Home Forums Lever Action Central Marlin 336 Lever Actions Skinner, XS or low power scope for 35 Remington.

I don't like scopes on lever rifles! If the lever rifle is heavy or chambered for a long-range cartridge, I'd consider a scope. I had one on a 358 Win BLR and I have one on my 1892 256.

I'd go with a Skinner. I have Lyman steel aperture sights on all my lever rifles except my 1886 sight is an aluminum Lyman and my 1892 256 which has a J4 Weaver on it. The setup I like best is on my 375 Winchester it has a Lyman steel aperture and a brass post for the front sight. I don't like most factory front sights, unless I were to keep an open sight rear sight. I took off the aperture sight on my pre-64 1894 32 Special and it has the factory sights on it now since I'm selling it.

Red dots sights are game changers for aging eyes. I have no less than 3 of them. I put a Burris FF3 on my Henry lever gun. Best combo since sliced bread and PB&J.

I went from a skinner peep to a 2.5x20 Leupold with standard duplex on my 1895G and I’ve never regretted it.


My 375 Win wears a 1-4x20 with HD Leupold and another 30-30 has a new 2.5x20 Weaver.

If you’re hunting in low light and in thick brush, you really need a scope. Iron sights, while they look traditional, are not going to gather light.

I love my leverguns but add aging eyes and these days I only use my iron sighted leverguns in bright conditions. Go for a light, low power scope and mount it as low as you can.

Scope for all the reasons mentioned above. Also for game ID.

I've passed on a few deer that were in thick brush while hunting with iron sights. Easy shots, was 90% sure they were legal bucks, but not sure enough. Last time it happened more or less cured me of my interest in hunting with irons. Irons do have an advantage in bad weather.

I have yet to harvest game with my lever 30-30. I acquired it just a few years ago and have only carried it on a couple of javelina hunts. Last year when I decided to call it a trip, I walked out of camp and set up a paper target with a 5 1/2" black center at a ranged it at 150 yards out. I shot at it three times in a standing position and resting the rifle over the top of my tripod shooting sticks. With a peep in the back and a white blade up front, all three fell in for kill shots. I wear progressive lenses and I'm not sure if I could have done that with the factory iron sights.

That white blade holds up pretty well in very low light, though I'm guessing low light in the wide open desert might be different than low light in the eastern thickets??