Author Topic: Scoping my Marlins (Read 4800 times)

Swampman · « **on:** January 19, 2008, 01:19:29 AM »

I've been wanting to scope several of my Marlins and I was thinking about something reasonably priced. I really like (and use )the Bushnell Banner 1.5-4.5X32 and I'll probably use that on some of my less than pristine rifles. I also have the Leupold Rifleman 2-7X33 on my Guide Gun and it's ok.

I made the mistake of looking through the Bushnell 2-7X32 3200 Elite at BassPro last night. I can't believe a compact scope can be that clear and bright. I think I'll have to drop the coin on at least 2 of them. My better Marlins deserve nice glass.

whiskybill · « **Reply #1 on:** January 19, 2008, 09:26:41 AM »

Bushnell makes scopes that have the Browning name on them and times you can pick them up pretty cheap

So they are just as clear and bright

kyelkhunter3006 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2008, 12:54:21 PM »

I've got an Elite 3200 2-7 on my 30-06 and have been very happy with it. You can get the Brownings at Natchez Shooter's Supply right now for $125, one heck of deal. I'd probably go that route right now, for the scope is exactly the same as the 3200 except for the Rainguard feature.

cherokee75 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 29, 2008, 12:44:51 AM »

Just wondering if you prefer the see through mounts on your Marlins? I have a 336W .30/30 and had a scope on it with the see through rings but did not like the height. I am considering whether or not to get the Weaver style base and rings or stay with open sights. I can't hunt with it in IL so it is just for plinking/target shooting anyhow.

tracker370 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 29, 2008, 02:00:57 AM »

Just last week I mounted a TruGlo red dot scope on my 45-70 guide gun. It is mounted forward, scout style, on an XS scout rail. At first I thought this would be blasphemous, but man is it sweet. It allows me to keep both eyes open when shooting and panning with rifle, I acquire the sights very quickly, and it can still punch a group into a coffee cup lid at 100 yards. I was sold the minute I got it dialed in.

guzzijohn · « **Reply #5 on:** January 29, 2008, 05:16:51 AM »

For a period of time I had see through mounts with a Weaver K4 on my 39A. I never used the see through and that little extra bit of height really did seem to affect the balance more than you would think. My two cents worth.
John

stoutstuff · « **Reply #6 on:** January 29, 2008, 06:26:58 PM »

I mounted a 2x7x32 Mueller Multi Shot Sport Dot on my 1st generation Marlin 444 with the monte carlo stock. Think I paid under $130. This is my third Mueller... I really like that lit dot. They are an advertiser on Graybeard. Reviews on their website or google.

Swampman · « **Reply #7 on:** January 29, 2008, 11:58:15 PM »

Are they made in China?

kyelkhunter3006 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 30, 2008, 05:24:49 AM »

Yes, Mueller's are made in China.

stoutstuff · « **Reply #9 on:** January 30, 2008, 04:08:38 PM »

As far as I know, Japanese glass, assembled in China. I would just say they are worth a look for the price point. Comparable to more expensive optics and the lit dot is very cool. Optics very good. The question in my mind is durability in the long run. So far I'm impressed.

kyelkhunter3006 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2008, 09:23:34 AM »

You know, the thing about Chinese stuff just doesn't hold much water anymore. I am "buy American" when I can, and I think everyone else should too. But, jeez, I can't always shell out $300 or more for a scope, so sometimes you just have to compromise and get the most for your dollar. I have one of the new Simmons Master Series Pro Hunter's that's made in China, and it seems to be a well made product. I've had it about a year, never any problems at all. Like someone on GB said a while back on another post thread, if you don't like stuff that's made in China, you've got no business using a computer.

Keith L · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2008, 10:54:14 AM »

With optics there is no such thing as cheap and good. When you cut the cost you have to give up features. It may be the ability to gather and pass through light, it may be clarity at the edge, it may be lighter weight supports for cross hairs, it may be lighter, cheaper mechanical structure, or combinations of all these things. If your application doesn't require as much then perhaps you can get by with less. Trouble is what do you do when you have spent thousands of dollars for the hunting trip of a lifetime, and another eight hundred on just the right rifle and find out when you are on stand that the $99 bargain scope has decided it is time to fail.

When ever I have gone with cheap in the past I have soon regretted it. You need to do what you want.

Swampman · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2008, 11:29:16 AM »

IMO the Bushnell Banner & Elite scopes can't be beat at any price period.

