy out of the rifle I can at the range. The more accurate at the range, the more I can be off in the woods and still make an accurate shot. At 50 yards, with my aging eyes, the 16 power makes visualizing the target, and viewing hits on target an easier task.
Weaver scopes are manufactured by Light Optical Works out of Japan. They have a very high standard for turning out quality glass with great workmanship, giving you a scope with precise adjustments as well as being very durable. I’ve been impressed with all scopes that I have had the opportunity to evaluate that have come from Light Optical Works. They also produce another scope series that I am fond of, the Clearidge line.
Now for some factory specs on the V16:
Magnification 4-16x
Objective Lens Diameter 42mm
Angle of View 4.6-1.3°
Field-of-View (@ 1000 Yds) 4x: 244′ (81 m at 1000 m)
16x: 70′ (23 m at 1000 m)
Dioptric Correction Range Not specified by manufacturer
Exit Pupil Diameter 4x: 10.5mm
16x: 2.6mm
Eye Relief 79-76mm
Filter Size None
Impact Point Correction per Click 1/4 MOA
Maximum Elevation/Windage Adjustment 50″ in both axes(app. 0.8°)
Relative Brightness 4x: 110.2
16x: 6.9
Twilight Factor 4x: 13.0
16x: 25.9
Weatherproofing Waterproof & fogproof
Dimensions 14.0″ (356mm) in Length
Weight 16.75oz.
The glass on the V16 is good for money invested. I get a clear visual and minimal distortion around the edges (camera has a hard time showing this). The Dual-X crosshairs are the correct size for a rimfire rifle. They are thin enough for you to make out a small target whether it be a squirrel head or a one inch target dot on the range. You have to be specific when choosing the proper sized crosshairs for the job at hand. For squirrel hunting, too thin and you loose the crosshairs in the trees or ground clutter. Also with too thin a reticle and your dawn to dusk shooting will be diminished. Too thick, and a the crosshairs make taking a longer shot more difficult as your target is obscured by the thicker reticle. I’m a fan of a thicker crosshair on my big game rifles, but they have no room on my squirrel rifles.
The adjustments for both the power ring and parallax setting are smooth and accurate. The turrets on both windage and elevation are finger adjustable with easily read markings. Adjustments are marked 1/4” at 100 yards. The adjustable objective will focus down to 10 yards, and that’s something that is often overlooked on a rimfire rifle. Sure you can get by with a scope that focuses down to 50 yards, but shots under that distance will be out of focus. When shopping for a AO scope for a rimfire, I’m always looking to focus down to between 10-20 yards, with 10 yards always being first choice.
Dual-X reticle 4 power @100 yard parallax
The V16 weighs in a 16.75 ounces which seems heavy, but you have to remember what you are receiving in return for the added weight, and that’s more magnification. You’ll always pay a price for an added benefit. The only color option available for the V16 is matte black. Reticle choices are many, but I would choose the standard Dual-X.
Dual-X reticle 16 power @100 yard parallax
Overall I think the Weaver V16 is an excellent mid priced option for any rimfire in your stable. It’s benefits at the range and in the woods will show you what you have been missing with a standard 3×9 riflescope. Don’t get me wrong, 3×9’s have there place, however the use for more magnification is a benefit I’m seeing as I get older.
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Hello, have been doing alot of research lately on a new scope for my savage 93r17. It currently sports a nikon prostaff rimfire 150 bdc, but have recently been looking into a weaver v-16 4-16×42 ao or a nikon prostaff efr 3-9×40. Thinking about putting the prostaff bdc on a marlin model 60 which I recently inherited from my dad. How comparable is the clarity of the two scopes and the scopes over all in general, which one do your prefer? Thank you for any help and input I may recieve! Have read both of your reviews on this site, but cant makenup my mind. This rifle will be used for range and small game hunting.
I think the clarity battle would be won by Nikon, but I would lean toward the magnification range in this discussion. For a .17HMR I believe a 3-9 is under powered for the range of this rifle. Minimum I’d go 4-14, but would look more to the 4-16, 6-18, or 6-20 powerange. I’m also a fan of mildot reticles for longer ranges. Bushnell Ultra HD 4-14 would be my choice for the minimum range, especially for the price. Next would be the Weaver line in the V16 4-16×42. Beyond the V16 I would look at a Clearidge Ultra XP in 6-20×40. It’s the scope that I carry to the woods most often, and is excellent for my suppressed .22lr applications.
Hi GR80, I discovered your blogsite from RFC, and I have 2 questions I would like to ask you.
1. Are the turrets resettable to zero?
2. Where is the scope made?
Big thanks and safe and happy shooting…
Turrets are re-settable. The scope is made by Light Optical Works in Japan.
FWIW, I have this scope on several different rifles and agree with your review. As of this date, 01/10/15, Natchez Shooters Supplies has the on sale for just over $200, the least expensive that I have ever seen them in new in box (NIB) condition. My primary squirrel hunting rifles are chambered in 17HM2, a Marlin 917M2S and a Savage Mark II BVSS, both of which I’ve restocked in the Boyds Rimfire Hunter style stocks. The Marlin has a Weaver V16 4-16×42 and the Savage has a Sightron S1 4-12×40 AO, both installed using Warne rings.
The 17HM2 might be the perfect squirrel cartridge, but now that Eley has stopped making ammo, it might not be quite as good, since the CCI 17HM2 ammunition has never been as accurate as the Eley brand in any of my 17HM2 rifles.
I really like you site, keep up the good work!
I have never used an AO scope so this review raises questions. If you adjust the AO do you have to adjust the optical focus as well? If I focus the AO to 15 yards will it stay focused if I adjust the power to a lower magnification? I have put off buying a higher powered scope because I couldn’t find one with parallax set below 100 yards. Maybe its time I investigated AO scopes.
No need to adjust the optical focus. The lower you go in magnification the less distortion you will have in parallax. If parallaxed in at 50 yards then you should have no distortion through your lowest to highest magnification settings.