Author Topic: scope for Ruger 10/22 carbine (Read 425 times)

Gunthr · « **on:** November 26, 2006, 05:58:48 PM »

I bought my 12 year old daughter a nice stainless 10/22 with 18.5 inch barrel for her first firearm - a step up from her pellet gun. She will be hunting small game and plinking, probably no more than 50 yard shots. I would like some suggestions for scope and a good way of mounting it for this 22.

I was also wondering about the pluses and minuses of fixed versus variable versus red dot scopes for a 22 rimfire rifle... thanks

Dago · « **Reply #1 on:** November 26, 2006, 07:17:35 PM »

I would first want her to learn to use iron sights. Maybe thats just me, but always go with the basics first.

Hornet33 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 26, 2006, 07:25:29 PM »

I have a Bushnell X4 power wide apurature scope on raised scope rings for my 10/22. I can normally shoot 1 to 2 inch groups at 100 yards with this setup with fairly cheap ammo on a consitent basis. I like the wide apurature scope because it's easier for me anyway to get a proper eye relief while shooting. A vairable power scope is nice for larger caliber rifles, probably a bit of overkill for a 10/22. Red dots are nice but unless your willing to spend the money for a good quality one I think you would be better off with a nice fixed power scope. You can find those will cost anywhere from $40-100 for a decent one.

Maverick · « **Reply #3 on:** November 26, 2006, 08:21:15 PM »

A nice 4 power should do just fine. I wouldn't worry about a variable scope at this time. You can get a nice Bushnell for a rather low price.

Halo · « **Reply #4 on:** November 26, 2006, 08:34:28 PM »

Scopes are fun. But unless you're doing some serious hunting, I'd think you'd want your daughter to shoot awhile with iron sights before adding a scope.

I had scopes on a 10/22 and a Marlin my son recently inherited, but I haven't added any yet to my replacement 10/22 and Marlin 60 because I think shooting is a lot more sporting with iron sights.

When scopes are properly zeroed in, I expect to shoot several rounds through the same ragged hole. Great for hunting but kinda boring for target shooting.

From what I read, some sources advocate just buying a 4x power as the ideal .22 scope. I had 3x9 and liked them fine -- the highest magnification approaches the lowest power view of a modest 15x45 spotting scope.

Can easily spend more for scope than the 10/22 cost. Satisfactory scope probably will be somewhere between $70 and $300.

Recommend you check the extensive scope articles on chuckhawks.com.
Favorite scopes there include the Bushnell Elite 3200, Sightron SII, Bushnell Trophy, Burris Signature Select, and Simmons AETEC.

Gunthr · « **Reply #5 on:** November 26, 2006, 09:43:07 PM »

my kid is pretty good with iron sights. she went from a bb rifle to pellet rifle, using them for a year or so. to be honest, the scope is for the old man mostly

, and partly because I want her to have early success taking game because I'm competing with ipods, cell phones, sleepovers, parties, etc. She is a social butterfly and none of her friends are into the outdoors and hunting, what little we have here in South Florida.

anyway, i'm definately leaning to a fixed 4x32, maybe with the rings that allow you to use iron sites as well, and probably a sling. thanks y'all for pointing me in the right direction.

Dago · « **Reply #6 on:** November 26, 2006, 10:50:09 PM »

I used to have a 4X scope on my .22 rifle, but took it off a long time ago. More fun with open sights, but then, I don't hunt with it. Mostly just plinker.

Dago · « **Reply #7 on:** November 26, 2006, 10:51:53 PM »

I used to have a 4X scope on my .22 rifle, but took it off a long time ago. More fun with open sights, but then, I don't hunt with it. Mostly just plink with it.

Halo · « **Reply #8 on:** November 26, 2006, 10:54:28 PM »

That's great, Gunthr, excellent gun choice and fine age to introduce to bullet firearms.

Brings back memories ...

Both my daughters are grown with kids of their own now, but I remember it well when:

My youngest daughter, also very social, looked at me one day with a grin and said, with just a tinge of embarrassment, "You know, I really like the smell of gunpowder!"

My oldest daughter had just gone through my introductory sequence of Ruger Single-Six .22 and Ruger Blackhawk .38 at a firing range in the country. It was late afternoon, with sun rays coming through the trees like some cathedral.

