Scoping a lever rifle
- Thread starter wgp
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Hokkmike
Member
A lever gun with a scope is to me like kissing a beautiful woman who has a beard....... I like the Skinner peep..
Now, I DO have a scope on my .22 lever - but that is, to me, a different story.
Now, I DO have a scope on my .22 lever - but that is, to me, a different story.
Nature Boy
Member
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Is it more tolerable to scope a lever gun if it’s a “modern” design like a BLR?
Being a lefty, a modern lever gun like the BLR has quite a bit of appeal. I wouldn't snub my nose at a Savage 99 either. That is a very nice looking rifle, lever or otherwise. How is the accuracy on a BLR compared to a bolt action of roughly the same quality/price?
Savage30L
Member
I always wanted a Sako Finnwolf. Sako made some with a left-handed stock and safety. They're pretty hard to find now....
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Why?
Nature Boy
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It’s not bad. Perfectly adequate for hunting. With a developed load like this one it would be comparable to bolt action hunting rifles.
.358 win, 250gn Hornady spire point, 44gn H4895, 2,230 FPS.
5 shots, 100 yards
Nature Boy
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358 Win is a .308 necked up to a .35 caliber bullet. It was created back in the 50s but never caught caught on commercially. As far as I know Browning is the only company still offering it as a standard chamber in their BLR. Hornady is the only company making commercial rounds for it and they only do it in special runs so finding it on a shelf is very hit or miss. It’s pretty much been relegated to hand loading.
It’s a fantastic deer hunting round. I have long since lost count of how many whitetail I have taken with it.
greyling22
Member
My eyes require scopes. Helpful tip: the warne mount https://warnescopemounts.com/a997m-marlin-lever-actions-matte-aluminum/
Sits about 1/8inch lower than any other mount I have tried. Useful when you are trying to go low for cheekweld. I do have to sometimes cut a new cross slot if I have a short body scope.
Sits about 1/8inch lower than any other mount I have tried. Useful when you are trying to go low for cheekweld. I do have to sometimes cut a new cross slot if I have a short body scope.
I don't know my model 88 Winchester has been wearing a scope since the very early 60s when my Dad was using it. I put a 2x7 on my Henry and love it. I had the Skinner peep with a great blade on the front but things change like my eyesight. Damn I can shoot much better groups with that glass than I could without...
Hokkmike
Member
Because the 39a does not have that western look.
Steve Milbocker
Member
I think so, that’s a nice looking rifle. The 99 Savage and the 88 Winchester look good with glass as well. I’m sure there are others. It’s just the “cowboy” rifles I hate to see scoped. Just my opinion. YMMVIs it more tolerable to scope a lever gun if it’s a “modern” design like a BLR?
mgmorden
Member
Throw a scope on it. For me I hunt with optics - period. I don't care if it was a 1x no magnification scope I still want to use a scope not irons (and yes I very much know how to shoot irons - and I'll do it at range, I just don't like to in the field). For me, a rifle without a scope is a range toy or curiosity only (ie, my milsurps are that way but they're more collectibles and conversation pieces than working guns).
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Makes me think of all the lever guns made in the eastern USA over the last 130 or so years.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
You mean like….ALL of them that were and are American made?
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
I think everyone that thinks MY lever gun should not be scoped should live with the technology that was prevalent when the lever gun was designed and manufactured.
OR they can buy my gun at my price and remove the scope themselves.
I’m kidding, obviously. No one is going to live like it’s 1894 (Win. 1894 or Marlin 1894) or even 1948 (Marlin 336)
OR they can buy my gun at my price and remove the scope themselves.
I’m kidding, obviously. No one is going to live like it’s 1894 (Win. 1894 or Marlin 1894) or even 1948 (Marlin 336)
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Yeah, seems kinda silly to be such a stickler for "period correct" when you're driving your Honda Accord to the range, eating Little Debbies and playing on your $900 cell phone, while wearing your Crocs and packing an extra 100lbs around your middle.I think everyone that thinks MY lever gun should not be scoped should live with the technology that was prevalent when the lever gun was designed and manufactured.
OR they can buy my gun at my price and remove the scope themselves.
I’m kidding, obviously. No one is going to live like it’s 1894 (Win. 1894 or Marlin 1894) or even 1948 (Marlin 336)
.45Coltguy
Member
Have scopes on these guys; left is a Weaver Classic V 1-3x20 on my Henry .357, middle is a Leupold VX-1 2-7x33 Shotgun scope on my Henry .45 Colt and right is a Weaver K4 on my Win 94 AE 30-30. Both Weaver's have the Japanese glass.
I need ideas folks. You got me to pull out an old Marlin 1894c I never shoot anymore, because my eyes can't handle the little Skinner peep sight anymore. It has a takedown treatment from Lee Hadaway.
