Marlin 336 Scope Question

[Guyon]

Okay, you purists can rant and rave all you want about iron sights and peep sights... I'm still going to scope my 336.

I have a specific question that maybe a few folks here can answer. I'm planning to put a Leupold 2-7x33 VX-II on it. The Leupold site calls for the low rings with this scope.

My question is this: Will this scope (on low rings) necessitate removing the rear iron sight?

My hope is that it won't. I was thinking about using the Quick Release base and rings so that, if the scope should go down for some reason, I could use the iron sights in a pinch. Any input on Leupold's QR system would also be appreciated.

 

[Preacherman]

Depends on the length of the scope. I find a typical 3-9x40mm. scope will be long enough to bump against the rear sight, necessitating either its removal, or higher rings. However, the lower-power Leupold you mention might be shorter, in which case you may be OK. Another option is to get the "fold-flat" rear sight, which is available on Browning lever guns, and may be available from sight makers as an option. The upright "leaf" of the rear sight folds down flat in these models, which would give you extra clearance for the scope.

Another option is to search scope makers' Web sites to get specifications on the length of their scopes. You may find one in the quality and price range you want that is shorter than others, and might suit your needs better.

 

[Guyon]

Thanks Preacherman. Length on the 2-7x33 is listed as 10.9" whereas the 3-9x40 comes in at 12.3". Shorter length should make some difference.

Maybe someone who's mounted this size scope on a 336 will come along...

 

[Sulaco]

Does your rear sight fold down? Mine does but it is the newest model 336C out. I don't know if that makes any difference.

Anyway, I don't have that scope or those rings, but here is a picture of the Weaver Grand Slam base and rings with a Weaver V3 (1.5-3x20) scope mounted and it clears the rear sight with it up or down.

 

[dakotasin]

no, you don't have to.

might look into using a leupold compact scope, too, to keep the rifle's weight and balance closer to as-issued.

 

[Guyon]

That's a pretty nice looking rig Sulaco.

I see that Leupold makes the VX-II in a 1-4x20 as well. Looks very similar to the Weaver in the picture.

4X is probably all I'd need on a .30-30, but most of the time, I was going to opt for the lower magnifications (2x or 3x) for their wider field of view.

Given the compact scopes smaller objective (20mm vs. 33mm), won't there be less light transmission in low light?

 

[Sulaco]

That's a pretty nice looking rig Sulaco.

I see that Leupold makes the VX-II in a 1-4x20 as well. Looks very similar to the Weaver in the picture.

4X is probably all I'd need on a .30-30, but most of the time, I was going to opt for the lower magnifications (2x or 3x) for their wider field of view.

Given the compact scopes smaller objective (20mm vs. 33mm), won't there be less light transmission in low light?

I thought the scope would be fairly dim but it is closer to a mid-level 40mm scope than anything smaller I have looked through. I was very surprised with how bright this scope was when I got it. I think most people are as I have heard others comment on it as well. I think anything over 4x is really a waste on a gun like this, but to each his own. I love how wide the field of view is at 1.5x. I can see half the barrel!

 

[rbernie]

I'm partial to the AO scout scope mount myself. My 336 currently has one with a Leupold FXII 2.5x IER scope on it, and I think it's darn near perfect.

 

[dakotasin]

Given the compact scopes smaller objective (20mm vs. 33mm), won't there be less light transmission in low light?

brightness is mostly a function of exit pupil size. 7mm is about as much as a human eye in primo condition can use.

generally speaking, anything around 4-5 mm is acceptable for hunting use. a 10-power scope w/ a 40 obj has an exit of 4 mm. a 5-power scope w/ a 20 obj has an exit of 4 mm... the differences between the two, then, will boil down to glass quality, tube length ... - and we are now headed down a tangent that could get very murky and lengthy...

 

[Guyon]

brightness is mostly a function of exit pupil size. 7mm is about as much as a human eye in primo condition can use.

generally speaking, anything around 4-5 mm is acceptable for hunting use. a 10-power scope w/ a 40 obj has an exit of 4 mm. a 5-power scope w/ a 20 obj has an exit of 4 mm... the differences between the two, then, will boil down to glass quality, tube length ... - and we are now headed down a tangent that could get very murky and lengthy...

