like all guns the barrel will shoot in after use. i never use 3x9 scopes any more. i like a little more power on top of mine. i use mueller scopes alot and have been very happy with all of them i own. while they aren't high end scopes i have found them to track perfectly on every rifle i have put them on.

again i am sorry to hear about your grandson. keep in mind he is watching you and enjoying watching what you are doing. i have a .300 win mag that was willed to me by a friend that he had me biuld for him just before he passed away. i restocked it, rescoped it and have been shooting it from 100 to 600 yards. i know he is sitting up there laughing and saying look at what he biult for me and just how good it shoots.