I just bought my 7 year old daughter a .22 Chipmunk rifle for Christmas?

Good for you. Teaching your daughter how to shoot a rifle will definitely show her self-control. It really depends, if you are going to be shooting 30 yards are less, I would recommend opens sights.(is better for her to be able to handle a rifle without a scope) If you are planning on get some long range kills I would recommend a scope that is designed for 50 yards and smaller. I would also recommend a bolt action rifle, it will teach her the meaning of one shot one kill, preserve ammo, and be less likely to jam and overheat. ( I know you already got her a a 22.cal but I would get a bolt action 22. as her next weapon. Ruger makes incredible 22. I have a 77/22 and it never had a flaw. Ignore the anti-gun people, they just don't understand the fun and relaxation of shooting. that is too bad. I went to your website... they are nice looking rifles... but I would go scope-less for now though or until she requests one. squirrels are small varmint which you have to be quick to get one in your sites, and for speed and steadiness I would go with the sites also. Happy shooting!

Good for you! I just bought the same rifle for my one year old granddaughter. I had previously bought one for my other grandkids for their first birthdays, too. The other grandkids are 9 years old (triplets) and love to shoot their gun. I started them out shooting with open sights. Later, I put a scope on the rifle and let them shoot it that way. Two of them preferred the open sights while the third preferred the scope. The reason that the two didn't like the scope was that they had a hard time seeing through it. They said that it kept going black on them. I tried to show them how to position their eye so that they could see through the scope but they still preferred open sights. Since the one that preferred the scope could shoot just as well with open sights, I removed the scope and put it away for later in case they changed their minds. So, my recommendation to you is that if your daughter can already shoot with a scope and likes it, put one on the Chipmunk and let her keep on shooting. As for my other granddaughter, I'm going to buy a scope for the Chipmunk but let her dad put it on whenever she is ready for it.

Well with or without a scope is just a matter of preference. It also depends on what she will be shooting with it. If its just target and plinking then open sights will probably work. You will just have to teach her the basic marksmanship fundamentals and how to properly aim with open sights. A scope would be beneficial for longer range target shooting and varmint hunting. There is also a far shorter learning curve for sighting in with a scope. Much less you have to worry about when teaching her to shoot. Just put the cross-hairs on target and squeeze the trigger. Why don't you start her on open sights for awhile and she how she shoots with it. You can always upgrade to a scope once she gets the basics down.

Hope this helps.

I got my first cell phone at 31. But then again, I am older than the idea of cell phones. I still have a non-smart, non-camera, non-texting, non-internet phone. I don't need to have anything more than phone calls and an alarm clock. I don't take pictures, and I use no social media. If I want to contact a friend, I call them and possibly leave a voice message. Or I wait until I get home and email them. I can read a map, so I don't need a GPS navigator app(lication). When North Korea detonates an air-burst nuclear device over the US and the entire grid fails. I'll be the guy who is not panicky.

Let her try both, if she gets irritated that she can't hit a thing without the scope then she might never shoot again.

I introduced my 70 year old mother to shooting with a Ruger 22 with a red dot sight, when she decided she was really enjoying herself on the Coke cans I brought out the 9mm Berretta and the water mellons. She loves shooting.

It will teach her to make a good sight picture using regular sights. I really don't think she's going for a 50 yard shot on a chipmunk. I think being able to hold the gun steady is more important, rather than straining to hold up a gun that's a little too heavy.

Go with the open sight because right now (ever if she can handle the gun OK) the open sight would make the gun lighter and easier to handle

A rifle needs a scope, just doesn't seem right without one.

As for those who have chastised you, for buying YOUR 7 yr old daughter a gun. They must live a different lifestyle, probably city folk. They tend to forget it is YOUR daughter. I bought my boy a .22 rifle at age 8, after he had shot mine and showed interest.

I find iron sights very usefull on .22lr . If you do put a scope on it get see through scope rings so she can still use the iron sights.

Teacher to shoot open sights first once she has mastered them then go for a scope.