Marlin 60

[Browns Fan]

My dad bought this gun for me when I was a kid. It is literally the first gun I have ever owned, but I have not shot it much since I was a teenager, so it pretty much has been just a safe queen with a lot of sentimental value. With the cost of ammo these days, I am wanting to start shooting it again, so I have a question or two...

1. At what range (distance) should I start shooting it?
2. What is the maximun effective range of this gun, or what distance can I reasonably expect to hit something with it?
3. It still has a tasco 4x scope on it, can you recommend a better scope, or should that do?

Thanks,
Joe

 

[G27RR]

I would start at about 25 yards so recheck your scope alignment and then move back to 50 yards until you're consistently hitting where you want to. From there it's up to you but I like to do most of my .22 shooting at 75-100 yards. I'm sure others may recommend something else, but that's what I would do.

Don't change your scope until you decide you need to, in my opinion. You may be fine with it. I use a 3-9x40 on my Marlin 795, but I leave it at the 3x most of the time. Have fun!

 

[dewalt-2]

That little rifle is going to surprise you, they're very good shooters.

 

[ArmedBear]

Ditto dewalt-2. Mine puts Mini-mags into a dime at 50 yards off a sandbag.

50 yards is a good practice distance. 100 can work, also. Probably not much beyond that, unless you really want to practice wind reading. I've had fun shooting gongs at 200, but the drop of a low-velocity round-nose round like a .22LR is substantial.

I'm not sure what Tasco scope you have, but if it's one of those skinny ones that used to come with a lot of .22s, I'd replace it.

I put a 4x Nikon on mine (came with rimfire rings). Cost me 100 bucks and it's a nice scope. I wouldn't go cheaper, because I have, a couple times, and ended up replacing the scopes anyway. That cost more than buying a decent scope in the first place.

 

[Keb]

I use three for ranchland prairie dog control. My shooting is always off a portable bench with sandbags, and a 12x scope. I have made about a dozen 220-240 yard kills over the last three seasons, all measured with a Nikon Laser.

I consider mine accurate as average centerfire rifles under low wind conditions at 100 yards....and that is where I sight them in. I figure on 2-3 inches. I also test them against a CZ-452ZK and a Win 52B Sporter. Equal to the CZ, and a bit less accurate than the 52B.