Optics for a Marlin 1895 45/70???
 

I need some ideas for some optics on my 45/70 Marlin. I'd prefer some kind of red dot, because this is my brush gun. Any ideas?

:patriot:

I have a 2-7x on my .30-30, love the levergun/scope combo!

I much prefer a scope to a red dot, least on a rifle.

2x is still very low and great for a brush gun, get a 1-4x or 1.5-5x if you really want low magnification and a scope perhaps...

a red dot past 50yds IMO is pretty bad...

I've had 2 red dots on 2 diff guns before and have sold both and gone with scopes in their place...

For a brush gun, I usually prefer open sights, but when I DO use optics for short range shooting, I'm starting to lean towards the Holosites (aka "open style red dots") instead of a tubular Red-Dot scope.

It's nice having the 3-4x magnification of a Red-dot scope, and I REALLY liked my Bushnell Trophy Multi-Reticle, but for "head-up" shooting in the brush, I'm really enjoying Holosites. Truglo is probably my favorite of the 3 I have.

Ideally, if money wasn't an issue, I'd have 3 or 4 more of the EOTech G23 sights (holosight with flip-to-the-side magnifier tube), but at $1000 a pop, I could only justify buying one!

Try out an "open-style" red dot and see how it works for you. Otherwise, it's hard to beat the Bushnell Trophy or Truglo Tubular Red-Dot scopes.

I have a Leupy VX II on my 1895.... Works well for me, but I'm used to scopes on all my rifles, and don't consider them a hinderance at all. But then again, that's just me...

Burris Fast Fire is nice. I put one on my Win 94 .32 Spl.

MC - I thought a red dot type scope would be great too until I hunted with one. IMO they are great on the range but in hunting situations especially on days when its sunny, cloudy, sunny (varying light) adjusting the intensity of the dot can get to be a pain. Having it bright when it is sunny so you can see it then in dimming light its too bright or vice versa.
I switched to a 1-4x shotgun scope with the circle/crosshair reticle. The circle is great for quick target acquisition in close cover and yet the crosshairs are fine enough for pinpoint accuracy at longer ranges (100 yds).

I just ordered a Leupold Prismatic 1X14mm, it has a etched reticle that is visable with or without batteries, you can also remove the illumination module if you are hunting in a area that does not permit lighted reticles. I am putting it on my Marlin Guide Gun, use it to go in the brush after bears with my hounds.

What do they cost? An arm and a leg, or just a leg?:s2::party0005:

Love the leupold VX-3 1.5-5x20mm I have on my 1895 GBL.

I beleive it is about a arm and two legs. LOL. They cost $480 at Midway. I cant wait to get it.