Good lesson. After a bit more reading in this vein, I'm leaning more toward the VX-II in 1-4x20. Even at max magnification, exit pupil is 5mm, and the good glass and multicoating should aid brightness.

Since part of the point is wide FOV and quick target acquisition, I'm wondering if the Wide Duplex reticle might be a better choice for this scope. Leupold bills this reticle as having a "larger center gate for lightning fast target acquisition, even on a moving target" and as "ideal for picking targets from heavy brush or timber."

Thoughts on the Wide Duplex over the standard Duplex?

 

[mustanger98]

Since part of the point is wide FOV and quick target acquisition, I'm wondering if the Wide Duplex reticle might be a better choice for this scope. Leupold bills this reticle as having a "larger center gate for lightning fast target acquisition, even on a moving target" and as "ideal for picking targets from heavy brush or timber."

Thoughts on the Wide Duplex over the standard Duplex?

The only thing I know to offer is you'll have to look through and compare between those two and see what you think. The Wide Duplex's description sounds like it came from the marketing department, so I'd say look through it and see compared to the standard duplex.

I've looked through two or three scopes (from the glass case) at the Super Wal-Mart and while I didn't wind up buying a scope that day, I did get a wave from a couple of girls clean across the store.

FWIW, I was watching Shooting Gallery today- they were showing that police 3-gun deal out in Colorado. I was watching the rifle course and thinking "I sure would like to take a levergun out there on something like that". I'm thinking rbernie's 336 set up the way it is would be one to do it.

 

[rbernie]

I'm thinking rbernie's 336 set up the way it is would be one to do it.

That rifle shoulders and points and picks up a target like nobody's business, and follow up shots on moving targets is easier with it than anything else I've ever shot. It's really neat. The scope is mounted via Leupold QRD rings, by the way, so that the scope can be pulled off in the field in about ten seconds and the rifle transitioned to the iron sights.

 

[mustanger98]

rbernie, What's it zeroed for? Longest shot on that course (steel and paper, man-sized targets) was 200yds.

The scope is mounted via Leupold QRD rings, by the way, so that the scope can be pulled off in the field in about ten seconds and the rifle transitioned to the iron sights.

I noticed the aperture and figured that was the idea.

 

[rbernie]

Ballistic Coeff: 0.225
Bullet Weight: 150
Velocity: 2200
Target Distance: 175
Scope Height: 1.500
Temperature: 59
Altitude: 1500

Ballistic Data
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Range Elevation Velocity Energy ETA Drop Max Y 10mph Wind Deflect
0 yds -1.50 in 2200 fps 1612 fpe 0.000 sec 0.00 in -1.50 in 0.00 in
25 yds 0.40 in 2116 fps 1491 fpe 0.035 sec 0.23 in -0.54 in 0.13 in
50 yds 1.81 in 2033 fps 1377 fpe 0.071 sec 0.94 in -0.36 in 0.47 in
75 yds 2.71 in 1953 fps 1270 fpe 0.108 sec 2.18 in -0.03 in 1.06 in
100 yds 3.05 in 1874 fps 1169 fpe 0.147 sec 3.97 in 0.45 in 1.90 in
125 yds 2.74 in 1798 fps 1076 fpe 0.188 sec 6.40 in 1.12 in 3.13 in
150 yds 1.74 in 1724 fps 990 fpe 0.231 sec 9.53 in 2.00 in 4.69 in
175 yds 0.00 in 1653 fps 910 fpe 0.276 sec 13.40 in 3.10 in 6.58 in
200 yds -2.51 in 1584 fps 836 fpe 0.322 sec 18.03 in 4.45 in 8.74 in

 

[Guyon]

Found an even better deal on the scope in standard Duplex, so I just went with it. From advice here and on TFL, folks seem to think the Wide Duplex will be harder to pick up in low light. A lot of my opportunities seem to come nearer dusk and dawn, so the standard Duplex might serve me better.

Now I've got to decide on standard or Quick release base/rings.

 

[f4t9r]

should not have to
I put a Nikon on mine

 

[Guyon]

should not have to

Not quite sure what you mean.

The idea behind the QR set up though is that, if a scope failure should occur, I can always pop off the scope and hunt with iron sights.