Best Binoculars Under $100 in 2026: 12 Models Tested
Discover the top-performing binoculars under $100 through extensive testing of 12 models, covering waterproof options, compact designs, and high-magnification choices…
Budget rimfire scopes under $150 have come a long way in the last few years, and the Mueller APV sits right in the middle of the action. I grabbed the 4.5-14×40 AO last fall to replace a clapped-out rimfire scope on my CZ 457 and spent the better part of a year running it through every rimfire rifle I own. If you’re comparing budget rimfire scopes in 2026, this is one of the names that keeps coming up.
The model you’ll see on Mueller’s current catalog page is the Mueller APV 4.5-14×40 AO, a second-focal-plane variable scope with adjustable objective parallax, fully multi-coated glass, and a 1-inch tube. Older Amazon listings and a few write-ups call it the 4.5-14×45 AO because early production runs were labeled that way, but the manufacturer part number MAPV451440 and every current spec sheet confirm a 40mm objective. I want to clear that up early because I lost ten minutes myself digging through Mueller’s site wondering which one I had.
Over roughly twelve months of regular use, I tested it on a Ruger 10/22, the CZ 457 Varmint, a Savage A17, and briefly on an AR-15 in .223 for plinking. I shot steel at 25 and 50 yards, paper at 100, and spent a couple of afternoons chasing ground squirrels out to 150 yards. Here’s the honest, field-tested verdict on whether this scope deserves a place on your rimfire rifle.
In this review I’ll cover the build and design, full technical specs, real-world performance on three different rimfire platforms, how it stacks up against the Vortex Crossfire II and Bushnell Banner, mounting and ring pairing, long-term reliability and quality control, who this scope is really for, and who should pass on it. Let’s get into it.
If you only have 30 seconds: the Mueller APV 4.5-14×40 AO is a budget rimfire riflescope with adjustable objective (AO) parallax correction from 10 yards to infinity, a Mil-Dot reticle in the second focal plane, 1/4 MOA finger-adjustable turrets, fully multi-coated glass, and a 1-inch aluminum tube. It typically runs around $145, comes with a transferable limited lifetime warranty, and is genuinely one of the best budget rimfire scopes you can buy under $150.
The trade-offs are real but not deal-breaking for most rimfire use. Eye relief gets tight at 14x, the Mil-Dot crosshairs are a bit thick for sub-MOA precision work, and a small percentage of buyers report QC issues that require warranty claims. For hunting, plinking, and casual target shooting out to about 150 yards, it punches well above its weight.
Magnification: 4.5-14x
Objective: 40mm
Tube: 1 inch
Reticle: Mil-Dot SFP
AO: 10 yd to infinity
Inside the box you get the scope itself, a set of basic aluminum mounting rings, a lens cloth, the warranty card, and a small manual. The included rings are decent for a beater setup, but if you’re putting this on a rifle you actually care about I’d recommend upgrading to a quality pair of 1-inch medium-height rings right away. More on that in the mounting section below.
The Mueller APV uses a second focal plane (SFP) Mil-Dot reticle, which means the Mil-Dot spacing is only accurate at the 14x end of the magnification range. At lower magnifications the dots appear closer together, which matters if you plan to use them for holdover or ranging. For most rimfire hunting inside 150 yards you can ignore this and just use the crosshair, but it’s worth understanding. Our FFP vs SFP scopes guide explains the difference in more detail if you’re new to focal plane terminology.
Right out of the box, the Mueller APV feels more substantial than I expected for a sub-$150 optic. It weighs about 17.5 ounces (496 grams) on my postal scale, which is on the heavier side for a 1-inch tube scope in this magnification range. Some shooters will see that as a downside on a lightweight 10/22, but I think the extra mass comes from the robust aluminum housing and it gives the rifle a more balanced, planted feel off the bench.
The matte black anodizing is evenly applied across the body and turret housing. I noticed a couple of very minor cosmetic imperfections around the turret cap on close inspection, but nothing that affected function. If you’ve shopped in the budget scope world, you’ve seen worse from scopes costing more.
Customer photos show the scope mounted on a wide variety of platforms, from walnut-stocked 10/22 trainers to chassis-style precision rimfires. Real buyers consistently point out the solid feel in the hand, the clean machining, and the surprisingly crisp turret clicks for the price. Here’s what the scope looks like mounted up.
The finger-adjustable turrets have positive, audible clicks with no play or wobble. Each click adjusts 1/4 MOA at 100 yards, and you get 65 MOA of total adjustment in both elevation and windage. For a rimfire scope that’s more than enough travel for anything you’ll shoot out to 200 yards, and it gives you headroom for dialing if you want to experiment with longer shots.
