Gonna scope my 1894C

pharmseller · Post by **pharmseller** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:42 pm

I really enjoy shooting my 1894C, but I have come to realize that I would have more fun if it had a scope. I'll keep my Rossi 92 (pre-safety) 357 with iron sights, but I am sure I would have more fun with the Marlin if it wore glass.
I am no stranger to scopes on bolt rifles but in case the rules are different with lever guns I'm asking for direction.
I prefer a low mounted scope. Suggestions on rings/bases/objective diameter? I'm a Leupod fan so I'm leaning toward a fixed 4 or 6 power 32mm objective (so I can mount the scope low).
Other ideas?
Thanks,
Quinn

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:09 am

Don't forget the exit pupil needs to match your eye for ease of use. In low light, your eye's pupil is ~7mm. 6x7=42 4x7=28

I've been reading a bunch on scope choices recently and don't think I need more than 4x in any situation I'll run across. (I do have a nice old Tasco 4-12 x 40 Adjustable Objective just in case.)

Out to 200 yards, I can't see needing more than 2x power. The Leupold FX-II 2.5 x 20 Ultralight is pretty tempting for me for a levergun. 2.5x7=17.5, so dawn/dusk would be great.

Then again, a small scope with an adjustable objective for swapping to rimfire would be nice.........decisions, decisions.........

86er · Post by **86er** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:21 am

Depending on your intended use I recommend a 30 or 32mm objective. The low light capability is greatly reduced with a 20mm. If you get great glass, a 28mm is a compromise that will probably get you through. Our bear hunts are in thick woods and the animals are active just before and up to dark. Many hunters couldn't see through small scopes or for that matter cheap scopes during the last 15 minutes (even a little more) of shooting time. I know the tube is a little big on the 1894 but that is the price you pay for being able to see when it counts. I agree with Tycer that no more than 4X is needed. Another thing to consider is that mounting a scope in a scout (forward) position reduces the low light ability too. Some light is lost with the extra long eye relief. If you put the same brand, power and size next to one another - one having long eye relief, one standard - the standard eye relief will allow you to see longer in less light. We recently had some issues with hog hunters that couldn't make out the animals just before dark with handgun scope. They are typically long eye relief and small objectives. Just some things to consider. Good luck with your choice and I commend you for going with a scope!

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:48 am

Thanks Joe, it helps hearing real world experience. That helps narrow the choices for me.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 11:58 am

I just bought a Leupold VX-II 3-9x33 Ultralight EFR. I'll be able to use this on everything I own except handguns.

Post by **Hobie** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:26 pm

I shudder when somebody mounts a 3-9X anything on a levergun. I'd get one of those neat little (relatively) 1-5x Leupolds.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:18 pm

Hobie wrote:I shudder when somebody mounts a 3-9X anything on a levergun. I'd get one of those neat little (relatively) 1-5x Leupolds.

Looked at those and really liked the length, but I gotta go with Joe's recommendation that a 20mm objective greatly reduces the light gathering in low light situations, whch is where I need help.
The Ultralight EFR is only 2" longer and 2oz heavier and has the adjustable objective ( 10 meters to ?), making it suitable for rimfire applications as well.
It will probably never leave 3x and rarely be hunted as I have apertures on every long gun I own.
I have a Tasco EXP 1.5-5x32/44 which I like, but it's purpose for me was late evening woods work.....until I descovered my love for leverguns and aperture sights.....

Now I can say I own a Leupold.

meanc · Post by **meanc** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:36 pm

pharmseller,

I think one of the best options would be the Bushnell Banner/ Dusk to Dawn 1.5x4.5 32mm scope.

I had one one on my Marlin 1894c and at 100yd / 200yd a paper plate is very visible.

I like them so much, one sits on my 357 and 44 Trappers, Marlin 1894 44, and Marlin 30-30.

