Hey folks! I am putting together a woods/brush gun. Have a Marlin 45-70 GBL (18.5" barrel) and I was thinking that a nice simple 3x or 4x fixed scope would be the way to go. Where this will be used, not much chance of over a 100 yard shot, prob less than 50 yards. Need a little magnification for the eyes and a good field of view, plus I like the idea of keeping it simple. Needs to hold zero and have nice glass. Simple thick duplex is fine for reticle....just a point and shoot set up. No hard budget, just a scope that makes sense for this gun, a one and done purchase for the rest of this guns hunting career (I am 50 so I hope another 40 yrs). Any thoughts or recommendations?

Leupold FXII for current production.

The now-discontinued Zeiss 4x32 Conquest is a winner, and can still be found with a bit of digging.

Weaver K4 would still be serviceable, and less $ than either of the above.

IOR would be more than the above, and S&B would be WAY more than the above. Still, those are awfully nice scopes if you've got the coin.

FC

Wal, if'n twere me, I'd go for a 2-7 and keep the scope on 2 power all the time except when a longer shot gave me time to dial up. Come to think of it, that's exactly what I have now and what I do.

I hunt thick brush on foot, a bad habit no doubt, and over many decades I have had several animals from moose to coyotes too close to focus on at 2 power. 3 and 4 power are too much for the CLOSE ones. I've never needed more power but several times have wished for less than the 2 or 3 lowest power on the rifle in hand. A 1-4 power might be even better for what you describe. You don't need precision at close range, but you are right on with the need for CLOSE focus clarity and simplicity of the sight picture and a good field of view.

Sounds like a great rifle you are fixing up for simple fun deer hunting.

I hear the advantages of a fixed power, but for me, the advantages of variable power win the day for the use you describe. I have a Bushnell 3200 (?) 2-7 with a MASSIVE duplex so heavy on the outer bars that it shocked me, but I have come to love it. Putting them on a critter at close range does not get any simpler nor surer.

Leupold 2.5x.

Once I found some deer about fifty yards away. They were munching on a tree. I put the variable 4-16X set on 4X on them. I couldn't see any antlers. In Oregon it has to have at least a fork before we can kill it. I turned up the scope till I could definitely make out a fork on one of the deer. After I fired I looked at the magnification setting: 10X.

Another time I was using a fixed 4X. My hunting buddy was using a 4-12X. I looked at them with my 8X binoculars and told him there are no bucks in that group. He turned up is scope to 12X and shot a three point.

Therefore I would recommend a variable of at least 4-12X. I personally would not use anything lower than a 4-16X.

You need better binoculars if you can't determine what you're looking at, at 50 yds.

That was before the days of binoculars for me. The buck in the second scenario was hundreds of yards away.

I agree that a good 4x scope would be the ticket. I also like the 2-7 variable idea.

Oregon vs. Texas.

Who will be crowned the dumbest?

Or a straight 6X.

Or 3X.

Or prismatic.

Or red dot.

Or XS sights.

^^^^^^^^^^^that^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Nikon P223, 3x32.

Lightweight, extremely bright, under $150, really hard to break.

We all, are way dumber than anyone else. Don’t move down here, we too dumb to live with!!!

I hunt in the woods with 3x9 widefield scopes. The old Denver made Redfield’s. A 2x7 scope would be great too. I bought a gun that came with a 3x9 Leupold VX I not long ago. That scope was very nice. I sold it to a Fire member.

True

I bought a Leupold Big Bore 3x with a heavy duplex reticle for my Savage M99 and it's perfect for me.

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👍

Awesome scope.
Bob

Lemme guess...you always perceive the glass to be half full rather than half empty, right?

I'm 3 years older than he his and I'm praying I don't have another 40.

That's what I put on my 444 Marlin this year. I finally broke down and scoped a tubular magazine lever gun for the first time.

THIS WHERE IT"S AT! Enough magnification in a very durable scope
with a long tube allowing for proper eye relief adjustment.

The 3x Big Bore is the same length as the FX-II 4x. The advantage the 3x has is there's no objective bell up front so there's more tube length for mounting.

