to scope or not to scope 336A
 

hunting season has ended here, but this year i noticed something. Normally i use my Marlin 336 when on a drive or hunting in the woods (no scope). I use my 7mm-8 or 30.06 bolt action scoped rifles when sitting or for longer range field hunting.

one morning while on a hunt, i grabbed the 336, i came out of a woods edge and had a shot at a deer about 150 yards away in a field. I didn't shoot because i wasn't sure i could take him cleanly with iron sights at that range. My thought was to scope my 336 with a 2x lightweight scope from Leupold that i already purchased.

my question is, i want to keep this a woods gun but also need to be able to line up a scoped shot for just this scenerio. What do i do? i want iron sights and a scope.... I tried see thru rings but couldn't get the gun to shot accurate. Maybe i bought the wrong rings or have no idea what i am doing. Any one care to give me some ideas?

RE: to scope or not to scope 336A
 

I would try a aimpoint dot site if I owned one

RE: to scope or not to scope 336A
 

I honestly don't see where a 2X scope is going to do you much better at 150 yards. At least not for me it wouldn't.

I put scopes on most every gun I own, but in my honest opinion for you I might suggest just practicing more with the open sights. You might be surprised what you can hit if you try it. Maybe look at some better open sights?

That being said, if it were my gun it would have a decent lower powered variable like a 1.5 or 1.75 on the low end and around 4 power on the top end. A nice compact one with plenty of field of view to it.

Realistically if you put a scope on and had a deer come in real close while on stand you could darn near point and shoot and kill it with a 30-30. Try that a bit one some close up targets and you might be amazed at well you can do.

Paul

RE: to scope or not to scope 336A
 

On my 336, I use a 2-7x32 which allows me to shoot at 30yds or 200 yards with accuracy. I agree, a 2x scope won't do you much good at 150 yds, but with a 2-7, you have the best of both worlds. You live in Wisconcsin and thats pretty much the same type of terrain I hunt and this combination works great. Another combination would be QR rings with XS ghost sight. I use this on my 1895G for bear and I can remove the scope in seconds and when I reinstall it, it will shoot within an inch before I took it off. The see-thu mounts you tried were probably ok but you have to raise your head so high to see through them you loose some stability. Try a compact scope, I think you will like it.

RE: to scope or not to scope 336A
 

Well, back in 1957 I was shooting the Garand @ 1000 yd's with peep sight, but as the years went by, I needed all the help I could get!:)Now everything has to be scoped. I am far sighted,and if I don't use my glasses, I cant see the adjustments on the scope!:D

RE: to scope or not to scope 336A
 

GEEZ REBEL, who gave you my eyes?

RE: to scope or not to scope 336A
 

Once you mount that 2x leupold scope LOW over bore you'll forget that it even HAS any open sights. In fact,you'll be able to actually aim and shoot QUICKER using that scope mounted as low as you can get it. WHATEVER you do,DON'T mount it using "see-thru" mounts or rings! They put the scope entirely too high for proper aiming.

RE: to scope or not to scope 336A
 

I would put the 2x on it since you already have it.

OR

I had the same problem so I went to Wal-Mart and got some weaver scope mounts that have a see through desind so I can look under the scope and shoot with the iron sights. Those mounts have claimed the life of many many armadillos. My 30-30 will blow them kill in half.

RE: to scope or not to scope 336A
 

scope it... a 336 with a low-power, low-mounted scope is a great whitetail rifle.

RE: to scope or not to scope 336A
 

go with millettsee thrurings.. a danner dusk to dawn 1.5-4 x32 scope and dont look back

RE: to scope or not to scope 336A
 

i have a bushnell 4x scope on low mounts on my 336. it's a great shooter!

RE: to scope or not to scope 336A
 

I have a Leupold M8 4x on my Marlin 336. Good luck.

RE: to scope or not to scope 336A
 

I just can't see yall liking the see-thru scope mounts. They raise the scope so high it's impossible to acchive a good cheek weld,it totally throws a person off for quick accurate shooting,AND THE MAN ALREADY SAID HE'S TRIED SEE-THRU MOUNTS AND DIDN'T LIKE THEM!

RE: to scope or not to scope 336A
 

I scoped my Win 94 30-30 this year and liked it. I used a Bushnell Banner 1.75-4 Shotgun scope. I cranked it down when bushwackin and turned it up when sittin. I used the same scope on my Knight ML and had no problem with 150+ shots. With the Hornady ammo you would have an easy 200 yard gun or a 10 yarder.

RE: to scope or not to scope 336A
 

Yeah, I hate the darned things too. There is no reason to use the open sights if you have a functional scope mounted, and no reason to leave a non-functional scope mounted to a rifle. Better to carry an allen wrench with your gear to remove the scope if needed, or invest in a quick-detach scope mounting system.

My suggestion for a compromise if you don't really want to mount a scope would be to mount an aperature (peep) sight on the receiver. One with click adjustments is the best if you want to be able to easily change settings, but the ones that lock in place with a screw are simpler and somewhat tougher. Make sure you get one with multiple sized aperatures so you can taylor the aperature opening to the conditions.

Both Lyman and Williams make good aperature sights that will mount right up to your receiver. If I'm not mistaken, the 336's are pre-drilled and tapped for a receiver sight.

Mike

RE: to scope or not to scope 336A
 

Oh, and a peep sight would easily allow 150+ yard shots with a little practice, as long as your eyesight is good (even with glasses).

In the Marine Corps, we shot at the 500 meter line with open peep sights (I was in before they started issuing the A4 uppers with various non-iron "sight systems" to anybody but SOCOM troops and a handful of MEU-SOC guys). With a good sling and shooting position it is quite do-able.

A little trick with peep sights is to use a lighter and black out the front sight with soot. Makes it a lot easier to see clearly and line up more precisely.

Mike

RE: to scope or not to scope 336A
 

No see through rings. Go to XS Sights http://www.xssights.com/ and look at their ghost ring sights. They're really fast to acquire and you can mount the scope rail in addition if you reallly want a scope. My opinion is if it's a designated brush gun no scope. Maybe a Bushnell Holosight or something like that would be sufficient and if mounted in addition to the XS Sights you could remove it and use the ghost rings in a pinch. Dead battery etc...

RE: to scope or not to scope 336A
 

we have a 336 30-30 with the "peek-a-boo" scope mounts and a 4 power scope on it , works well and has killed plenty of deer!

RE: to scope or not to scope 336A
 

Wonder how many more it would have gotten if you had a good setup with corresponding confidence?

RE: to scope or not to scope 336A
 

I have a XS leverrail and Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40mm in Leupold PWR rings on my Marlin 336, and it is still a great "woods" gun. With LeverEvolution ammo, it is a proven killer too.