Scope recommendations for a Marlin. UPDATED w/pics

ditchpickle

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I need some advice on scoping my Marlin 1895. I have no idea what I need.

My only criteria is:
-low power variable scope.
-lots of eye relief.
-I would like to do the scope, base and rings for under $500.

What scope/rings/base would you recommend? Any tips on mounting and installing them?


Thanks
 
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I have a Lyman All-American straight 2 1/2 power on mine. The old scope has plenty of eye relief and is powerful enough for shooting to 200 yards but still has a very wide field of view at close range.

I have good old-fashioned Weaver mounts that hold the scope securely yet are quickly removable if I want to use the open sights.
 
A customer brought back a Leupold 2 1/2 fixed power, as the scope cross hairs were gone.......his was a '95 in 45/70 using heavy cast bullet loads. I would recommend a peep sight with firesight front.
 
When I had one of mine scoped I used a Vari-x II 1-4x20 with a Leupold one piece base and rings. It worked well. But in the end I went back to open sights and that scope went towards my 375.

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Made a few changes and this is how it looks now:

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I scoped a Marlin 336 (30.30) with a Red Dot a few years ago. Seemed to work well in close cover. Last year I scoped my Win Mdl 94 (also a 30.30) with a Burris Fullfield 2-7x35 in Matte with a Ballistic Plex reticle. Works well in close cover as well as across fields and swamps.

I guess the important questions to ask you are: What are you hunting and where? Are you more comfortable with a scope or are you moving up from years on iron sights?
 
Re: Marlin scope

I have a Bushnell Elite 3 - 9 x 40mm Firefly with Kwik Site see through mounts on one 1895ss use Hornady's new Leverevolution 325 gr Ammo in it. Have a Bushnell Banner 1.75 - 4 x 32mm long eye relief (6 inches) on my 1895G with see through mounts (use Winchester Pertition Gold 300 gr in it). Finally I have one more 1895ss with a Leupold 2-7 x 33mm mounts also on see through mounts. :)
 
4x leupold in leup rings and bases. light durable lots of power for 200 yrd shots and still good in close. my favored setup for lever guns
 
I just purchased an 1895SS that had been made into a guide gun (about 3'' of barrel removed). It was wearing an Bushnell Elite 3200 firefly 1.5-4.5. Seems to work well.
 
I cut off some of my 1895 444 barrel, too. handier.

It has a fixed 2 1/2 X scope.

Avoid a see thru scope ring; especially in a heavy recoil rifle.

There are times when a scope is a pain, such as first light in the woods when visibility sucks. You can just barely make out the moose 20 yards away. can't see anyhting with scope. Switch to irons and have to try ahrd to see what you are aiming at.

Touch off the shot. The scope, only a 1/2 inch from your skull causes a serious injury at a time and place where you can least deal with it.

If you are in a tree stand when this happens, the results can get a lot worse.

read below....
 
I am in the process of putting a leupold 2.5x scout scope on a XS rail on my marlin 444. I will use quick release rings and have the XS ghost ring sights as backup.
 
On my 1895GS .45-70 I have a 1x4, Leupold Vari-XII and on my 444S I have a 1.5x4.5 Bushnell Scopechief VI. In addition, for use of the open sights I used Weaver pivot mounts on both.
 
I bought a Bausch & Lomb 1-4x20 from an esteemed member here. I will put it on my .444 for load development only. Once I find the right load, scope's probably coming off.
 
I put a Leupold FxII 2.5x28 silver scout scope on my Marlin 45/70 stainless 1895.......Then my wife saw it, and won't let me have it back.

But now, I get to buy a new .375 Mauser M03!
 
Leupold VXIII 1.5-5X20mm I have three of these, Love them. two sit on 1895's . One in 444P and another on a 45-70 Guide gun. Great Scopes. Second choice VXII 1-4X20mm Lots of eye relief with these Leupold scopes. I hope this helps you.
 
Thanks for everyones help. I managed to find a nice Leupold 1-4 on the EE and mounted it with a Leupold one piece base and rings. I love how it looks, shoots, and handles. Now I just need a dovetail blank and a couple of setscrews to fill the holes in the barrel.:)

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