Scope for Marlin 60?

[valnar]

OK, I need to buy my first first scope....ever. I know nothing about them.

The gun: Marlin 60 .22LR

Range: 75-125 meters or so

I know there are two schools of thought on buying stuff.

1) Pick a cheap one, see if you like, shoot for a year or so, then upgrade to something better if needed
2) Research the crap out of scopes, rings and options, then buy something good the first time.

I'm in the second camp.

What should I buy? Use is for plinking, but accurate plinking.

 

[Hi-Lander]

May not be everyones choice here but I have a few 22's that are scoped so I will give you my experience. I have a Marlin 60 that has a 3-9x32 Center Point that I got at Wally World for about $60. Decent scope for the money. I also have a 10/22 that has a Nikon 3-9 on it. This scope was about $170. There is a small amount of clrity difference but none that I can tell in consistency of shots.

 

[Eb1]

I shoot a with a 20 year old Simmons 3x9x32, and the scope works fine. I'd say a fixed 6x scope would be a very good scope. I generally leave my 3x9 on 6x on my Marlin Model 60.
It doesn't have the fog protection or rain protection. Doesn't stop me from busting targets at 100 yards.
Most of my shooting with my Mod 60 is 50 yards or less.

 

[ball3006]

I have a red dot on mine. It is fine for my needs....chris3

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I have a Nikon Prostaff 4x32 on mine and I like it just fine. However if I was gonna shoot at 125 with it, I may want one a little more powerful.

 

[RaceM]

I've got a cheap 4X on mine, shoots just fine out to 50 yards, haven't tried longer shots with it. You might want to go with a bit more magnification if you're doing the long shots.

 

[Mr transformer]

My current outfit
Tasco 3-9x50 scope
Leapers RGPM-25M4 scope mounts

Some may say that the 50mm lens is overdoing it, but I like the nice bright image when it’s at it’s maximum magnification setting. Other 20 to 30 mm scopes start getting a bit dark when you crank them out to max magnification.

With the leapers mounts the 50mm lens clears the rear sight just enough to put the cap on.
The mounts are rock solid.
I wish they made rings like that with the two bolt clamp for the weaver style base.

 

[DNS]

I also run the 3-9 Center Point on my 60. Good for one hundred yard shots but after that the scope gets kinda fuzzy.

If your not shooting for one hole accuracy you could just as easily run a fixed four power.

 

[SleazyRider]

I'm thinkin' the "most popular .22 rimfire ever produced" should have the most popular scope: the Simmons 22 Mag adjustable objective 3-9, about 70 bucks or so shipped. If your itchin' to spend a bit more to satisfy the "spend as much on the scope as you did on your rifle" crowd, the Mueller AVP 4.5-14x40 will let your reach out a bit more in terms of magnification. Both fine scopes.
How the scope is mounted is equally as important as how much you spend, and I confess to being a bit fussed here. The factory rings that come with the Simmons are just fine, but I like to align them with steel bars and lap them in just like I'd do with a big-ticket hunting rifle.

 

[MikePaiN]

(sorry if anyone saw this in the other thread)
I recently set up my Marlin 60ss with a scope. These are really accurate rifles and deserving of a decent optic, but there is something you need to consider before picking the scope...that is the mount. Marlin's dovetailed receiver(on the 60/795) is notoriously bad and unstable for scopes. You can spend all you want on a scope but it starts "walking" you're setting yourself up for frustration, lots of un-fun time at the range and possibly a ruined receiver.

I'll start with the scope, there are many good choices, my range is 100yrds I like to do my research and find "value" this time I went with a Bushnell Trophy 3x9. I'm very happy with it, its very clear at all magnifications and seems to be a quality built scope.

Now the most important part. the mount. Typical dovetail/rimfire mount rings will sooner or later start sliding or "walking" on the dovetail, changing the position and zero of the scope. No amount of tightening will prevent this, all this does is mare the receiver or break the ring mount. A gunsmith can drill&tap to mount a rail. I found a better, much cheaper solution
The Leapers Accushot 1-Pc Mount This mount is amazing and inexpensive too. Not only does it contact the entire rail but it has a vertical set screw for extra hold, this mount will not be "walking". Not only that but its perfectly aligned and has grip pads to protect the scope.
Get yours here:
http://www.pyramydair.com/s/a/Leapers_Accushot_1_Pc_Mount_w_1_Rings_3_8_Dovetail/805

pics of my setup:

 

[JFtheGR8]

I have a Barska Plinker on my Model 60. Not a great scope but works just fine for my needs and didn't cost much. I think I spent about $40 on it. I will be looking into that Leapers mount too. Thanks Mike.

 

[slowr1der]

For the reason mentioned above, I hate the scope rail built onto the Marlin .22's, and unless you get the above mount or similar that I've heard good things about, expect a ton of headaches.

That said, while it's not on a Model 60, on my .22 rifle I run a 7 or 8 year old Simmons Deerfield 3-9x32 and I'm pretty happy with it. You can spend as much as you'd like on a scope, and for a big game rifle, I'd spend a little more, but I don't really see much of a reason to on a .22. I will say a scope with an AO is nice though. There really are so many options. What do you want to spend? What power range do you want? If we know those two things we can help make better recommendations.

 

[valnar]

Thanks Mike!! This is why I posted.....use the experience of others.

