Best Scope for Marlin 60 – Top 10 Best Optics for Marlin Model 60 Reviews

The Marlin Model 60 makes a great first rifle for youngsters interested in shooting. This popular rimfire .22 has been used for decades to introduce new shooters to the sport. It has also been a favorite rifle for small game hunting and target shooting.

No matter how it is used, the Marlin 60 really benefits from a quality optic. There isn’t any one best scope for Marlin 60 shooters. There are dozens of first-rate options on the market that partner well with this classic rifle. We’ve narrowed the field a bit for you by gathering a list of some of our favorite models.

If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time for the details, here are our best picks for Marlin Model 60 scopes:

1. Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Rimfire Riflescope
2. Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire Riflescope
3. Bushnell Banner 3-9×40 Dusk & Dawn
4. TruGlo Tru-Brite 30 Hunter 1-6×24 Riflescope
5. Simmons 3-9×32 Rimfire Riflescope
6. Leapers UTG BugBuster 3-9×32 Riflescope
7. BSA Optics Sweet .22 4-12×40
8. TASCO Rimfire Series 3-9×32
9. Barska 3-7×20 Rimfire Riflescope
10. Vortex Optics StrikeFire II Red Dot Sight

What Makes the Marlin Model 60 Special ?

The Marlin Glenfield Model 60 has been in continuous production since 1960. Perhaps the most popular rimfire rifle of its kind, this reliable semi-automatic .22 has introduced generations of  youngsters to shooting. If you grew up in a hunting or shooting family, there’s a good chance your first shots were fired from a Marlin 60. 

Marlin has sold more than 11 million of these rifles over the past six decades. A rifle doesn’t gain that level of popularity without earning it. So, what makes the Marlin 60 so special?

There’s plenty to love about the Marlin 60, but it’s the rifling that really sets this model apart.  

Marlin MicroGroove Rifling

The Marlin 60 uses a patented MicroGroove rifling system, which provides an inherent accuracy advantage over its .22 rimfire competition. While most rifles use between four and eight grooves in their rifled barrels, the Marlin 60 has sixteen. 

The grooves are nominally deep compared to other rifling designs. With flatter lands and shallow grooves, the barrel accumulates less fouling. Marlin also claims their MicroGroove system produces faster muzzle velocities than standard rifling. 

The design definitely deals less damage to projectiles traveling down the barrel. Because bullets fired through MicroGroove barrels retain their integrity, they deliver better ballistic performance and more consistent accuracy. 

The Monte Carlo Stock

The Marlin 60 also comes standard with a Monte Carlo stock. The raised-comb design promotes a solid and consistent cheek weld, making it perfect for teaching good shooting form to inexperienced young shooters. 

Adding A Scope to the Marlin 60

Adding a modern scope to a rimfire .22LR rifle not only increases range and accuracy, it also makes shooting a lot more fun. 

Unlike Marlin’s previous rimfire models, the Model 60 comes factory-tapped to accept screw-on scope mounts. This makes it incredibly easy to top your Marlin 60 with an optic. Make sure you use scope mount rings that are compatible with your new scope. A set of ⅜-inch dovetail rings should work for most set-ups. .

Best Scopes for Marlin 60 on the Market Reviews

Here are our top scope picks for the Marlin Model 60.

 1   Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Rimfire Riflescope

The Vortex Crossfire II is a simple, streamlined, highly effective optic. Built with quality glass and fully multi-coated optics, the scope is designed to reduce glare and maximize light transmission. The result is bright, razor-sharp images, even in low light conditions.

The Crossfire II’s main housing is crafted from a single piece of aircraft-grade aluminum. For increased durability, the main tube has a hard anodized finish. The housing is also filled with nitrogen and sealed to prevent internal fogging.  This solid construction makes the optic 100 percent waterproof and shockproof. 

Perfect for young hunters, the Crossfire II Rimfire features an extremely forgiving eye box and a simple-to-use V-Plex reticle. 

 2   Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire Riflescope

It’s difficult to assemble a “best of” list of optics without including at least one option from Leupold & Stevens. Leupold is one of the most respected names in the optics industry, and their sturdy, high-quality products make it easy to understand why. When it comes to rimfire shooting, it’s hard to beat the Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire. This scope pairs perfectly with the Marlin Model 60. 

The VX-Freedom Rimfire is a handy LPVO (Low Power Variable Optic) with a 2-7x magnification range. This range is perfect for plinking cans or popping squirrels. 

The scope also features a generous 33mm objective lens and fully multi-coated optics, that both work together to increase light transmission. 

Parallax has been adjusted for 60 yards, which tends to be the sweet spot for most rimfire shooting. The scope also has a Rimfire MOA reticle with BDC marks calibrated specifically for .22LR loads. 

 3   Bushnell Banner 3-9×40 Dusk & Dawn

If you often shoot in low light conditions, the Bushnell Banner is definitely one of the best scopes for the job. The Banner features Bushnell’s exclusive Dusk & Dawn Brightness (DDB) multi-coatings. These lens treatments are designed to produce spectacular low-light clarity. The scope also features an ample 40mm objective which adds to the scope’s impressive light gathering abilities. Early morning and late evening shooting just got a whole lot easier.

For long-range shooting, the Banner has ¼-MOA click adjustments, a fast focus eyepiece, and a handy Multi X reticle. 

Built for tough use, the Banner is made from high-grade aluminum alloy. The housing is o-ring sealed and argon purged, making it temperature stable regardless of the outside weather. 

