Scoping a levergun

[Ysabel Kid]

He pulls the pin...

https://gundigest.com/article/the-eight ... ion-rifles

[1894cfan]

Don't have any lever guns since I lost them in a boating accident years ago. But when I still had them the only ones with scopes were a 39a with a Burris 4x and a 1894c with a Weaver K2.5 that rode a bit high, so know about the high cheek weld. I sure miss them!

[AJMD429]

.
LOL it depends on what you use them for, it's in turn depends on the cartridge, the accuracy of the gun, and your needs.

Although it doesn't seem to affect other people sometimes, for me, if I can't see the target, I probably won't be able to hit it.

So in my case that may mean that if I'm shooting at something the size of a squirrel's head at 50 yards, some sort of optic is going to be desirable. I see guys who can use open sites and shoot 1-in groups and 100 yards, and maybe that's just because they are able to see the target clearly when it's black and white paper, but in a hunting situation, there's not much under five or six inches that I could even see at 100 yards without optics.

[.45colt]

I once gave My Son in Law an old Weaver 3x9 to mount on His inline muzzle loader. We went Deer hunting on an old farm where the woods was all heavy second growth and brush. hard to see 100 yards. hunting on the ground. about 9:00 Paul saw a big doe coming thru, but hard to see well .She stopped and Paul found a crease in the cover and lit it off. His shot broke the base of the neck and it was lights out. She was huge Ohio Deer and fat as a butterball. He said "it would never have happened without the scope". We all choose what to use.

[Coalsmoke]

How about a red dot?

IMG_20210131_180916514.jpg

[Sarge]

My primary deer/bear gun is & will be an old iron sighted 35 Texan and I'm going to use it that way as long as I am able. We're almost the same age so it's only fitting that we work our way through this as partners.

[Old Savage]

Scoped a couple 94 AEs with no problem. Both are capable of 1” or less at 100 yds, 25-35 and 30-30.

[abar20manfan]

Scopes if you need them. Old Burris Compacts just look right on Marlins.

[44shooter]

I’m planning to scope my 444 with either an old Weaver 1.5-4.5 or a Burris 2.75X Scout as it is purely a hunter to me. I don’t know if I will like the weight though. It’s a chunk of a rifle as is. Might get a peep too and use quick release rings. My Marlin 1894 has a Lyman tang with the open rear folded down. I would probably like a receiver peep better but I wanted to keep it CAS legal. My Rossi M92 full rifle has the open sights that came on it. The most I would do is a peep but the sights are sharp as they are both flat across with a lot of space tween them. The Winchester 64 (long barreled, short magazine 94) I just inherited has a Williams peep on the receiver mounted to the side. I may put a blank in the rear dovetail but will probably otherwise leave it alone. so none are scoped and one probably will be. Now a BLR, Win 88, Lone Ranger, Finnwolf, tapped Savage, or even a discontinued Ruger would probably get a small to moderate scope. A 307, 308MX, 338MX, or 356 would get scopes as well. Revolver rounds probably not, peeps or red dots maybe, maybe a little fixed power if a tree stand gun. more traditional rifle rounds could go either way depending on the gun and what I want to do with it.

[44shooter]

I have one of those old Burris compacts on my early 77/22. Good little scope

[BenT]

I've been using a scope since about 2006. When I pulled up on a Buck with a Browning 1895 in 30-06 at about 730 in the morning on a cloudy day and I could not see the front sight. I have not hunted with the Browning again but I am in the process of putting a side mount scope on it. I used the side mount scope on the model 71 this year with success and I have no complaints on a side mount scope. I use VX-1 1x4 power scope. I usually put a scope on them if I am going hunting and then take it off for ringing steel. There are a few leverguns that have a permanent scope. Browning BLR 308, Win 94 356, 99 250 Sav, Marlin 338MX. They make great carry handles.

[ollogger]

I have 3 Savage 99s that ware scopes, 243 - 308 & 375 Win. the 243 has a Leupold 2x7 the other 2 have 4 x scopes
put a neat 2 3/4 x Redfield on a 94 ae (30-30) sure made the groups shrink, still have great vision but
its not the best with factory sights or close up things



ollogger

[JimT]

I tried the Scout Scope idea on my Trapper some years ago. Used it one season and discarded it. Worked OK. I would rather have the aperture sight, know my limits and stay within those. But the idea does work on the Winchesters.

cimg1040.jpg

cimg1043.jpg

cimg1045.jpg

[wvfarrier]

I have Trijicon RMRs on quite a few of my leverguns. They are an incredibly handy optic.

[RIHMFIRE]

9422 trapper......not sure this should have a scope on it....but that's how i bought it.
accurate too!

22 38-40 44 017.jpg

[Sarge]

I don't want to sound anti-scope about lever actions. I purchased a mount for the old 35 mentioned above, right after acquiring it. I figure i's better to have one on hand whether I ever use it or not.

I also have a basic Henry 22 lever action which has irons that produce sort of a pistol sight picture- square notch, flat top post and plenty of daylight on either side. It really shouldn't work well, but it does for me; probably because I've spent way more of the last 50 years looking over a handgun. I do have an old and real clear compact Bushnell 4x set aside for the 22.

