Winchester Levers, Scope/No Scope
- Thread starter drache
- Start date
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
I agree and on this model 71 deluxe, presently my only Winchester, there will never be a scope on it.
However
, when it comes to a couple of my Marlins a 444S and an 1895GS, I cheat for load testing and to compensate for eyesight that isn't quite as sharp as it used to be.
However
, when it comes to a couple of my Marlins a 444S and an 1895GS, I cheat for load testing and to compensate for eyesight that isn't quite as sharp as it used to be.
Drache, I am totally against a scope on a Winchester lever action rifle. I cut my teeth, litterly, on aperature, peep, sights. When I was twelve years old I shot squirrels to get some spending money. A perfectly looked after squirrel hide, with no holes in the body, would bring me twelve cents. There was no deduction for bullet holes in the head, but a bullet hole behind the ears was a 2 cent deduction. Shot through the ribs, the best my hide would bring was eight cents. Thus, I learned to shoot straight and the rifle, a big Savage, had peep sights.
I am very much in favour of a peep on Winchesters, especially since Model 94s have been drilled an tapped for an aperature, since the mid, or early, 1950s. I have killed more big game with good aperatures on 30-06 rifles, than I have with scopes on rifles. I never felt handicapped in the slightest by the aperature, even on mountain hunting and I can think of at least four mountain goats I killed with using an aperature. I never missed or wounded, any mountain goat.
Now Drache, I don't want to take over your subject here, but please allow me to post a copy of an article Jack O'Connor wrote in Outdoor Life in 1960, on the 270 Winchester being 35 years old. My purpose in printing it is to show how deadly is an aperature sight on a hunting rifle, even at long range.
I am very much in favour of a peep on Winchesters, especially since Model 94s have been drilled an tapped for an aperature, since the mid, or early, 1950s. I have killed more big game with good aperatures on 30-06 rifles, than I have with scopes on rifles. I never felt handicapped in the slightest by the aperature, even on mountain hunting and I can think of at least four mountain goats I killed with using an aperature. I never missed or wounded, any mountain goat.
Now Drache, I don't want to take over your subject here, but please allow me to post a copy of an article Jack O'Connor wrote in Outdoor Life in 1960, on the 270 Winchester being 35 years old. My purpose in printing it is to show how deadly is an aperature sight on a hunting rifle, even at long range.
thanks for the post H4831!
I dont know what it is but a scope on a Winchester Lever just seems wrong. Sort of like your dad who just started dating a Transvestite. You want to warn him but you don't want to have to explain how you found out.
I dont know what it is but a scope on a Winchester Lever just seems wrong. Sort of like your dad who just started dating a Transvestite. You want to warn him but you don't want to have to explain how you found out.
- Location
- Yellowknife, NWT
I think a scope is okay on the AE models. I don't like the scoping options for top-eject guns. Big fan of aperture sights too.
My preference is open sights and lets face it, the entire idea of having a bush gun is the fast action and quick sighting abilities of iron sights. They do look silly with scopes and they are not really long range shooters, so who really needs them? People who have learned properly to use irons are generally better shooters in my opinion.
Having that said, being a hard core iron sight person all my life, my eye sight is not what it used to be and is deteriorating. I can see myself going to a low power scope on some of my rifles because i just can't see. I have several pairs of glasses but the problem is which part of my lens do I use to focus? Rear sight is 10 or 12 inches, front sight is about 24 inches, and the target is several hundred (?) feet away. So in a nutshell, glasses don't work worth a darn using iron sights.
I figure if you don't need a scope, don't use it. If you have a correction problem with your vision, then a scope is the best fix. Some aperture/ peep sights work very well but if you're going to buy them, make sure you try them or a few shots on someone else's rifle. They don't fix everyone's eye problems. For my heavier hunting rifles, I always use a scope. Better for long range shots, species and ### description, and awesome for low light conditions at dusk and dawn.
Having that said, being a hard core iron sight person all my life, my eye sight is not what it used to be and is deteriorating. I can see myself going to a low power scope on some of my rifles because i just can't see. I have several pairs of glasses but the problem is which part of my lens do I use to focus? Rear sight is 10 or 12 inches, front sight is about 24 inches, and the target is several hundred (?) feet away. So in a nutshell, glasses don't work worth a darn using iron sights.
I figure if you don't need a scope, don't use it. If you have a correction problem with your vision, then a scope is the best fix. Some aperture/ peep sights work very well but if you're going to buy them, make sure you try them or a few shots on someone else's rifle. They don't fix everyone's eye problems. For my heavier hunting rifles, I always use a scope. Better for long range shots, species and ### description, and awesome for low light conditions at dusk and dawn.
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
Depends. If its a side eject, or a late model 94 with the scout scope mounts, go for it.
If its a classic 94, with the standard top eject, no. Not a chance. In fact, I think this sums it up nicely.
If its a classic 94, with the standard top eject, no. Not a chance. In fact, I think this sums it up nicely.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
As I stated earlier on, me to. Slowly perhaps but it is 'changing' and as such, one of the reasons I put scopes on two of my Marlins. The mounts I went with for quick access to the open sights, if the need should arise, are Weaver pivot mounts. I know there are some that don't like them but I've never had a problem. I make sure the pivot screw is snug and the base areas clean when the scope is snapped back in place and so far no problems or change in zero.
I like the open sights but for pure speed and a perfect Eastern woods gun my pre 64 Winchester in the top of the picture with a LER Leupold is a great set up.
Marlin on the bottom isn't to shaby either.
I have the exact same setups on my Winnie and Marlin!
Sorry you traditionalists, no irons to handicap me! I shoot whitetails in the eastern brushy hardwoods where bright light isn't always present. A scope is a definite asset.
- Location
- Winnipeg,Man.
I agree that it is a person's choice whether to scope or not....I also think that the animal deserves to be hit the best that a shooter can. Whether someone's opinion is that a scope looks silly, does not come into the true facts of hunting. If the eyes cannot give the best hit, then an additoion of an vision enhancing devise should not be shunned. If the gun is capable of being scoped, then use what is necessary to make the best humane shot you are capable of doing. Peep sights are good for closer shots but at longer distances are rather chancey. I have shot both at many different ranges. The eyesight can limit effectiveness.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Dorian Gray
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I will never, ever, put a scope on any one of my lever action rifles. There is no convincing me. Try as hard as you can but i'll never change. I'm still young enough. 24 to be precise. But even if my eyesight gets worse as i grow older, i will buy bolt action rifles to replace my levers and give my levers to the younger generation. I think scopes look incredibly stupid on lever action guns. I've used a BLR with a scope. A Marlin as well and if i can avoid it, i'll never use one again. When i can't use irons, i'll stick to my bolt actions. Maybe it's just me but there's just something about a lever action with a scope that i just don't like. Especially when i'm using it as a brush gun. Everyone's different though. Some of you may like them. Some may not. But for me, a lever action is a brush gun. A bolt action is for longer range and i'll scope them only. Later.
Dorian
Dorian