Any reason to believe the last 3x Leupolds were any tougher than say the FX-2 6x36, which JB had so much trouble with?

4-12X on a '95 Marlin? Really??? I have a forward mount 2.5X on mine and it has been great on 25 to 100 yd shots. I can see a 1-4x maybe. We're talking 45-70 here. I have a lot of low power scopes all of which are leupold and low power. All would work fine.

Yes. On any rifle. My Freedom Arms .454 has a Leupold VX 2 1/2-8X32.

If a person isn't able to tell the difference between a fork horn buck and a doe at 50 yards with the naked eye, I'd say a new prescription for glasses would be in order before purchasing a higher powered scope or new binos.

Whoever decides to move to S Florida.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I was going thru my box of hunting odds and ends and realized that I have a Vortex Viper 2-7x32 with BDC reticle that I thought I sold years ago.
Link....http://www.vortexoptics.com/discontinued/vortex-viper-2-7x32-riflescope-dead-hold-bdc-reticle/reticle. I may just give this a go as it has good eye relief and pretty good glass. Vortex Viper should hold up to 45-70 recoil, we'll see!

Pappy348, there was a 6x42 he had problems with due to over torquing the rear ring. I don't recall a 6x36 problem.

I'm 59, and at the rate bodily systems are going South on me, in another 30 years I'll be nothing but a burden on whoever has the bad luck of caring for me. I don't want to last past the point where I can contribute something positive to the society around me.

It's pretty obvious mommy and daddy would never let Lil' Raider leave home.

How's the hunting down there?.......bwahahahahahaha!!!!

He posted recently about having some issues with the erector in some recent FX Leupolds. I had a FX-II 6x36 go wonky on me a few years ago as well.

Me 3. The 2-7 offers a lot of versatility in a similar sized package to the 4X.

Or it ain't much of a buck. Probably ought to just pass on that one.

The 3x Leupold is very tough to match for durability...

There are times when lots of vegetation is involved and mist and low light. You know, like real hunting. That's why a guy should check his optics outside the store after sunset if possible.

P.S. Since I started using binoculars I have found deer I could not see at all without them. Even when I knew they were there.

Stop. You're making it too hard for me to stay out of this argument.

I do.

#13186674 - 10/07/18 Re: Leupold 6x36 MD/Sheeps [Re: tomk]
Mule Deer Online Content
Campfire Oracle

Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 44,660
Banana Belt, Montana
In my experience the M8 6x Leupolds caused less trouble--and in zero, though you did want to set-and-forget them. But have had troubles with both adjustment consistency and zero-holding with three FX 6x36's.

Last edited by Mule Deer; 10/07/18.
John

"Gunwriters, as you know, aren't as informed as their readers are and if it wasn't for the readers, there would be no need for writers..."--Shrapnel, May 2015

I was kicking around the idea of living in Puerto Rico. There’s no hunting there unless monkeys or iguanas count. Not going of course ....

I like Leupold scopes because their eye relief is just a bit more than other brands. I'm sure there may be another type that also has good relief, but I just haven't ran across them. Whatever you get make sure it has as much eye relief as you can find. The Leupold 2.5X has good eye relief, and so does my 4X fixed.

Thanks for the replies. I prolly just forgot and was interested about it.

I had a Leupold M8 4x33 on a Marlin 1895, and it worked very well. One of the things I particularly liked about it in that application was that it has a comparatively small eyepiece diameter, so I could mount it good and low while still having access to the hammer underneath it. Very light too. IIRC the FXII is of similar dimensions.

I have also used one of these scopes on a 9.3x74R double rifle, and a couple of other 4x scopes on other rifles. A Meopta Artemis 4x32 in particular is one I am very happy with - such a pity they appear no longer to make them. For big game at distances from close in to well past 100 yards I think they work very well. I've shot a good number of pigs, some buffalo and various other game, standing and at full gallop too, using these scopes at these sorts of distances. Fixed scopes also have fewer lenses than variables, so can be lighter and, in theory at least, pass more light (all else being equal).

A 1.5 - 6 would also be a good option, or perhaps a 2-7 - I have a couple of each of these - though you might find it hard to get one with quite as small an eyepiece diameter as the Leupold 4x.

