Lever Gun Scope Rant

[ditto1958]

Hrmph. Later this week I plan to test some 35 Remington ammo at the range to see where it shoots. Normally my 336 has XS ghost ring sights, but this task needs a scope. I dug out a Nikon 3-9x40 and put it on the Marlin. It looks like the Hubble Space Telescope on there. Why do scope buyers want scopes that are so big? Older 3-9 scopes were more like 28-33mm in front. New scopes in stores have 40 or 50mm objective lenses, and are designed to look all tacticool. Which means ugly on a lever gun.

A 2-7x scope is really more correct for a lever gun, but for shooting holes in paper at 100 yards, I'd prefer more than 7x magnification.

I have an old Bushnell 3-9x32 scope on my 30-30 Marlin 336. It works just fine for the shooting I do. Maybe I will buy another one on eBay.

[JEBar]

I dug out a Nikon 3-9x40 and put it on the Marlin. Why do scope buyers want scopes that are so big? Older 3-9 scopes were more like 28-33mm in front.

don't really know about that being a new thing .... the first picture below shows a Nikon 3-9x40 that was bought over years ago mounted on our Henry 44 Mag .... I guess the old "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder" could come into play .... I for one like a scope that gives me a wide, crystal clear field of view .... I guess I'm more concerned with how it looks through the glass .... the second picture shows a vintage scope, guess that it shows a pretty big contrast ..

[Henry88]

IMHO the shorter AR type scopes looking better on lever guns that the classic hunting/target, while still getting the power and large objective lense.

[PT7]

This thread could generate some interesting pictures....hope that happens that folk will post their mounted scopes, of all and any types.

Right at the moment I have an iron sight on my SGC, the bronze Skinner receiver-mounted peep sight. And as it's sighted in spot on, I'm good to keep it going. If I decided to go to a scope, I'd definitely mount my Weaver V4.5-A. I like the "classic" straight-line look it presents. It is simple to operate, and is very clear -- up to its designed distance. Good looker on my Henry!

[RanchRoper]

I just can't do the scope thing. Not for me. But I get the purpose.

[Les]

The Hawke Airmax range of scopes - especially the 2-7x32AO - give excellent results for a compact scope. The whole of the Hawke range is well worth a look. They have some superb glass, and the prices won't make your eyes water (too much! ). They have been one of Europe's best selling brands for many years, and their guarantee is second to none.
http://www.hawkeoptics.com/airmax-2-7x32-amx.html
http://www.hawkeoptics.com/

[ditto1958]

I just can't do the scope thing. Not for me. But I get the purpose.

RR, you're preachin' to the choir. I use them only when necessary. Iron sights are much more enjoyable.

[RanchRoper]

As time marches on it will be the challenge. My "inner-old-time-frontier-cowboy' vs my "outer-old-geezer-with-crappy-eyesight".

[Henry88]

The only rifle I have w/o a scope is the H001 and I usually use 1.5 to 2.0 power reading glasses, depending on the distance.

The low power reading glasses allow me to focus on the sights while still not making the target too blurry to center on.

[ace73]

Here's my H001 with a Simmons 22 Mag scope!
It does look a little big for the rifle, but it's working for me so far!

[JEBar]

the types of sights a person chooses to put on a rifle is very much a matter of personal preference .... I don't believe there is a one size fits all choice .... in my case, I can only think of only two situations where I wouldn't want a scope on my rifle .... one, when hunting under conditions where I would be shooting at very close ranges which require almost instant target acquisition .... two, for a wall hanger that to me would look better/more natural without a scope .... I don't have a single wall hanger so that's not much of a concern

[tractortad]

Has anyone ever seen or heard of a brass scope? I think a small brass "old-time-looking" scope would look good on a brass Henry. Brass is probably too soft of a metal for a scope, so there may be a durability issue, but I still think it would be cool to see one on a Henry....

[CT_Shooter]

Has anyone ever seen or heard of a brass scope?

A company called Dixie Gun Works sells one. There are likely others that do, too.

https://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_i ... 9pkk06vg36

[Oksrt]

Leupold 2.5-8 works well for me. One on the 444 and the 41. 2-7 should shoot great groups.

[North Country Gal]

Nikons are famous/infamous for having large bell housings, front and back, but the Nikon Prostaff series is just so hard to beat when it comes to optics for the dollar. You can go to a Leupold, which is a trimmer scope for a given size, but you'll pay a lot more to come in at the same level of optics as the Prostaff. Usually takes at least the VX-II level in the Leupold.

Those 40mm and, especially, 50mm scopes offer a brightness advantage in terms of exit pupil, but in order to take advantage of it, you have to crank your scope up to 6x or more. Under 6x, those big scopes are delivering more light than our old eyes can use.

Oh, yeah, I've been fighting the old eyes thing for years and it's been a fight, make no mistake. I love shooting iron sights and will continue to do so until my shooting days are over, but there are days now when shooting iron is just plain frustrating, all the more so because I have high expectations for my shooting. The fact is that scopes and even red dots allow me to stay in the game, even on days when my eyes aren't the best and/or on days when lighting conditions are marginal, which they often are, up here.

I get around this by keeping a few rifles setup with peep sights or even open sights for those days when the eye are cooperating or for those days when I just want to shoot iron, but the hard cold reality is that, even for may offhand shooting, now, my scores are better with a scope. (I practice offhand shooting with a scope almost on a daily basis via my air rifles.)

[ditchparrot]

I just can't do the scope thing. Not for me. But I get the purpose.

I'm right there with you, RR. None of my lever guns will ever see a scope – just doesn't work for me.

[JEBar]

Here's my H001 with a Simmons 22 Mag scope!
It does look a little big for the rifle, but it's working for me so far!

if it works for you and you are happy, that's all that matters ....

[Les]

I don't think a lever action or pump action rifle looks 'right' with a scope, but ........ I know in my case it is really a necessity. My MkI eyeballs aren't what they used to be, so iron sights are generally out of the question.

I have used a Pedersoli tang sight on rifles before, and it is quite unbelievable how I can focus on things without my spectacles through the peep sight, but the same thing without using the sight is a total blur. I can imagine the Marbles tang sights would be equally good, but they cost as much as a half decent scope over here, so it's no contest.

I always try to get the maximum accuracy out of myself and my rifles, and one of the only ways I can do that is by using a scope. People may snigger, but I don't think it looks 'odd'. I prefer 'eccentric'.

[RanchRoper]

I just can't do the scope thing. Not for me. But I get the purpose.

I'm right there with you, RR. None of my lever guns will ever see a scope – just doesn't work for me.

Most of the people in my local club are learning to duck and cover when I shoot, so it's all good.

[ditto1958]

RanchRoper? I'm praying you are joking!