Scope for a kids rifle?

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billboy

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So, Santa found a nice little Tikka Compact in 243 this year for my boys and he’s wondering what kind of scope to put on it. What would you all suggest for this rifle? Prairie boys, so some longer range capabilities would be nice (2x7x? Or something else?) and I’d like to keep the weight to a minimum.
Thx
 
4CC29E6D-6C15-4620-A793-B86C07BD870E.jpgLeupold 2-7 is probably perfect. I use one on my 10/22 and love it for quick acquisition and it’s great at 100-200 which is all that seems reasonable with the 22. Larger magnification can make you think you can shoot something further than you “can”. I just put a leupold vx3i 2.5-8 on a 350 rem mag but haven’t got a chance to shoot it but I think it will be good and could be fitting for your 243 as well. Running a VX3 3.5-10 on the 243 I picked up for my daughters first rifle but she’s only 18 months old so that scope may not stay. Leupold’s are pretty light, never had a problem with one. If you do the warranty Center is in Alberta. I love the alumina flip caps as they keep the glass clean and protected don’t look cheap like butler creeks but aren’t cheap either. I’m sure they will be excited with what Santa brings them. I’m gonna put the 243 and 350 under the tree for me and her from Santa too. Top is the Remington 600 Mohawk in 243, bottom is the Model 7 in 350 Rem Mag
 

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After having a few newbies, children and adults (and supposed experienced guys) miss opportunities at close game due to playing with the scopes magnification and leaving it on max I have come to prefer fixed power or no more the 7x on the top end of a hunting scope for them.
 
Thanks guys, sorry, should have mentioned budget, I’ll probably spend $400 on the glass. I guess there isn’t really a specialty, or a scaled down scope to go with compact rifles?
 
+1 for any of the Leupold 2-7x33...

My daughter started her big game pursuits on exactly the rifle you mention above, also in 243win. This year she upgraded to a Tikka compact in 308 and when we explored new glass as well, her ultimate decision was to port over her VX2 2-7x33. Not for economy, but because she likes the magnification range and handling characteristics.

Cheers,

Brobee
 
I bought a Rem 783 in 243 for Grandson - replaced the scope and mounts with a Leupold Freedom 3-9x40 and what I thought are better Weaver bases and rings. The scope was about $300 at the time - not sure what prices are now. A 2-7x33 would be a little smaller - might be better? And times two for suggestion above about fixed powers - a used Leupold M8-4x is on several of my own rifles - hitting 8" diameter targets at 300 yards should not be an issue. My wife, and then years later our son, used a 243 Rem 788 with Weaver 3x to take their first deers.
I have also ordered a Compact 243 Win rifle for myself - looks like it will be a while before it gets to Canada. Likely going to try to use a Burris Compact 3-9 that I have here.
 
Leupold, VX2 2-7 or a 3-9. The new Freedom line that replaced the 2s are also great optics. Clarity is excellent and the overall price has come down compared to the previous lines.
 
Good suggestion to put some thought into the reticle. I chose that Weaver 3x for their first hunting, because I knew they would not be firing much past 200 yards, at the most. That Weaver had a 3 MOA dot at intersection of fine cross hairs - I sighted so the bullet holes on 100 yard target just peaking out the top of that dot. Was able to tell them not to worry or think about the scope. Just put that dot on what they wanted to hit and fire. Seemed a simple concept - nothing about bullet drop, holding high or low, etc. Just put the dot on the target and fire. The kill zone on a deer is much, much larger than 3 MOA, and trajectory was just not going to be an issue at ranges they would be shooting. I also have a couple of 2 1/2 and 3 power scopes with the "Tapered Post" reticles - same story, just put the tip on what you want to hit, and fire. About perfect for 303 British and similar.
I must say, though, that I think the 200 or so practice rounds with that rifle at the range - starting in June through October, had a lot to do with only one shot needed to get their deer - not so sure the details about the scope would make up for lack of trigger time, lack of handling, lack of loading and unloading, etc.
 
In a thread I started some months ago, Korth posted that the new Leupold Freedom scopes use VX-2 internals but have a much better coating on lenses - so brighter image than VX-2, especially in low light. I have bought total of 3 of the 3-9x40 Freedom - if you get to look through them, a noticeable difference from similar VX-2 - and if the internals are the same, should work as well - either way, have the outstanding Leupold warranty - which I have never, ever had to use...
 
2-7 provides a very narrow field of view, it didn't bother me when I was a kid and thought they all were like that, I recently put a 2-7 on something and I just can't get use to it.
 
I just looked at Leupold site - VX-Freedom - 2-7x33 has FOV from 43.8 Ft. to 17.8 ft; 3-9x40 has 33.7 ft to 13.6 ft. So the 2-7 has wider FOV at lowest and at highest powers - but can not find when both set to same power though - say both at 5 power - can not find a spec to say what the FOV is then.
 
Brian46 said:
2-7 provides a very narrow field of view, it didn't bother me when I was a kid and thought they all were like that, I recently put a 2-7 on something and I just can't get use to it.
Click to expand...

A Leupold 2-7X33 has a FOV of 43'@100 when set on 2X and 18'@100 at 7X. I guess that might seem narrow if you're used to a 1.5-5X with 123' @100 on 1.5X but it would be the same at 5X as the 2-7X when set at 5X. If I have to shoot something when the range is measured in feet rather than yards, I'm confident I can pull it off with the 2-7X, provided I remember the sight offset from the bore, which is true of any sight mounted above the bore.

OP, magnification should be based on the the range at what the rifle will be fired, and the size of the targets it will be fired at. A prairie dog requires more magnification to see clearly than a moose that is engaged at the same range. But if magnification is so high that all you see is hair and you can't tell which part of the moose you're shooting at, its too much of a good thing. In some locations a 2-7X fits the bill just fine, in other areas a 4-12X is a better bet. You can answer the magnification question better than anyone else, since you'll know how the rifle will be used. Longer range means different things to different people. I just took the 2-7X off my .300 Winchester in favor of a 4-16X because I want to stretch its legs. The 2-7X is now on my .280, which had a fixed 6X.
 
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