I need some advice .I was just recently able to introduce my 6 yr old son to rifle shooting. We managed to borrow a friends youth model Marlin single shot bolt action with scope. My son for his first time shot at about 40 yards and kept his shots with in an inch and a half to two inches.Pretty good in my opinion for a first timer.Shot the gun myself had a blast.So much so that I did a little early Christmas shopping and bought him a nice little Marlin XT22YR that has iron sights. My first question is should I let him learn to use open sights and move to scope or spring for a scope ? And with only about $60-80 to spend are there any decent scopes for a youngster to use ? He will be shooting at targets and tin cans mostly but may also do some small animal hunting .As I said before I enjoyed shooting it so much myself that I spent a little more for one myself the Marlin XT22VR . Since it has no iron sights I will need a scope for it. As you can imagine funds are running low by now. I may be able to squeeze about $150 to get one. Again any even half decent scopes in that range? Any with mildot and side focus?
-
Having trouble using the site?
Contact support
22 LR Dilemma of sorts.
- Thread starter Jesse1973
- Start date
Re: 22 LR Dilemma of sorts.
My kids started out using iron sights, and when we go plinking, they still often prefer to shoot the .22s that don't have scopes on them.
I have long used the Tasco Varmint 2.5-10x 42mm scope on some of my .22s. It has an adjustable objective and a mil-dot reticle, focuses down to 10 yards, and can be bought new for under $70. I have shot very respectable groups with it using my Savage Mark II BTV.
Is there better glass out there? Sure, but that scope is perfectly serviceable, fairly versatile in that it will allow you to shoot both short and long distances, and it won't set you back too much while your son is going through the learning curve.
My kids started out using iron sights, and when we go plinking, they still often prefer to shoot the .22s that don't have scopes on them.
I have long used the Tasco Varmint 2.5-10x 42mm scope on some of my .22s. It has an adjustable objective and a mil-dot reticle, focuses down to 10 yards, and can be bought new for under $70. I have shot very respectable groups with it using my Savage Mark II BTV.
Is there better glass out there? Sure, but that scope is perfectly serviceable, fairly versatile in that it will allow you to shoot both short and long distances, and it won't set you back too much while your son is going through the learning curve.
Re: 22 LR Dilemma of sorts.
a couple of other suggestions for mildots and knobs and cheap:
BSA 6-24 "tactical" at midway 150.00 (may be a bit too powerful for a kid and close range) but for yours it may be just the thing. i just fondled one, but returned it as i got a killer deal on a sidewinder.
it's pretty clear edge to edge up to 19x then starts getting a little dark, but is still usable. still keeps edge to edge very well. under 19x is surprisingly VERY clear and bright. has side focus, 3" sunshade, 30 mm tube. comes with rings but they are crap get other ones. turrets are really nice knurled and clearly marked. 1/4" adjustment. i'm not a big fan of BSA, but this one at face value seems to be nicer than other BSAs i've had and used up. can't vouch for the repeatability of it.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/962234?cm_vc=S014
centerpoint 4-16 at walmart 70.00, ill. mildot, AO, 1/4" target adjustment, stays edge to edge clear right up to 16x. i have 2 of these, keeps and returns to zero after 4 years of constant adjusting from 25 to 250 yards. more here:
http://www.centerpointscopes.org/
http://centerpoint.crosman.com/
http://www.crosman.com/optics/scopes
check out leapers too: http://leapers.com/listproduct.php?mitem=optic&mtrack=m
cheap scopes that have what you are looking for in that price range, airgun rated (which means they are usually build somewhat rigid)
alot of folks do like that tasco mentioned earlier too. i don't have experience with it, but i've never had any tasco go bad on me.
can't say much more about the NCstars, sun optics, firefield, etc that are out there. the cheapie "osprey" scopes are cloudy and not worth the shipping costs. i've used barskas before, they are very hit and miss - you may get one that is clear, the other has a yellow tint to it, etc.
