Marlin Guide Gun, I sacrificed form for function.

You are a sinner for sure. I don’t think a scope is an atrocity, especially a weaver K2.5-1 or similar close range variety.

Far be it for me to cast stones, since I DO have scopes on my lever guns (albeit I at least try to make them somewhat match in size/power level so as to at least look mostly balanced), but maybe a smaller or more traditional round red-dot like most of the shooters use in the Wild Bore Fever TV shows wouldn't look quite so - awkward? I actually do like the idea of a red-dot, zero magnification site on a lever gun concept-wise. If you're happy with it, that's all that matters!

I have had scopes on lever actions too. Even relatively short range ones like this 1894SS.

It’s nice to have extreme confidence in the tools you use to take game.

I have wondered if a pistol scope with a fixed power would be better. Less bulky. Maybe a 2x. I have a 375 Winchester Marlin that I’m thinking about scoping. I just can’t find ammo easily only buffalo bore and one other place and it’s 80 bucks plus shipping for 20 rounds. So sighting it in would be expensive.

I have a 4X wide angle scope on my Marlin with a Weaver tip-off mount, so I can use the iron sights in heavy cover but still have a low-profile mounted scope (I don't care for the "see thru" rings.). I modified a tip-off mount to use on my .223 BLR for the same reason. Unfortunately, Weaver doesn't make them any longer, so you have to scrounge around Ebay to find them. This might be an option for you if you want to use a traditional scope instead of the red dot. Just a thought.

KansasTrapper77 said:

Have any of your Marlin users had issues with factory ejectors? I found the Wild West Bear Proof ejectors and am curious if it’s worth the $35?

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The factory ejector is fine for the most part. The WWG ejector is monolithic so in theory at least, is less prone to breakage. It’s primary advantage, in my opinion though, is the ejector nub is set back slightly so you can load slightly longer COAL. Of course, that is assuming the rest of the gun can run that same longer COAL. It depends on the cartridge. Or you could customize the whole thing to use longer COAL.

I like useful rifles, and I don’t find irons useful - and I like using my leverguns. I put an RMR on my FIL’s 336, and have a 4.5-14x40mm on my 1895.

I've grown to having scopes on about all my rifles. They vary in maximum power, but all go down to 3X or less. Being older and wiser, I don't choose to hunt in inclement weather and can hunt on about any legal day and not very far from the house. Being a retired engineering/surveyor type, I'm very capable of spotting crosshairs, survey rods, and plumb-bob strings with high-powered scopes in relatively thick woods. That translates well to using variable-power scopes on hunting rifles. Just a couple of years ago, as mentioned in another thread, I shot a running-deer left-handed with my scoped .270 bolt-rifle, from a flat platform at the top of a hunting-tree ladder. It was a very quick shot and I'd never practiced one for hunting. The scope is a 3-9X Leupold atop my Rem700BDL Stainless .270 Win.

Form follows function!

I'm also at the point I won't own a hunting rifle without an optic, I lean towards putting packages together for the game and conditions to be encountered. For a lever (not a lever guy) I'd go with a LPVO in the 1-X or 2-X range just like I have on my woods bolt guns. A little magnification can go a long ways should you need some additional range, or one of those thread the needle type shots.

Some of the newer LPVOs with illuminated reticles are just as fast as an RDS, about the only possible disadvantage IMHO is the need for a solid cheek weld that isn't required with an RDS. My favorite woods rifle is my rem M7 in .350RM and it has 2 scopes; 1.25-4X and 2.5-8X in Warne QD mounts. The 1.25X is great for still hunting/drives and I've killed a 5x4 bull with it at 284yds on 4X.

I spend most of my time hunting in pretty thick brush. The perfect brush gun is scoped, is relatively short, compact, light and shoots a round that is extremely accurate and laser flat out to 150 yards. To me that is a bolt gun with a 16"-20" barrel, a low powered optic and a 308 class cartridge. Ideally the scope can go down to 1X on the low end, with no more than 3X.

If you just like a lever gun they can work, but for brush work they don't offer any advantage, and some disadvantages.

Rapid repeat shots are way over rated, are rarely possible, and there is no such thing as a bullet going through brush without being deflected. You get one shot and you often have a baseball size opening to put the bullet through without hitting brush. And more often than not it is in poor light.

A low powered optic lets you see those openings and thread the bullet through it. Especially in low light. A flat trajectory is more important in brush than in the open. Out in the open you can always hold way over the target, as much as 5-6', and let the bullet drop into the target. In brush if the bullet is more than 1-2" above, or below line of sight you're going to hit brush between you and the target.

A 308, 270, or similar cartridge zeroed at 100 yards won't be more than 1" above or below your line of sight between the muzzle out to 130-150 yards.

I will always think scopes and red dots on lever guns look, well, I'll be nice and say out of place but also being a realist I realise I can shoot somewhat better with a red dot and even better with a scope. I prefer to shoot better.

I don't see anything wrong.

I ran a Bushnell TRS25 on my 16" SS 44mag Rossi '92. Was an excellent brush carbine. Light weight, easy to maneuver through brush, vines and thorns and plenty of thump for the <50yrd shots on deer when I hunted Southern Ohio.

I certainly had an easier time in the thick flora and fauna than my compadres with 24" 45-70's and slug guns. Never lacked for power or accuracy either.

Whatever it takes to get the job done---looks be damned.

Kinda would be nice if someone made a red dot or magnified red dot that was internally modern but asethically old school looking or somewhat from a few decades ago.

KansasTrapper77 said:

I just looked it up and did not know you could get a RMR with a 1MOA dot.

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I use the triangle reticle, allowing me to use a sharp 6 o’clock hold with the target piked on the triangle.

I have astigmatism in my right eye as well, but with most simple red-dots I get more of a star-burst crossed with a Nike swoop - not conducive to precision shooting. Whatever works to aid in a swift, ethical kill on game - I'm all for it.

My Guide is topped with a 4x shotgun scope. Works for me.

KansasTrapper77 said:

But I have an astigmatism in my right eye which makes a 3MOA red dot look like a 4 or 5 MOA.

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I also have astigmatism. I have to turn the intensity down on my red dots to keep the dot from blobbing out. If you get a chance try a green dot. They don’t blob out. I haven’t purchased one yet but I have had the opportunity to check out a couple on other people’s handguns.

KansasTrapper77 said:

But I can’t express how excited I am about getting this rifle put together the way I want.

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Glad you found what works for you. I just installed an XS Rail and iron sights on my Marlin 336. I will be mounting a scout scope on it once I decide which one I want.

As a Cowboy Action Shooter I get a kick out of folks that get really upset when folks do things to their own guns, like put a scope on a lever gun. I mentioned my plans to a couple of my pards and it was as if I had told them I put the rail on one of their guns.

As it relates to form/function, why do lever actions call for stock boots/wraps when no other gun does?