help with scope dilemma

[FLINT]

Hi all,

this year, I hunted some and wanted to kill a deer with my 35 rem 336. However, the couple opportunities I had while carrying that rifle were at dusk and dawn and I couldn't see the sights well enough to shoot.

For that reason I ended up finishing out the season with my scoped 250 sav and did end up killing a doe with only 9 min of legal light left.

My eyes aren't getting any younger also and where I hunt the 1.5 year old bucks often have tiny spikes and I've killed several in the late season over the years thinking they were does.

So, I was thinking, darn, maybe I need to put a scope on my 35.

The problem is that there seem to be very few options left these days for a very simple, small, compact, low mag scope. Like maybe just one option. The leupold 1.5-4x20. and honestly, I'd rather have a fixed power. apparently leupold just discontinued their 2.5x20 ultra light of course. and weaver had a nice little V3 scope but they quit making scopes a few years ago.

I looked at used scopes, but that seems like such a gamble buying something old and used online and it would be worth the risk if the costs were low, but the costs are as much as a new scope. Probably because equivalent new scopes are no longer available. Also old scopes don't have the coatings and are sometimes dim, which defeats the whole point of getting a scope to help with low light conditions.

there do seem to be several options of scopes that are low power variable but are 30mm and illuminated. So maybe those would be great for low light, but they are heavy, like twice as heavy as the leupold. seems to defeat the purpose. Also, you then have to monkey with batteries and having them die at the worst time, etc.

Also, the thing I don't love about the Leupold freedom 1.5-4x20 is the weirdo reticles they have. They are so busy and full of extra lines everywhere. Seems like every scope now caters to the cosplay tactitard millenials who think they need to shoot 500 yards with a 2x scope. Can't we have a single simple scope just for short range deer hunting? I don't need 5 hold over options to shoot my 40 yard deer.

anyways, I'd ask to see what you guys have on your marlins, but you probably have a bunch of scopes that are no longer available, in fact almost certainly that's the case.

Let me know if I'm missing anything that is available now. I know the next step up in size would be something along the lines of a 2-7x32 scope, I think those are even still considered compact, but I'm not sure i want something that big on my marlin.

Thanks for any insight or suggestions.

[Rockrat]

I have a 2-7x -32 Nikon on my 35 Rem. Nothing fancy on the crosshairs and its fairly compact. 1" tube

[TedH]

I'd say you're on the right track. You can find a used Leupold 1-4×20 on ebay. I wouldn't be opposed to a 2-7×32 either. Both will get the job done and look good doing it. I have a Nikon Monarch 2-7×32 on my Marlin 336ER, and it makes good looking package.

[earlmck]

I've been so fond of the little 2X7 Leupold that I have several. They spend their life set on "2" unless I test some loads when they get to spend a few minutes turned up to "7".

[AJMD429]

.
I just put one of THESE on two different leverguns (Marlin 1894's in 357 Mag and 44 Mag) and really love the setup. It is a fixed 3x but for my old eyes that's just about perfect for deer hunting.



https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1008762137

At 5-1/2 inches it is compact, and the reticle is ETCHED so easy to see in daylight without batteries, but in dim light you CAN choose green or red illumination in various intensities (I prefer very low illumination that some IR scopes don't have, but this one does). I like the reticle style as fairly minimalist, but with a good aiming-point dot and circle and minimalist trajectory compensation. I wouldn't hunt past 75 yards with the 357 or 125 yards with the 44, so I don't really need the trajectory lines and they are easy to ignore (unlike the 'military/tactical' scopes out there). It is set up for 223/5.56 but at some point if I wanted to target shoot out to 250-300 yards for the heck of it, all I swould need to do is plot out where the lines would be on the 357 or 44 Mag trajectories and learn those (or write them on tape on the buttstock).

I mounted one on my 357 Marlin so my son-in-law would have an optic he's used to (he has the same on on his AR, and I'd gotten one for mine but never mounted it). We were stalk-hunting together and I thought he'd prefer the 357. He wound up liking the 44 Mag better so I was going to use the 357, since I'm more experienced at deer hunting and should be better at shot-placement with the 357 vs less-critical 44 Mag. I was going to just swap and use the Williams FP like I usually do, but when we were shooting to see which one he liked better, I found I really liked the Spitfire scope, so I ordered another and now both leverguns are set up the same.

