Scopes on Marlin lever actions
 

Wondered what other hunters are using in new scopes, on Marlin lever actions, these days. In case I have to replace mine.

I have a pre-season check plan to do on my old scope on a Marlin.
Just to check how the scope works now, and works with my older eyes.
No use in waiting for the hunting season. Plus, I have to get in some practice at the rifle range this spring.

Back when I had my old Marlin .30-30 (I bought it off an old coworker I used to work with years ago), it originally had an equally old fixed 4x32 Glenfield scope on it. It was okay, but, just looked odd in my opinion.

Then by the next season, I had picked up a beautiful Savage .308 and had a Bushnell 3-9x40 scope mounted on it. To be honest, the .308 beat the crap out of the old .30-30 and did everything the .30-30 couldn't do.

So, I decided to remove the 4x32 scope from the .30-30 and hock it on eBay, along with its flat mount weaver ring/base. I kept the .30-30 with plain iron sights so I can use it for real up close, brush hunting.

If the Marlin .30-30 is the only rifle you have, then, go ahead and keep it as is with a scope. I've heard that some guys put a 3-9x40 scope on a .30-30 with see-thru rights, so they can maximize the range of the .30-30 way out about 200 yards, and also use the open sights if need be. The new Hornady LeverEvolution ammo is amazing from what I've heard.

My 1895 Marlin in 45/70 wears a 3X9 leupold Vari-X II, in Leupold mounts and rings. Works for me...

My 1895 45/70 has a 1.5 - 4 power Bushnel with see through mounts.:party0005:

Although it's now gone, my Marlin triple 4 had a fixed 4X Leupy on it. Worked well. On my Win 94 .32 Spl., I put a Burris Fast Fire red dot on it. Great visibility and seems to hold up (been there for about a year).

4x32 bushnell on my marlin336 weaver base and rings

I have a MarlinGuide Gun that I have mounted a 4x Bushnell shotgun scope on. It has the circle-X reticle which is great for fast target acquisition and the crosshairs are great to finer shooting. Also the scope is short enough so it is proportionate to the rifle. To me it is a perfect woods gun combo for deer and black bear.

I use a Leupold VX-3 2.5-8x36mm Scope on my Marlin 336BL 30-30 and a Leupold VX-3 1.5-5x20mm on my Marlin 1895GBL 45-70.

I have an old Marlin 336 with a 3-9X Redfield Tracker scope on it. I inherited this rifle from my stepfather. The scope is blurry around the edges and I'm looking to replace it, even though it is still servicable, as evidenced by the javelina I killed at 90 yards a couple of weeks ago. I will probably go with some sort of 1.5-5X scope like I had on my original Marlin in 1973.

My Marlin 1895 Guide Gun .45-70 (Stainless) sports a Bushnell 3-9x40mm in silver.

My Marlin 1894 .44mag (stainless) sports a 4.5-14x40mm Nikon Buckmaster in silver.

My Marlin 1894 .44mag (blued) sports a Bushnell Banner 3-9x50mm Illuminated reticle (for low light hunting conditions in thick brush).

My Marlin 1895 Cowboy .45-70 occasionally sports a Bushnell Elite 6500 4.5-30x50mm Mil-dot sitting on a 20MOA base, for reaching WAY downtown.

Here's my opinion about scopes on a Marlin lever. See-thru mounts are not as good as people assume they are. It's hard to acquire a good sight picture with a scope dangling in the way partially blocking the rear sight. By the time you get a good view, you would have done it quicker with a scope. They also raise the scope high enough that you have to lift your cheek from the stock which can hurt accuracy. Since most Marlin lever actions are used on deer sized targets at 200 yards or less, I like a scope with a smaller objective lens and low scope rings. I use a Bushnell Elite 3200 2-7x32mm on my 336SS and you can see a deer at 200 yards after legal shooting hours. Check out the marlinowners.com website for a lot of great info.

I actually like the See-Thru mounts. They raise the scope just enough that not only can you use the irons, but it's not too close to the hammer spur anymore.

Just another opinion.

On my Marlin 336 I have a 1966 Redfield Acc-Range 3x-9x on it and on my Pre 1964 Win 94 I have a Weaver K3 60-B on it....

Just goes to show that there's no right or wrong way, everyone is shaped diferrently and their eyes focus diferrently. I find it very hard to focus on the sights and the target with the see-thru mounts in the way. I always keep my scope on it's lowest setting and I've never had a situation where a deer was too close. If I hadn't got such a great deal on my Bushnell 2-7x32, I probably would have bought a smaller scope in the 1.5-4 range.