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Pros - Great eye relief - Small and lightweight - Finger-adjustable windage and elevation knobs Cons - No scope rings included - No zero stop for resetting windage and elevation - Low magnification

Welcome to our review of the Leupold FX-I Rimfire 4x28mm Riflescope. Leupold manufactures some of the best riflescopes in the industry, and their prices aren’t set to break the bank. The Leupold Gold Ring warranty is also the best you can find, so I was eager to try out the FX-I Rimfire 4x28mm scope on my .22. Let’s see how well it performs.

What Are the Scope’s Dimensions?

This model features a 28mm objective lens, which is fairly small but about average for your standard rimfire riflescope. The scope measures 9.2 inches long, and it weighs in at a mere 7.5 ounces. In other words, this thing is small enough that you’ll hardly notice you’ve got it mounted to your rifle. The eyepiece and objective are both 1.4 inches in diameter, so you should be able to mount this puppy to just about any rifle using normal or even low-profile scope rings.

This model has one of the best eye reliefs I’ve come across, at a whopping 4.5 inches. You rarely have to worry about recoil in a rimfire knocking the scope into your eye or forehead, but you really won’t have any cause for concern with this one.

How Much Magnification Do I Get From the FX-I Rimfire?

This scope is advertised as being a 4X scope, but the actual magnification is 3.6X. This is typically good for most short-range hunting and target practice purposes, but you won’t want to use this one for long-range purposes. The image is crystal-clear, sharp, and full of contrast, making it one of the most pleasurable scopes I’ve ever had the pleasure of shooting with.

How is the Optics Quality on the Riflescope?

Leupold has fully multicoated the optics on the FX-I Rimfire, using their DiamondCoat 2 lens coating system. There’s also a generous eyebox, so you’ll find it a breeze to get the perfect full view through the scope without having to get too close to the eyepiece.

Leupold’s Fine Duplex reticle makes acquiring your shot easy, with thin posts and crosshairs that allow for less target coverage. Precision shots on small targets will be simple to acquire, but you won’t find any holdover marks or range compensation dots for longer-range shooting. This scope, basically, is a simple model that’s best for shooting your .22 or other rimfire rifle from average ranges.

What’s the Light Gathering Capability Like on the Scope?

Since the objective lens is just 28mm in diameter, this scope won’t give you out-of-this-world transmittance, but the fully multicoated optics allow it to make the absolute most of the light that does enter the scope. You also won’t get an illuminated reticle, so don’t count on using this particular scope during dark or low-light weather conditions. With that said, it’s fantastic during overcast days.

How Wide is the Field of View?

You won’t have a really wide field of view here, since it’s such a small scope. The linear field of view is 25.5 feet at 100 yards, which is still plenty wide enough for finding that squirrel or other small game and taking it out. Of course, it’s also perfect for acquiring your target at the shooting range.

How Easy is the Scope to Mount?

Mounting your scope will be easy as pie with this scope, since it is so small that it can use any standard or low-profile scope rings for the process. Unfortunately, you don’t get scope rings with your purchase, so make sure you either have a pair of one-inch rings already, or buy them when you order the scope.

Any Tricks or Tips About Mounting the Scope?

There isn’t anything to this, guys. You just mount the scope, set the eye relief at about 4.5 inches (or close enough that you get a comfortable full view through the scope, and then you’re ready to go.

How Easy is the Leupold FX-I Rimfire 4–12x28mm Riflescope to Sight In?

After you mount it, it’s time to head out to the shooting range and get started with sighting in your scope. Leupold makes this easy, too, with elevation and windage controls that are turnable just with your fingers – no tools required! Each click will adjust the sight by one-quarter MOA, and a maximum elevation and windage adjustment of 80 MOA will make setting up your scope a breeze. Remember, though, that you should always start this process off by using a laser bore-sighting tool. Otherwise, you’ll end up spending way too much time and ammunition to finish the job. Sure, rimfire ammo is relative inexpensive, but there’s no point in wasting money!

How Durable is the Scope?

You’ll love the fact that this scope’s lenses are O-ring sealed, and the optics chamber is nitrogen-purged. These facts give you a scope that is both waterproof and fogproof, and the thing is pretty rugged for such a small accessory. Also, it’s backed by Leupold’s Golden Ring lifetime warranty, so if anything goes wrong, you’ll be in excellent hands for getting the scope repaired or replaced.