I have an M8 3x post and duplex for the purpose that works really well. A 2.5 Compact would also work well and has a smaller eyepiece.

So all this time I've been sparring with a ghost...........

Ha.

Ha.

Not.

I've hunted in thick woods all my life. I have 2 fixed 4X Leupolds.

But I have to say, when I have lots of time stand hunting, I always want more power. I use my 2-7X the most. Crank it up and make a precise shot and judge antlers.

I think the 2.5-8 is perfect. Even a 3-9Xis great if it not too heavy. Variables are durable now. Its not 1950 anymore.

Leupold CS 3x on a MRC .338FEd....




Another on a Nula .50cal Muzzleloader....

I also would LOVE to be able to buy good quality 4X scopes and also a good 2.5X scope. GOOD ones. Rugged as a hammer.
The Leupold and the Weavers are both good, and I have had some older Burris scopes that were fine too, but do-dad wizz-bang-gizmo scopes are what is being forced down the throats of all of us by the advertisers. I have nothing against such scopes per-se, but I have no use for them myself. I am a shooter and hunter who doesn't use a bench rest for anything but load-work and zeroing. After I have an accurate load and have my rifle zeroed, it never touches a bench rest again until it needs a new barrel.
Shooting from field positions is what increases your skill. Not artificial rests. Shooting from field positions I have found the 4X to be by far the most user friendly sight I have ever used in over 50 years of shooting The next one down is a fixed 2.5 power, but the one I want I can't seem to get in the USA. That would be a scope of only 2X or 2.5X with a wind objective to gather light like there is no tomorrow. A 30 MM tube may be good too, but I don't want any gizmos. I want a supper bright clear and rugged sight. If any do-dad was to be added, maybe hash marks at 3MOA spacing down the vertical cross hair would be good, but that's it and that's all.

Earlier this year I bought an IOR Valdada 4x32 to replace the mid 80's 1.5-5x20 Vari-X III on my black bear rifle. I haven't been able to shoot a bear with it yet, but have liked it a lot on the range and in the field. This is an additional good choice along with the Weaver and Leupold.

szihn. look at this Kaps 4x36. RJ
https://www.optics-trade.eu/en/riflescopes/hunting-rifle-scopes/kaps-classic-4x36-rc-oc.html

I ordered a 6x42 from Kaps last week. After getting a quote on the scope with shipping from them because I couldn’t find a dealer in Berlin, I went to order the scope directly. The shipping on their website was 60 euro more. When I asked about the difference from the quote they lowered the price of the scope by 60 euro for my order.

With the tankish nature of the IOR 6x and the very clear glass I would bet the 4x is a good option.

micky, let us know how you like the Kaps 6x42. Here in Europe, they have a reputation for being strong as an anvil and superb low light performance. I once had an IOR 4x that I bought at the factory here in Bucharest. Of course like a fool, I sold it. It would be about perfect if you could get it with a #4 reticle. RJ

Will do. I have been thinking about doing a very light post here on my 6x collection broken into two parts. Cheaper scopes and more high end stuff.

For fast point and shoot to 100 yards it would be hard to beat a quality red dot. For some magnification at speed I have a Trijicon Accupoint 1-4 w/ post and green triangle on my go to AR and it is about perfect. I use XS sights on my GG but would use the Accupoint if hunting w/ it .


mike r

Crossfifty,

You didn't ask for my advice BUT at 71YO I don't "see open sights" well at all & have found the solution for me (for my "brush guns") in a 2-2.5X power REDFIELD or LEOPOLD. - Right now, I own five of them.

Those scopes are TOUGH & relatively easy to find at "attractive prices" at the local TX Gun-shows.
(I paid 35 bucks for the last Redfield that I bought, which ended up on my 67YO 1st cousin's 336T.)

You might also LOOK AT an "old-school" SWEDISH-made AIMPOINT for brush-country hunting.
(I don't like the new ones but the old ones seem "bulletproof".)

yours, tex

For a parallax free red dot Aimpoint has set the standard for years.


mike r

Yep. I've been using Aimpoint red dot sights on my turkey shotgun for about 13 years.