My daughter (8 yo, 9 near Thanksgiving) has said she wants to go hunting. Background info: She has shot a bb gun, 22 pistol and 22 rifle. Rifle is a ruger 10/22, and is a bit long, which doesnt make it the best for her shooting and getting a feel for. She is somewhat timid on new things, and is a bit noise and recoil shy/worried. We have a slight issue with eye dominance vs hand dominance which we are working on. Earlier this year, I bought a Ruger American gen 2 in 300 blackout. It has the stock you can shorten, and I believe you can adjust the comb to some degree. I got the 300 blk cause I already have that caliber, and I think it would be a good 100 yard or so gun for her, with minimal recoil. I also may or may not have something that can go on the business end that would help with sound and recoil... I won't get into whether I wanted the gun or not.... So now to my actual question. I need to put some kind of scope on it. I have been contemplating what kind of scope, general in terms of brand etc, but also a standard reticle/ crosshair type scope, or perhaps a red dot. Thinking the red dot is very simple. But...I'm also pondering something with multi hold points (ie some kind of bdc) for use if I want to switch between supers and subs. I realize this could potentially make it a bit more confusing for her... What are yalls thoughts?
With that cartridge and expected range it won’t need to be very complex or confusing. I don’t care for red dots because of the size of the dot being at a minimum of 2 MOA and I don’t like being dependent on a battery. I have been using a Vortex Strike Eagle scope on a 450 Busshmaster and 350 Legend for deer hunting. The scopes are fairly small, bright and illuminated if that is needed. The reticle is actually intended for the AR platform chambered in 5.56 for bullet drop calculations but will work fine if you shoot and figure out your own bullet drop and use whatever cross/dot is needed at your ranges. One thing I noticed last deer season was how the “busy” reticle blended in with the brush on a particular doe that thought she was good and hidden at 50yds in the thick stuff. I had a very hard time deciphering what was reticle and what was sticks and twigs. The lighted reticle would have likely remedied the problem but I didn’t think of that till later.
IMO I would keep it as simple as possible with the recticle. I do like multi hold scopes, but like you said it could be confusing. (Ive gotten confused myself with such a scope once or twice) Maybe something with more eye relief. Then there's much worry with getting popped by it if she held it wrong, etc... Not much help, just my .02
Just a chance, somehow all 3 of us are left eye dominant, though write right handed. Test her to be sure if she ever has to use bead sights. I was lost til 1991 and WWW's father saw me stuggling with the beads. Anyway they tie shoes left handed among other things, he's doing left handed guns for her and it works well. Long story short I asked him and he thinks for a kiddo Vortex is his vote. Lol, gun for daughter. I think there is one or two for her and I
