Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Scope recommendations

I am going to buy a 338 Marlin express for elk, deer and possibly moose hunting. I have bought scopes for other rifles, but they were always sub-par simmons and bushnell (all I could afford when I was in high school) and very inaccurate on my 30-06.

I want to do this right the first time, so what would you choose for a gun like I'm looking at, considering recoil and capabilties of the caliber/gun. No need to have a super high powered scope of my range is within 400 yards. Price I'd like to be around 200 if possible. TIA

bushnell elite 3200 3-9x40 or a leupold rifleman 3-9x40 both are about $199.00or less. i recently looked at both and the bushnell was brighter for my eyes.

I'd keep my eye out for a used VXII 2-7, if you keep your eyes open you can find them under a couple hundred pretty easily.

Also will hold it's value if you decide to go another route later on.

LiveFree,

First let me welcome you to the 'fire. Then let me brag about my variety of scopes. They range from a 12-42X56 NightForce to a K2.5 Weaver. My last pruchase was a 4 1/2-30X50 Bushnell 6500. Prior to that I bought a 2 1/2-10X40 Tasco. It is a very nice scope and the one I would definately recomend to you. Its price is under a hundred bucks.

You don't have to be concerned with it handling recoil. I have a 4-16 Tasco on my .375-.416 Rem and put a 4-16 Tasco on the .340 Weatherby.

If you can, compare what you might purchse side by side outside the store if posible. You may experience a delightful surprise. I no longer beleive you get what you pay for. You are happiest when you get what you shop for.

.......................Great choice in a lever gun! I remember your thread regarding the 338 ME.

Imo, the best variable power for this cartridge at 400 yards and less is 1x4 or a 1.5x5. Those magnifications are great for short ranged timber/brush hunting as well as a longer ranged shot too. You can get a 3-9x40 Nikon Primos for around $200. However, any 3-9x40 would be heavier, larger or less compact, and have the higher belled profiles.

Imo, straight tubed scopes simply look better on lever rifles. But if you prefer a belled objective, I`d go no more than a 2x7 or 2x8 for magnification, along with no larger than a 32 or 33mm objective size.

If I were you I`d step up, spend more if possible, and get a new 1-4x20 VX2 or find a used one at a cheaper price.

Or as another second alternative?...For around $289, that 2-8x32 Nikon Monarch (comparable to VX3 glass), is an "excellent" scope for the money. Even though its about three ounces heavier, for its optics and more consistent eye relief, I`d be more inclined to pick that one over the 2-7x33 VX2 at $299.

Good luck! Pick a good one!

how about a 2x7x32 vortex viper?

............That`s a good one too!.....Well! Hello there Mr. Pyro! How goes it?

Lever action rifles tend to be light and handy. To me, a scope on a lever action changes the nature of the beast more than a scope on a bolt action.

I'd look at fixed 4x scopes that are lightweight, like the Pentax.

The other alternative is a peep sight from Williams.

Great, thanks for the ideas. I have used the cheaper Bushnells in the past with less than par results. I used Leopold rings and bases, thinking that was the issue, but to no avail. I like the Leopold Rifleman, and have kinda looked at the Nikon as well. We'll see what I end up with when I get the gun, hopefully this spring

Denton, I also like to keep the leverguns looking like lever guns, but I am not a good shot with the iron sights. Besides, much more over 100yards, the animal would be covered up by the sights, making for poor shot placement. I made a bad shot on a doe this year, and don't care to do it again. So the scope would allow me to make better shot placement.

Just picked up 2 VX-II's 2-7X33 via Craigslist first one was 105.00 and second was 125.00 Both in great shape.

My preference is straight tubed scopes on Lever Guns.

Livefree...

Sounds like you're carefully thinking through what you are going to do. That will pay off in the end.

My eyes just turned 66, so my choice for my Marlin 357 lever action is a 4x ProStaff Rimfire. Since I'm shooting cast bullets at about 1200 FPS the 50 yard parallax setting is just right. That is a lightweight scope, and fits the Marlin about as well as anything can.

I have Mojo sights on a couple of milsurps, and like them very well. I can do 1 3/4" five-shot groups at 100 yards with those. It's not quite as good as a scope, but Mojos are surprisingly good. I just finished putting a Williams peep sight on a 30-30 bolt action. I think that is going to work out well, but we won't know until I can get a day at the range.

Excuse me for my ignorance, but what is a VX-II???

VX-II's are essentially the older VXIII's (Leupold)


The new VX-I are equivalent to the old VXII's, Leupolds great marketing stragedy to confuse everyone.

Either VXII or VX-II Leupold 2-7 I think would be a great fit for your rifle without screwing up the looks.

Thanks cal74. 2-7x30 right? Or what objective size?

BTW, love your signature

2-7x32

or

2.5-8x33

You can pick up the 2-7's for under 200.00, I picked up one of the newer one's VX-II's not to long ago for about 180.00 shipped on feebay.


The VXIII's or VX-III 2.5-8's will generally be pushing 300.00



Your welcome & thanks...

I'm glad its you & not me looking over those Tascos on DGR's. When I'm hunting dangerous game I will use my 6X Leupold on a 376 Styer & 1.25-4X24 Swarovski on my 416 Rigby.

Livefree- Save a bit & purchase a Zeiss Conquest 4X or Leupold 4X or 6X. Used might even be within your budget. Good hunting.

Pretty hard to beat the Burris FFII's at that price. My other suggestion would be the "K" series Weavers, 4X, etc. E

Burris Fullfield II.

I'd think about a fixed luepold 4x.

I'm ready to get this gun and scope set up so I can shoot it . Now all I need is the money to buy it all