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Currently have a 10/22 set up for Gallery Rifle Comps. More and more interested in doing some practical with it.

However while i have no issues acquiring a fast sight picture my 4-16x50 scope is not ideally suited and im more worried about it taking a knock.

I do have a spare Red dot, what are peoples thoughts about swapping scopes, if replaced would they hold zero.

I know the obvious answer is to use another 10/22 for practical but funds are currently allocated towards other projects at the moment.

I think it all depends on the quality of your mounts, some mounts are quick detach and specifically designed to return to zero and allow quick swaps. I have some American defence scope mounts that are very reliable in that regard, I only have two scopes and a few rifles so I often chop and change, noting zero settings for the turrets.

Get yourself some quick detach rings for both the scope and the red dot scope. You set up the quick detach mount by screwing in the base to the rail like normal rings, but then you adjust a swing lever for the clamping of the mount. To remove and re-attach, you simply swing this lever to quickly swap scopes out.

If you want them to hold zero, then buy two sets of quality mounts such as the ones offered by Leupold or Warne.

has anybody used a Mini red dot on the side of the scope mount, almost tactical style?

By the time you buy the rings would it not be worth justing buying a cheap 10/22 mine cost me £100 scoped

Im sure there are plenty out there, but i may as well just wait and buy another 10/22 rather than an in between gun. If you know what i mean

theres a moderated scoped one at a dealers for £195 and a moderated unscoped at £95

you will prob change a lot anyway

exactly. I may as well just go custom from the outset

The critical things to ensure any mount will give you the same zero when taking a scope on and off a rail are:

1. They go on the same part of the rail each time (stating the obvious, but bear with me)
2. Any 'slack' on the mount in the forward/back direction is taken up by pushing the mount/scope forward on the rail before tightening or clamping it
3. (The most important one) Make sure the screws or clamping mechanism is tightened to the same torque every time

If you follow these steps, you won't see any appreciable shift in zero, assuming you're using high quality rings/QR mounts in the first place.

Having said all that, there is the 'psychological effect' which will be nagging at you. i.e. "I've changed something, so it might not be the same as it was before".

Ultimately, the best way to be 100% sure is to dedicate a scope to a gun and leave it on all the time. Make sure you regularly check ALL the bolts are torqued up correctly though, or one day you'll find out they've loosened off and your POI has shifted (ask me how I know!).