what type of sight?

[SouthronBoy]

I bought a Marlin 336 30-30 last weekend at a gun show. It came with a no-name scope attached on see-through rings, and the original front sit post bent to the right about 30 degrees.

I took it to the range yesterday to see what worked and what didn't. The rifle went bang every time I pulled the trigger, but I couldn't hit anything with the scope. Rounds were all over the place, but it seemed to be hitting 4-6 inches high, and four inches right at 100 yards.

I tried to adjust the scope, but the knobs didn't move anything. When you turn the windage knob, it gets tight and then loosens the other way, but nothing happens to the reticle. The elevation knob just turns. There's a little resitance, but not much. I can't feel or hear any clicks as I move the knobs.

So what do I do? Replace the front sight post, and ditch the scope? Buy another scope and forget the iron sights? Ditch both scope and irons, and get a peep sight?

I don't have a lot of money in the gun, and I'm hesitant to double my investment on a scope.

Oh yeah, I plan to kill Bambi with the rifle. I'll be hunting in hilly, wooded areas with about a hundred yard maximum shot.

 

[goon]

I'd go with repairing or replacing the iron sights. For close range shooting like you describe they should be fine.
I also just bought a Marlin and am planning to install AO peep sights before too long.

BTW - I also detest cheap scopes that bubbas stick on otherwise perfectly useable guns.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

What goon said.

But if you do scope it, keep the scope low, as it's your primary sighting system, and stick a 1.5-5 or 1.5-6, or 2-7x32 on there.

 

[dakotasin]

get a williams wgrs receiver sight for the rear and replace the front post. ditch the scope and rings on it now, and slide the semi-buckhorn barrel sight off and you will have a deer-whacking machine that is fast and handy.

 

[mainmech48]

1st off, is your 336 one of the older/store brand models where the front sight is mounted in a dovetail cut directly into the barrel, or is it on a ramp?

Unless the barrel itself has been twisted off-center somehow, either one is a relatively quick and easy fix.

Rather than mess with trying to straighten the post, replace it. Measure the height and order your choice of dozens of types from Brownell's, Midway or whoever.

I've replaced the front beads on all of my Marlin LAs with Williams "Firesight" FO units. Cheap DIY and they work great.

If it were mine, I'd toss the broken scope and put a good receiver sight on it. If the factory open rear is like most Marlin's are, the leaf folds down and you needn't remove it to use a receiver sight. If it doesn't, the dovetail is a standard 3/8" nominal and a little looking at shows or on the Net should find you a nice factory take-off that will from someone for a reasonably small price.

Up until a few years ago, all of the Marlin 336's came with the left side of the receiver factory drilled and tapped for receiver sights. The new ones aren't but most of the aftermarket brands now have models which use the rear two scope mounting holes instead. Most either come with or require a higher front blade.

There are lots of options as far as brands go. I have a Williams FP on most of mine, but like the Lyman 66, too. If the price for a new one of either of those doesn't suit you, Williams has their economy "5D" line at substantially less cost and nice used FP and Lyman models are plentiful and cheap.

My main gripe with conventionally mounted optics on an LA carbine is that they sit right over the natural balance point and make one-hand carry awkward. YMMV, but I prefer that method in most woods hunting situations. If it gets to the point where I actually need the optical assistance to precisely identify my target and make a good hit at or near 100 yds, then I might go for one of the "Scout" type mounts.

 

[freakshow10mm]

Get a set of XS ghost ring sights.

 

[doc2rn]

I prefer a peep sight on the rear and would have the front one replaced.

 

[Matt-J2]

Dumb question, but did you make sure that the knobs are actually knobs and not just covers?

 

[SouthronBoy]

Matt--

In all candor, no, I didn't.

I put this identical post on two other boards, and somebody on one of the others suggested that I check to see if they were knobs or covers.

They're covers.

I'm still seriously considering a set of peep sights, though.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[Matt-J2]

I completely understand. Don't worry about it, I wouldn't have known to ask if it hadn't happened to me!

Peep sights or ghost rings are a good choice though, and with the Marlin there's plenty of options as far as type and size for both front and rear, IIRC.

 

[Mike 56]

Here's my Winchester 94 with Williams FP sights accurate, quick great setup.