Scope Reccomendations for Lever Action

The most effective reticle on a big game rifle is a standard plex or if available a heavy plex. That more than anything else will help you aim properly in poor light situations. Fine crosshairs and BDC type ones are best suited to shooting groundhogs on a bright sunny summer day. In the snow and rain when you have an 8 point buck trotting by and have about 3 seconds to identify it as legal and then make a good shot all those trinkets just slow you down. Just as an aside, the most popular scope used by guides in Africa and Alaska when loss of life is a very real possibility the Leupold 1.5x5 is the most popular choice. They also never use see through mounts as again it just forces you to make a decision between 2 options and that can be enough to miss an opportunity. A low mounted, lower powered variable is the best option. If you dislike scopes then I would recommend yo just use a Williams type peep sight and restrict your shots to where you can hit a 6" circle off hand every shot, not just once out of 5 shots. I know people who can do that at 100 yds. They are a rare exception with excellent eye sight. Few people over 40 can be effective at long range with iron sights. In fact the front bead pretty well covers the entire deer at 100yds so I can't see how one can make an accurate shot. You are just shooting "at" a deer at that point not at a chosen point .

Thanks terry....Actually the gun currently sits with williams peep on it and altho I like it and it shoulders quickly and on target....I would just prefer a scope...to get a little more range and a little more light gathering for further shots if needed. Most of my shots will be well within 200 yrds.

one setup I am tossing around currently is a redfield 2x7x33 with 4 plex reticle and leupold Std rings and bases.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by terrym

The most effective reticle on a big game rifle is a standard plex or if available a heavy plex. That more than anything else will help you aim properly in poor light situations. Fine crosshairs and BDC type ones are best suited to shooting groundhogs on a bright sunny summer day. In the snow and rain when you have an 8 point buck trotting by and have about 3 seconds to identify it as legal and then make a good shot all those trinkets just slow you down. Just as an aside, the most popular scope used by guides in Africa and Alaska when loss of life is a very real possibility the Leupold 1.5x5 is the most popular choice. They also never use see through mounts as again it just forces you to make a decision between 2 options and that can be enough to miss an opportunity. A low mounted, lower powered variable is the best option. If you dislike scopes then I would recommend yo just use a Williams type peep sight and restrict your shots to where you can hit a 6" circle off hand every shot, not just once out of 5 shots. I know people who can do that at 100 yds. They are a rare exception with excellent eye sight. Few people over 40 can be effective at long range with iron sights. In fact the front bead pretty well covers the entire deer at 100yds so I can't see how one can make an accurate shot. You are just shooting "at" a deer at that point not at a chosen point .

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by twostroke

Thanks terry....Actually the gun currently sits with williams peep on it and altho I like it and it shoulders quickly and on target....I would just prefer a scope...to get a little more range and a little more light gathering for further shots if needed. Most of my shots will be well within 200 yrds.

one setup I am tossing around currently is a redfield 2x7x33 with 4 plex reticle and leupold Std rings and bases.

---

The only rifle I own that doesn't have a scope is my pre 64 Winchester 30WCF. It has a Williams and is my dogging rifle. Even my turkey gun has a red dot.
The Redfield 2x7 is a good choice. It's made in the same factory as Leupold just sold as a price point scope that's all. Very good value for the money and it has the same optical specs as the leupold. A Bushnell Elite class scope is a very good one too but I wouldn't go any bigger than a 2x7. No need for more magnification and you are just adding weight to a light nice handling rifle. You carry a rifle all week, shoot it very little and when you do it's rarely from a rest. I consider deer rifles not that different than my bird guns. Gotta be quick and nice to carry. Fit is very important. If it is a bit too long when wearing heavy hunting clothes then shorten it up so it fits well. You won't be big game hunting much in a tshirt.

I mounted the Leopold VX3 1.5x5 on my 30-30 and so far I'm very please with it. It never fogged up in any weather yet, I can see very well true it when it's dark, very easy to get it center on a moving game and it doesn't look too bad on a lever. It's always on the lowest setting and never had to move it to power 5 yet.
I also have a Redfield on my 243 (3x9-40), good scope for the price, clear and all but it did fog up a couple a weeks ago going out for yotes so it is not the best.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by twostroke

Great advice...i will check those out as well....I am also looking at the redfield line in 2x7 which from what I gather is basically the equivalent of the vx-1 and has some great reviews...with generous eye relief

Next question what would be a good reticle without going with a BDC....the redfield has a 4 plex? I am sure its mostly preference but just curious to hear what others think and use.

cheers

---

I went with the Duplex and never wish to have something else. I think it's like anything you get use to what you have.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by seabast

I mounted the Leopold VX3 1.5x5 on my 30-30 and so far I'm very please with it. It never fogged up in any weather yet, I can see very well true it when it's dark, very easy to get it center on a moving game and it doesn't look too bad on a lever. It's always on the lowest setting and never had to move it to power 5 yet.
I also have a Redfield on my 243 (3x9-40), good scope for the price, clear and all but it did fog up a couple a weeks ago going out for yotes so it is not the best.

---

Send it back for warranty. They have a great one.

Make sure that the scope mount is high enough so you can get your thumb on the hammer with gloves on - I have a Marlin model 336 with a Redfield 2X7 on it - the space between the bottom of the scope and the hammer is a little too tight - would be nicer if it was a little bigger - by the way - that scope is over 40 years old and has been good since the day I bought it -

Just put a hammer extension on if needed. Cheap and 5 minutes to install, they come with the proper sized allen key.

Joe- You should break down and go for one of those newfangled hammer extensions that stick out the side of your Marlin. They work great and don't get in the way.
Terrym has the right idea....

What if the hammer is not tapped for such an extension....the gun I bought came with the hammer extension but no where on the actual hammer is it tapped to screw in such a device...I was a bit boggled.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pat32rf

Joe- You should break down and go for one of those newfangled hammer extensions that stick out the side of your Marlin. They work great and don't get in the way.
Terrym has the right idea....

---