[Griff]

I suppose it's similar to why there are so many car makers... And they all seem to offer their versions of p/u trucks, sedans and station wagons...picking just one of those types... I'm not sure that the Subaru "Brat" is a p/u even if it has an open bed... And then there are the buyers... who put their own spin of what accessories are needed... From tonneau covers to full-blown campers. For one person, their choice is the cat's meow, for another, at best, a useless waste of space... at worst, an eye-sore!

[Malamute]

10 or 15 years ago I was watching deer in my yard at dusk, and wondered how late id realistically be able to shoot. I completely lost the iron sights LONG before I lost the ability to clearly see them with a scope. At the cabin I walk at dusk nightly for skunk patrol and have been putting Traffic Cone orange nail polish (over a white base coat) on the front sight, itself a HUGE improvement over plain irons or sourdough front sights, but still far behind the ability of a scope.

Fast forward....

I came into an angle eject 94, cut the barrel to 16" and put Leupold two piece bases and rings and older Leupold 1-4x scope on it. It sits very low, and is very fast to throw up to the shoulder and see the crosshair right where i expect it to be. I believe most complaints about scopes being difficult or slow to use are related to being set up poorly. First time I used one properly set up it wasnt a bit deal to hit running rabbits.

Ive been intending to get a dovetail cut for the front sight, but its not been a pressing issue so far with the scope. one day Ill get it done.

94 AE-1.JPG

[Mark in MO]

I once had a Savage 99 with an old Lyman 2-1/2 power scope. Scope was clear, held zero and was probably the same vintage as the rifle, mid 1950's I'd guess. I scoped my BL-22 for squirrel hunting years ago. Other than that all mine just carry irons, generally peeps.

[2ndovc]

Scout rifles aren't for everyone, and in some places not very practical. That being said, where I do most of my hunting, in thick, heavy wooded areas they are perfect for me.
These are the only two lever actions I have with scopes and wouldn't part with either one. the .357 is deadly accurate and the .450 Marlin makes great big holes in things that rarely take more than a step.
I have three autoloaders and a bolt action set up scout style. They just work for me, and like it has been said above, everyone is different.



jb

[Woodsloafer2]

Back in the early 70's my Dad's eyesight got to the point he could not see the peep sights well enough. He had a scout scope set up (2X Redfield) done to his Model 71 348. The eye piece of the scope almost touches the barrel so it picks up a target even quicker than the peep sight...for me anyway. I took the scope off for many years but it has been back on for several now. It still carries nice and I shoot it offhand better than many other rifles. Hunted a lot last year with an 88 Winchester with a red dot. For me I like to use whatever performs the best for me.

[jkbrea]

I like the Leupold EER scopes with a quick release for hunting. I have them on a 45-70 and TK30-30. They stay zeroed when you pop them on and off.

Screenshot_20220412-170815_Photos.jpg

Screenshot_20220412-170931_Gallery.jpg

[RIHMFIRE]

I like the Leupold EER scopes with a quick release for hunting. I have them on a 45-70 and TK30-30. They stay zeroed when you pop them on and off.
Screenshot_20220412-170815_Photos.jpg
Screenshot_20220412-170931_Gallery.jpg

VERY NICE SB!

[jkbrea]

I like the Leupold EER scopes with a quick release for hunting. I have them on a 45-70 and TK30-30. They stay zeroed when you pop them on and off.
Screenshot_20220412-170815_Photos.jpg
Screenshot_20220412-170931_Gallery.jpg

VERY NICE SB!

Thanks. Its actually an XLR that I had converted. The SBL came out a year later. The only visible difference is my mag tube is flush with the end of the barrel.
It's my favorite hunting rifle.

[bgmkithaca]

Sometimes you don't have a choice if you want to shoot. I have Macula Degeneration and it is use a scope or not shoot at all.
I have been using scopes for at least 15 years other wise shooting would now be a distant memory.

[mos]

I posted these pics in another thread recently, but they are relevant here too so posting again.

I think of it this way…

0-50 yards I’m comfortable with the ghost ring as the fastest way to get hits on target (I remove the peep insert when not shooting this carbine for accuracy). I’m as fast with it shooting at falling steel plates as I am with an AR… maybe faster, since the recoil let’s me get sight-picture back a little quicker, I think. So to me, this is the tactical configuration.

0-150 yards I’m comfortable with the scope (Leupold M8 Compact 4x, ‘83) as the most accurate way to get hits on target. I can place shots with it that would be all over the map with the ghost ring. I just don’t have the eyesight for precision fire at range any more. I’d rather take my time and make a precise hit on game than wound a prey animal. So to me, this is the hunting configuration.


mos

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

I just finished this one. It is now a 41 mag. But, he didn't like the cheek weld so I sent it out for the adjustable add-on. There's another 3/4" under there, too.

[Bryan Austin]

Why not? If you can't see the target, make it work.

265 Yards with an impact velocity of 900fps to 950fps Yes, I like doing this backwards!

278066668_2043277349186171_3466529296210890552_n.jpg

278247699_2046313752215864_4209934293953311142_n.jpg

278031419_2043277239186182_4542126909483877722_n.jpg

278079908_2043277489186157_3585085688137001832_n.jpg

278073524_2043277332519506_6000659998761581848_n.jpg