Scope for a Marlin 30-30

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Tiomoid

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So most of my shooting life has been spent peering down iron sights, however now that my eyes have started to go I figured I'd better jump into a few optics.

Sadly, the only optics I have ever purchased have been for .22 plinkers, and I am hopelessly lost in the world of scopes.

I am currently looking into scoping my Marlin lever 30-30 and could use a bit of help in picking out a scope that won't break the bank, and will hold true.

A few friends suggested I look into a plain 4x scope, and I have hunted around a bit, but honestly I have no idea what I'm really looking for.

I am NOT planing on using a whole hell of a lot of the Hornady Leverevolution ammo as I am planning on knocking down deer around 100 yrds and don't need to really reach out to 300 yrds with my 30-30 (not sure if that helps at all).

Any and all advice/suggestions is/are greatly appreciated....
 
Before someone tries to talk you out of scoping your lever action let me state that I have Leupold Mark 4s (1.5 -5x SPR) on my two Marlin 1895s in .45-70 with XS backup iron sights. So far neither scope has had a problem with the stout recoil and I find them to be excellent all-around optics. 1.5x offers a wide field of view and very quick target acquistion for woods carry, and 5x will allow me to shoot 5-shot almost MOA groups at 100 yards for precise "long-range" shots. With practice and the right load, I'm confident I'll get under 1 MOA.

Here are two options from Leupold.

http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-shooting/products/scopes/vx-3-riflescopes/vx-3-1-5-5x20mm/

http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-...-3-riflescopes/vx-3-1-5-5x20mm-illum-reticle/

:)
 
if on a budget might want to look at the bushnell banner series.

Also, with the recoil from that gun you might be able to get away with a shotgun scope (ie a slightly less expensive leupold) or bushnell, at least thats what I took away from my thread about scoping a 45/70 with a shotgun scope.

Lastly, just make sure that you do not overscope the gun. I currently have a 3x9 on my 45/70 and it might go if I decide to spend the money on another scope. In the woods I've decided that its way too much power for a 10yd shot.
 
Hey Tio.
My suggestion would be for you to grab a Weaver k4, old or new.

The newer ones have upgraded glass but the older ones were great too.
 
Check these guys out they are very knowledgeable and very subjective in their answers. Also checkout the forum on rifle scopes they are good. But I would have to agree with your friends the 4x scope is fine for the applicability of the marlin 30-30, but for more choices I would recommend a varible 2x7 power scope. The extra power might help in only being able to see your deer better or target but know that it has exceeded the limitations of the 30-30 caliber as far as distance is concerned. Here is the link.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/how-to-choose-riflescope.html#ch04
http://www.opticsplanet.com/msgboard/forum-9.html

Hope this is informative.
 
I have a fixed 4x on mine and it is perfect. Still fast handling but I have dropped group size from 4-6" at 100 yards down to 1-1.5". I really like the fixed 4x for a .30-30. Mine is an old tasco from japan. It has pretty good glass and has held zero well on the .30-30. I picked mine used from a gun store at at tent sale for $10. So far so good. We will see how long it lasts, but being from Japan I hope it works out well.

I would suggest a fixed 4x from Sightron, Leupold, Nikon, Weaver, the Bushnell 3200 or 4200 line, Burris, or a few others. Not sure if they all have a 4x scope but those are brands and lines I have come to trust.
 
Nikon Prostaff 4x32 is my choice.<http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602006-cat601569&id=0006464711747a&navCount=3&podId=0006464&parentId=cat601569&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IA&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true>
 
I prefer the nice generous field of view you get from the Leupold 2x7x33's over fixed power optics. Besides nobody seems to bother making a decent fixed power scope nowadays that doesn't cost as much or more as a good variable.
 
I have had excellent results with a couple of Leupold VX-1 scopes in 2x7.

Don't worry about needing a scope now--the first scope I put on a Marlin .30-30 was for a friend who used to shoot 1,000yd competition in the Marines, but the eyes only tolerate open sights for so long.
 
Another vote for something in the 2-7X range. The Nikon Prostaff or Redfield at around $130 is the cheapest I would suggest. I know the Nikon is a pretty good scope. If the Leupold is within your budget it is a bit better.

The only reason I won't suggest a 4X fixed power is because 4X is just too much for the ranges most leverguns are used at. If you want to stretch the range to 200 yards the 30-30 can handle it if you can and the higher powers are available.
 
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I bought a Nikon 2-7x30 for my dads 30-30 and it works well. Slightly darker than the larger scopes but it doesn't destroy the balance and more importantly it isn't mounted too high!

HB
 
If 4X works for you then have at it. For 25 yard snap shots I pick up the target quicker with a 1.5 or 2X scope. I do like the lighter weight of many of the fixed power scopes however.
 
I find more of my shots with my 30-30 are in the 75 to 100 yard range, which is where I find the 4x to perform its best. If I were to shoot more at 25 yards the lower magnification would be better. If I had an adjustable magnification scope it would probably be set somewhere in the 3-5x range anyways and if a 25 yard snap shot appeared there wouldn't be time to adjust down to the lower magnification anyways.
 
Why not go with a small red dot, such as the Burris Fastfire or something similar? Quick, easy to see, doesn't effect the rifles handling or get in the way when being carried and should be plenty accurate out to 100 yards.
 
jmr40 said:
I do like the lighter weight of many of the fixed power scopes however.
Click to expand...

Leupold's VX-3 1.5-5x20mm is the same weight as the 4x and lighter than the 6x. I'd still rather have the flexibility of the 1.5-5x over a fixed. In its simplest form think of it as a fixed 1.5x or a fixed 5x. If low light hunting was the norm I might want either the 4x or the 6x due to the larger exit pupil in both.

VX-3 1.5-5x20mm > 9.3 oz / 264 g
FX-II 4x33mm > 9.3 oz / 264 g
FX-3 6x42mm > 13.6 oz / 386 g

:)
 
Thanks everyone for all the help. I've been pumping everyone's suggestions through Google, and my local "gunnies". Suggestions are still welcome however....
 
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