Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Scope for 45-70 Marlin Guide Gun

FWIW - I have an older Leupold Vari-X II 1-4x20 that I have tried on several rifles. It has almost all the great features I appreciate in Leupold scopes, except it is not very bright. I can hunt quite a bit later in the day with my other Leupold scopes that feature 33 and 40mm objective lenses. Maybe there's just something wrong with my particular scope, or maybe I'm doing something wrong. I've been meaning to send it to the factory for a check-up but just haven't done it yet.

Another scope that I have had good luck with on my GG and other rifles is a Bushnell "Sportsman" (IIRC) 1.5-4.5x20. This is not an expensive scope and I don't know if they're still available, but it has good eye relief and clarity, and I have not had issues with mechanical strength.

-

I have a Burris Compact 1x4 EER on my 1895G and I like it. I also think the straight tube scopes look better on a short lever action. My 1895SS looked fine with a Burris Compact 3x9, to me anyway.

I have standard Leupold mounts but I would like lighter, lower profile base and rings with quick release but don't know if they exist.

+1 in the straight tubes on lever guns.

on my model 1895 i have a leupold 1.5x5 mounted with warne QR rings and bases......returns to zero every time.....the warne rings and bases are a little more expensive but they are really built for durability....the scope is low and i really appreciate the 5X option when sighting in.....the 45/70 still has plenty of snot out to 250yds. or so.....make sure you have the magnification for the distance....i have a leupold 2.5 on my 44mag marlin and i feel thats a good match for the useful range of the gun.....bearit.....

bearit,

Can you post a pic?

I use a Simmons ProDiamond 1.5x5x20 shotgun scope on my Guide Gun. I picked up several of them at under $100 ea and use them on my levers. Shotgun scopes are well known for taking recoil, but Simmons is definitely a Rodney Dangerfield scope on this forum. Good luck.

My choice is the Leupy 1.5-5x20 Vari XIII on Leupold QR mounts. Here with a red stag in the patagonian andes.

http://es.tinypic.com/view.php?pic=258b01x&s=6

RDW....sorry but i'm just not that computer savvy....my 44mag. marlin has the same warne set-up....it also returns to zero.....warne low-mounts will get you as close to the barrel as you can get.....regards....bearit...

I have a Burris scope like yours, I think. Mine has oodles of eye relief, like 5-6 inches IIRC. I custom-made my mount so I could take advantage of that eye relief by positioning the ocular lens in front of the hammer. I do not need a hammer spur extension, and the scope is far enough away from my eye that there is no way it would hit me. I made a few of these for some of the guys on the old MarlinTalk forum before Marlin decided it wasn't in their interest to continue the forum. When I find the picture of my GG with the Burris in my custom mount, I'll post it here.

-

That sounds like my scope, lots of eye relief, not quite a pistol scope but close. I would like to see you mounts.