Excellent scopes for the money and no problems with them after 100s of rounds of each caliber.

cavebear803 · Post by **cavebear803** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 2:01 pm

I would have to agree with Meanc, 1.5-4.5 is what I had on my 45/70 when I was staying in Alaska. At first I had a 20mm scope and it was OK but nothing to brag about once you were in the heavy stuff. I exchanged it for the 32mm job my nephew took off his '06 because his buddy told him he had to have a 2.5-10 scope. Needless to say I was, an stillam, far happier with my choice than he is! And the price was right( I pulled out the poor old Uncle" card, even tho I'm only 6 months older than him!! It works everytime. Hollis

DerekR · Post by **DerekR** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 2:15 pm

My only scoped levergun is my 336 in .35 Remington. I out a Simmons Whitetail Classic in 1.5X5 20mm on it. I almost never move it off of 1.5 power. At 1.5 it is VERY fast to target and plenty of magnification for a lever rifle. I don't think that scope is made anylonger, but I think Leupold and Burris make small, fixed 2.5 powers that would be perfect. They may call theirs a shotgun scope, but so be it!

TNBigBore · Post by **TNBigBore** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 3:33 pm

I am with Hobie on the 2.5X Compact. Nothing ruins the balance of a handy little levergun like a big heavy scope. Seriously, how many people will be hunting bears over bait 10 minutes before dark with a 357 mag rifle anyway? The beauty of a 357 rifle like the Marlin is its handiness and light weight. For 99% of the hunting you can do with a 357, a 20mm objective scope will work just fine without ruining the rifles balance.

EdinCT · Post by **EdinCT** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 2:48 pm

Check out a Burris 4x short mag it is small gathers light and tough and has a good eye relief (I had one on a 338 WM for a while until I traded for a 3/9x burris. By the way my groups shot at 400 yards are not more than a few inches smaller with9x than 4x and I wonder if the scope will last as long because it is much larger and has more moving parts.
I wish someone would make a straight 3x again. I set my scopes on3x and very seldom change them unless I am watching a field. Also I shot a deer at 175 yards once and looked and saw the scope set at 1.5x.

1894cfan · Post by **1894cfan** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:09 pm

What's you guys opinion of the Weaver K2.5 on an 1894c?

Post by **Old Savage** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 12:21 am

That should be about right.

FWiedner · Post by **FWiedner** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 12:22 am

I thought about a telescopic sight for my .357 and decided that I'd just probably not ever be shooting at anything so far away that I'd need magnification.

I decided to use a red-dot sight/scope on a quick-detach mount, zeroed at an appropriate range, instead.

Between the XS ghost -ring for broad daylight and the red-dot when it starts getting dim or for when I get lazy, the set-up works pretty well.

If I need magnification to get a better look-see, I've got binos and a monocular.

handirifle · Post by **handirifle** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:47 am

1894cfan wrote:What's you guys opinion of the Weaver K2.5 on an 1894c?

That's what I have on my 1895GS and it fills the bill nicely. Good scope, handles recoil well and is bright and clear.

The ONLY drawback, to me, is when sighting in at longer ranges, it would be nice to know if it was me or the load opening the groups.

1894cfan · Post by **1894cfan** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 12:43 am

Thanks, guys. I've currently got my 1894cs iron AND K2.5 sighted in for 357 Win Silver Tips out to 50yds. Ought to hit a dear at that range, at least.

30cal4me · Post by **30cal4me** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 10:02 pm

I have a 1.5-4.5 Bushnell Banner Dusk to Dawn on my 30-30 Trapper. My other rifle is scoped so it was an easy decision to have them both scoped.

73sTheBest · Post by **73sTheBest** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:17 am

I had a williams foolproof on a 94c. Found the merit adjustable sight disk is the only way to go on a peep. The 94c I have now uses an IOR m2. The m2 and the super m2 are the best hunting scopes I own love the lit cqb. And after buying a fue IORs like I did you can slap yourself in the face and wonder why you didn't just opt for lazer eye sugury, It's a lot cheeper.

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