Home Forums Lever Action Central Marlin 336 Lever Actions 336 scope recomendation

Hey guys, after I altered my 12 year old sons model 94 with a peep sight he was so made at me he could not stand it. So, today I bought him a brand new 336. I am looking for recomendations for a moderately priced scope. I am thinking about a 2 1/2 power fixed, and am really interested in the correct size and brand that will look good on the gun. He shoots iron sights well enough, just couldn't get the peep to work for him. Any brand and model recomendations would be helpful. Thanks in advance

I put a Leupold FXII 4X on mine and really like it. I had a straight tube Burris on it before and while the 20mm objective looked good I was really dissapointed with its light gathering.

Burris's line of compact scopes rivals Luepold, their 4X is about perfect for the Marlin

If you want to keep the scope about the size of four power, I would get a Leupold 2-7.

IF you're concerned about looks you'll need something w/ a 20mm objective like the 2.5x you mention. Weaver makes some, both a fixed power and a variable, as does Leupold. IMO, those are the only ones that look decent on any levergun.

My 336 wears a Leupold VX-II 2-7. I like the extra power at the range, and the scope looks good. . . Before that, there was a Bushnell Dawn to Dusk shotgun scope that looked even better, but I could never get good performance from. . .

I will second the Leupold VXII 2-7 recommendation. My son has one on his 336SS and is a super clear handy little scope.

thanks for the comments guys!
retrieverman, what size objective lens does your son's scope have? Looks like they offer either 28mm or 33 mm.
How hard is it for an amateur to mount a scope. Doesn't seem to be that hard if you have the right tools? Is a gun smith needed?

I really like the Nikon Monarch 4x40 if you can find one.

The objective on my son's scope is 33mm. Scope mounting is very simple, but if you have never done it before, it wouldn't hurt to have a gunsmith do it.

I just put a Nikon Prostaff in 2x7x32 on a old Remington 141 pump I have. I wanted a 20mm tube scope so it would "fit the style of the gun" better but after trying one I did not like it. The Nikons are 129.00 at Ganger Mt and seem to be super clear, hold zero great and work pretty good in low light.

There real small too, I think 11.3 inches in the 2x7, with a 32mm bell they fit the pumps and levers well, Im not a fan of the big objectives on that style gun.

On a lever if you go too big with you're scope it seems to make the gun top heavy for lack of a better term.

Just my .02

thanks guys, I purchased a 1981 Leupold VARI-X II 2-7 for less than $150.00. It was described as excellent condition so even if it is decent I will be happy. I think I will have a Smith mount it and bore sight it if it is not too expensive. Thanks for all comments and help.

Did you use QR 1" low rings and did you remove the hood over the iron sight. It doesn't appear noticable on the picture. Is that necessary to get a clear view?

I decided to go with a STD base and STD 1"-low rings. Still wandering if I need to remove the hood?

Take a look through the scope and see, with my 4X and low rings I didn't have to.

At 4X, you wont be able to see the front sight hood no matter how low you mount the scope. I use Warne Maxima 2 peice bases and Weaver low rings to get the scope extra low where it belongs. Marlin stocks were designed for open sights, so a high mounted scope gives a very poor cheek weld.

In my opinion, a standard 2-7X is the absolute largest scope I would ever consider for a Marlin levergun. I prefer the 2-7 compact of lower power straight objective scopes for reasons of balance and handling. It is true that you give up a few minutes of shooting light due to the lessened light gathering ability, but they are far superior for snap shooting.

I think the Leupold VXII, being a light scope, doesn't affect handling any more than a straight tube scope (I have both),it just doesn't look as "correct".What it does offer is better performance in low light and is actually probably lighter than most straight tube scopes out there, also it can be mounted just as low.

It does not get any lighter than a Leupold 2.5X compact. I too have used both the straight tube and 2-7X class scopes on my Marlins. You are correct about the low light performance, but I have found that the VX-II 1-4x20 and VX-III 1.5-5X20 allow me to shoot right up till almost dark with no problems.

I know that the VX-II 2-7x33 is somewhat heavier than my Var-X 2-7X28 compact and the above mentioned scopes. Also, it is much easier to wrap your hand around the middle of the gun with a straight tube scope mounted. It is much harder to do with the larger scopes even when you have big hands like I do. Another advantage of the straight tube scopes is that you can leave the factory rear sight in place at the lowest possible mounting height. You cannot do that with the VX-11. Not a huge advantage, but an advantage nonetheless.

I guess it just comes down to personal preferrence. There is no right answer. It sounds like Wiktor and I have just formed two slightly different preferrences after considerable practical field experience.

