The 7 Best Scopes for the Marlin 60 in 2020
The Marlin 60 is quite an old semi-automatic rifle that was designed in 1960 and has remained in service to date. Even though it has a couple of variations, the gun maintains its old design and fires .22 LR caliber rounds.
That said, the gun has a short effective firing range of approximately 100-200 yds. With this, a magnification of about 2-4x will be sufficient.
Therefore, if you want to perfect your accuracy while firing at this range, we have listed the best scopes for the Marlin 60 to consider buying.
You can also read other product reviews such as 22lr scope , scope for Ruger 10-22 , scope for Marlin 336 , scope for ruger AR556 .
7 Best Scopes for Marlin 60 – Review
|
IMAGE |
PRODUCT |
FEATURES |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Bushnell AR92732 (Best Overall) |
|
|
|
2. Barska AC10002 (Best Budget) |
|
|
|
3. BSA Sweet 22 Rimfire (Powerful) |
|
|
|
4. CVLife RR-40-RE-FL (Complete Scope Kit) |
|
|
|
5. Vortex CF2-31001R (Durable Construction) |
|
|
|
6. Simmons 511039 (Has HydroShield Coating) |
|
|
|
7. Simmons 511022 (Has Long Eye Relief) |
|
|
PRODUCT |
|---|
|
1. Bushnell AR92732 (Best Overall)
|
|
2. Barska AC10002 (Best Budget)
|
|
3. BSA Sweet 22 Rimfire (Powerful)
|
|
4. CVLife RR-40-RE-FL (Complete Scope Kit)
|
|
5. Vortex CF2-31001R (Durable Construction)
|
|
6. Simmons 511039 (Has HydroShield Coating)
|
|
7. Simmons 511022 (Has Long Eye Relief)
|
1. Bushnell AR92732 – Best Overall Scope for the Marlin 60
Photo: Bushnell
- Objective Lens: 32mm
- Magnification: 2-7x
- Eye Relief: 3.7 in.
- Field of View @ 100 yds: 50 – 17 ft.
Bushnell’s AR92732 takes the top spot in this review and this can be attributed to its drop zone 22LR reticle that has BDC markings for range estimation. These 3 dots provide aiming points out to 125 yds and are specifically calibrated for 38-40 grain .22LR caliber rounds.
The scope also features parallax settings with an ergonomic side-focus adjustment knob that lets you make changes without shifting your position. This helps to enhance long-range accuracy while a fast-focus eyepiece gives you a clear field of view shortly after making adjustments.
Other features are 1/4 MOA click adjustments, multicoated optics with a 32mm objective lens, a rugged aluminum alloy housing with a durable hard-anodized finish and nitrogen-purged lenses that are sealed via O-rings for fog proof and waterproof performance.
On the downside, the unit is expensive and it does not come with the required mounting accessories.
Pros:
Cons:
2. Barska AC10002 – Best Budget Scope for the Marlin 60
Photo: Barska
- Objective Lens: 20mm
- Magnification: 3-7x
- Eye Relief: 2.55 in.
- Field of View @ 100 yds: 21 – 10 ft.
If you are on a tight budget, Barska’s AC10002 is the best scope to buy because it is very affordable. That said, the product is not badly off because it comes complete with a lens cover, lens cleaning cloth and 3/8 in. dovetail rings for easy installation.
Though it lacks parallax adjustment settings, the unit is calibrated for parallax-free viewing at 50 yds, making it ideal for short-range use. That said, it has magnification adjustment from 3-7x, which means you can still use it for short to medium-range shooting.
More features include fully coated optics for glare-free imaging, a simple-to-use 30/30 reticle, precise 1/4 MOA click adjustments and a camouflaged matte black finish.
However, the scope has a small 20mm objective lens that only allows little light to penetrate through to the eyepiece and it has a short 2.55 in. eye relief, which is not recommended for a heavy recoil rifle.
Pros:
Cons:
3. BSA Sweet 22 Rimfire – Powerful Scope for the Marlin 60
Photo: BSA
- Objective Lens: 40mm
- Magnification: 3-9x
- Eye Relief: 3 in.
- Field of View @ 100 yds: 42 – 13 ft.
With up to 9x magnification, BSA’s Sweet 22 riflescope is very powerful and allows you to test the limits of your Marlin 60 at medium-range shooting accuracy. This is enhanced by an adjustable objective, which makes it possible to eliminate parallax error at any range.
