Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers Good Scope for Marlin 444S

For the past 25 years I've been hunting with my Marlin 444S using a Tasco 4x32 scope with see thru mounts. This year at the range I've fired the Hornady lever Evolution ammo for the first time and was very impressed. Normally I would use this gun in heavy brush with less than 65 yard clearing. The 4x32 scope was perfect. Now with the Hornady lever Evolution ammo I can take that 100 yard shoot with no problem. My eyes are not what they use to be. I would like to change my scope, but I do not want my see thru port obstructed by the stronger scope. My question is. Is there a scope stronger with a zoom optic that wil not obstruct my see thru port? The 444 has that Great Knock Down Power on Deer. No trailing the deer like when I used my .308.

Nikon 2-7x32mm.

Oh, and if you turn it all the way down to 2x, you can probably do away (actually, SHOULD do away) with those see-through mounts.

That said, the extra 35 yards (from 65 to 100) ain't gonna make that much difference. Stay with what works.

I had a Weaver Classic fixed 2.5x on mine for years and it did everything I needed for deer/black bear. it now wears a Leupy VXII 1-4x because I got a great deal on it. The 2.5x is going on my buddy's gun. My other buddy has a Burris 1.75-5x on his, although my handloads shattered the glass on it once. They also blew a Bushnell Trophy red-dot to smithereens---2MG

I have a Sightron II 2-7x32mm on my 1895GS....it is clear, good light gathering and really takes punishment from my 500 grn bullets...just my opinion

I have a Leupold VX2 1-4 power shotgun scope on mine. Low weaver rings. I think it is perfect.

Leupy VX I 1-4 Shotgun scope. It's perfect for short to medium range lever actions, etc.

I personally don't like the shotgun scope thing unless it's on a shotgun, which I've never found a reason to scope anyway. Just me....2MG

Leupold 2x, just enough, not too top heavy.

I like the new Nikon Omega scope desinged for the Muzzleloader. My dad put one on his Omega and one on his Ruger #1 in 45-70. The scope has circles on the recticle marked out to 250 yards. The balistics should be close.

I posted the same question earlier this year and ended up purchasing a Bushnell Banner 1.5 X 4 X 32. The price was right and I haven't had any problems. If you're interested I can send you the link I used to purchase the mount, rings and scope.

I have a Vari-X II 1-4 on my 444S with low rings. Seems perfect as a few others have said. Some other scopes are fine too but eye releief is not as critical with Leupolds

Scopes will drive you nuts.My M444 first wore a cheep 3x9 with see thru rings.Scraped that for a RedDot, liked it, but no magnification is no fun at the range.Went like 2muchgun Weaver 2.5.Then I tried a Burris 3x9BP didn't like the eyerelief, sold.Tried a Leupold VXI 2-7X33,didn't like it either.I traded that for a Burris 1.75-5X20(currently FS in the Classifed)didn't like that.Now has a VariXII 1-4X20.I like that.
Kicker is I bought a Nikon Omega for my Knight smoke pole.Problem is it won't fit the Knight without higher rings.I took the VariXII off the Marlin and put it on the Knight and said "looks good".I'll put the Omega on the Marlin.YOU'LL GO OUT OF YOUR FN MIND.Get a nice 1 or 1.5 too whatever Leupold 20mm and say good night.

Leupy 1.5-5 or 2-7x32mm.

The 1.5-5x20 is excellent...........

I put a 1.5x4 Leupold on mine and its done great. I dont like the see thru mounts, but that's just me. Good luck...

I'd also consider the Leupold FX-II 2.5X20 Ultralight....without see-thrus.

Started with a 1-4x shotgun scope, then had a Leupold ultralight 2-7x on mine, now have a Bushnell 3200 2-7x on mine. I like having the higher power capability, as I've had to thread it through some pretty small holes in brush while hunting black timber for elk. Didn't like the shotgun scope because parallax is generally set at 50 yards on shotgun scopes. Went from 4 inch groups at 100 yards with the shotgun scope to shooting cloverleafs at 100 yards with both the Leupold and Bushnell. The reason I went to the Bushnell over the Leupold is the Bushnell has the RainGuard coating on the lenses which works great on foggy, rainy, or snowy days. These smaller scopes mounted on low rings work perfect on the Marlin 444; for me the crosshairs are perfectly centered when it hits my shoulder. Like others have said, with the low power setting that you'll carry it on most of the time, and how well it will come up with low mounts - get rid of the see through mounts...

