[Sam1911]

Hi!

This is one of those questions that has a million right answers -- which is why I'm asking for help.

I've got a .35 Rem. Marlin 336 that puts a variety of handloads into 1" or 1.25" at 100 yards. It is a VERY sweet gun. I put a Lever Scout mount on it and a 1.25-4x32 pistol scope on top of that as an experiment.

Unfortunately, I don't really like it set up like this. The scope I'm using has to be mounted as far as possible forward or the eye-relief doesn't work and it's really still too close. At that distance from the eye, the field of view is pretty tiny -- though at 1.25x I can see almost equally well through both eyes which negates that problem a bit. At 4x it's tough.

That Lever Scout mount is really cool and allows a lot of flexibility in where I can mount a scope. However, I can't go quite as far back as a traditional scope -- with about 2"-3" of eye relief -- would probably need to go.

I'd like to find something variable with a range of maybe 1.5-6x. Don't really see the need for a 3-9x with this gun, and I like the lower range for fast, close up stuff.

Which scopes should I look at?

Thanks!

-Sam

[codybrown]

I would take a look at the Leupold VXII 2-7's. I have a couple and am very pleased with them.

[ranger335v]

"This is one of those questions that has a million right answers --"

Not really. Just a nice compact scope with a low power range, any of quite a few scopes will do great.

Low powers scopes have a wide acceptance angle, makes target pick-up easy, especially close in. Either get a fixed 2x OR a low power variable such as a 1.5-4x. Or, at the most, a 2-7x but even that is more magnification than you will ever need with that cartridge. It is a prime deer cartridge for shots to about 200 yards, MUCH further than maybe 95% of deer are killed. At that distance, a 4x scope makes the deer look like it's at 50 yards and if you can't kill him at that distance you don't need more scope, you need more practice.

I have an old 1.5-4.5x28 Redfield mounted as low as I could get it and it works great! Rarely take it off the lowest power setting. But don't use those gosh-awful "see though rings" that make you aim like an alerted, head-up turkey! They defeat the great snap-shooting qualities of the excellant Marlin 336.

If you expect to hunt in the rain any, consider one of the Bushnell scopes with the RainGuard coating, I have that on my M700 and it's been a life saver. Or killer, maybe? :)

[rcmodel]

I don't think there is what you are looking for.

Mounted far enough forward for a Scout mount rules out any normal rifle scope due to insufficient eye relief.

Higher magnification narrows the FOV, no matter what the scope.

There are only two true Scout scopes made that I know of.
Leupold makes a 2.5x-28, and Burris makes a 2.75-20.

I have a 2x Leupold EER fixed power pistol scope in a Lever-Scout mount on my Marlin .44 Mag.

It is plenty of power for as far as I am likely to shoot it.
And you look around it as well as through it, so FOV is a non-issue.

Course, I have been very happy with a Weaver K-3, 3x on my 30-06 for going on 40 years. I have killed coyotes with it past 400 yards, so I guess 3 is enough X's for a deer at that range too.

rcmodel

[Sam1911]

Well rcmodel, that's what I'm struggling with. I have plenty of scopes around here I can try on it, but none of those I've tried show any exit pupil at all at the eye relief that I can get with that mount.

I bought a T/C brand handgun scope in 1.25-4 power because it was listed as having a VERY wide range of useful eye relief. Like as close in as 8" or so. With the scope in hand, it turned out that the F.O.V. narrows way down ("tunnel vision") if it's any closer than about 20" from the eye! So, the only way it is useful is mounted as far forward in the rings as possible, and in the forward-most slots on the mount. And even so you have to stay very upright. Lean into it at all and you get the annoying black ring and narrowing f.o.v.

Now, for field uses and positions where a close-in quick, eyes-open, off-hand shot is likely, it works o.k. for me. Off the bench, it's a little bit of hassle. I'd like a better set-up.

I hate to ditch the mount because it is a very high-quality unit, and it allows me to keep the great XS-Sights ghost ring and front post as back-up irons.

Do those "Scout" scopes have a more intermediate eye relief range? Something more like 6"-12" instead of 2"-3" like a standard scope or 18"-24" like handgun scopes?

Thanks!

-Sam

[rcmodel]

Leupold is given as 9" to 17".
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=411427

Burris says 8 1/2" - 14".
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=606819

In all though, I think your problem is with the T/C variable power handgun scope, and not with handgun scopes in general.
My Leupold EER 2x is perfectly clear in any position you can put it on a Lever-Scout mount on my marlin.

rcmodel

[Sam1911]

Thanks! That's great information and I really appreciate it!

-Sam

[rbernie]

I have two Marlin 336s with the AO/Ashley/XS scout mount; one wears the Leupold scout scope and the other wears the Burris. Both work exactly as intended; proper eye relief, good clarity, and so forth.

[jmr40]

Use standard mounts and use a low powered scope mounted as low as possible. You can shoot with both eyes open and get on target just as quickly as any scout setup plus have a better long range set up.

Leupold will have the longest eye relief so mounting the gun is less critical. They also tend to be smaller and lighter than the competition as well. The Nikon 2-7's sold at Walmart for $130 are a great choice for a lot less than the Leupold.

The 1.5-4X scopes are the smallest and lightest, but most have 20mm front objectives and do not work as well in low light as well as I like.