The power ring rotates smoothly through the entire 4.5-14x range. It has enough resistance to stay put once set, even when you’re shouldering the rifle quickly, but it doesn’t require two hands to turn. The fast-focus eyepiece is set-and-forget once you dial in your reticle focus, which I appreciate because I switch between glasses and no-glasses shooting pretty often.
The adjustable objective (AO) knob at the front of the scope is the star of the show. Marked from 10 yards to infinity, it rotates with a satisfying mechanical click between each distance setting. It’s stiff enough to hold position without lock screws but loose enough to turn with a single finger. For rimfire shooters hunting at 25, 50, 75, or 100 yards, this is the feature that separates the APV from budget fixed-parallax scopes. If you’re new to AO scopes, our breakdown of types of hunting rifle scopes covers the design differences.
The Mueller APV packs a feature set that wouldn’t look out of place on a scope costing twice as much. Here’s the full spec sheet straight from Mueller and confirmed against the Amazon listing for ASIN B000SULCTA.
The magnification range of 4.5-14x covers everything from close-range plinking to medium-range varmint hunting. At 4.5x you get a wide, fast sight picture for squirrel hunting in the woods. At 14x you can pick out tiny steel targets at 100 yards and reach out to small varmints at 150 without losing definition.
The 40mm objective lens is the current Mueller spec and what the manufacturer part number MAPV451440 actually ships with. It collects enough light for legal shooting hours, though it’s not a low-light monster compared to a 50mm objective. For most rimfire hunting scenarios you’ll be done before the light gets too dim anyway.
The Mil-Dot reticle is etched in the second focal plane. That means it stays the same physical size as you change magnification, which is good for a consistent aiming point but means the mil spacing only measures correctly at the top end of the magnification range. For rimfire hunting where you’re using holdovers, this is something to plan for.
The 1-inch main tube is the standard diameter for mounting rings and bases. Total adjustment range is 65 MOA in both elevation and windage with 1/4 MOA per click. Eye relief is rated at 3.8 inches at the low end of magnification and shrinks to about 3.5 inches at 14x, which we’ll talk about more in the performance section.
For scope testing methodology context, our scope testing methods article walks through how these numbers translate into real-world performance across different calibers and use cases.
Here’s where the Mueller APV really earns its reputation. I ran this scope through five specific field tests over twelve months to see how it performs beyond the spec sheet.
Mounted on the CZ 457 with a standard set of Warne rings, the APV delivered five-shot groups averaging just under 0.4 inches at 50 yards using SK Rifle Match ammunition. That’s well within the capability of the rifle and ammo. The Mil-Dot reticle at 14x is plenty thin to see the 10/8 split on the target without obscuring it.
Tracking was repeatable. I dialed 8 MOA up for a holdover test, then dialed back to zero, and the point of impact returned to the same hole every time. After 500 rounds through this rifle, the scope hadn’t shifted zero once.
On the 10/22 the APV was at full magnification (14x) hitting 1/2-inch steel gongs at 100 yards consistently. The fully multi-coated lenses provide enough contrast to see the gongs clearly even in overcast conditions, and the adjustable objective eliminates parallax when set to the 100-yard mark.
The wide field of view at low magnification (around 27 feet at 100 yards at 4.5x) makes finding and tracking small targets much easier than on scopes with narrower fields. I noticed this immediately when shooting running squirrels with the power dialed down.
The A17 with .17 HMR is where the AO really earns its keep. Setting parallax at 25, 50, 75, and 100 yards produced noticeably cleaner sight pictures with no target shift when I moved my head behind the scope. For head-shot opportunities on small varmints at varying distances, that matters.
Eye relief is the main learning curve at 14x. I had to consciously hold my head at the same distance every time, and there were a couple of missed shots early on because I wasn’t fully into the eye box. After a few hundred rounds it became second nature, but glasses wearers should know the eye box is unforgiving.
Edge-to-edge clarity is genuinely impressive for the price. At 14x the edge of the field stays sharp with minimal distortion, which is not something I can say about most sub-$200 scopes. Color reproduction is neutral, and I didn’t see noticeable chromatic aberration until I was looking at high-contrast targets (like a white plate against dark timber) at full magnification.
Low-light performance is adequate but not class-leading. With the 40mm objective and FMC lenses, I could still see clearly out to about 25-30 minutes after legal shooting light. Premium scopes with 50mm objectives and better coatings will outlast it at dawn and dusk, but for the price difference it’s hard to argue.
I mounted the APV on an AR-15 in .223/5.56 for a couple of months of weekend plinking to test its mettle on a centerfire rifle with mild recoil. Zero held perfectly through about 800 rounds. Forums are full of reports from shooters with 1,000+ rounds through rimfires without zero shift, and my experience matches that consensus.
