Scope for Henry lever action

Everyone is built differently so I don’t know that a definitive answer can be given as to whether you will need to raise the comb. If so it is easy. My 336 30-30 with VX-3 1.75-6x32 has a Beartooth comb raiser on it. I definitely needed something.

I have almost the same Leupold LPVO on my Marlin rifle. I have no need for a comb riser shooting out to 200 with the 35 Remington. If the round was capable of farther, I would want a more stable sight alignment.

In my experience if I can see the open sites properly then the comb is going to be way too low for solid cheek weld with an optic.

Still with the low powered optic that has a decent eye box, like that leopold your considering, having my head float around isn't that big a deal.

I have a Weaver Classic V 1-3x20mm scope on my Henry BB brass in .357 and a Leupold 2-7x33mm shotgun scope on my Henry in .45 Colt. Both use the Talley integeral one piece mounting base/ring set-up from the Henry store. Works very well and no riser needed for me. Those Weaver 1-3's are still available from Midwayusa.

I just put the VX Freedom 2x7x33 with the Talley mount on my BB 44mag and glad I did. I had the Skinner set up for quite awhile but my old eyes were making it difficult to get decent groups any longer. I like having the 7 power for range work. I get really nice groups now with my hand loads.

.45Coltguy said:

I have a Weaver Classic V 1-3x20mm scope on my Henry BB brass in .357 and a Leupold 2-7x33mm shotgun scope on my Henry in .45 Colt. Both use the Talley integeral one piece mounting base/ring set-up from the Henry store. Works very well and no riser needed for me. Those Weaver 1-3's are still available from Midwayusa.

Click to expand...

Did you mean Natchez Shooters Supplies instead of Midway? ATK discontinued Weaver scopes in 2019 but still make a few which are sold exclusively through Natchez.

cdb1 said:

Did you mean Natchez Shooters Supplies instead of Midway? ATK discontinued Weaver scopes in 2019 but still make a few which are sold exclusively through Natchez.

Click to expand...

Yeah, could have been Natchez. Hard to find that scope any longer. Damn shame, as it is a good one for it's intended purpose.

I have to fold the front site but these are Warne QR medium rings and the Leupold 2X7-32.



I can run Warne QR low rings with the one inch tube VX 1.5X4.



3C

I've got near the same set up as you described. I've never given a cheek riser a thought, and it shoots well as it is. I have a Vortex 1-4x24 w, a 30mm tube.

Bartojc said:

Looks like you removed the rear site ? Did you need to do it for scope clearance or did you just want to do it for aesthetics ?

Click to expand...

I did the same with my Marlin and Leupold LPVO. Rear sight came off for scope clearance. Front sight came off for looks. There isn't much sense having a front sight if you don't have a rear one.

Another thing to consider. Look into buying a hammer extension while you go ring shopping. Scopes on lever guns don't leave a whole lot of thumb room to manipulate the hammer.

Had a Leupold 1-4x on my Marlin 30-30 for 20 years and it was fine even at 100 yds., which is about maximum shooting distance in the area where I use a 30-30. Never considered a cheek riser with that scope... . Then last year The rules changed and shooting hours were extended to 30 min. before sunrise to 30 min. after sunset. Put on a 1-8x Vortex with a 30 mm tube and illuminated reticle that I had laying around not being used. Went to the illuminated reticle for the low light opportunities that might occur with extended shooting hours. Sits a bit higher than the Leupold but I discovered I can still shoot it good without a cheek riser. Never got to use the reticle illumination yet as I filled a doe tag with it in the middle of the afternoon at 75-100 yds. with the scope at 3X. so I'm confident in the scope location & height. North Borders's 1-4x Vortex in post #10 would be ideal for the OP's requirements and after mounting as low as possible ( don't forget the hammer extension) I would make a cheek riser decision after doing some actual shooting with it. Here's the same Marlin with its current Vortex scope and it seems to be doing fine without a cheek riser; at least for me... .

Bartojc said:

Looks like you removed the rear site ? Did you need to do it for scope clearance or did you just want to do it for aesthetics ?

Jeff

Click to expand...

The way that rig looks, I don't think anything was done in the name of aesthetics.

I do not know if the "Henry" has a folding rear sight but the Marlin 336, at least many of them, do. I have not found it needed to remove the rear sight with the Leupold 2-7X32 scope and I do not need a cheek riser. I use Warne QD rings so I can remove the scope quickly for use without a scope (and despite what might be said about QD rings, the Warne rings do return to zero).

To keep the sleek profile of a lever gun I would not go larger than a one inch tube and the straight tube LPVO scopes are real nice and low and do not interfere with the rear sight.

3C

Bartojc said:

This is basically where I’ve landed. Having second thoughts about scoping it at all. I think I’ll see how I shoot it without optics, it will likely be adding the scope eventually.
Jeff

Click to expand...

With Warne QR mounts you can have your cake and eat it to, with or without. The Leupold QR mounts are good too but I like the vertical split of the Warne rings and the no tools required. Return to zero is more than good enough for our lever guns (and most other guns too). I just cannot see well enough, especially in dim light, anymore to really not use a scope.

3C

Out to 80ish yards? Your eyes must be doing what mine are. Honestly, I've been feeling the hankering for a little magnification, even for 100 yards. Personally, depending on the budget, I'd be looking at a low mount 1.5X ACOG. Tough, no batteries, very clear glass and that little .5 more does the trick out to passed 100 yards. If no magnification is needed, I'd just go with a red dot for speed. I know, the look is going to clash, but I've never worried about that too much.

If you want something conventional, I put a 1-3X Weaver on my .357 lever gun a while back. Nice little package, but I doubt you can even find those any more.

In any case, taking size and weight into consideration, I'd stick to looking at nothing more than a 4X. a 2X if you can find a nice one.

I like them fine and have no complaints. There is one on my turkey shotgun also. The only thing I won’t use them on is a shotgun for wingshooting because the Beartooth does change the cast.

The scope mount works better than I thought it would. I can hit out 100 yards no problem with a 357 magnum.