Scoping a Marlin 336

I would get it where it is most comfortable for you to shoot best and not worry so much about how close to the barrel it is.

I’ve been able to mount a scope so low on a 336 that the eye bell interferes with the hammer.

How low do you want to go again?

I would get Warne quick release mounts in low, I have the same scope on my 336SS. I have a RPP low rail, I think the Weaver is equally low and both allow quick removal of the scope to use the irons. The Warne rings and Leupold 1.5X4 scope are a great combination for the 336. Yes, indeed, get rid of the see through abominations and get the scope down tight and low.

I do not see the RPP base I have, this one ought to work:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089M4NYK...uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

My 336SS, the best shooting Marlin I have ever owned going back into the early 70s:





The Warne rings will return to zero after R&R allowing open sights just because or for scabbard use or storage in a gun safe.

Edit to add, my 336SS has the WWG Happy Trigger, Bear Claw ejector and aluminum follower, RPP medium loop, loading gate, Rhino Low Profile rail, quick takedown screw.

Good plan. I like scopes in the 1-4X range. Exactly which mounts you choose is personal and dependent on your budget. I'd strongly consider the mounts weight. All Marlin lever guns are a bit on the heavy side without optics. Putting even a lightweight 1.5-5X scope on it will push weight up over 8 lbs. With the wrong mounts over 9 lbs. Considering none of my bolt guns are over 7 3/4 lbs with scopes that is something to consider.

Some mounts are going to be 2-3 oz. Some 6-8 oz. No reason to use mounts that add 1/2 lb to the this rifle when lighter options are there.

That scope is mounted as low as any I've seen and it appears that any much lower could cause problems. Of course I take all the iron sights off my rifles used for hunting because if the weather isn't tolerable for my scope, it's not fit for me either. Yeah, I'm a fair-weather hunter...at least at my age!

Picher said:

That scope is mounted as low as any I've seen and it appears that any much lower could cause problems. Of course I take all the iron sights off my rifles used for hunting because if the weather isn't tolerable for my scope, it's not fit for me either. Yeah, I'm a fair-weather hunter...at least at my age!

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It is indeed low but this is lower, my 1895SBL:



And my El Paso Weaver scoped 336 Texan is very low also with low Weaver steel tip-off type mounts on a Weaver rail. But both the SBL and Texan benefit from fixed power scopes, the 1.5X4 Leupold I and the OP have on our 336 has to accommodate usage of the zoom ring and clearance to the rail and trigger. It would be hard to get it much lower. Weight of the rings is a consideration but again the Warne QR type (or similar Leupold) can be removed in a jiffy and then the rifle is as God built it (so I am told). Show up to the range or a hunt with a lever gun scoped and grown 80 years old men start acting like prepubescent girls, ewwwww, a scope on your Marlin, ewwww, ewwww, all holding their noses and waving their arms daintily in dismay. At that point you can remove your scope and of course you will not be able to see the target but neither can they, but hey, you will not need to confess your sin of permanently mounting a scope to a lever gun.

this is the warne 1 piece mount and burris signature low rings. The warne mount is lower than any other mount I have seen. I could not go any lower without my hammer and power ring hitting stuff. [scope is the now discontinued burris timberline 2-7x26]

I did have to cut a cross notch in the base for that rear ring. Warne makes a nice product, but I feel like they need to actually install it on a rifle and see that their notch spacing is not good.

greyling22 said:

I did have to cut a cross notch in the base for that rear ring. Warne makes a nice product, but I feel like they need to actually install it on a rifle and see that their notch spacing is not good.

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Is your 336 refinished with one of the coating products, just curious? Nice rifle and nice set up for it .

red rick said:

My mom gave it to me Christmas of 1977 .

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Then I have it's brother, my 1977 Marlin Texan 336:





A 1977 Weaver K3 El Paso blued steel on Weaver low rings and Weaver 48069 rail. WWG Bear Claw extractor and magazine follower, RPP trigger, RPP loading gate, original JM hammer extension. Odd thing, long ago I removed the butt plate to fix a stripped screw. Written in pencil underneath, not so neatly, is "TEXAN" which is a rather odd way to identify a rifle. Mine does not have sling mounts but having a walnut stock it does have the bullseye.

3Crows said:

Is your 336 refinished with one of the coating products, just curious? Nice rifle and nice set up for it .

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Yeah. Cerakote. New wood. I've posted it's journey here https://m.imgur.com/a/opngK

This 1973 just keeps on ticking.Elevated mounts so irons can be used just as easily.

I’d use a Warne or EGW one piece picatinny and Warne regular or quick release rings. There are several ring manufacturers I believe make excellent product, I just happen to like Warne the best.

As for scopes I had a Fullfield II 2-7x35 on my 336 for a number of years and had zero complaints. I upgraded to a VX-3 1.75-6x32 when I was getting dealer pricing. I then had the custom shop install a German #4 reticle. That model VX-3 has been discontinued and the custom shop has been temporarily shut down for a long time. I really like my setup though.

My first choice now I think would be a Meopta Optika 6 1-6x24 with 4C reticle. Second a VX-Freedom 1.5-4x20 Firedot or third, a VX3i 1.5-4x20.

Just one point and I will leave y'all alone, if you are going to use a QR ring, then whatever base you select needs to be scalloped out (in the center and as low as possible over all) so that you can use the open sights. Many of the available bases/rails block the open sights once the scope is removed.

Yep, you stated so in the OP and I don’t blame you.

You'd think that, by now, some rifle manufacturer would have made their receivers to accept Weaver-type mounts without installing bases.

Not on a Marlin, please no. That would spawn another upheaval in the Marlin world worse than the Remington purchase. You're not even supposed to put a scope on a lever gun so I have been told much less groove the receiver for one. Such blasphemy, egads!

There is too much variation in scope sizes and people’s anatomy I would presume.

Picher said:

You'd think that, by now, some rifle manufacturer would have made their receivers to accept Weaver-type mounts without installing bases.

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Everybody does. It's called an ar15
But seriously, I agree. Ruger had the right idea with the built in bases on the m77, I just didn't like the execution.