Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Scope for kids?

what scope are you all using for your first time hunters??? my boys will be 10 when they can legally hunt. any input would be great

Don't go cheap, but inexpensive is OK. Low grade, ill fitting equipment is often given to women and kids, which doesn't help their interest in the sport.

Get something they can continue to use for the next 10 years without a handicap. I would look for at least a Weaver, old or new. Next step up might be a used Leupold.

Bruce

The Bushnell Elites are excellent scopes as are the Vortex Vipers. I believe you can still get a 2-7x32 Viper for $169.00. It's easily worth double that.

i was thinking either a lower powered vx3 like a 1.5x5 or a 1.75x6 or a 2x7 vortex viper or a 3x9 zeiss conquest

I'd avoid the Elites like a $5 Ugandan hooker. Eye relief sucks ass and you want plenty of that for a kid.

Many of the Leupold scopes would ring the bell and so would a few of the Conquests if you don't mind scopes the size of the kid.

I really think a fixed 4x Leupold is a great way to start.

+1

Good scope with generous eye relief. Lends itself to new shooters very well. Not too shabby for older shooters as well.

i know the relief of the elites is terrible, i have a 4200 3x9 on my .300wby

The Nikon Prostaff is awesome.

im not a bit a afraid to spend $400 a piece on the scopes either, i need 2 of them (twins)

new redfield is whats on my sons 30-30 and he is 9 great eyerelife so getting scoped is not a problem. Also it is clear and good in low lite.

Pretty much a 6x42 on everything for the kids...unless it's a dot sight..............

i put a leupold 4x on my daughter's rifle. seems to be working fine for her as clay pigeons, bowling pins, and deer have all fallen to her.

part of the reson for the 4x is the small objective. kids' faces are smaller and in order to get a good fit of kid-to-rifle i needed to get the scope as low as possible (she got the rifle for her 8th b-day). next year, at age 12, i'll probably get her a leupold 6x36 or 6x42 and be done w/ it.

Here are some great options:

Pentax Pioneer II 3-9x40mm @ $129.99

Pentax Pioneer II 4.5-14x42mm @ $139.99

Vortex Viper 2-7x32mm in choice of reticles @ $174.99

Go with a fixed 4x or 6x Leupold and call it a day. One of the things I never understood was the cast off junk that are given to kids for there first rifle or shotgun. Poor fit poor triggers and sights. Then we wonder why so few of the young take up the sport. Yesterday I was pheasant hunting and I ran into a father and son, the poor kid had some kind of single shot shotgun that was to big and to heavy for him. Never mind recoil. My guess computer games will be his thing soon.

Would not put a variable on a kids rifle until he had some serious time with a rifle. The 6x42 leupold is exceptional for kids, but the plain old 4x is a hard act to beat for size and weight and simple...

Totally agree.. Just picked up a used 6x42 for my daughter's first centerfire rifle..

Amen!

I wouldn't start a kid with something I wouldn't happily use myself, other than size considerations of course.

i been thinking some, they are only 6 right now, so they cant hunt for 4 more years. im thinking i will wait for a few years and maybe something new will come out between now and then that will sway my thoughts some.

thanks for the input fellars!

I just bought my son a 3-9x40 Conquest. 4" of eye relief, super clear & a generous eye-box. Only $400