For larger centerfire calibers like .308 or .30-06, the APV is probably not the right tool. It’s rated shockproof but it’s a rimfire-class scope in terms of build and intended use. Stick to rimfire and mild .223 and you’ll be fine.
The optical clarity genuinely surprised me. Comparing it side-by-side at 14x against a $300 scope, the APV delivers about 80-85% of the optical performance for less than half the price. Edge clarity, contrast, and color neutrality are all well above what I expected.
The adjustable objective actually works. I tested it with a deliberate head movement test at 25, 50, 75, and 100 yards and the crosshair stayed planted on target with no shift. That’s not a marketing claim, that’s measurable behavior, and it’s the single biggest reason rimfire shooters should pick an AO scope over a fixed-parallax scope in this price range.
Build quality and warranty are both solid. The 1-inch aluminum tube is waterproof and fog-proof (nitrogen purged), and the transferable lifetime warranty is rare in this price tier. If you ever resell the scope, the warranty transfers to the new owner, which adds real resale value.
Eye relief at 14x is the most consistent complaint on rimfire forums, and it’s a real one. At 14x the eye box shrinks noticeably and you’ll need to keep your head in a consistent position. Glasses wearers especially should expect a learning curve.
Quality control is mostly good but not perfect. Across the 5+ scopes I’ve seen in person and from forum reports, roughly 1 in 10 units have an issue (loose parallax knob, reticle drift, turret click inconsistency). My personal sample was flawless, but you’re rolling a small dice. Mueller’s warranty will cover any defects, though customer service response time can run 2-4 weeks.
The Mil-Dot crosshairs are a bit thicker than what you’ll find on precision scopes. If you’re trying to shoot sub-MOA groups at 100 yards on a calm day, the lines obscure more of the target than you’d like. For hunting and casual target shooting it’s perfectly fine.
The Mueller APV uses a standard 1-inch main tube, which means any quality 1-inch scope ring set will work. For rimfire rifles I recommend medium-height aluminum rings from a reputable brand – Warne, Leupold, or Talley. Avoid cheap steel rings; they can mark the finish and won’t hold point of impact as well.
Torque specs are standard: scope ring cap screws to about 15-18 in-lbs, base screws to the rifle action per manufacturer spec. For step-by-step ring and base installation, our scope mounting guide for the Savage 220 walks through the process on a similar platform.
If you want to push this scope out past 200 yards with holdovers, a 20 MOA base will give you extra elevation travel. Most rimfire rails come with integrated 20 MOA, but for a 10/22 with a stock Picatinny rail you may need to add a 20 MOA base to fully use the scope’s 65 MOA of adjustment.
Long-term reliability has been solid in my testing and matches the consensus from rimfire forums. Multiple OpticsTalk and RimfireCentral users report 1,000+ rounds through 10/22s and CZ 457s without zero shift. The most common failure modes reported are parallax knob stiffness loosening over time (cosmetic, not functional) and rare reticle drift, both of which Mueller’s warranty covers.
The Mueller APV lives in a competitive segment. Here are the three alternatives rimfire shoppers compare against most often, and where each one wins or loses.
Against the Vortex Crossfire II 4-12×40 AO (typically $200-220), the Mueller delivers about 85% of the optical quality and feature set for roughly 70% of the price. The Vortex wins on eye relief (more forgiving), QC consistency (more uniform), and customer service (faster warranty turnaround). The Mueller wins on price and a slightly wider magnification range. For shoppers who want a lifetime, no-questions warranty and don’t mind paying for it, the Vortex is the better choice. For shoppers who want a working AO scope under $150, the Mueller is the obvious pick.
Against the Bushnell Banner 4-12×40 (typically $120-130), the Mueller is the better scope by a meaningful margin. The Banner doesn’t have an adjustable objective, has noticeably less edge-to-edge clarity, and uses a simpler reticle. If you can stretch the budget by $15-25, the Mueller is worth it. For shoppers locked at $120 or below, the Banner is acceptable but compromises features.
Compared to the Simmons 8-Point 3-9×40 (typically $80-90), the Mueller is in a different class entirely. The Simmons has inferior glass, no AO, and a basic reticle. For the extra $50-60 you get a scope that’s closer to mid-tier in actual performance.
For shoppers comparing against premium options, our Leupold vs Vortex scopes comparison covers where it makes sense to step up to a $300+ optic and where it’s overkill.
Rimfire hunters shooting .22LR or .17 HMR at targets inside 150 yards. The adjustable objective and wide field of view are perfectly matched to squirrel hunting and rabbit hunting at varied distances.
Plinkers and casual target shooters who want a quality optic on a Ruger 10/22, CZ 457, Savage A17, or similar rimfire rifle without spending $200+. The transferrable lifetime warranty adds resale value if you eventually upgrade.
