Scoped Lever Action Rifles
BY Herschel Smith
2 years ago
Why is this in dispute? There is nothing sacrilegious at all to me about putting a scope on a lever action rifle. I’m in favor of whatever makes it easier for me to hit my intended target.
But I will remark that the prices of scopes seems to be going up, up, up, up and up.
This is a SFP fixed-parallax scope, albeit a good sized objective lens for letting light in, that’s going for $600.
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On November 4, 2022 at 1:30 am, Georgiaboy61 said:
@ Herschel Smith
You’re on this old man’s wave-length concerning optics on lever-action rifles. Do I love iron sights? You betcha. Would I like to be able to use them like I did thirty or forty years ago when my eyes were younger and keener? You betcha!
There’s nothing wrong with a fixed 4x duplex or 30-30 duplex on that Winchester M1894 (you’ll need an off-set mount since it top-ejects) or Marlin M336. Do what you have to do to stay in the game.
Regarding your comment on that Vortex scope, here are some observations for what they’re worth…
Dating back to my time in the retail FA & accessories business I have known and followed Vortex Optics products. They’ve been a good company delivering a good value for the hard-earned dollar, for the most part. They have an excellent warranty and stand behind their products. I’ve owned a few myself, and sold a lot more of them to customers, especially when Leupold’s prices started skyrocketing some years back, and that company started segregating certain mil-spec. products “only for military and LE customers” and not “civilians.”
However, lately – over the last 4-5 years – their (Vortex) products have gotten to be quite expensive in relation to the value they’re delivering, and in comparison to their competition. They’re dropped the ball at times in terms of keeping up with advances being made by other companies, and consequently, a lot of the entry-level and mid-level market optics business which used to gravitate to them, has moved to other companies and products. Frankly, their consumer-oriented products are not particularly innovative these days, but they’re still charging high prices.
In other words, they’re not at all a “bad company” per se, but one which seems to be headed down the same path taken by so many other firms which get dollar-signs in their eyes for mil.gov contracts, or just get lazy and phone it in.
To my way of thinking, their priorities are backwards… since “government contracts” exist because of all of those “civilians” paying taxes, it seems to this observer that all of these firms should be taking care of Joe & Jane Sixpack first, and not last or somewhere in the middle as it is now.
Well, if they do in fact head down that road, there’s plenty of competition waiting to serve their former customers…
To be fair, the cost of doing business is spiraling upwards these days, and I am sure they’re feeling it just like everyone else.
I’m not in that line of work any longer, so I can’t supply any real-world data for you on customer satisfaction or the like.
On November 4, 2022 at 6:15 am, jrg said:
A scoped Savage 99 in high intensity big game cartridges (i.e. .300 Savage / .308 Winchester / .358 Wichester) to me make perfect sense. But if you can’t stand the idea of a scope on a lever action at all, the receiver mounted aperture sight might be your salvation.
Over the years, I’ve kept a few of those ‘outdated’ scopes as I replaced them on my rifles. I have a few back-ups, as I’m sure many of you have as well. (No sense of getting rid of it – it held zero just fine !). Many of us who complain that the new scopes aren’t built like they used to be have an option. View may not be quite as bright, but clarity may be improved. Heck, I have a few 80’s Japanese Bushnell Sportview scopes on some rimfires that perform very well.
On November 4, 2022 at 9:05 am, George said:
My only disagreement would be the FFP scope. I use those on my precision/competition rifles. For hunting I much prefer the SFP scopes. i.e. the reticle stays the same size as you power up/down.
On November 4, 2022 at 9:13 am, Herschel Smith said:
Groan.
Thanks George. I meant to say SFP scope, which is what that is. I will correct.
On November 4, 2022 at 3:46 pm, =TW= said:
@ Gb61-
Re: scopes- I prefer Duplex reticles.
Win. ’94 .30-30 Ranger came w/ a Bushnell 4X Duplex mounted on see thru rings. Rifle combo was on sale for $220.00, a sweet deal I couldn’t pass up.
Irons are set for 50yds; scope can hit an 8″ gong w/ center hold at 100 yds.
Still running factory rear sight on my Trapper, front replaced w/ gold bead. I’ve considered peep sight options but haven’t got around to it yet.
I mounted a Leupold 1-4X24 on my CZ527M, in Warne medium rings. Looks OK on that little carbine.