Even on the 357 Mag, it is the most compact/light scope I've found helpful, and it doesn't seem too large in proportion to the gun. I'd mounted a Redfield 2-7x on the 44 Mag at one point, and this seems about the same on that gun. But I do like a relatively higher scope, as I'm a 'chin-weld' guy. On a long-action like a 35 Rem or 30-30 it would seem tiny.

[FLINT]

Thanks guys,

seems the 2-7 is popular on leverguns! I have a 2-7x on my muzzleloader and do love it, but have been hesitant to put something that big on a levergun.

thanks Doc for the recommendation, I'll add those into the mix of options. I personally like to keep the optics as low as possible, but I'll definitely look into that type of (scope?) more.

[ywaltzucanrknrl]

I feel the same way about the new scopes. I picked up one of the new pic rails someone was selling off of the new Marlins and mounted a Burris 2.75 Scout Scope on one of my older 336's.

[Griff]

One word. Vortex. Their glass is top notch, maybe not top tier, but I have no complaints. I have two of their scopes, a 6.5-25x 50 Viper HD on my varmint rifle, and a Strike Eagle 1-6x24 on my "combat" carbine.

[Twodot]

depending on your budget, the Vintage Gun Scopes web site may be worth looking at

https://www.vintagegunscopes.com/

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[44shooter]

I agree with your line of thinking regarding appropriate optics for your 35. It is a shame about Leupold discontinuing its fixed power scopes. Maybe you can get a FX series 2.5x or 4x off EBay. Barring that, you may have to get a low power variable. Ironically rifles are getting shorter and scopes are getting bigger

[jkbrea]

Even if you a buy a used Leupold or Vortex and it ends up being damaged or broke, you can send it in for a free repair or exchange. Their warranties are great.

[Streetstar]

I have been buying "LPVO's" for a couple of AR's --- one a Redfield 1-6x24 and another a Bushnell 1-4x24 ---
They are pretty cool little scopes, but tube is 30 mm ----- so a bit husky for a slim levergun like a Winchester , but dang do they operate' -- and would not be out of line on an already portly Marlin or something like that

The tactical market may give you something useful, who knows?

[rossim92]

One word. Vortex. Their glass is top notch, maybe not top tier, but I have no complaints. I have two of their scopes, a 6.5-25x 50 Viper HD on my varmint rifle, and a Strike Eagle 1-6x24 on my "combat" carbine.

i have a vortex reddot on my ar. love it

[TraderVic]

Buy a low power variable, such as a 1.5-4 or 5x, set it on 2 or 3, etc..... and leave it there. Been doing this for years.

[marlinman93]

I suggest you take a look at Leapers scopes. I have had a compact 3x-9x for sometime now and they're excellent quality. Leapers makes a wide variety of price ranges from down around $220 to $3,000 and their Bug Buster compacts are at that low end price, and a really good scope. Optics Planet has them for $212.
https://www.opticsplanet.com/leapers-ut ... 4f3dd085dd

[FLINT]

Thanks all,

I appreciate all of the suggestions. I'll look into them for sure.

worst case scenario is I get something I don't like on the marlin and then find something else to put it on.

[Twodot]

you can always watch fleabay for an old one but quality is always a stuff shoot (:
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[FLINT]

you can always watch fleabay for an old one but quality is always a stuff shoot (:
..

yeah, exactly, that's kind of why i started this topic.

the used fixed power leopolds that they recently discontinued are now selling for double on ebay used what they sold new for a couple/few years ago. and even really old 40 year old scopes are going for $200+ and those ones I feel like have to be super hit or miss and I think you could easily get a turd

[Lastmohecken]

I have a Leupold Hog scope on an AR 15. It's a 1 x 4 power. On a Marlin, that should work pretty well. And I have used the Leupold 1.5 x 5 Vari X III's a few times, but all of those are inferior to a 2 x 7 x 32 Leupold Vari X II. These are out of production now days, but can still be found in ebay, sometimes in almost new condition. Frankly, on light rifles, they work great, and are much better at dark or early morning, than the scopes with the straight tube 20mm.

As I am getting older 68 now, I have started appreciating a little more power, and another out of production scope that I really like is the 2.5 x 8 Leupold Vari X III. I have that on a few guns. If want to go new, I just purchased a 2.5 x 8 VHD 3 scope for a Winchester Model 70, but it would not be out of place on a Leveraction. They do have that BDC zero lock elevation knob, but you don't have to use it once sighted in, however could come in handy for a few clicks for that 200 yard shot with the 30/30, if need it.

I have tried some of the red dots and they are better than Irons, but inferior to even a 1 x 4 power scope.