WTB Scope For Son's First Rifle

[jstanton007]

My 11 year old son has just expressed interest in hunting for himself, proud dad moment, and now he is ready to graduate from his 10/22. He has been shooting for a few years now and has been hunting with me but has never expressed interest in actually shooting an animal until now.

I picked up a Ruger American Gen2 6.5CR and now I need a scope for it.

Based on the features I want in the scope, and price point, I have it narrowed down to these 2 scopes.
Vortex Viper HD 3-15x44 (VMR-31052)
GPO Centuri 2.5-15x44i (RCX631)

Optics Planet has the Vortex for $598 with free shipping but figured I would check here first to see if anyone had either of these scopes in good used condition they would part with.

Thanks!

 

[jstanton007]

TTT

 

[Micmac]

J

WTS Thread 'Vortex viper hd 3-15x44 Mils'

Jan 22, 2026

Brand new never even taken out of box. Sold what it was going on. Vortex viper hd 3-15x44 vmr-3 mrad. 550 shipped

• jseymour357
• Replies: 20
• Forum: Optics Classifieds

 

[jstanton007]

J

WTS Thread 'Vortex viper hd 3-15x44 Mils'

Jan 22, 2026

Brand new never even taken out of box. Sold what it was going on. Vortex viper hd 3-15x44 vmr-3 mrad. 550 shipped

• jseymour357
• Replies: 20
• Forum: Optics Classifieds

Saw that but it's mil, looking for MOA.

 

[sll]

I got this NIB if that interests you?

 

[jstanton007]

I got this NIB if that interests you?

Appreciate the offer but not interested in an HS-T. Thanks though.

 

[jstanton007]

TTT

 

[brooney3111]

TTT

Idk if you are on GAFS but someone just posted a viper 3-15 mrad for $490

 

[jstanton007]

Idk if you are on GAFS but someone just posted a viper 3-15 mrad for $490

I am not but sticking with MOA for him. Thanks though.

 

[B Harrison]

I would look for a simple used vx2 or 3 in a fixed parallax.
The extra moving parts may take your son’s interest away from more important parts of learning.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BAKPAKR]

Just an FYI - last fall when I was scoping my daughter’s 6.5 CM, I had several scopes I let her choose from, including a couple of Leupolds, a Bushnell 4200, a Zeiss Conquest, and two SWFAs. She chose the 3-9 SWFA. I think a SWFA would be a definite upgrade over the Vortex.

 

[RandalH]

Should also look at Maven CRS.1, nice scope for the price..

 

[SloppyJ]

I went with a 3x9 trijicon credo for my son's rifles. It's served him well and they're durable. I was able to find them under $500. That or the 3x9 SWFA or even the fixed 6x would be a good one.

 

[jstanton007]

I would look for a simple used vx2 or 3 in a fixed parallax.
The extra moving parts may take your son’s interest away from more important parts of learning.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ive never been a fan of fixed parallax personally. Just doesn't fit our style of shooting or hunting needs.

I narrowed it down to those 2 scopes since for the past 6 months he has been practicing with my custom APR 6.5prc running a Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x50. I want something functionally similar to that.

He understands dialing MOA and parallax adjustment. Right now he is probably shooting about 100 rounds per week from 100-800 yards. He is determined to hit 1000 yards before his 12th birthday in July, which honestly he probably could now but I've been holding him back getting him more proficient.

 

[Firehawk]

Think simple for a young beginner hunter. In most cases, I would recommend a good reliable 3-9 or 3-10 ish type 2nd focal plane scope. VX3HD would be a good option. We used Burris Fullfields with the BP reticle with a lot of success for years, but be wary of the fact that the hash marks are based on highest magnification. That cost my 13 year old son a nice mule deer buck his second year of hunting. But the 2nd focal plane scopes are easier to see the cross hair across all magnifications.

I use VX2 and VX3 scopes with the CDS turrets now. Simple to dial and it doesn't matter what magnification you are on.

Edited: Now that I see your post from while I was typing, sounds like you have an experienced shooter and you are coaching him through things the right way. In that case, ignore my thoughts about simple etc.

FH

 

[jstanton007]

Just an FYI - last fall when I was scoping my daughter’s 6.5 CM, I had several scopes I let her choose from, including a couple of Leupolds, a Bushnell 4200, a Zeiss Conquest, and two SWFAs. She chose the 3-9 SWFA. I think a SWFA would be a definite upgrade over the Vortex.

SWFA makes some good glass, they are not that far from me either, but I dont think the SWFA is a definite upgrade. At best I would say its on par with the other 2.

I know he likes the Viper HD and we looked through a GPO Centuri which he liked also.

Me personally, I think the GPO and Viper HD are on par with one another optically. The GPO has a bit better low light clarity to my eye but without them side by side I wouldn't be able tell a difference.

 

[SloppyJ]

SWFA makes some good glass, they are not that far from me either, but I dont think the SWFA is a definite upgrade. At best I would say its on par with the other 2.

I know he likes the Viper HD and we looked through a GPO Centuri which he liked also.

Me personally, I think the GPO and Viper HD are on par with one another optically. The GPO has a bit better low light clarity to my eye but without them side by side I wouldn't be able tell a difference.

He's not referencing glass quality. He's comparing them in durability, zero retention, and tracking. He's correct in saying that they're an upgrade.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

For $600, you can do a lot better than either of those two scopes. The SWFA, as already mentioned, is one better option. A Trijicon AccuPoint 3-9x40 is another (particularly if you want MOA).

 

[jstanton007]

Think simple for a young beginner hunter. In most cases, I would recommend a good reliable 3-9 or 3-10 ish type 2nd focal plane scope. VX3HD would be a good option. We used Burris Fullfields with the BP reticle with a lot of success for years, but be wary of the fact that the hash marks are based on highest magnification. That cost my 13 year old son a nice mule deer buck his second year of hunting. But the 2nd focal plane scopes are easier to see the cross hair across all magnifications.

I use VX2 and VX3 scopes with the CDS turrets now. Simple to dial and it doesn't matter what magnification you are on.

Edited: Now that I see your post from while I was typing, sounds like you have an experienced shooter and you are coaching him through things the right way. In that case, ignore my thoughts about simple etc.

FH

Normally I would 100% agree with you with respect to a brand new or inexperienced shooter. Start simple with a good reliable 3-9 and work on the fundamentals.

Im a fan of SFP scopes for the very reasons you mentioned.

He has been shooting his 10/22 for about 4 years now and has even done a few youth competitions, just out to 100 yards though. Then he wanted to start shooting further, our range goes to 1,000 yards, so I sat him behind my suppressed 6.5prc and the recoil didn't bother him at all. So he has been shooting that exclusively for the past 6 months every week. He keeps me busy reloading but he his learning that too, I make him do all the case prep!

I think now that he has confidence with a larger caliber thats what prompted him to want to go hunting with me.