[WonderNine]

Something that will last (not get the crosshair shotout after 500 rounds) is fairly clear and stainless? Must be stainless. 3X9 power at least.

Got the stainless ranch model, got stainless rings. Dunno what scope to get....

[Wildalaska]

Leupold..oops sorry...
Nothing

WildifitaintagoldenringthenbuyaZeissAlaska

[WonderNine]

Yea, looks like I was a little too optimistic about the pricing. I was just doing some looking. Found a Swift Silver scope http://www.eabco.com/Swift01.htm at a decent price, what does everyone think about these?

I don't really want to put a $350 scope on a $450 gun, I'm sure you understand...

[4v50 Gary]

For simple scopes, I like the old Weaver K-4.

[SodaPop]

I had a Simmons 3-9x40 on my Mini 14 for 9000rds and it never failed. I recently took it off and put a Sightron MD 3-9x40mm on it.

[WonderNine]

Screw it. Bought a gloss black Bushnell Sportview 4X12 for $39.95. Like the one on my 10/22. If it breaks I'll throw it away. Now I need to swap somebody my stainless for blued Ranch model scoperings.

[BamBam-31]

Bushnell Scopechief 3-9x40mm from Natchez on sale for $79.95. I have the 4-14x50mm on my 8mm Mauser, and it does the job.

[WonderNine]

Thanks for the input, but I already ordered the Sportview. I like the extra 12X power and I really like the price. It lets me read the target much better than the 9X at 100 yards without having to use the spotting scope.

We'll see if it holds up. It retails at $190 and has a lifetime warranty. The one on the 10/22 has been great so far, and it's nice and clear, but admittedly that doesn't give the scope any shock. But I'll be shooting .223, still a far cry from .270 on up. Only I'll probably be shooting LOTS of .223.

[zahc]

I broke my 3-9 sportview on a 10/22. Lifetime warranty, did you say?:confused:

[Art Eatman]

I guess I have a bit of a different view of the Mini. I've long regarded it as a 100- to 200-yard varmint rifle, given the limits of accuracy and the performance of the cartridge.

I've had four of the little doofers, and I just stuck a Weaver K4 on them and called it good enough for my purposes. I've collected a few coyotes and jackrabbits, out to maybe 100 yards. Never got to try longer distances on critters.

FWIW, Art

[Mannlicher]

Cheap scopes usually turn out to be, well, cheap scopes. Going the used scope route often makes sense. Now you have an inexpensive scope, not a cheap one.

My mini wears an older Redfield 5Star, 200 mm tube, 2 X 7. Great optics, clear and good in low light. Cost? $75, and a free trip to Redfield for a small repair.

[Futo Inu]

As a very *general* rule of thumb, according to many in the know, you should spend as much or more on your glass as on your rifle (sans mags and accessories). I'm sure the Bushnell is OK. Now if you had said "I don't want to spend $350 on the scope because, after all, it's a Mini-14", then that would make some sense. JK. My advice - sell it, get a $350 rifle and a $450 scope - then you'd be onto something. :-)

[telewinz]

You could buy one of the russian scopes and remove the finish and polish it some. I've had great success with the 8X50mm scope, $80.

Then again I got a cheap 3X9 $39 scope from CDNN and the insides fell apart on the 5th round. I was shooting a 7.62X39 so it must of been the heavy recoil !:barf: