As a seasoned hunter and shooter, I’ve grown to appreciate the Marlin 60. It’s a tried-and-true firearm that has proven its worth since its introduction back in 1960. Its semi-automatic nature, paired with its .22 LR caliber, provides an ideal balance for hunting small game or plinking at the range.
As an owner of the Marlin 60, like myself, you’ll come to realize that this .22 caliber rifle is a gem in its own right. This versatile rimfire rifle, known for its accuracy and ease of use, holds its own among the best in the market. However, to bring out its true potential, investing in a high-quality scope is paramount. That’s why I’ve decided to share my insights on some of the best scopes for the Marlin 60, saving you the time and effort in searching for the perfect optic.
Before diving into specifics, let’s discuss how to select the best scope for your Marlin 60.
How to Choose the Best Marlin 60 scope
When it comes to choosing a scope for your Marlin 60, you need to consider several factors. These are based on my years of experience in the field and should guide you to make the best choice.
Durability
The Marlin 60, given its reputation, deserves a scope that can endure the test of time. Check the material of the scope. Is it shockproof, waterproof, and fog proof? You don’t want to skimp on these attributes as the quality of your shooting experiences may depend on them.
Weight
Since the Marlin 60 is a lightweight rifle, your scope should also be light. Anything under 15 ounces should do just fine. A lighter scope will ensure easy maneuverability and won’t interfere with the rifle’s balance.
Intended use
The Marlin 60 is perfect for hunting small game, plinking, and target shooting, and a scope with variable magnification would suit it best. This would provide the flexibility to adjust to varying distances and targets.
Eye Relief
Eye relief is particularly important if you spend long hours at the range or in the field. An eye relief of about 3 to 4 inches will ensure that your eyes remain comfortable and your vision is unhindered, even after hours of use.
Magnification
For a .22 caliber rifle like the Marlin 60, a scope with a magnification range of 3-9x should be more than sufficient. It offers the flexibility to target closer quarry as well as perform well for mid-range targets.
To summarize, for a Marlin 60, my recommendation would be to opt for a lightweight, durable scope that offers decent magnification and good eye relief. Armed with the right optic, this reliable rimfire rifle will prove to be an even greater pleasure to shoot.
The 4 Best Marlin 60 Scopes
1. Simmons 3-9 x 32mm .22 Mag(R) Matte Black Riflescope
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There are plenty of excellent features that make the Simmons Matte Black Riflescope a stellar choice for Marlin 60 users. Let me break it down in detail.
My Feeling After Using This Product
The Simmons Riflescope is a great choice for a .22 rifle like a Marlin 60 in part because of its light weight. When I tested out this scope, I found that it weighed less than 10 ounces, making it perfect for combining with a similarly lightweight rifle. When you add this scope to your setup, you won’t find that it negatively impacts the balance of your chosen firearm.
On top of that, the Simmons Riflescope is very well-built and designed for durability. It’s constructed to withstand water, fog, and reasonable recoil (though you won’t want to pair this scope with a high-recoil weapon). In any case, you shouldn’t have any difficulties taking this into the field in any inclement weather thanks to its weatherproof functionality.
I also really liked the high-quality lenses, which are bolstered by special coatings. The Simmons Riflescope features durable coatings on the lenses to protect them from wear and tear and maximize light transmission, which boosts color clarity and ensure that you can see your target from afar, even if it blends in with the background.
Product Highlights
When I tested out the Simmons Riflescope, I was most impressed by the SureGrip rubber surface that comprises the scope’s key grip points. In essence, you could easily swap between magnification settings or make other adjustments to the scope without worrying about slipping because of the rubberized surface. It’s a small touch, but it’s one that adds a lot of ease of use and convenience to the optic overall. The Simmons is the best 22lr scope on a budget.
Common Problems and How to Deal with Them
The windage and elevation turrets indicate the scope’s downsides: no markings and general slipperiness. While these are far from useless, the windage and elevation turrets don’t set and lock nearly as well compared to the turrets you can find on other scopes.
I would recommend spending a bit of time practicing with this optic before taking it into the field, as well as not relying on the windage and elevation turrets too much (thus limiting your shooting to short to mid ranges).
Key Features
- 3-9x magnification
- 32mm objective lens
- SFP scope
Pros
- Excellent rubberized surface
- Good lens quality
- Stellar durability
- Highly affordable
Cons
- Windage and elevation turrets are unmarked
- capped turrets can slip from time to time
Basic Parameters
| Manufacturer | Simmons |
| Eye Relief | 3.75” |
| Weight | 9.6 oz |
| Magnification | 3-9x |
| Field of View | 11’-33’ |
The Bottom Line
Overall, the Simmons Riflescope is still a good affordable Marlin 60 optic thanks to its lenses, easy-to-grip surface, and other element.
My rating: 4.7/5
2. Vortex Optics Crossfire Red Dot Sight Gen II
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If you’re in the market for a good red dot optic to combine with your Marlin 60, Vortex Optics has you covered with this particular piece.
My Feeling After Using This Product
First and foremost, the Crossfire Red Dot Sight has an illuminated red dot reticle. In my experience, this is one of the best tactical sites you can get for this type of rifle. It comes with excellent visibility, night vision equipment compatibility, and a battery that can last for 50,000 hours of use before you need to replace it. Fortunately, when the time does come to replace the battery, you can do so by picking up a spare at any normal grocery store.
I was also impressed by the quality of the lenses. Thanks to antireflective coatings, they are very well protected against scratches, glares, water damage, and more. It complements the red dot’s quality, too: a key concern when you are looking for a reliable tactical sight you can use in any environment.
Naturally, the Crossfire Red Dot Sight is also highly durable and long-lasting. Indeed, this tactical sight has a hard anodized coating on the surface, which resists corrosive damage and also lends the equipment a matte aesthetic. In this way, you don’t have to worry about the scope accidentally flashing in the sunlight and giving away your position. Plus, it adds even more durability to the optic overall.
Product Highlights
In my eyes, the most impressive element of the Crossfire Red Dot Sight is the set of easy-to-use controls. It already offers unlimited eye relief, but it also provides 11 different illumination settings for the above-mentioned red dot.
These illumination settings can be switched using a dial on the optic’s side, which I really liked. I also appreciated the skeletonized mounting system, which is made of aircraft-grade aluminum. This lightweight mounting system makes it quick and simple to add to any Marlin 60 rifle in your repertoire.
Common Problems and How to Deal with Them
If there’s a downside, it’s the fact that the above illumination dial doesn’t lock in place very well. I would recommend twisting it a few times so you can feel just how sticky it is, then adjusting it accordingly. Be careful when using this optic and bumping into the illumination dial, as you may change the illumination settings of the red dot by accident.
This is only really a problem if you are lying prone or if you fiddle with your scope often. Still, it’s something to be aware of when you use this scope.
Key Features
- Tactical red dot sight
Pros
- Very lightweight
- Durable
- Comes with mounting system
- Good illuminated red dot and settings
Cons
- Illumination settings dial can accidentally be changed
Basic Parameters
| Manufacturer | Vortex Optics |
| Eye Relief | Unlimited |
| Weight | 5.6 oz |
| Magnification | N/A |
| Field of View | N/A |
The Bottom Line
Overall, the Crossfire Red Dot Sight is an excellent tactical sight for your Marlin 60, particularly if you want something that can be combined with night vision equipment.
My rating: 4.9/5
If you are interested have a look at the best scopes for M&P 15-22.
3. Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Circle-X Reticle Riflescope
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Bushnell’s Banner Dusk & Dawn Scope is another potentially excellent choice to add to your Marlin 60, and for several key reasons.
My Feeling After Using This Product
In my testing with the Dusk & Dawn Scope, I found that it came made with supremely durable materials. This is a truly weatherproof optic from start to finish, meaning you can use it in wet or foggy weather without worry. The scope’s body is made of aircraft-grade aluminum, which helps to keep the weight of the scope relatively manageable. That’s perfect when combined with a light rifle like a Marlin 60.
The lens glasses are boosted by several coatings to maximize durability and light transmission, which I also really liked. Furthermore, these come with a specialized “Circle-X” reticle. In a nutshell, this reticle helps you estimate the distance between you and your target, assisting with those really difficult shots as you hunt down varmints or participate in target-plinking competitions.
Then there are the windage and elevation turrets. These are far from the best in the industry, but they get the job done, even if they are a little slippery. Overall, the Dusk & Dawn Scope is an affordable piece of equipment for budget-minded Marlin 60 users or beginners to hunting as a sport.
Product Highlights
I especially appreciated the “Dusk & Dawn” titular lens coatings. Put simply, these special coatings maximize light transmission and ensure that the Dusk & Dawn Scope will serve you well in any light environment.
I found that these lenses did a much better job in terms of light transmission and color contrast than what you might expect given the optic’s price overall. The fast focus eyepiece complements this element, helping you sight-in to your target and keep tracking them, even if they move from place to place quite rapidly.
Common Problems and How to Deal with Them
As I noted above, the windage and elevation turrets can feel a little slippery to the touch. On top of that, they aren’t marked, so you’ll have to remember what you set them to when you use this scope. It’s not necessarily a dealbreaker, but it is something that keeps this scope from being the go-to best choice for Marlin 60 rifles overall.
Key Features
- 3-9x magnification
- 40mm objective lens
- SFP scope
Pros
- Very good lens coatings
- Pretty durable scope overall
- Relatively lightweight
- Good reticle for varmint hunting
Cons
- Windage and elevation turrets can feel slippery
- Windage and elevation turrets are unmarked
Basic Parameters
| Manufacturer | Bushnell |
| Eye Relief | 3.3” |
| Weight | 13 oz |
| Magnification | 3-9x |
| Field of View | 14’-40’ |
The Bottom Line
In the end, the Dusk & Dawn Scope is a good Marlin 60 scope for budget-minded hunters or those who want an optic with a reticle that maximizes target acquisition and tracking.
My rating: 4.7/5
This scope would make an excellent Marlin 336 scope.
4. BSA 3-9X40 Sweet 22 Rifle Scope
BSA also offers a pretty good Marlin 60 scope, which comes packed with interesting attributes and features.
My Feeling After Using This Product
The Sweet 22 Scope is, as its name suggests, designed for use with .22 cartridges, just like the kind you would load into your Marlin 60 rifle. That’s a good thing, as this scope is meant to be durable and usable in any inclement weather or hunting environment. It’s made of aircraft-grade aluminum and won’t throw off the balance of your rifle.
That’s not all the Sweet 22 Scope brings to the table. It also comes with decent windage and elevation adjustment turrets. They can quickly be swapped and locked into place, and they are complemented by a side parallax elimination turret. That’s not exactly necessary, given the usual effective range of a Marlin 60 rifle, but still nice to see.
I also really liked the 30/30 duplex reticle. This simple reticle is perfect for tracking small targets in varmint hunting, as it is not crowded with a lot of holdover points or hash marks that might normally get in your way.
Product Highlights
I’d like to specifically point out the quality of the lenses and associated coatings. The 40 mm objective lens is bolstered by special coatings that boost light transmission even further than you might expect. Then the eye relief is about 4 inches, which is great to guarantee you’ll never accidentally injure yourself to recoil.
Common Problems and How to Deal with Them
The windage and elevation turrets, while functional, don’t come with any markings. That’s a bit of a downside, given how excellent they are otherwise.
Key Features
- 3-9x magnification
- 40mm objective lens
- SFP scope
Pros
- Excellent lenses
- Good eye relief
- Windage and elevation turrets can easily be adjusted
- Very durable
Cons
- No markings on windage and elevation turrets
Basic Parameters
| Manufacturer | BSA |
| Eye Relief | 4” |
| Weight | 19.9 oz |
| Magnification | 3-9x |
| Field of View | 13’-40’ |
The Bottom Line
Overall, the Sweet 22 Scope is a good overall scope for .22 rifles in general, not just Marlin 60 firearms, and I’d recommend it to almost anyone who’s a fan of target plinking.