That said, the unit has a large 40mm objective lens that allows for the formation of a bright field of view. For clearer imaging, the optics are fully coated and this prevents glares from causing any obstructions.
You also get a shockproof design that is recoil-resistant, fog proof and waterproof optics, precise 1/4 MOA click adjustments with a maximum windage and elevation adjustment of 40 MOA and lens covers for protecting the glass on both ends.
However, the scope is equipped with an SFP duplex reticle, which lacks BDC markings for range estimation.
Pros:
Cons:
4. CVLife RR-40-RE-FL – Complete Scope Kit for the Marlin 60
Photo: CVLife
- Objective Lens: 40mm
- Magnification: 3-9x
If you are looking for a complete scope set for your Marlin 60, this unit from CVLife’s is your best bet. This is because it comes with a protective lens cover, an Allen key for screwing it into the mounting rings and two scope mounts for installation on 20mm Picatinny rails.
Apart from that, the piece has a powerful magnification of up to 9x and just like BSA’s Sweet 22 riflescope , it has a large 40mm objective lens for bright imaging.
The imaging is enhanced by fully multicoated glass surfaces, which provide up to 95% light transmission with no glares. This coating also makes the glass surfaces oil, dirt, and scratch-resistant.
Other features include a sturdy 25.4mm machined-aluminum housing, nitrogen-filled and O-ring sealed optics for fog proof and waterproof performance, and a fast-focus eyepiece. The only problem is that the scope has an R4 crosshair reticle that lacks BDC marks for range estimation.
Pros:
Cons:
5. Vortex CF2-31001R – Durable Marlin 60 Scope
Photo: Vortex
- Objective Lens: 32mm
- Magnification: 2-7x
- Eye Relief: 3.9 in.
- Field of View @ 100 yds: 42 – 12.6 ft.
Vortex’s CF2-31001R is characterized by a single-piece tube design that is constructed using aircraft-grade aluminum. This shock-proofs the entire scope for recoil resistance while its nitrogen-filled, O-ring sealed optics give fog proof and waterproof performance.
Capped turrets are built-in for windage and elevation adjustment, and these can be zero-reset for easy referencing after shooting. They also give 1/4 MOA adjustment on every click and produce audible clicks for easy use.
More features include a forgiving eye box with a long eye relief of 3.9 in., a fast-focus eyepiece, fully multicoated lenses for glare elimination and a magnification adjustment ring for easy use.
On the downside, the scope does not come with the required mounting accessories and it is very expensive.
Pros:
Cons:
6. Simmons 511039 – Marlin 60 Scope with HydroShield Coating
Photo: Simmons
- Objective Lens: 32mm
- Magnification: 3-9x
- Eye Relief: 3.75 in.
- Field of View @ 100 yds: 31.4 – 10.5 ft.
The lenses in Simmons’ 511039 have a HydroShield coating for giving the glass water resistance properties. This helps to maintain a clear field of view regardless of the weather conditions.
Additionally, the lenses are fully multicoated and this ensures you get a bright, high-contrast sight picture with zero glares.
Other than that, the scope has a powerful magnification of up to 9x, which is ideal for medium-range shooting. This is topped off by a quick target acquisition eyepiece that lets you focus quickly after making any magnification adjustments.
You also get sure-grip rubber surfaces on the turrets and magnification ring for non-slip adjustment, parallax adjustment from 50 yds to infinity, precise 1/4 MOA click adjustment with a maximum of 60 MOA on both scales and 3/8-in rimfire dovetail mounting rings.
However, the scope is fitted with a truplex reticle, which lacks BDC markings for medium to long-range estimation.
More Detailed: Simmons 511039 Review
Pros:
Cons:
7. Simmons 511022 – Marlin 60 Scope with a Long Eye Relief
Photo: Simmons
- Objective Lens: 32mm
- Magnification: 4x
- Eye Relief: 4 in.
- Field of View @ 100 yds: 21 ft.
Simmons’ 511022 has a long eye-relief of 4 in., which when combined with its relatively generous 8mm exit pupil, makes it very safe to use in heavy recoil rifles.
Apart from that, the scope features HydroShield lens coating like the 511039-model , which helps to create a clear field of view regardless of the weather condition. The optics are also fully multi-coated for glare elimination and this helps to create a high contrast image.