Not convinced it is necessary.
I might move it to my AR which currently has a Simmonds compact 4X. The AR previously had an unreliable Primary Arms red dot.
The old tube style red dot in factory rings on my Mini 30 has proved adequate for many years. It was a freebie from one of my buddies.
Re: old eyes- I can relate. Found out recently I am one year younger than (movie) Godzilla.
I had dedicated shooting glasses made which allow me to see my front sights, and also correct “fuzzy” red dots.
On November 4, 2022 at 4:52 pm, Paul B said:
What is with that lighted door? Might have to drop that channel. I got a Marline 336 just to be able to mount a scope. Not for long range though.
On November 4, 2022 at 8:53 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
@ TW
Re: “Re: scopes- I prefer Duplex reticles.
Win. ’94 .30-30 Ranger came w/ a Bushnell 4X Duplex mounted on see thru rings. Rifle combo was on sale for $220.00, a sweet deal I couldn’t pass up.
Irons are set for 50yds; scope can hit an 8″ gong w/ center hold at 100 yds.”
They say that the humble 30-30 has probably put more venison in the deep freeze than any other cartridge, at least in the U.S. If the longest shots you plan to take are inside 150-200 yards, it is plenty of thump to get the job done. The 4x fixed power seems to go well with a Marlin 336. Too much more magnification than that, and it feels like you’re looking through a soda straw. And you don’t want too much magnification in case your shot is significantly shorter.
QD zero-hold rings are the way to go for me, since I still like to use iron sights at times. That way, have the option to go either way.
On November 5, 2022 at 7:00 am, Latigo Morgan said:
It’s the .30-30 I grab for thick brush where I won’t get more than a 50 yard shot. A red dot makes more sense for my situation. My hunting style is spot-and-stalk or “fair chase”, so when I get a shot, it has to be quick. Waiting that fraction of a second for crosshairs to settle on target could make the difference between having a shot or not if the animal moves off.
I keep a Rem 700 in 7mm Rem Mag for open areas in the truck. It has an old Montgomery Wards 3-9 scope on it, which I found was made by Tasco in Japan and had the Monkey Wards brand slapped on it. It has served me well.
But, I can’t wait to get into the thick stuff with the 350 Legend AR. I didn’t draw any big game tags this year, unfortunately, so didn’t get to try it out.
On November 5, 2022 at 12:30 pm, Ned said:
Agree on SFP George. if it has ranging capabilities at max magnification, one usually has time to zoom the power up if ranging is required.
On November 5, 2022 at 2:32 pm, =TW= said:
@ Gb61
That Simmonds compact scope was on my SKS for several years, moved it to the AR when the PA red dot failed. Mounted on solid rings as decent QD mounts cost way more than the scope. If necessary, it can be removed with a coin to deploy the irons- MBUIS rear and HK style flip-up front.
It is right at home on the AR, but too short to be conveniently mounted on the Mini or the CZ.
The CZ wants a small scope (if any), so I put the Leupold 1-4X there. I find 4X most useful, the variable option may be superfluous.
It would not be out of place on the AR. If so, I would invest in QD mounts.
…Or maybe a prism scope instead.
I am (mostly) satisfied these choices.
My current focus is the restoration of a ’69 VW Beetle.
Meanwhile, guns are on the back burner.
On November 5, 2022 at 5:57 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
Re: “My current focus is the restoration of a ’69 VW Beetle. Meanwhile, guns are on the back burner.”
Hehe, multiple hobbies will do that to a guy! Hot-rods, old cars, motorcycles, guitars, etc. And that doesn’t even get into what the “better half” wants to collect…
On November 6, 2022 at 4:48 pm, X said:
I prefer low-power scopes on everything. People have a tendency to over-scope their rifles. Usually when I hunt with my 3x9s on my bolt actions they are set at 3x.
Most of my rifles have 1-4x on them. Rarely do you need more than that. A few years ago they changed the Service Rifle competition rules to allow up to 4.5x scopes. We shoot out to 600 yards with them.
I inherited a Marlin with a fixed 4x on it, I would rather have something that can go down to 1-2x but I will live with the one on it.
Scopes do diminish the handiness and balance of an iron-sighted rifle, no doubt, but the older you get the more necessary they are.