I like the idea of getting a low profile Burris or classic Weaver K2.5 scope. Because of the way it screws on, I think my choices are limited. Perhaps a scout scope mount ahead of the insert?
I welcome a competent gunsmith recommendation.
I like the idea of getting a low profile Burris or classic Weaver K2.5 scope. Because of the way it screws on, I think my choices are limited. Perhaps a scout scope mount ahead of the insert?
I welcome a competent gunsmith recommendation.
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Hell, I wasn't going to jump in on this one...but will admit that I dearly love my levers & for forty years or so...I had the eyes to make them tick out to 150 yds or so with a good peep and suitable front sight bead, but at 77 yrs old, the eyes are history and I've resorted to scoping most of them.
What I miss most is the clean, uncluttered receiver and the way it fits snugly in a gloved hand; riding easily there at 'trail arms' through the deer season. But for sighting with some precision, open sights with the issue notched rear went bye bye by the time I was 45.
I mounted Lyman or Williams peeps then: tangs if I could get them, receiver types when I couldn't and got another 10-15 years of that lovely uncluttered receiver. Now it's scopes for the big bores.
Here are a few from the stable now: 1st pic: from the top, all Marlins. The .30-30 336 Texan scoped with Weaver's 2.5x, next down is my 1894 in .41 Magnum Leupold 2.5x Alaskan scoped, 3rd down is my 336 in .44 Magnum, with another Leupold Alaskan, and last is my 1894 .357 with a Williams WGRS top mounted in the scope mounting holes. That .357, as sighted is still a good grouper out to 75 yds or so. The 2nd pic is of my Century LImited Marlin .22 with a Williams receiver Fool Proof mounted. The 3rd pic is a Winchester Model 65 in .25-20, with one of Lyman's tang peeps on it. Lastly, here's a .38-40 Marlin 1889, peeped of course and a fine shooter if you don't push it too hard.
I love & prefer 'em clean or even "peeped", but the old eyes hold the clincher card eventually, & I had to go to the glass. Best Regards, Rod
What I miss most is the clean, uncluttered receiver and the way it fits snugly in a gloved hand; riding easily there at 'trail arms' through the deer season. But for sighting with some precision, open sights with the issue notched rear went bye bye by the time I was 45.
I mounted Lyman or Williams peeps then: tangs if I could get them, receiver types when I couldn't and got another 10-15 years of that lovely uncluttered receiver. Now it's scopes for the big bores.
Here are a few from the stable now: 1st pic: from the top, all Marlins. The .30-30 336 Texan scoped with Weaver's 2.5x, next down is my 1894 in .41 Magnum Leupold 2.5x Alaskan scoped, 3rd down is my 336 in .44 Magnum, with another Leupold Alaskan, and last is my 1894 .357 with a Williams WGRS top mounted in the scope mounting holes. That .357, as sighted is still a good grouper out to 75 yds or so. The 2nd pic is of my Century LImited Marlin .22 with a Williams receiver Fool Proof mounted. The 3rd pic is a Winchester Model 65 in .25-20, with one of Lyman's tang peeps on it. Lastly, here's a .38-40 Marlin 1889, peeped of course and a fine shooter if you don't push it too hard.
I love & prefer 'em clean or even "peeped", but the old eyes hold the clincher card eventually, & I had to go to the glass. Best Regards, Rod
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chicharrones
needs more ammo
I wonder if the barrel of the 1894 can take scout scope mounting cuts like Grizzly Customs does on their 39 Backpacker Scout?
Link to photo. Link to other photo.
Backpacker Lite Scout Marlin 39A
Package modifications and parts include the following on your donor rifle: Shorten barrel to 16.25″ Recrown barrel with an 11° target crown Relocate front magazine tube support dovetail Shorten inner magazine tube Shorten outer magazine tube Modify outer magazine tube for cap retention...
www.grizzlycustom.com
Valnar, my recommendation would be a Weaver K2.5 or K3 in Weaver mounts. They're low profile, with good eye relief and can be picked up on one of the auction sites for less than $50 if memory serves. Those old Weavers have pretty fine cross-hairs but you can sometimes find them with the post & cross-wire arrangement which works well in timber.
But geez, Valnar, that take down is a work of art. I've shied away from some of the old ones I've run across, suspecting that the take down set up would destroy the accuracy potential, and possibly loosen up the head space over time. That one you've got there is a beauty. Best regards, Rod
But geez, Valnar, that take down is a work of art. I've shied away from some of the old ones I've run across, suspecting that the take down set up would destroy the accuracy potential, and possibly loosen up the head space over time. That one you've got there is a beauty. Best regards, Rod
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My biggest concern is figuring out how to mount it. I certainly don’t want to drill into the barrel.
I wonder too. Not enough meat anywhere to mount it. I can't use Grizzly Customs either because they have a 1 year backlog.
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