My 444S is wearing a Leuopld 2.5-8x36 on low mounts. It handles great and sight picture acquisition is very natural when I shoulder the rifle. I hunt with it on lowest power but it's nice to be able to turn it up to 8 to check things out farther away.

I have a Leopold scout scope on mine, with an xs scout mount, quick release rings, and a wiliams peep sight if for some reason I dont wont the scope on at the time.

I don't have the 444 but I do have an 1895 45-70 with an old Weaver K1.5x on it. It is the only Weaver of that power I have ever seen and till I found it didn't know they even made it. It offers enough magnification for my aging eyes coupled with a great field of view. I have no trouble shooting good groups at 100 yards with it. I have never been a fan of see through mounts. Always felt like I had to lift my head to far up off the stock to see through the scope. That may be just me though.

mart

There are 3 that are worth a look. The Bushnell Banner 1.5-4.5X32 is an awesome scope. The Nikon Prostaff 2-7X32 and the Bushnell 3200 Elite 2-7X32 are good too. The little Banner will give you more shoting time than a scope costing 4 times as much. You can get them for $60.00 shipped on Amazon. I recently bought a new Leupold 2-7X33 VX-1, and it doesn't come close to the other 3 mentioned. It's very dark and almost imposible to adjust. I won't be buying another Leupold.

+ on the banner scope, that's what I use on my muzzleloader's, small, lightweight and plenty of FOV and the price is great

I have an older Marlin 444 and want to scope it. I have the
VX-1 2-7x33 and from one of the posters above...this scope is [bleep]. Crappy buy if it does not work but I am going to try it out.

A couple or three of questions here. Who likes the matte versus the gloss scope on lever rifles? And what bases/rings for my older 444 Marlin.

I am also going to need to order reloading dies and stuff since a box of ammo is going to cost a couple legs so what boolits do you have successful shooting with your 444 Marlin...please specify product number for boolits and RCBS dies...what powder you like best. I've looked for the dies on Midway and cannot seem to locate it.

Thanks for the inputs. BTW this loading is for hunting deer...

Scope finish is personal preference; I like matte.

Reloading info:

Hornady 265 grain bullets (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=605468)

or Barnes 225 pistol X bullets (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=716126)

RCBS dies (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=386516)

Lee factory crimp die (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=113497)

IMR4198 powder

Weaver Low Tip-Off Rings are great. Burriz Zee Rings are also very good. The standard Weaver base is all I use. I like Matte. eBay and Gunbroker is a good source for cheap stuff.

I see some guys trashing the Leupolds, but I've had good luck with them, although I've never had a VX-I or II. I do also own Bushnell, Burris, Nikon, Simmons, etc - I don't have anything against any of them, having used all of them with success. My Big bore lever guns - the .444 has a 2.5-8X36 vari-x III and my 45-70 has a 2.5-8x36 vx-3. They look right on the rifles and are brilliant and clear - the VX-3 a little better.

The VX-3 is matte and I prefer that finish even on a shiny rifle. The Vari-X III is gloss, doesn't look bad and I already had it, so it went on the rifle. The matte does look better and is probably more appropriate in the woods.

Apparently the Hornady 265 FP is the do it all hunting bullet for this caliber. I've had good success with H4198.

Bushnell Banner is a good medium priced scope. They hold up.

My 444 really suited the Leupold 2.5X M8 Compact. Lots of eye relief and capable of feet to as far as a 444 can hit. Thier called ultralights now.

In a variable I'd go 1-4 with a straight tube. The Weaver 1-3X20, Nikon 1-4X20, Weaver Dangerous Game etc. I would pick a true 1X on the low end. Real close in the bush its nice to have the sight picture the same as the offside eye, incredible instinctive configuration when shooting with both eyes open and fast.

Older low power Weaver variable. Perfect for my 444 Guide gun.