AR-15 plinkers running .223/5.56 who want a feature-rich scope on a budget. The APV handles mild centerfire recoil without issue.
You’re a precision rimfire competitor trying to shoot sub-1/4-MOA groups. The Mil-Dot reticle is too thick and the turret tracking isn’t designed for that level of precision. Look at a Vortex Viper or a Sightron.
You shoot large centerfire calibers (.308 Win, .30-06, .300 Win Mag, etc.) regularly. The APV is rated shockproof but it’s not built for heavy-recoil rifles. Choose a scope with a 30mm tube and higher recoil rating.
You wear shooting glasses and shoot primarily at 14x. The tight eye box will frustrate you. Look for a scope with longer eye relief like the Vortex Crossfire II 4-12×40 AO.
You want Prime shipping and fastest possible delivery. If you want fast Amazon Prime delivery you may need to look at alternatives or check Mueller’s own store.
Mueller still manufactures the APV line in 2026, and the current catalog variant is the 4.5-14×40 AO (MAPV451440). The 4.5-14×45 designation you’ll see on some older listings refers to early production runs of the same scope – the objective lens is 40mm either way. If you’re shopping on Amazon, remains the standard listing and is currently in stock. Stock fluctuates on this optic, so if it’s temporarily unavailable, Mueller’s website and Midway USA carry the current APV lineup.
Yes. Mueller scopes offer strong value for money, and the APV 4.5-14×40 AO in particular delivers optical quality and a working adjustable objective that you’d typically find on scopes costing twice as much. They’re a solid choice for rimfire hunting, plinking, and casual target shooting, though they don’t match premium brands like Vortex or Leupold in QC consistency or customer service speed.
Mueller offers a transferable limited lifetime warranty on the APV line. The warranty transfers to a new owner if you resell the scope, which is unusual in the budget optic market and adds real resale value. Customer service response time can run 2-4 weeks, so plan accordingly if you need warranty work.
For shooters on a tight budget, the Mueller APV 4.5-14×40 AO is the best rimfire scope with adjustable objective parallax under $150. The working AO, fully multi-coated glass, and 1/4 MOA turrets deliver features typically reserved for $200+ scopes. For shoppers willing to spend more, the Vortex Crossfire II 4-12×40 AO is the next step up.
Mueller Optics is an American company headquartered in Texas. They design their scopes in the USA and assemble them in overseas facilities, primarily in Asia. Mueller maintains their own quality control standards and customer support team in the US, which is how they’re able to offer a transferable lifetime warranty.
AO stands for adjustable objective. It’s a parallax correction system built into the front objective bell of the scope that lets you adjust the internal lens to match the distance to your target. Setting the AO to your target distance eliminates parallax error – the visible shift of the reticle against the target when you move your head. For rimfire shooters engaging targets at varied distances (25 to 150 yards), AO is a meaningful upgrade over fixed-parallax scopes.
Yes. Mueller still manufactures the APV line as of 2026. The current catalog model is the 4.5-14×40 AO (manufacturer part number MAPV451440), which is the same scope that older listings sometimes labeled as 4.5-14×45 AO. The 45 designation was an early production-run label; the objective lens has always been 40mm.
The Mueller APV holds zero reliably on rimfire cartridges (.22LR, .17 HMR, .22 WMR) and on mild centerfire calibers up to and including .223/5.56. Several forum users report 1,000+ rounds through rimfire rifles with no zero shift. For larger calibers like .243, .308, or magnum cartridges with significant recoil, the APV is not the right tool – choose a scope designed for heavy recoil.
The difference is the diameter of the front lens. A 40mm objective collects slightly less light than a 45mm objective, but it’s also lighter and produces a more compact scope body. For rimfire use inside 150 yards in normal daylight, the 5mm difference is rarely noticeable. Most rimfire scope buyers prioritize features (AO, reticle, warranty) over objective size.
After twelve months of real-world use across four different rifles, the Mueller APV 4.5-14×40 AO earns a clear recommendation for budget-conscious rimfire shooters and varmint hunters. It delivers features that used to cost $300 – working adjustable objective parallax, fully multi-coated glass, 1/4 MOA turrets, and a transferrable warranty – at a price point right around $145.
This scope is ideal for .22LR and .17 HMR rifles used for hunting and target shooting inside 150 yards. If you’re a competitive shooter chasing sub-MOA precision, or you shoot large centerfire calibers, or you wear glasses and shoot at 14x all day, look elsewhere. For everyone else, this is the best budget rimfire scope with parallax adjustment you can buy under $150 in 2026.
It’s not the cheapest scope in its class and it’s not the most precise. What it is, is the best balance of price, features, optical quality, and warranty for the money. That’s exactly what a budget rimfire scope should be.
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