Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Lever gun scope recommendations

I have a leupold m8 fixed 3 power on my glenfield model 30. I’d kind of like a little more power but it sit low and has great field of view

How about a worthless suggestion of one's that out of production? Weaver Classic 1-3x20. Wish I'd gotten a couple more.

A heavy duplex VX1 1-4x20 would suit my tastes well. Really need to get the 336 out and play.

Leupold 1-4.

I had a SCHMIDT AND BENDER 6x42 on my 7 mm BLR and it’s for sale $600.

Ive just got a 336 recently myself and am toying with this exact dilemma. It really does depend on what you want to use it for IMO.

Had a Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24 on an AR15 but our government took assault rifles them away from us so tried it out on my T3x. Worked pretty well....during the day. Sucks at low light, which to be honest is what you should expect. The scopes not really designed for low light shooting with that tiny objective. I was really hoping to us this on the 336. Given most of the bush shooting we do here in NZ is in low light bush, dawn and dusk, it just doesn't cut the mustard.

What are your guys thoughts on prism scopes like the vortex 3x or sig bravo 5? Thought they might be an option but cant find any good info on low light performance. Im guessing much the same as the vortex but been keen to hear your views

The two scopes I’d recommend most have unfortunately been discontinued. I have a VX-3 1.75-6x32 on my 336 and seriously like it. It has a German #4. I also have a VX-R 2-7x33 Firedot 4 which I’ll probably take off an AR and install on a lever gun if I get another. Too bad both scopes have been discontinued.

If the glass and IR on the VX-Freedom 1.5-4x20 Firedot are comparable to a VX-R, I’d seriously look at them. I used a Fullfield II 2-7x35 on a 336 for a number of years with no complaints.

My Marlin 1895 45-70 wears a Leupold Vari-X11 2-7x33.

Thanks all for the recommendations, I looks like my choices for a new scope are limited, just not many people looking for a lightweight low power 1" scope anymore. A Marlin 336 in 30-30 and 35 Rem just don't look right with the tactical low powers that are popular these days.

Maybe a good used Weaver or Nikon will turn up :-)

Don't forget about Burris compact rifle scopes.

I have a couple on Marlins. One on a 16" 336 30-30, and another on a 16" 1894.

Here is the 30-30 and a 3 shot group shot at 150 yards.




The Burris compact or search for "mini" rifle scopes are well made and were built i the US before Burris took their production overseas.

Well, thought I'd throw this out there. Not huge, not too tactical, t's 30mm, and from Wuhan, $129. I'm trying one, in hand it's impressive. Way friendly eyebox. BOLD reticle with a firedot. We'll see.

https://www.primaryarms.com/primary-arms-1-4x24mm-illuminated-riflescope-pa14x



Holds zero? We'll see.

+2 on the Burris. I have 3 of them myself.

Leupy 1.5-5

An older gloss 3x leupold.

+1

Throwing a +1 at the Weaver V3 1-3x20 if you can find one since they recently stopped producing scopes. I have one on my Marlin 336 (35 Rem) and I've been very happy with it.

I recently got a CZ 527 Carbine (7.62x39) and tried to find another to put on it given how much I like it on the Marlin, but I ended up getting a Leupold Freedom 1.5-4x20 with the Pig Plex reticle; it's also quite nice and would be worth considering.

A Leopold VX II 1-4x20mm with duplex reticle is on each of my lever guns.

Another vote for the Leupold 1-4x 20mm.......one's been on my Marlin 30-30 for about 18 years now and it's plenty of scope for a 30-30. Plus; the trim lines and 20mm objective fit right in with a lever gun. I'm glad Roundoak posted a couple pictures of some. I have pictures of my Marlin here on my computer but this site's too much of a picture posting pain for guys like me. I can post pictures on a few other sites but this one's too complicated for dinosaurs like me.

I'm using the Redfield Revolution 2-7x33mm pretty much across the board. On the 45-70 and the 350 legend.

I have 2 Leupolds. One is the 1x4x20 and one is the 1.5x5x20. Either is a great lever gun scope with generous eye relief and plenty of field of view for up close situations.I also like the smaller size, it fits better on a carbine type rifle.

Did I read that right from last Wednesday that you are looking at a 2.5-10 on a lever Marlin? A lot of those Marlin's have the straight, low comb stocks and a low mounted 20mm objective scope would get lower on the receiver than something larger in higher mounts. A .30-30 or a .35 Remington in a lever action is a shorter range rifle to begin with and the afore mentioned 1-4 or 1.5-5x20's with their huge exit pupil diameters and lighter weight would be the ideal. The 9 ounce Leupold 1.5-5x20 with the heavy Duplex is on my 99F .300 Savage and comes up and points like my index finger and there is no losing that heavy Duplex in any background even into very dim light. I've had a few of those Vari-X lll's over the years and that heavy Duplex is no target scope, but it sure is easy to see. Most of the time that variable is set at 2-3x, but I do like being able to increase the power ring which was something that I missed with my first 2 3/4x fixed power.