Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Anyone use a fixed 2.5x Leupold?

Piggybacking on my post looking a scope for my BLR - does anyone use a fixed 2.5X Leupold...or any fixed 2.5 scope for that matter?
Please share your experiences with 250 yard shots and shots in low light (dusk, etc).

I used Weaver K-2.5's on my .30-30, .35 Rem. and 12 gauge slug gun for many years. Killed a shytload of deer with them at ranges out to 200+ and never had any problems.

That sounds good. I think I'll go for it then.

I had a Weaver 2.5 on my Marlin 1895 but I always end up removing it because I don't like scoped levers

I have shot quite a few low powered scopes. My grandson stole my 18" barreled Texan 336 that I had Warne extra low 2-piece bases, Weaver super low rings and a Leupold 2 1/2 compact scope mounted on it. Very low and tidy setup. Sighting it in at 100 yards at midday was easy and 3/4" groups could be had on a good day. This is not supposed to be a varmint rifle but shoots like one. He killed his first antelope at 200 yards with it with no difficulty. He has also shot a Savage 99 featherweight with a 3 power Weaver and shot 1 1/4" groups with it. I see no disadvantage with low power scopes on big game at ranges under 250 yards.

Thanks, gentlemen.

Have 2.5 Scout unit on an 1895 in 45-70. Dark timber elk unit. I like it as there's nothing to obstruct the workings.



One has to do a little math though for 250 yds.

Have you considered the Leupold 1-4x ? Have one on my Marlin 356W Trapper rebore and just love it.

I’ve had a 2 1/2x scope on a 600 Remington. Never on a lever though.
I felt that rifle scope combination was perfect. Can’t say that I’ve had a lot of experience with low light.

I have a J4 scope on a 256 Magnum 1892 Winchester and I’ve shot a lot of stuff with that combination. My wife has a 4x Weaver on her Mossberg 30-30. Other than that, my lever rifles have aperture rear sights and mainly post front sights.

I have owned several 2.5x scopes, including two Leupold 2.5x Compacts. I have one new in the box now. The first one was on my Remington Model Seven 7mm-08, which I bought new in 1991, when I was 45. I could see very well then, and could shoot sub-M.O.A. groups using that scope. Today, at nearly 76, with glaucoma, I need more magnification. I don't know about 250 yard shots, though. That depends upon your eyes and how much shooting practice you do.

For a woods rifle here in the Northeast, I would still not feel hindered using a 2.5x scope.

The current-production ones have turrets that I don't like the looks of.

I ordered the 2.5x20 from Midway ($25 gift coupon on Leupold products) last night.

Leupold 1 x 4 on my Marlin is perfect for the small Hill Country place I hunt on.

I have owned a Lyman Alaskan 2.5 on a Model 71; Levermatic side mount-
best I have seen on a Model 71.

I had one on a Guide gun. I also had a 77/44 with a 1-4x20, and liked the eyebox and field of view better.

I found that the 1-4 had enough eye relief for the loads I use in it (425 grain LBT @ 1679 fps), so the 2.5 came off and the 1-4 went on. 77/44 went down the road.

Some amount of horse-trading later, a 1.5-5X20 VX-3i is on the rifle, but I still have the 2.5X20. It's a known, very durable scope.

I'm using a couple of the 1.5-5x20 's and like them. One has the heavy duplex , my favorite for a thicket gun.

Picked up a used 2.5x Leupold for my 45-70 Marlin over 20 years ago. It's still working great. Wonderful eye relief which is nice with a stout-loaded Marlin 1895.

Well known Alaskan brown bear guide Phil Shoemaker has used one on his 458 Win Mag for at least 25 years...

It's a good scope. The best at low light? No. But a real good scope.

Regards, Guy

I'm using one on my 9.3x62mm. Wide duplex. Intended for Cape Buffalo out to ~75 yards max.

Happy Camper

I also just jumped on the fixed 2.5x bandwagon. However...when I got the scope...I found that at the same power my 20mm 1.5-5 VX3s all seemed clearer and brighter in low light. Might be a focus issue.

I have a few Leupold FXII 2.5s. I like them. Mine are are all wide plex. I have shot them a bit, except for one I just put on a Sako 85, and they hold zero well. I have one on a Browning BLR '81 .308, a BLR pistol grip .358 Win, and just put one on my Sako 85 Black Bear .30-06. I got this rifle as sort of a replacement for a Mannlicher–Schönauer carbine in .30-06 that I want to preserve for my son.

Had a couple 2.5 Weavers and a couple Leupold M8 3x. Have 2 3/4x Redfield on my Marlin 94cl 25-20. Really wish I had the old ones back.

I have a number of low powered scopes that I use mainly on bolt actions. In fixed power scopes I have 2 Pecar 2.75X, 1x Kahles 2X, 1x Nickel Supra 1.5X and 2 Weatherby 2.75X. I also use several Pecar and Swarovski 1.5-4x variables - these are generally set at 2.5X.

Except for the Weatherby, all of them are straight tube scopes. If you do the math, the exit pupil diameter of low power scopes is quite large, which gives them an advantage in low light. They are also quite light, even with a steel tube.

The longest shot I’ve taken was 250 meters and that was using a steady rest.

It’s off your parameter, but I have a fixed 4x M8 on a savage 99 .308, and it’s just great for anything I’m going to do with that rifle.

I have a Leupold FX-II 3x20 on my Marlin 444SS. For what and where I hunt it seems about right, but I haven't used it much. Maybe this year.

Had a Marlin Guide Gun with the Leupold Scout Scope. Very ungainly and awkward. The scope was very big; smaller would've been better.
Did not like the scope forward mount or the extra weight out front.
Best scope for a Marlin lever gun is a Leupold 1-4x VX II. Mounts very low Objective is smallish and scope is light weight.
Even better is a dot optic for fast response situations.

I'd much prefer the 2.5x over any variable. But then I dislike variables! I have a few variables only because they are usually easier to find.

My eyes crapped out years ago so irons are mostly out for hunting. Since then, 2.5Xs and 4Xs are all my lever actions wear.

I've got three on different rifles. I just stuck on on a Sako 85M Black Bear. Not sure if it will stay, but I really like the way it feels.