Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Lever gun scope recommendations

Hi All! I'm looking for some suggestions on a scope for a couple of my lever actions. As much as I like them "clean", I just can't see the irons as well as I need to in a hunting situation, especially early morning/late evening. I'm looking for something compact, lightweight with decent optics. An illuminated reticle would be a plus.

SWFA 1-4

https://www.swfa.com/swfa-ss-1-4x24-tactical-30mm-riflescope-109309.html

For compact and light, you'll have to focus on traditional scopes and not tactical ones.

You may have to shop around or even buy used, but these are old favorites for your application:

Weaver 1 x 3 and the Nikon African 1 x 4 are hard to beat, especially the Nikon for this purpose.

The Leupold fixed 2.5 is also a great choice.

Leupy 2.5-8 on mine. I’m no leupold fan, it’s the only one I own. I zeroed my 30-30 at 125 yds and it’s never moved in 5 years.

Burris Fastfire works well too and you don't even know it's there.

I don't know schitt about illuminated reticles, but on pistol-caliber rifles, I like a 2-7x32, and on other flatter-shooting levers, I like a 3-9x32. If your shots can be 20 yds or 200yds, either of these will work fine.

I went Leupold Freedom 1-4

I have two of these on other rifles - its too big and heavy for what I'm looking for, plus I would like to stay with a 1" tube if possible

Thanks - anyone got one for sale?? No joy on any new Weavers or Nikons :-(

Just found this one on the SWFA site, don't really need the 10 power on the top end, but it looks lightweight (9.5 oz):

https://www.swfa.com/swfa-ss-2-5-10x32-ultralight-rifle-scope.html?___SID=U

I just ordered a 2-7x33 VX Freedom from Neil at Cameraland. I think he still had some in 1-4

I have 2-7x Leupolds on Savage 99s and a variety of 1.5-4.5 and 1.5-5 scopes on exposed hammer lever guns.

I picked up a very clean Marlin 336 in 35 Remington a couple of months back and was looking for a scope I'd be happy with on it.

I also like lower power variables on lever and pump guns for eastern deer hunting.

I found one of the old school steel El Paso Weaver variables, a Weaver V4.5 on Fleabay with the ocular tv lens, a 1.5 to 4.5 with duplex reticle.

The scope is a little heavy but the gun balances extremely well. Set in old school Weaver pivot mounts so the scope can be swung over for the irons, the scope sits very close to the barrel with the low pivot rings and I have a good cheek weld to the stock.

The gun is 1980 vintage, no crossbolt safety and the scope is probably about the same age. Nice woods gun and I may even be able to sight it in one day if our communist governor opens the ranges.

Other good ones are the older Nikon Monarch UCC 1.5-4.5×20 and the Brunton Eterna 1.25-5×20. The older Nikon is a bit more compact than the African mentioned above due to a smaller ocular housing.

Wink_man, nice! Old school swing-away scope with iron sight backups with the scope mounted low. That must be one sweet-handling lever gun.

ER sucks, keep going

Jeeper yes it does seem to balance and handle very well, I just haven't shot it yet because our communist governor closed the ranges with this covid 19 bullchit.

Actually I have 3 of these in .35 Remington, this straight grained one and 2 with nice fiddleback in the stock. Vintage 1960 and 1972 for the other 2, both with the same Weaver pivot mounts, one has a 4X Denver Redfield with post & crosshair, the other a Bushnell Banner 2X7.

Going to give one of them to Qtip from here(God rest is soul) cousins son.

Weaver 1-3x20

Japan mfg......less than $200.......

clear glass......heluva deal

NICE !!!!!
Nice gun and nice country you live in Tikkanut !!!!

Depends on the lever action and the hunting conditions. While they are stereotypically short range guns, some like the Browning BLR "mysteriously" shoot just as flat as bolt actions in the same chambering ... like 7mm mag so short range scopes are not always the correct choice for every lever action.

Looking back across some years, thinking about what I liked and what worked, one of the best balances was a Weaver K2.5 on a Win 94 trapper .44 magnum. The scope was suited to the range of the rifle and trajectory of the cartridge. Another "best" was a Leupold 1.75-6X on a stainless Marlin "guide" .45-70. While it wasn't my gun, I got to shoot a BLR in 7mm mag that had a 4-12X on it, forget the brand, but it was a 3/4 MOA gun, with factory ammo, despite an 8-10 pound gritty trigger. I've spent quite a bit of range time behind lever actions with full size 3-9X40s doing load work-up but I'm not sure I'd pick one for hunting. The larger objective raises the eye, thus the cheek, from the stock making obtaining a good sight picture slower than I really like.

I'd look at the compact Leupold 2.5x, their 1.5-5X and 2.5-8X. If you can find a Weaver K2.5 or K4, they're good .. appropriate to purpose.

I would also think about scout scope setups. They are not for everyone. I have no first-hand experience with them, know some people who like them and others who cuss them. Definitely something you should check into. Leupold and Burris would be the right brands if you go that route.

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.

I like the Leupold VX1 2-7x33 on my BLR. As compact as a straight 4x with the versatility of a variable. I've had one on my Marlin 336 30-30 too.

I like the 1.5-5 Leupold on my BLR T/D.

Leupold 1-4x20 on my 1894 357 and it works very well.

My only lever action is an early 80's version of a 336 Marlin 30-30 and I have to agree with a couple of others who have recommended the Weaver Classic 1-3x20. For me it is a perfect match for the Marlin. It is the 3rd scope I've tried on this rifle and it is going to stay mounted on it. It is a shame it is no longer manufactured but, I may try to find one just to have an extra on hand. With glass made in Japan, they are bright and clear and the cross hairs are perfect size (thickness) for the 30-30.

I'm really into function and favor the Scout scopes on levers, They leave all of the action workings fully accessible. No projecting spurs etc needed for hammer work and the grip is not hindered in any way. One could run this wearing boxing gloves. Sits low and is about like looking across irons.

45-70

I am a levergun guy and prefer scout scopes.
Once I adjusted to them, reciever mounted scopes seem more awkward.
For example , I use a 2x7 Burris on a Browning BLR( .270 wcf) takedown . This is my favorite for high elevation hunts, I can wrap my hand around the reciever for carrying, I can bore sight it if needed, the hammer is totally clear of obstruction and it takes down in equal parts for carrying in my custom ,long saddle bags. In a storm, the rifle stays dry when horseback. I am horseback 90% of the time.
I am a traditional sort of hunter, but like L.E.R. scopes.
Cheers

I have that same scope on my Henry .45Colt levergun. Excellent scope. On my .357 levergun, have one of the Weaver 1-3x20mm(Japan). Another good one for leverguns.

I like the Leupold 3x that was available through the custom shop awhile back. It's actually 3.4x, which gives you just a little more magnification. A heavy duplex is my preference.
Bob

I have 3.5x10 Leupolds in the Savage 99’s I have.



where to upload high resolution photos

I had a blr 308 years ago. Played with a lot of scopes and settled on a leupold fixed 6x42. Very forgiving eye box and easy to get behind. Worked well for fast handling even at close range. I liked it better than the lower powered weaver v3 or the Leopold 2=7 I tried on it.

Bb