The unit is composed of a solid 1-piece tube that is very sturdy and delivers shockproof performance. It also has a fog proof and waterproof design, which ensures you get optimal performance in any type of weather.
Other features include sure-grip rubber surfaces on the knobs for non-slip adjustment, mounting rings for easy installation and a camouflaged matte black finish.
The only problem is that the scope’s magnification is fixed at 4x, which gives it a fixed shooting range.
Pros:
Cons:
How to Buy the Best Scope for Marlin 60
Photo: rugerpistolforums.com
1. Lens
There are two main things that you need to check concerning the lenses. First is the coating. Anti-reflective multicoating is a must-have to prevent glares from obstructing your field of view. Other additional coatings, such as HydroShield, are recommended for better performance.
The second factor is the size. As a general rule of thumb, larger objective lenses are better than smaller ones because they allow more light to penetrate through. This creates a brighter field of view for easy visibility even in low light conditions.
That said, we recommend BSA’s Sweet 22 riflescope and CVLife’s RR-40-RE-FL due to their large 40mm objective lenses.
2. Magnification
As stated earlier, a magnification of about 2-4x is recommended for the Marlin 60’s range. This means that all the scopes above are suitable since they all fit within the 4x description.
The distinguishing factor is therefore left to the magnification range. This makes BSA’s Sweet 22 riflescope , CVLife’s RR-40-RE-FL and Simmons’ 511039 stand out due to their 3-9x range.
Their 9x magnification is also very powerful and this allows you to test your gun’s limits.
3. Scope Range
A scope’s range is primarily determined by two factors: its magnification power and reticle. Magnification power deals with the distance but the reticle deals with accuracy at medium and long distances.
Putting these two together, we highly recommend Bushnell’s AR92732 primarily due to its range estimating BDC reticle.
Though its magnification is not the most powerful, it is sufficient for this rifle and exceeds its range. On the other hand, the reticle enhances its accuracy at a short-to-medium range.
4. Eye Relief
Eye relief is the distance from the ocular lens through which you can comfortably see the field of view and reticle markings. It is meant for safety purposes as it helps you to keep your eye from being hit by the scope due to recoil.
That said, the longer it is, the better because this helps to minimize or eliminate the chances of a collision. Therefore, we recommend Simmons’ 511022 due to its 4-in eye relief. Vortex’s CF2-31001R is also not far behind because its eye relief is 3.9 in.
5. Reticle
As indicated earlier, a scope’s reticle plays a big role in determining its accuracy. Regular crosshair reticles with no range estimating marks are recommended for short-range hunting because holdover estimation can be quite challenging.
However, range estimating markings such as the popular Bullet Drop Compensation (BDC) spots give some tactical advantage. They make holdover estimation easier, which enhances accuracy at medium-to-long range.
This is why Bushnell’s AR92732 takes the top spot. It is equipped with a drop zone 22LR BDC reticle with 3 dots below the crosshair intersection for accurate aiming out to 125 yds.
6. Construction
As for construction, the sturdier it is, the better. Ideally, you should look for a single piece tube that is made using a strong metal material. Vortex’s CF2-31001R fits this description because it has a 1-piece aircraft-grade aluminum tube that is shockproof and recoil resistant.
Conclusion
In conclusion, all the scopes above are suitable to use on the Marlin 60 because they are effective at its range. However, Bushnell’s AR92732 takes the top spot due to its accurate range estimating BDC reticle.
Though expensive, the scope also features parallax adjustment for enhanced accuracy while its strong, durable design means long-lasting use.
If you want powerful magnification though, we recommend BSA’s Sweet 22 as the best scope for the Marlin 60 because of its 3-9x range.
However, if you are a bit short on cash, Barska’s AC10002 is the most affordable piece to consider buying.
-
7 Best Scopes for Marlin 60 – Review
- 1. Bushnell AR92732 – Best Overall Scope for the Marlin 60
- 2. Barska AC10002 – Best Budget Scope for the Marlin 60
- 3. BSA Sweet 22 Rimfire – Powerful Scope for the Marlin 60
- 4. CVLife RR-40-RE-FL – Complete Scope Kit for the Marlin 60
- 5. Vortex CF2-31001R – Durable Marlin 60 Scope
- 6. Simmons 511039 – Marlin 60 Scope with HydroShield Coating
- 7. Simmons 511022 – Marlin 60 Scope with a Long Eye Relief
- How to Buy the Best Scope for Marlin 60
- Conclusion