I think all new 336s come with folding rear sights so leaving the rear sight in place is no longer a problem. I'm new to the 336 scene and could be misunderstanding what TnBigBore is referring to but here is a quick snapshot of my 308MX with a VXIII Leupold 2.5X8X36mm in low Leupold rings if it helps.



Just a data point.

DJR

Different angle:

On my son's 336SS, the scope is mounted in Talley ring/bases, and the scope hood is removed. As far as being necessary, I am not sure, but I just don't like the sight hoods.

On my straight grip 336SS, I am using Leupold permanent weaver rings on a XS lever rail, and I have the front sight filed down level with the top of the sight base. I have mine scoped with a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40mm.


I am not a open sight shooter and wish Marlin would just make a smooth barrel levergun just for scoping like bolt gun manufacturers have. I would especially like to see this in a XLR.

Good looking rifle there retrieverman. Is that straight grip 336SS a standard production gun? Or is the straight grip a special run model? Then only SS 336s w/ straight grips that I've seen were short bbl .35 Rems.

This gun is my special project, and to the best of my knowledge is the only one. I had been wanting a 336SS with a straight grip (which the only one made is the 336SS LTD 35 Rem), and I found a guy with a 336SS LTD that wanted a pistol grip stock on his. We traded trigger plates and stocks, and I have the gun of my dreams.

I added a WWG trigger and XS Lever Rail and topped it with a Zeiss scope, and there is the gun.

Figured maybe you put it together. Looks nice. I've got that spec run LTD in .35 and like it OK, but for the poor factory checkering. I would probably jump on the chance to get one like it in .30-30, if they offered it, though I'd prefer an 18" barrel.

They will fit under a Leupold base and low rings, but not a Warne base and Weaver type low rings. That is the lowest setup that I am aware of and is what I use. The Leupolds are rock solid, but just not as low.

That looks like a nice setup DJR. How does it shoot?

Have you tried super low Leup DD rings w/ a 20mm objective scope?

I am just this very minute putting it in a hard case. Leaving in a couple of hours for a muzzle loader elk hunt then a center fire deer hunt. I'll let you know how it does if I get the chance. I won't tell you how well it was doing at the range, you'd think I'm fibbing. Really.

I'll be gone for three weeks. You guys be good.

DJR

Good luck on your hunt. I would not be suprised if you told me is grouped inside an inch at 100yds. I know of a couple that will do that.


Biglmbass, I have tried the extra low Leupold rings. If I remember correctly, the fold down sight did fit below it, but not the older rear sights that dont fold down. I have several older guns. Another thing about the Leupold mounts. The base is pretty high to begin with and considerably heavier that the Warne setup. I have tried many mounting systems for the 336/1895/1894 and dont use anything but Warne bases any more. Not a thing wrong with he Leupold. The quaility is excellent. The Warne is just lighter and lower and still rock solid.

I have a 1983 336T with an 18.5" barrel and love the gun, but it sure doesn't shoot LeverEv ammo as well as my "SS" with a 20" barrel (though the barrel length MAY be unrelated to the accuracy difference). My "T" will shoot 1.5" groups at 100, where as my "SS" will shoot an inch or under (if I do my part).

Well, the Leupold arrived and I got it mounted on the gun. It looks great and also got a recoil pad installed. Shot about 40 shots last weekend, bringing the total up to 100. Hopefully it is broken in well enough and the 101st shot will kill a deer this weekend. Can't wait to hit the stand with my son Tomorrow evening and all day Sat. and Sunday. He shot it pretty well on the bench, just hoping he can hold it still enough to hit where he is aiming. Youth Deer gun hunt this weekend in Oklahoma. If nothing else, we will have a blast!! Thanks guys for advice

Well, I am happy to report that shot 101 killed a 78lb Doe about 7:21am yesterday morning. We saw a forked horn buck Saturday morning, but he approached from the only direction in which my son could not get a shot. That was just as well, because we were hoping to get a doe. The rifle performed admirably and the scope as well. I must say I was a little disappointed in the lack of a blood trail. He used Leverevolutions and while they effectively killed her, we did not find any evidence that she was hit. Not a single drop of blood. After a 30 minute search, we found her and there was a little blood under where she laid, about the size of a man's hand. I sure thought he missed her. The doe he shot two years ago with Winchester silver tips bled like a stuck pig. Anyway-thanks for all the advice guys.

Well, I'm struggling to figure out how to post Pics. I also regret I did not get a better picture of the gun and scope.

yeah maybe you wish you'd more prominently displayed the hardware.....................but that's a danged fine pic in my book. Tell the little man a bunch of us said congrats.