Keeping it cheap because…I’m cheap, I shoot the Marlin 60 rarely, but (think that I) want some (up to 9x or 12x in a light package) magnification. I picked up a few dovetail conversion rails to try.
Simmons keeps coming up in searches but they’re ~$50. Are they any good? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KOSB34
Bushnell too. https://www.opticsplanet.com/bushnell-3-9x40-banner.html
Can I really get out of this for under $100?
I’ve had an old $100ish Bushnell 1-4 on my 10/22 for more than a decade. It is nothing special but it’s still doing its job.
ALso found this, and it comes in silver.
Answering your question, yeah, imo $100 will do you fine for a scope. Vortex, Bushnell, either is fine. Cripes, I was fine at 100 yards with a Center point,and still use that on an air rifle. My pictured scope is 7x, and I am hitting 12" plates at 300 pretty consistently. I thought it was 9x 'til I just took this photo, so guess it’s an overachiever 
Nikon bushmaster, if still around would be a great choice as well…My mini 14 broke one, but my Mossberg 5.56 treats another one well, and the glass is crystal clear. I still have the replacement Niko…oh wait, nope, it’s on my latest AR…not for sale 
Thanks! I looked at a bunch of the “top scoped for Marlin 60” and so many list Simmons, Tasco, etc.
Yeah. Not familiar with them, but have and will vouch for Bushnell, Nikon, Vortex, Primary Arms, AR Optics, Leupold, UTG, and Center point.
@Brad Hi Brad here’s a link for the one I use on my Marlin 60. I’ve had really good luck with mine. It’s a Pinty Rifle Scope 3-9x40 Duplex Crosshair R4 Reticle with 20mm Free Mounts, $29.99 and free delivery. It’s not the best but it works great for me. Check it out. 
This is a good post because I have been re-finishing a Marlin 60. I put a new stock on it and re-blued it and I want to put a scope on it too!
After reviewing many sites and all of your lovely posts, I ordered last night. As I mentioned, OpticsPlanet gives deals if you ask for them by phone…and I did.
And I believe that it will bolt directly on without the need for the adapters I bought.
I shoot at the range a lot and use this on another firearm too. If I shoot this rifle short distances, this might be dandy, especially indoors.
And I love a lot of UTG/Leapers stuff, so I got this while I was getting a deal and free shipping.
There’s always something that needs a cheap scope type device!
I have the 3-9x Simmons 22 mag on my Model 60. For an inexpensive scope, it is excellent. Been on the rifle since 2009 and has never lost zero. Probably at least 6000 round through it since then.
Thank you for that. It is such a mild shooter and spends most of its life in the safe. It is beautiful, and I need to shoot it more. I got the silver to match, even though it appears to be painted and not natural.
Suggest you try “Tacswap” (tacswap.com) or “TacticalGearTrade” (tacticageartrade.com) to extend your buying power. Most of those I work with use Tacswap and they get some great deals. Also good for unloading stuff you wish you had never purchased.
Thanks for those. Note that the “l” is missing off of tactical, for anyone trying to use the second one.
I’m bad.
Why would anyone be looking at a 14X scope for a .22? At .22 distances, the field of view would be so small a whole squirrel wouldn’t fit in. I’m no scope expert but for a .22 I wouldn’t be looking at anything over 4X and a fixed magnification at that. Why spend all the extra money a variable costs when you won’t be using it anyway? If you are really cheap as you say, look at low powered single magnification scopes. They are really out of style right now, so when you find one, it will be on the low end of costs.
Unless I were competing in .22 matches, I really wouldn’t be really concerned about high quality. At .22 ranges, the scope just makes hitting the target easier than iron sights. I used about a $20 scope on a pellet gun to take ground squirrels at about 20 to 25 yards and was able to hit them where I wanted if I did my part. The scope was better than I was even though it was the cheapest one I could find and most certainly was a Chinese import. I wanted to wipe out a colony of pestiferous ground squirrels and didn’t want to spend a fortune doing it and the pellet gun and the el cheap scope worked just fine. I still use it in the garage occasionally for target practice and if I do my part, it works.
Were I competing in international pellet gun matches, I expect my skill level to be higher and I would have a better pellet gun and scope than what I use for plinking or working on getting better in my garage — or wiping out a colony of flea-bitten rodents that are known to be bubonic plague carriers.
I have an older Simmons, 3-9x32. It works well, but, is lacking in features. Next up, is a Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40. It has great glass, and works well. For a little more, you could step up to a Vortex, or even better, a Riton. It all depends on what exactly you intend to do with that Marlin. With the right Ammo, and the right amount of skill, it can reach out to 300 yards for target shooting. If it’s hunting small game, 100-125 is very doable.
Just got a Marlin 60, was thinking about getting a high powered scope for fun…
