Scope For Chipmunk

S

SnakeLover

New member
After returning from an enjoyable day at the range with my son (age 8), I've started to think about fitting his chipmunk rifle with a scope. During today's session, he hit the paper squirrel about half the time at 25 yards from a rest, which I thought was fine. However, none were in the center and his inability to consistently hit the center of his target using the peep/post sight currently on it has started to bring out signs of frustration on his part. I've added a small red dot to the post, but that only marginally helped. It also doesn't help when dad's scoped rifle puts them all in the center.

I am torn because I think using the peep/post sight is better to learn with, easier when he switches to shotguns for pheasants and because that's what I started on. I've also tried to stress the importance of form and repetition as opposed to hitting the center now, but it is starting to be a message that is sounding hollow.

He has really enjoyed the shooting trips we take, and I don't want to see him become disinterested, which is the real underlying reason for even considering. So I'd ask other parents/relatives/folks who have gone through this for their opinion. Specifically, anything else I can try to improve his consistency? What type of cheap scope if I go that route? (I've found a base that fits the rifle, which was not easy).

I appreciate your help with this.

Snake
 
1. Has he had his eyes checked?

2. I'd go with a peep sight at this point - Maybe add a scope as an option, but make it removable.
 
Bogie, he has worn glasses since age 3. Recent visit to eye doc shows prescription still the same as last year.

M.L. - Never read or seen much on the Leapers scopes. I'll check them out.

Thanks
 
Just a suggestion...

Suggest you have him shoot someone's scoped 22 rifle. Ask him not to shoot for the bullseye but to use the bullseye as his point of aim. The objective is to see if he can shoot a tight group with a scoped rifle. If he can, then the potential is there and it could be a problem with him aligning his sights when he uses iron sights. If he can't shoot a tight group with a scoped rifle, and the rifle shoots good for you, then he's a poor shooter who needs more practice.

I'd go with a cheapie Tasco scope myself. Good enough for the kiddies (and OK, I own a few myself).
 
Don't beat around the bush!

This kid is competent by now. Get him a scope. My first rifle was a .22 chipmunk with a full size 3-9 deer rifle scope on it. I was taking squirrels with it right after I got it at age 6! If the kid is smart, it doesn't matter what order he learns, he will get good at whatever he shoots. Put a nice scope on that gun and watch his squirrel dispatching abilities soar! He is ready. Just buy a bushnell or tasco or simmons or any other cheap scope Midway has on sale and let him really start to enjoy shooting. When he gets older if he wants to go back to the challenge of shooting iron sights, it is his choice. If you want him to learn how to make well placed shots on hunting game, get him a scope. That is just my $.02 and I invite disagreement. That is the way I started and it worked. I just get this feeling sometimes we go to cautious on this board about the proper way to start out and learn. Just go out and shoot safely! The rest will follow!
 
Maybe the rifle needs a trigger job...

Instead of purchasing a scope maybe the rifle needs a nice light trigger. I know when I was shooting my 10/22 stock the brutal trigger made accuracy very difficult. At 25 yards, I don't think scope would a make tremendous difference to his accuracy but a smoother trigger might. If the trigger pull is already light than I suggest getting a nice Bushnell 4X sportview. The parallax is set to the proper range for rimfire rifles (approx. 50 yards) and they are fairly inexpensive (about $50 bucks CDN so probably ~$30 US).
 
Maybe a cheapie red dot would work better for him at 25yards. It'll also be easier to use.

Have you checked the accuracy of his rifle?

Which dominant eye does he have, is it same as trigger hand?
 
Why red dot?

I think all of you are underestimating this kid. How is a red dot easier to use than a scope? Whether you place the red dot on the squirrel at zero magnification or a cross hair at 9 power, what is the difference? I would think it would be easier to use the scope personally. And all it takes is a simple explination of field of view to him to make him realize when he is zoomed in at 9 power you will not be able to search as well as when you back it out to 3 power. I really think a scope is what your son needs. I have no idea why a red dot would be a better choice in this situation. If your son is an idiot then you might want to go with the simplicity of a red dot sight. If he has half a brain or can play simple video games, then learning to use the zoom on a 3-9 scope will be no problem at all. I really think his accuracy is going to improve tremendously with a scope vs. a red dot.

I think the easy answer is get him closer to the target with a variable power scope. He is going to hit the squirrel more often when he can see it closer. And contrary to the overall tone of this thread, placing a scope crosshair on a target is a very feasable task for an 8 year old. It will take practice, but he can do it!
 
