Help me mount a scope on my new Marlin 981T, please.

[Bobarino]

so i just sold a Kel-Tec P11 to a fellow highroader (fabulous transaction and good guy too! review in the transaction section) and moseyed on in to Cables's and bought a 981T that i've been longing for since ammo prices have gone nutz. i have a Bushnell Sportview laying around from a Win '94 i bought a while back that will go on it. i bought these rings: http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=9078&title=ANGLE-LOC? .22 SCOPE RINGS to mount on my Marlin 60 stainless and decided to move the scope to the bolty instead but these rings are absolutely horrible.

the receiver is drilled and tapped for normal bases as well as groved (3/8") like most 22lr's.

my questions are:

1) should i use the drilled and tapped holes for bases or should i use the 3/8" grooves for rimfire scope mounts?

and

2) which ones would you recommend?

my goals are ease of mounting and sturdiness. this little rimfire is strictly for fun and teaching new shooters. no varmint hunting or anything. just shooting paper and pop cans and the like.

optics gurus, what say ye?

thanks all!

Bobby

 

[rangerruck]

I don't particularly like the drill on tap on the marlins; they don't seem to give correct eye relief. But that can be overcome. Look for BKL mounts; they will have a 1 piece bridge that will stand off in the tapped holes, and will be a very sturdy piece. I see those rings, and hate them, they are not sturdy or wide enough, for just the dovetail. If you want to mount directly to the dovetail , the biggest prob you will have is scope walking, which also allways seems to be a prob with marlin rimfires. They way to overcome this, is to get rings and mounts that are 4x4 screws on the tops of the rings, and two screws wide on the bases. That extra width gives it enough grab , so they don't walk around on the dovetail. Lastly, you can get Kwiksite , weaver style tip off blocks, they look like little square leggos, that you fit on the rail, anywhere you like as well, and then mount your rings to them. Get some low mount rings, as the tip off blocks will make your scope sit up high. Kwiksite also makes the 4x4 wide rings as well.

 

[rangerruck]

The marlin is so darn accurate, just about any 3.9 power scope will do after that. A good all around rimfire scope that has done well for a long time is the
simmons 22 mag series. Remember, that rig will shoot shorts, and longs, as well, for some quite 50 yard and under type shooting.

 

[fgr39]

I really like the BKL rings. After using a set that is all I will use on my .22's now.

 

[Bobarino]

thanks for the help and suggestions! the 4x4 rings have apparently been disco'd but i might be able to find a set floating around out there still. the single screw versions are still available and they look a heck of a lot better than the stupid "angle-lock" ones i bought before.

on a side note, Marlin's newer trigger system in their rimfire rifles, the "T-900" is leaps and bounds better than the old one that is still in my model sixty thats about 10 years old or so. the trigger is wider, not much lighter, but way smoother and breaks cleaner. its still not stupendous but for a plastic trigger in a $189 bolty rimfire, its pretty good.

Bobby

 

[Geno]

Pick up a pair of Redfield, steel rimfire rings for that grooved receiver. It will holds its zero for eternity. That is precisely what I have on my .22LRs, including on my own Marlin 981T.

On a side comment, wait until you witness how far that rifle ejects the spent brass. It's unlike any other .22LR I own. Hope you enjoy your own 981T as much as I do mine.