My rating: 4.8/5
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Made The Marlin 60?
Ewald Nichol designed the Marlin Model 99 in 1959. Internally, it was essentially the Model 60, which debuted in 1960. However, there were significant variations obvious from the outside. The Model 99 had a walnut stock, and the receiver was factory-tapped to accept screw-on scope mounts rather than being grooved for tip-off scope mounting like the Model 60. The Model 99 was produced from 1959 to 1961, with a lower-cost version, the Model 99G, available via Marlin’s Glenfield line.
The Model 60 was derived from the Model 99 design in 1960.
What Makes The Marlin 60 A Good Gun?
This rifle incorporates a cross-bolt safety behind the trigger guard that is simple to use even by inexperienced shooters. This, combined with the low recoil and simple charging handle, makes this a great rifle for learning the fundamentals of firearms operation. The length of the barrel varies depending on the model and year. Marlin presently produces rifles with barrel lengths of 18, 19, and 22 inches. When it comes to barrels, they usually have a 1:9 or 1:16 twist rate. Some Model 60s have “micro-groove rifling.” as the company calls it. This is basically a narrower, finer groove that aids accuracy a little bit more and is one of the rifle’s defining features.
With this rifle, Marlin offers a variety of stock options. Swivel studs come standard on the stock. The Marlin 60 is commonly equipped with a ramp front sight and an adjustable semi-buckhorn or open rear sight. A scope mount is also included with the receiver.
What Is The Difference Between A Model 60 and A Glenfield Model 60?
The feeding system of a Marlin Model 60 and a Glenfield Model 60 differs significantly. For the last shot, most bolts do not have the hold open design. These rifles could also have a larger 18-round magazine capacity. According to research, the Glenfields aren’t substantially more desired or unusual than an ordinary Model 60.
What Does A Marlin 60 Cost?
It is incredibly cost effective for almost any budget. The majority of new Model 60s, which will now be manufactured by Ruger following Marlin’s acquisition of Remington, start at roughly $180. At that price, there are few firearms on the present market with such a long history and a reputation for dependability. It’s a safe bet for introducing a new hunter or shooter because of this. Even if the person does not take to either in the long run, the investment is small, and one of these guns is dependable for the rest of their lives.
Who Owns Marlin?
In December of 2007, Remington Arms Company purchased Marlin. In 2021, the Roundhill Group purchased Remington Arms Company and all of its gun-making businesses.
How Far Can A Marlin 60 Shoot?
A Standard Velocity is a velocity that is measured in kilometers per hour. The muzzle velocity (the speed at which the bullet leaves the gun) of a 22 LR round fired from a rifle is approximately 1,125 fps (feet per second). The speed varies depending on the rifle, but the greatest effective range is approximately 150 meters.
Is The Marlin 60 Reliable?
Marlin Firearms has produced more than 10 million of these semi-automatic long guns since its introduction in 1960. It is a reliable and enjoyable to shoot alternative for plinking and small game hunting, and for good cause.
Concluding my Best Scope for Marlin 60 Guide
Personally, I found the Simmons 3-9 x 32mm .22 Mag(R) Riflescope to be the best one for the Marlin 60. This is due to the fact that the scope manages to combine all desirable features, whether it be cost-effectiveness, lightweight or accuracy, and offers users a complete package.
You can choose any scope mentioned above and rest assured that you will be satisfied with it. Make sure you do equip your Marlin 60 with a scope. It can greatly enhance the performance of the rifle and when you are on the hunting field, each improvement matters. Reap the benefits of having a scope and hunt down your target. Another .22 rifle you may like is the Ruger 10/22. For more power check the best scopes for 270 Win.
Mike Fellon was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He inherited his hunting passions after his father John – he was fascinated by his stories, hearing how much attention, focus, dedication and patience he invested in shooting every animal. When he was old enough, his father first allowed him to shoot some cans and bottles with his shotgun, and then took him hunting – it was love at first sight. Mike has never stopped pursuing his hobby ever since.