It was time for her first .357 Magnum. I had fired some before so she would know what to expect. Ever the little lady, she assumed her firing stance, all 5 feet 0 inches of her, and assured me she was ready. She aimed. She fired.

In the backlit smoke after the blast, the Blackhawk rose over her head, still competently gripped by both hands, as her voice slowly exclaimed: "Holy s---!" First time I ever heard a bad word from her, but that was an appropriate time if ever there was one.

Gunthr · « **Reply #9 on:** November 27, 2006, 07:27:20 AM »

Quote

In the backlit smoke after the blast, the Blackhawk rose over her head, still competently gripped by both hands, as her voice slowly exclaimed: "Holy s---!" First time I ever heard a bad word from her, but that was an appropriate time if ever there was one.

lol - that is what I call a showcase moment...

eskimo2 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 27, 2006, 04:52:04 PM »

I have three daughters, the oldest is 7. What age did you all introduce shooting to your daughters?

Halo · « **Reply #11 on:** November 27, 2006, 11:59:47 PM »

It's been a long time since my son and two daughters were kids, but as I recall I introduced them to guns whenever they got curious about the .22 rifles I had on a gun rack.

Best I can remember, they shot bb guns around age 10 and .22s around age 12 when they got big enough to safely handle them. By the time they graduated from high school, they had fired .22s in rifles and handguns plus .38s and .357s in single-action revolvers.

They were never ever to touch or handle any gun unless I was there to supervise them. As far as I know, and from what they still say today, they never did.

Naturally I drilled safety into them from the beginning, did lots of familiarization training and handling long before they ever loaded a bullet, and stayed within arm's reach of each whenever they were allowed to load a gun and fire it.

We're not hunters, so all we did was target shoot on a range or plink in various places.

Safety was always paramount. Safety safety safety.

That satisfied their curiosity and helped them respect, not fear, guns.

In essence I tried to teach them guns are a vital tool for the survival and progress of the human race, and among the essential rights of free citizens.

All three are still comfortable with guns today. Responsibility, privilege, right, heritage, freedom -- they all go together. Plus pride in being able to responsibly incorporate guns into all the other fibers of modern life.

Today one daughter and her family have chosen not to have guns in their house, while my son and other daughter use guns for target shooting and home defense as I always have. I support however they choose to live, satisfied that I started them off with enough information to make whatever choice is best for them.

Sorry about the long-winded reply, but kids and guns is a topic that usually requires considerable explanation.

eagl · « **Reply #12 on:** November 28, 2006, 04:06:39 AM »

I also recommend learning using iron sights, but if you do scope the rifle don't get one of those cheesy ".22 scopes" that are really small. If the lenses and tube are too small, they won't gather much light and they'll just suck in general. Get a "real" scope with a reasonably sized lense and you'll all be happier with it.

I put a bushnel 3-9x scope on my 10-22 and it was nice until someone dropped it and the crosshairs broke internally.

Excel1 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 28, 2006, 05:30:51 AM »

I've got a leopold 1x-4x on my 10/22 but thats only because I pulled it of another rifle that I dont use much, and I didnt want to buy another scope when I bought the rifle. It had to be scoped anyway cause it didnt come with open sights. It's a good scope but the small 20mm objective lens doesnt have great light gathering ability at night which is mostly when I use the rifle.

If I was going to buy a scope for a .22 like the 10/22 I would either get a 4x33 in fixed, or a 2-7x33 variable. A scope with the least weight and bulk but with adequate performance is all you need. But quality counts, you get what you pay for.

Like eagle says, I would give the ultra cheap .22 scopes a miss. they were all I could afford when I was a kid. Gave me nothing but greif with their small bore tubes, turn day into night crappy optics and piss poor mounts that meant I was forever re-zeroing them.

Dunno about red dot sights as I have never used one.

Makarov9 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 28, 2006, 10:43:32 AM »

I have a Bushnell 3-9x33 scope on my 10/22. It works just fine. This past weekend my wife enjoyed the heck out of shooting aluminum cans on the 40yr tin can range. She was just giddy making them dance. I have a thumbhole stock, match barrel and a trigger job on it so it's very accurate. She put about 400 rounds through it that day. She was emptying the magazines as soon as I could load them.