I do my best not to buy "Made in China" when I have a choice. With electronics you really don't have a choice.

kyelkhunter3006 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2008, 01:47:06 PM »

Now guys, I didn't mean that you should take a cheapy scope on the hunt you saved for five years to pay for....if you managed to save enough for that hunt, getting the cost of a good scope shouldn't be an issue. If it is, then you take one of your good scopes off of another gun and put it on the gun you are going to hunt with. Ron Spomer had an interesting article in the newest issue of RIFLE magazine regarding cheap scopes. Cheap is also a relative term. To most mortals, $300 isn't a cheap scope by any means. For the guy who's got a $3000 rifle with a Schmidt & Bender $1500 scope on it, a $300 scope is a cheap one.

I used to read a lot of articles by gun writer Gary Sitton. He told it like it was, no BS. He had several high dollar custom guns, a Dakota Model 10 falling block 25-06, a Jarrett custom Remington M7 in .250 Savage, and custom Winchester 300 Mag by David Miller. You know what scopes he had on them? The Dakota had a Bausch & Lomb 3000 3-9x40, the Jarrett had a B&L 3000 2-7x32 (now the Bushnell 3200's) and the .300 had a B&L Balvar 1.5-6x32 on it. For those guns, these are cheap scopes. He hunted longer and harder than any of us will, and he used those scopes with complete confidence. I think you can't beat them. If only they made a fixed power scope....

I think that some of the people that say you should spend as much on the scope as you do on the gun are nuts. A scope is a SIGHT, not a looking glass. You don't use your riflescope to glass for long periods of time, like your binocs. Unless you love to twiddle the turrets, once the gun is zeroed, whether or not the adjustments actually move a 1/4" at 100 yds is irrelevant. You probably aren't going to touch them again. As long as it holds zero, you're good to go. I'd say that except for the cheapest of the cheap, any scope is going to have good enough glass and light transmission for our legal hunting hours in the U.S. I've had the gamut from the old Busnell Sportview and Simmons Deerhunter to several Nikon Monarchs, Leupolds, Elites, etc. All of them functioned well enough and I could see well enough to take any shot during legal hours in KY. I'll admit, for you guys lucky enough to get to hunt anything at night, you want better glass. I could care less about clarity at the edge, because I look through the x-hairs when I look in a scope, not at the edges.

P.S. Yeah, I'm grouchy and cynical right now. I'm sicker than a dog, haven't had a decent nights sleep in 4 days, so take it with a grain of salt.

Keith L · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2008, 02:24:44 PM »

I agree that you won't be moon watching with them, but I want the field of view to be clear and undistorted. Many cheap scopes have distortion and fogging at or near the edges. In Wisconsin often the best hunting is at the beginning and end of the shooting day, and light is diminished. Cheap scopes go dark and good glass is still useable. And I don't want the darned things to break when I need them.

The nice thing is that in America we can each choose the one that makes us happy.

Hope you get feeling better!

Swampman · « **Reply #15 on:** January 31, 2008, 02:38:56 PM »

Natchez has Bushnell 2-7X32 3200 Elites for $119.00. The same scopes with Browning markings they are selling for $114.00.

I wish I had $500.00+ extra for scopes right now.

kyelkhunter3006 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 01, 2008, 07:31:49 AM »

At that price, I'm sure I could come with uses for at least 10 or 12!!!

Hmmm, VISA, burn plastic burn!!

Greenhunter · « **Reply #17 on:** February 05, 2008, 06:43:24 PM »

On my 1894 I put a Bushnell 3x9 Elite on a weaver base and Warne rings.
I would never use or recommend see-thru rings.
They never get used and the scope is too high for accurate shooting.

Sweetwater · « **Reply #18 on:** February 07, 2008, 10:32:36 AM »

My 1894Marlin has a Leupold 2 1/2power in Redfield medium rings on a Redfield Jr one-piece base. No arguements with this set-up. It is the only new Leupold I've ever had, at a touch under $180 including shipping and insurance. I do prefer the one-piece base and the low fixed power scope. I've not taken any game with this setup, but I've used a 4 or lower power scope all my life - from the woods of Maine, onto the high deserts and mountains of Wyoming, and back into the thick stuff in North Idaho. I've never felt that I was under-powered for sighting. Shots have been from 25ft to 350yds. They work.
I have an old Weaver K2.5 that fogged up twice back in the early 50's. Old Mr. Weaver got it sealed up right, and it's never had a repeat. It still sits on a 257Roberts Remington 722. A Lyman All-American 3X sat on my Persian Carbine most of 40 years. I never did really like it, but it sure worked. I replaced it a couple years ago with a nearly new Leupold M8 in 4X for $135 including the shipping and insurance. (Love those auction sites). I have a couple Swift scopes that I really like and a couple Redfields that have served the test of time. (Over 30 years each). I had a Bushnell Banner that literally came apart on a 22lr rifle and a Bushnell Sportview on a 30-06 Remington 700 that would not hold zero long enough to get it out of the case. It went back twice and I said 'nuff'. Probably isolated incidents, but they sure soured me on their scopes. Gotta go shovel snow.