i'd let the kid use the opens and get proficient with them, building the fundamentals and "how things work" before putting as scope on. or get quick detachable rings and utilize both.
nothing wrong with starting a kid off with a simple 3-9x duplex reticle to get familiar with the basics and graduate as the interest grows.
for a kid or an adult beginner, i believe its more important to keep it simple at first, then mess with the more complicated reticles, knobs, and trinkets later when the interest and budget grows.
a couple of other suggestions for mildots and knobs and cheap:
BSA 6-24 "tactical" at midway 150.00 (may be a bit too powerful for a kid and close range) but for yours it may be just the thing. i just fondled one, but returned it as i got a killer deal on a sidewinder.
it's pretty clear edge to edge up to 19x then starts getting a little dark, but is still usable. still keeps edge to edge very well. under 19x is surprisingly VERY clear and bright. has side focus, 3" sunshade, 30 mm tube. comes with rings but they are crap get other ones. turrets are really nice knurled and clearly marked. 1/4" adjustment. i'm not a big fan of BSA, but this one at face value seems to be nicer than other BSAs i've had and used up. can't vouch for the repeatability of it.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/962234?cm_vc=S014
centerpoint 4-16 at walmart 70.00, ill. mildot, AO, 1/4" target adjustment, stays edge to edge clear right up to 16x. i have 2 of these, keeps and returns to zero after 4 years of constant adjusting from 25 to 250 yards. more here:
http://www.centerpointscopes.org/
http://centerpoint.crosman.com/
http://www.crosman.com/optics/scopes
check out leapers too: http://leapers.com/listproduct.php?mitem=optic&mtrack=m
cheap scopes that have what you are looking for in that price range, airgun rated (which means they are usually build somewhat rigid)
alot of folks do like that tasco mentioned earlier too. i don't have experience with it, but i've never had any tasco go bad on me.
can't say much more about the NCstars, sun optics, firefield, etc that are out there. the cheapie "osprey" scopes are cloudy and not worth the shipping costs. i've used barskas before, they are very hit and miss - you may get one that is clear, the other has a yellow tint to it, etc.
i'd let the kid use the opens and get proficient with them, building the fundamentals and "how things work" before putting as scope on. or get quick detachable rings and utilize both.
nothing wrong with starting a kid off with a simple 3-9x duplex reticle to get familiar with the basics and graduate as the interest grows.
for a kid or an adult beginner, i believe its more important to keep it simple at first, then mess with the more complicated reticles, knobs, and trinkets later when the interest and budget grows.
Re: 22 LR Dilemma of sorts.
A Nikon 4x rimfire or 3-9x rimfire are decent little scopes for a 22 in your price range. I think both have 50yd parallax.
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&key...sl_4ipez5qp57_e
A Nikon 4x rimfire or 3-9x rimfire are decent little scopes for a 22 in your price range. I think both have 50yd parallax.
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&key...sl_4ipez5qp57_e
Re: 22 LR Dilemma of sorts.
Leapers or Centerpoint will have something for you. You can find them in 30mm tube with side focus.
Leapers or Centerpoint will have something for you. You can find them in 30mm tube with side focus.
Re: 22 LR Dilemma of sorts.
Unless the scope is really for Dad, the classic approach is to master iron sights first and save optics for later.
Unless the scope is really for Dad, the classic approach is to master iron sights first and save optics for later.
Re: 22 LR Dilemma of sorts.
The scope will be for dad as dad ordered himself a full size 22lr for himself on top of ordering the youth model for son.I want to keep it. His youth model has iron sights so the scope isn't necessary right now .But my rifle has no iron sights so the scope is a must .As an aside why does being air rifle rated mean that the scope will be built a bit stronger?
The scope will be for dad as dad ordered himself a full size 22lr for himself on top of ordering the youth model for son.I want to keep it. His youth model has iron sights so the scope isn't necessary right now .But my rifle has no iron sights so the scope is a must .As an aside why does being air rifle rated mean that the scope will be built a bit stronger?
Similar threads
