Scope For 45-70 or Irons
- Thread starter -Doug-
- Start date
nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Torn on this. Tiny deer with laughable horns. Optic to verify plumbing, but when carrying a guide gun, I'm usually bayonet to 30 yards.
My wife doesnt like optics, so right now it's irons. That's right my wife, for anyone complaining about 45-70 recoil, cut.up your man card.
My wife doesnt like optics, so right now it's irons. That's right my wife, for anyone complaining about 45-70 recoil, cut.up your man card.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
I never even tried learning to use aperture rear sights until my late 50's - should have started 40 years earlier - they are awesome, compared to the standard barrel mounted iron sights. Had read in Finn Aargaard's writings, however, about his low powered Weaver scope on his second 375 H&H - he said he made many shots with it that would not have been possible with his previous rifle, when the game is in deep shadow, even on a bright day. I will never get to shoot at 1% of the game that he did, so I prefer to follow his lead. His first 375 H&H, by the way, had a fixed rear aperture sight - he dispensed with the barrel mounted iron rear sights from the get go.
I started with the factory irons then went to a Williams rear peep and front fiber/red. Then I tried a year with a low 2-7 vx1 scope. That was ok but the cheek weld never felt right. For woods walker Scope was not the best as was fogged and snow obstructed a lot. For a evening stand machine I felt the scope would be the ticket. For everything else its back to the peep and fiber. Just the most comfy gun to carry with irons.
I've used receiver sights , low powered variables and red dots on a number of 45/70's . I used a 1.5 to 4 power variable on a standard Marlin 1895 for years , it worked great . I tried the same scope on my current 1895 Guide Gun and it just seemed out of place . I then tried a red dot , again , meh . I'm using a receiver sight now with a Skinner front blade , it works great . It does lose ground at first and last light though , a scope just works better under those circumstances . You'll probably be like everyone else and end up trying a few options before you find what suits you , that's half the fun .
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
That'll work. Your trajectory is similar to what I get with a 500 at 2150 in the .458, I might have an inch advantage at 200 and I'm a foot low at 250. Honestly though, I'm only concerned with what it'll do within 10 yards.
soldier506
Regular
- Location
- saskatchewan,canada
I have a marlin sbl and unsure what way to go for optics also. I'm leaning to either a red dot or the vortex scout scope.
Oh the desisions. Lol
Red dot would allow faster target acquiring but the rifle scope would allow for longer range and more persision . Main factor would be the ranges that you plan on shooting
Oh the desisions. Lol
Red dot would allow faster target acquiring but the rifle scope would allow for longer range and more persision . Main factor would be the ranges that you plan on shooting
Truthfully, I only carry that rifle when I am pretty sure the shooting will be under 100 yards... but it is good to have little margin for the unexpected, at the very least be prepared and proficient enough to ensure success, if the longer opportunity presents. If I was in your neck of the woods, and big white toothy critters were on the menu, it wouldn't be a No.1 in my hands... at least not defensively speaking, hunting is a different vibe.
I've owned several Vortex scopes and would not put anything with the name "crossfire" on a gun with recoil like my SBL, but it's your money.
If it croaks it will be fixed or replaced for free lol.
I have had great luck with the two crossfires I have. One is on a 300wm and the other a 243. Had them for 5+ years now and not an issue. Both track extremely well, hold zero, even return to zero repeatedly after dialing dope to all different ranges.....don't get me wrong they are not top line scopes but they do work. Mine even have decent glass. They work great for ranges between 0 and 1000 yds.
As for recoil. I think my 300wm kicks harder than my 45-70 dark but in shooting hard cast in the marlin so not running teeth rattling loads.
I always prefer the feel of a rifle without an optic, they feel much handier and faster. However, the reality is you cannot hit what you cannot see. If you do with an optic I would recommend going as light as possible, both for the optic and the rings. It’s not so much the weight of an optic that throws off the balance of a rifle, but a combination of the weight and more importantly where that weight is. The weight is high above any other part of the rifle, gives it some leverage as far as upsetting the balance goes. I too have shot animals with optics on my rifles that I otherwise would not have been able to get.
My official answer: go with both! Get a compact, lightweight optic and good light weight quick release rings, problem solved. Happy hunting
My official answer: go with both! Get a compact, lightweight optic and good light weight quick release rings, problem solved. Happy hunting
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
That be a great option for the Marlin. All of my current lever rifles wear peep sights due to their earlier designs. XS ghost ring sights are great for my eyes.
Lyman & Williams are nice fer me as well.
soldier506
Regular
- Location
- saskatchewan,canada
Honestly unless your mounting a scout scope way up front the recoil is gonna learn you why you don't scope a 45-70 cause it only takes that one time your eye eats the scope to make you rip it off your 45-70.
Plus most scopes will not last a long time with repeated rounds without wear and tear effecting them to some degree. I tried a scope and learned my lesson then went with skinner protected peep sight and not only does it look like it belongs it works awesome and besides not many people are using a 45-70 to lob 405 gr pew out past 400 yards.
Its a brush gun for under 150 yard shots or for animal defense. Not saying it cannot be used otherwise but lets be honest for what 99% of owners will use it for
Plus most scopes will not last a long time with repeated rounds without wear and tear effecting them to some degree. I tried a scope and learned my lesson then went with skinner protected peep sight and not only does it look like it belongs it works awesome and besides not many people are using a 45-70 to lob 405 gr pew out past 400 yards.
Its a brush gun for under 150 yard shots or for animal defense. Not saying it cannot be used otherwise but lets be honest for what 99% of owners will use it for
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