 4   TruGlo Tru-Brite 30 Hunter 1-6×24 Riflescope

The TruGlo 30 Hunter is a fantastic compact option for your Marlin 60. The 30 in the model designation refers to the scope’s 30mm tube diameter. That extra width allows plenty of light into the optic for bright clarity and sharp color contrast. The scope also features fully coated lenses to reduce glare and maximize light transmission. 

At the scope’s lowest magnification, shooters can take advantage of a true 1x sight picture. This allows for quick target acquisition on close-range, fast-moving targets. For more precision on distance shots, just dial the scope up to 6x and you’re ready to go.

The Tru-Brite 30 Hunter is crafted from CNC machined aluminum. Capable of handling rough use and tough environments, the scope is nitrogen filled and sealed, making it completely fogproof and waterproof. The scope is also built to withstand shock without losing its zero.

 5   Simmons 3-9×32 Rimfire Riflescope

This rimfire scope from Simmons is ideal for budget-conscious shooters. Although priced well under $100, this scope is anything but cheap. The Simmons Rimfire scope is made with high-quality optical glass with HydroShield lens coatings that guarantee excellent light transmission, high-contrast color, and impressive clarity, even in wet conditions. 

This highly affordable riflescope also has high-end features like an easy-to-use TrueZero adjustment system, a Quick Target Acquisition eyepiece, and an intuitive Truplex reticle. 

The Simmons rimfire scope is perfect for hunting varmints and small game. If you hunt with gloves, you’ll really appreciate the scope’s SureGrip rubber surfaces. This non-slip treatment covers the eyepiece, windage and elevation caps, parallax adjustment knob, and the power change rings. Whether the weather is wet or you’re wearing gloves, SureGrip allows you to easily adjust your scope in the field. 

 6   Leapers UTG BugBuster 3-9×32 Riflescope

This super affordable riflescope is one of the highest rated optics on Amazon. Don’t let the price tag fool you. The UTG BugBuster has some surprising features, especially for a budget scope. 

Quality features include zero-lockable target turrets, fully multi-coated optics, and a wide field of view. The BugBuster’s lenses have a special emerald coating that is designed to relax the eye for easier shooting in bright sunshine, low light, and anything in between. 

Thanks to its adjustable wide angle objective, the BuBuster is parallax free from three to infinity. The scope also has an easy-to-read Mil-Dot reticle for quick holdover corrections. Shooters can choose between red and green reticle illumination to match any lighting condition or target background. 

 7   BSA Optics Sweet .22 4-12×40

The Sweet .22 riflescope from BSA Optics is designed specifically for use with .22 rifles. This makes it a nice match for the Marlin 60. 

The Sweet .22 has three turrets that are ballistically calibrated for standard 36-grain, 38-grain, and 40-grain .22LR cartridges. This one feature allows for incredibly precise long-range shooting. 

The Sweet .22 also features an adjustable objective, a straightforward Duplex reticle, and a sturdy aluminum construction. 

With fully coated lenses and a generous 44mm objective, the scope provides decent light transmission. While you shouldn’t expect the premium image quality of a high-end scope, the Sweet .22 works quite well for most shooting applications. 

 8   TASCO Rimfire Series 3-9×32

Although this TASCO scope would never be considered a premium optic, it is tailor-made for .22 rimfire rifles. If your main goal is plinking cans, this optic does a fine job. It even works well for rabbit and squirrel hunting, as long as your targets are within 60 yards. 

The scope is refreshingly durable for a budget optic. It holds zero well and is fully waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof. It also features multi-coated lenses, a fast focus eyepiece, and comes ready to mount with its own Weaver-style scope rings. 

If you want an inexpensive, entry-level optic, the TASCO rimfire riflescope offers nice performance without the need for a huge monetary investment. Perfect for beginners, the scope is seriously user-friendly. It has a simple 30/30 crosshair reticle that is incredibly intuitive, especially for inexperienced shooters. 

 9   Barska 3-7×20 Rimfire Riflescope

In the world of optics, it’s usually true that you get what you pay for. If you want quality and performance, you should be prepared to invest some cold hard cash. However, every once in a while a super budget-friendly scope comes along that truly surprises us. This rimfire optic from Barska is one of those scopes. 

This user-friendly rimfire riflescope features a simple 30/30 crosshair reticle for easy aiming and ¼  MOA click adjustments. 

The optics are coated to increase clarity, but you shouldn’t expect to be blown away by the image quality. Although this scope does surprisingly well for its price, it’s still a budget scope. If you need something cheap for fun backyard plinking, this scope does a decent job. If you need to see sharp details on distant targets, this isn’t the scope for you. 

 10   Vortex Optics StrikeFire II Red Dot Sight

The Vortex StrikeFire II is a red dot, so it isn’t technically a scope. However, red dots work nicely on .22 rimfire rifles. Since this is one of our favorite red dot models, we had to add it to the list. 

The StrikeFire II is a seriously rugged and reliable optic. The main housing is constructed using a single piece of aluminum. The tube is o-ring sealed and nitrogen purged to prevent internal fogging and protect the optic from water damage. 

Although the StrikeFire II doesn’t provide magnification, it is designed to help you get on target quickly. It also makes engaging fast-moving targets a breeze. 

The Vortex StrikeFire II features a 4 MOA aiming point. It has 10 brightness settings to enhance visibility in any daylight condition. It also has two special settings for night vision, just in case you need to use your Marlin 60 for nighttime tactical shooting. 

Final Thoughts

Whether you want a cheap optic for fun afternoon plinking or a serious optic for more serious shooting, there is something on our list to meet your needs. Even the best scope for Marlin 60 won’t do you any good if it’s just sitting in the gun safe. Once you’ve chosen a scope and have it mounted on your rifle, head outside and do some shooting.