Regards,
Sweetwater

kfarm · « **Reply #19 on:** February 07, 2008, 05:04:40 PM »

Put a 2x7x32 Mueller Multi Shot on my 336 - 35 Remington and absolutely love it for the money, Have a Weaver K4 on 336 30-30.
Just my thoughts.

McLernon · « **Reply #20 on:** February 08, 2008, 07:37:12 AM »

I put 3X-9X Elite 3200's on two of my Marlins. Bright and clear-- good scopes fo the money.

Mc

Swampman · « **Reply #21 on:** February 08, 2008, 02:30:30 PM »

Quote from: McLernon on February 08, 2008, 07:37:12 AM

I put 3X-9X Elite 3200's on two of my Marlins. Bright and clear-- good scopes fo the money.

Mc

None better!

ccoker · « **Reply #22 on:** February 11, 2008, 02:44:08 AM »

I have recently got 3 marlins
a 336 T in 30/30 for my son, using the Leupold 1-4 heavy duplex shotgun scope I had got for the 444 Winchester (now gone)
a 68 35rem with a VX3 1.5-5
a stainless 45/70 guide gun with an express scout mount and leupold scout scope

hands down I like the last setup the best
I was very apprehensive about it because I have used pistol scopes and they are a bit on the finicky side to use
well, the leupold scout is so easy to use, no finicky eye relief, good FOV

trying real hard not to spend the money converting the other guns
I think that the scout scope setup would be perfect for starting a young hunter with, no magnification to mess with (kids tend to want to crank up the magnification, no chance of getting smacked by a scope, etc..

I am used to higher power and more expensive scopes on my bolt action guns, but I am very impressed with the scout setup.
not a problem to shoot 1" groups at 100 yards with it..
would have no problem taking bigger game out to 200 yards

K.K · « **Reply #23 on:** February 11, 2008, 11:26:53 AM »

I just mounted a 1-4 Leupold Heavy Duplex scope in Warne bases and rings on my .450 Guide Gun. It's been way too cold to get to the range, but the set-up is very fast and easy to acquire, and should serve me well for the hunting that I do with this rifle.

cybin · « **Reply #24 on:** February 11, 2008, 05:55:22 PM »

Over 30 years ago I put a bushnell 4 power scope on my 336 30-30, with look under mounts. The scope hasn't ever needed to be adjusted, and has worked fine every year. The look under mounts are great when the shots are very close, and lets face it--most deer are killed east of kansas with in 75 yards. I have killed them with in 10 yards, and as far away as 120 yards. When the deer is up close, all you will see through a scope is hair. You won't see where to shoot. And if you have to ever finish one off--well you are usually right on top of it. I tracked one down this past season for my brother-in-law and ended up shooting it at about 20 feet. Put a target up about 20 feet away and look through your scope--and I will be surprised if you see much of anything.

Swampman · « **Reply #25 on:** February 11, 2008, 11:42:33 PM »

I have a drawer full of See-Thru mounts. I take them off as soon as I get home from the gun show. I hate to throw them away and they aren't worth the shipping price to ship them to someone.

kyelkhunter3006 · « **Reply #26 on:** February 12, 2008, 07:33:44 AM »

Quote from: Swampman on February 11, 2008, 11:42:33 PM

I have a drawer full of See-Thru mounts. I take them off as soon as I get home from the gun show. I hate to throw them away and they aren't worth the shipping price to ship them to someone.

Keep enough of them and maybe you'll be able to sell them for scrap?

Keith L · « **Reply #27 on:** February 12, 2008, 07:41:53 AM »

I have used a set of takeoff see thrus for mounting a 50mm end bell scope on a bolt gun. You couldn't see thru them any more because of the end bell! And I had to build up the stock to get a good cheek weld.

cybin · « **Reply #28 on:** February 13, 2008, 05:56:11 PM »

Maybe you guys just don't know how to use them (see under mounts)--or else I got lucky with mine. My father had tip over mounts on his 336 30-30---they seemed to always float in my opinion. One time you would be dead on at 100 yards--the next time you would be either a couple of inches to the left or right. Never bad enough not to hit your deer--but never completely accurate enough for me. He liked them though. He used them many years with a weaver k-4.

Keith L · « **Reply #29 on:** February 13, 2008, 06:58:05 PM »

You got lucky. Those see thru mounts are so high you can't get a good cheek weld. Period. IF you could then you wouldn't be able to see the iron sights.