I'll look into that setup.

 

[gamestalker]

I have two model 60's and both are scoped. I put a POS 3x9 on one of them, it came off of one of those high powered rifle/optic packages from Wally World. I ended up tossing that scope in the garbage can, where it belonged in the first place. Now I have a Weaver 6x power on one, and the other a Leupold, fixed power as well.

 

[valnar]

Considering that the .22lr is limited in practical range, would a fixed 4x scope be a good idea?

 

[thunder173]

I put an very inexpensive Tasco 2x7 variable on a Glenfield variation of the Model 60 back in 1973. It still holds its zero and is as accurate today as it was when I put it on there, .,...and I have no idea how many rounds that gun has fired, or how many hits it has taken over the years. You can buy that same scope today for less than $ 25 bucks at most Wally World stores. Looks good,..is ligh weight,..and works well. YMMV

 

[wnycollector]

I have two Mueller 4.5-14x40 APV's on my .22's (Ruger 10/22 and Marlin 795). They are great scopes for the money since the glass is far better than their $125 price point.

 

[Mr transformer]

I don't have problems with the scope moving on my 60SS and I never had problems with it moving on my old 60 which I bought new in 1989. The trick is to buy the right rings. I currently am using B-Square rings and I've had them installed on the 60SS with a Nikon ProStaff 3-9X40 scope. It's a pretty good combination. There are lots of tip-off to Weaver style adapters from many companies and most of them work well but they're sometimes a little expensive IMO. I paid $20 for the rings and $150 for the scope.

I have to agree. If the scope is walking along the mount from normal firing, then the bolts are loose, the scope is one of those thin styles, or the mounts don’t fit the dovetail at all.

A ring that is thin (front to back) in comparison to it’s height, will walk from flexing. A lot of people like them because they are light, and refined looking. I like a mount with some meat on it.

I have seen some air gun mounts that were thin and barely held onto the rail. When they work themselves loose, then you can see where the edge of the dovetail is worn off. That is the only place where the mount contacts the dovetail.

If the scope mount has deep teeth that reach all the way to the bottom of the dovetail grove, and the ring isn’t thin (front to back). Then the ring isn’t going to move.

I like the mounts I have on it now because I am sure that the scope will bend into a horseshoe long before the mounts let go. If it moves at all from an impact, then the scope was the part that bent. I can’t count how many rounds I have had through it, and I have never had to retighten or move them because of creep

 

[SleazyRider]

For the reason mentioned above, I hate the scope rail built onto the Marlin .22's, and unless you get the above mount or similar that I've heard good things about, expect a ton of headaches.

I just sent my brandy-new Model 60 back to Buds because it came with a cracked stocked; but for the short time in was in my possession, I examined the scope dovetail. It was wavy and inconsistent, and looked like it had been machined by a high-school metal shop student with a bad attitude. I don't understand how stuff like this is allowed to leave the factory. When my replacement arrives, I'll indicate the dovetail for alignment with the receiver prior to mounting a scope.

 

[gamestalker]

Yes, a 4x would work very well for a 22lr., and up to a 6x would probably be the limit without switching to a variable power above that. I had a 10/22 with a Leupld 3x9x40 mounted on it, and it was kind of cool. The higher power was nice for shooting coyotes way the heck out there. I could watch where my bullets were hitting and quickly adjust my point of aim and then start peppering them from 200-300 yds. out.

 

[BrocLuno]

The best general purpose 22 scope I have is a Nikon Rimfire in 4x - it's paralax adjusted for 22 rimfires. If I can't see it with that scope, I should not be shooting it.

OTH, my 22 Mag wears a 6x and I can reach out a bit further with it

I have other heavy barreled 22's with adjustable objective target scopes that range up to 24X. But I'd never take one out hunting - whole rifle is too heavy and cumbersome to tote all day. But, they will make little clusters of holes from the bench

 

[valnar]

After reviewing all my options, both cheap and expensive, I settled on the Nikon ProStaff 4x32 Rimfire. Thanks to everyone for their help.

 

[marineimaging]

I put a Bushnell 4x32 on my 60 and later moved it to a Savage .22 Magnum. Shot a coyote at 120 yards under a spotlight and put it down with two shots. The problem was that I couldn't clearly make out the hit at that distance. Possible because it was at night with a spotlight??? I don't know. If I were serious about hunting frequently at up to 120 yards I would have to go with something a bit more powerful just so I felt more comfortable with clearly seeing and hitting my target. The fact is tho that I don't shoot even coyotes at over 75 yards with a .22 LR. I want the kills to be quick and accurate. That was why I went to the magnum.

 

[Eb1]

Nice choice.

Even with a .22 LR I like to be able to go to at least 6x for those tree top squirrels. Maybe even 9x for those tough head shots when that is all they give you.

 

[sixgunner455]

That 4x Prostaff is a nice scope. So is the 3x9.

This is definitely one of those things where you should do research and get what you need the first time. What scope you put on the rifle depends on what you intend to do with it, after all. I have been talking about getting an APV or APT (4.5x14) for one of my rifles, and one of my friends keeps making a face and saying, "On a .22?"

Well, yeah, if you need it, you need it! Maybe not for a walking around, squirrel rifle (but maybe for that, too!), but certainly for shooting small targets at longer ranges.