Looking to see what others prefer for optics on their lever guns. The trapper skinner sight doesn't work for my eyes so moving to either a red dot or low power scope. I would like to hear what you like or if you have a similar set up. I have a pic rail on the top and want to keep whatever optic i use removeable for an iron sight back up. I will need to install a rear sight in the dovetail on the barrel since the skinner sight came off for the pic rail.

Thanks.

What I have left has a K4 and the
others have Leupold 2X7's

Wouldn't have mounted the variables, but
those are what I could come up with at
the time. I wouldn't have even scoped
any of em , but where I hunt has the
ridiculous trophy antler rules, so I have
to carefully study the rack on a buck
to make sure of a legal kill

Used to be a good many smaller fixed
power scopes to be had reasonably,
but the twisty large diameter market
is more lucrative for the manufacturers,
so . . . . . . . . . .

I like a red dot due to its small size and quick acquisition. I also like one that has solar capability so as to be able to use it if the battery is dead. Something like this:

https://vortexoptics.com/sparc-solar-red-dot.html

2-7 Leupold is what’s on mine, but a fixed 4x or 6x would work just fine too.
peak98

Depends on what you're going to use it for. If as a heavy cover hunting rifle, a lightweight, compact, low power variable scope is far superior to a red dot. A Leupold 1-4x20 or 1.5-5x20 is about perfect. The modern LPVO's intended for AR-15's are too big and heavy.

Originally mounted a 3-9 Leupold, but changed to a 2-7 Leupold much handier

I've got 4x Leupolds, 2-7x32 Elites and lately 1-4x20 Leupolds with heavy duplex I've picked up used here in the classifieds. I prefer heavy reticles when I can get them. I used the same setup below, on my 45 Colt to take a doe at last light this past season and had NO problem seeing the deer and putting the crosshairs on the shoulder.

All my other lever guns have traditional Weaver bases and rings. I can take the scope off, just have to use a screwdriver to loosen the ring clamps.

The 1-4 scopes are on my pistol cartridge levers. Ranger Point steel weaver bases and Athlon steel rings with levers, allow me to take off the scope and see the sights through the base. The example below is on my Ruger/Marlin 1894 in .357 magnum.

For what I use them for, I can't find anything I like better than my heavy duplex leupolds.

I run 1x4 leupolds mounted low with burris z rings

Leupold Scout Scope 2.5X. Well out of the way, so no need for spurs etc. Weaver rings on XS rail seated in rear sight dovetail and forward screw.



Guide Gun in a 45-70. Room for a ghost ring on the back. Intention is a close order dark woods elk rifle. A buddy rigged his up similarly, but with quick detachable rings and a ghost ring in place.

Denver Redfield 2.75x20 with a post and crosshair reticle and a Bushnell Scopechief 1.5-4.5x20 are what are on my 336s.

I though I was the only one that liked the thing. Got a 2 3/4x Wide angle CCH about 1967 brand new. Used it on a 338 win mag then on a 308 for a lot of years and today it's on a 30-06. It's a hunting scope! Have a couple of the new Leupold/ Redfields and some things I like about them but for modern scope's I'm liking my vortex scopes pretty well.

I've got a 2-7 leupold on my 35 and 30-30. Wouldn't complain about a 1.5-5 ×20 either.

Leupold 1-4x20 with standard duplex.

My favorite optic for a 336 is Leupold Vari-XIIc 2-7 x33 or32? I also like Simmons Pro Hunter models made in the Phillipines, 2-7 and 3-9, except I don't care for any scopes in 40mm objective or larger.

I should probably start my own thread but a lot of scopes that I have questions about are in this post. I am a fan of 32-36mm objective scopes on not only 336 but my bolt guns as well. I think 40mm objectives look too bulky.

I found that the older Leupold Vari-XII 2-7 x 28mm was the dimmest scope in the woods that I ever used. The later Vari-XIIc with the 32 or 33mm objective in 2-7 was light years better in the twilight hours in the deep woods. I see a lot of the 1-4 x20 and 1.5-5x20 scopes listed as favorites here. How do they work in lower light conditions of early morning and later evenings in the deeper dark woods?

Thanks for sharing. I like the looks of this rail...

I've got 4x Leupolds, 2-7x32 Elites and lately 1-4x20 Leupolds with heavy duplex I've picked up used here in the classifieds. I prefer heavy reticles when I can get them. I used the same setup below, on my 45 Colt to take a doe at last light this past season and had NO problem seeing the deer and putting the crosshairs on the shoulder.

I run a straight 4x Burris on my 1894SS. I have a Bushnell 1.5-4.5x but since the gun is stainless and the scope is silver, I stay with it. For a cheaper scope the Bushnell does a nice job.
I also use a Redfield 2-7x32 on any other lever. It has been on several gun and currently is mounted on my 444. I know that a 3-9 is more popular but I prefer the smaller profile and lower mount of the 2-7. I do get the ghost front sight at 2x but I just avoid it by only going down to 2 1/2x.

I have an swfa 1-4 lvpo on mine. I don't really like the reticle and it's heavier than I like on that rifle but I do like being able to dial.

Bb

Both my 336CS in .35 Remington, and my 1895G in .45-70 have Leupold Vari-X III with regular duplex reticles on them. This has been the best all around woods hunting optic that I have found, and I’ve tried a bunch of them. The weight of these scopes, along with the huge field of view and very forgiving eye box makes them the winner for me.

In 1.5-5x20, I meant to add.

VX-R 2-7x33 with low rings on my Ruger 1894 SBL.

Leupold VX1 2x7 on my 35Rem.

Leupold 2.5-8X is my preference among those still in production. I like the 1.75-6X but a) it's discontinued and b) it has a lot less windage and elevation adjustment, 45MOA I believe, compared to 75MOA for the other VX-3 lineup. For me, the 1.5-5X doesn't add much and where it does, the additional FOV is cluttered by seeing the barrel in the scope which bugs the f*ck out of me and slows me down a lot especially when the barrel length increases.

For my 336 35 REM I chose a Vortex Crossfire II 1x4x24 which also has an adjustable red dot sitting on a DNZ GAME REAPER mount. Love it.

Not a Marlin, but I put a Burris FFIII on a Model 94 30-30 and it is the tits!!!! Stupid fast and very accurate out to 150 yards easy...

Weaver 1-3x20 when available........

Almost perfect

Ditto on 1x3 weaver. Got 2. One on a 444 other on ruger 44 carbine. Soon to be transferred to a 336 marlin 44 texan

Have a 60+ yr old steel El Paso Weaver 3x on mine.