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Thanks for all the inputs. Here are some answers to the questions posed.

I have shot the rifle and can get a decent three shot grouping with it.

Can't move the targets or us closer to the target at our range for safety reasons.

He is right eye and right hand dominate.

Haven't checked the trigger weight, I'll add that to the checklist.

He has shot my scoped 22 and had better success, not as large spread in his shots and about 80% in the squirrel.

Thanks again

Snake
 
Don't just buy any Variable scope...

A common mistake that many people do when buying a scope is to get too much scope for a gun. Why would u need a 3-9X scope on a .22 LR? The effective range of a .22 is 75- 100 yards and most 3-9X variable scopes have the parallax set to 100 yards (unless u have it adjusted down). A scope with an Adjustable Objective is probably a little more money than most people want to spend, esp. on a .22 rimfire used for plinking. High magnification is only really useful for bench rest shooting at long ranges. I think the best options on a .22 plinker is to go with a low power fixed magnification scope (with the parallax set to 50 yards) or a red dot sight. But before buying a scope, I would have the trigger checked out, a lighter trigger always improves accuracy, as well, another consideration is the ammunition that u have been firing. I have noticed that with my Ruger, it is a fairly finicky about which ammo it likes - my particular rifle groups fairly poorly with Remington Thunderbolts, Cyclones, PMC scoremaster, and Moderator (approx. 1.5 inches at 50 yards) but with Winchester Hollowpoints, CCI Blazer, and Federal Gold Medal, it groups fairly well (approx .25 inches at 50 yards). SO u might wan to try various ammunitions out...
 
Ammo does make a difference too.

My custom 10/22 likes the winchester hollowpoints, the CCI SGB (small game bullet) shot just as good as the Federal UM1 and 711 out of my gun. Yeah that thunderbolt stuff is not that good. It really is a good idea to get a whole bunch of .22 ammo since it is so cheap and see what shoots best in your gun. I used to not care until I forked out some bucks on a new 10/22.

Glock has some points with the variable power. However, I sure can shoot some squirrels with a Burris 4-12x compact mounted on my 10/22. Of course this did cost some money and that is a factor. I was glad I spent the money though, that scope works great. Just ask the squirrels. :D
 
Scopes...

I have no problem putting a powerful scope on a custom gun. A tricked out 10/22 is a different animal from your garden variety .22 LR. With a heavy barrel, Vorquartsen trigger and stock, a 10/22 has a much further effective range than most typical .22s and it would be silly to put a POS piece of glass on top of a rifle like that. The general rule of thumb that I follow is to put approximately the same amount of money (if not more) into the scope as I do into the rifle. I have a Remington 700 VS .22-250 which I topped off with a Leupold 6.5X20 Var III. But by the same token, I also feel it is a bit ridiculous to put more scope on a rifle than the rifle and shooter needs. At present, my 10/22 is almost completely stock (I have a Vorquartsen trigger group), so I put a small scope on it (Bushnell Sportview 4X) but as soon as I upgrade the barrel and stock, I will probably also upgrade the scope to a Bushnell Elite 3X9 w/ AO to compensate for the better range and accuracy of the rifle. But as always, I have to wait for the financial moons to come into alignment before I can spend more money on my 10/22...
 
Thanks for the additional comments. As far as the ammo goes, we have shot federal and cci through the gun, settling on cci since that seemed to work better for me when I shot. I can always buy another couple boxes of something else though. At this point, I think the plan will be to check the trigger pull/possibly lighten. Then we'll buy and shoot some other brands of ammo.

I have also started looking at scopes and will likely get something like a simmons 4x20, not expensive, simple to use and good sized objective.

Thanks again for everyone's input.

Snake
 
Heck, I just thought of something.

I bought one of those Simmons 22 mag scopes not too long ago and worked fine until I was ready to upgrade. It is a 3-9 32mm scope and it worked pretty good. It even come with rings for the skinny type 22 mount. You can get those scopes for well under $50. I would sell you mine, but I am not quite sure what I want to do with it yet. I might slap it on my old 10/22 and sell the whole thing as a package for like $100 to a friend. Check them out, they are fairly cheap and seem to work pretty good. You can find them at Midway USA. They are running a special on the 4x32 right now. Just search Simmons 22 and they will all come up.
 
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