Went to a gun show this weekend in Oaks, PA. I saw three different rather unique Marlin 336's. Each was at a different dealer and all were in 35 Rem. caliber. All three were factory drilled and tapped for scope mounting but each had been equipped with a side mount scope which resulted in additional holes being drilled in the side of the receiver. The only rational I can see for this is that this mounted the scope high enough so one could use the iron sights as well. Boggles my mind what some people do to their guns.

Bubba lives........yes

Dominant eye problem?

Not a dominant eye problem. I should have been clearer in my original post. In all three cases the scope was centered over the receiver but was high enough that you could see the iron sights under the scope due to the side mount. Must have been done before see through scope mounts.

See-through scope mounts. Why do people use them? Scope sits too high for a proper cheek weld. I never had a scope "Fog-up", that's what guys said they got them for....just in case.

I agree completely. A friend of a friend of mine asked me why his 336 was shooting low after he had used up all the adjustments in his scope. First thing I asked was what kind of mounts he used. They were see through mounts. I told him to throw those POS mounts in the trash and get a decent set. I even offered to mount his scope for him with new mounts. He refused. He felt he had to be able to use the iron sights in case he got a shot at a running deer or for hunting in rainy weather. As far as I know he's still using that combination. Whenever I see him I never bring up the subject of his rifle.

The very reason I use Butler Creeks and a 1-4 scope. FOV is wide and the scope caps will keep the lenses dry. And, I mount the scope reasonably low.

I bought a 99 savage with see through bases, the first time I tried to use it to shoot a deer it was a total failure...I took them off and smashed the chit out of them to make sure no one else tried that...The idiot that thought up that should be shot...

“See-Through” scope mounts are the Devil’s work. A proper scope does not require irons for “close shots”.

My 336 wears a Weaver V3 1-3 scope in QD mounts. I have a nice, true 1X sight picture for close shots, 3X fit longer shots and I can pop the scope off if need be.

For some reason older (1950s) 336 seem to have been prone to this method. I saw a 336SC done this way as well. But that gun did not have the top of the receiver drilled as well. There is one on GB now that has the side mounts.

Side mounts are an indication of the time that they were installed.
At least with the Marlins, the side mounts that I have seen actually allowed the scope to be over the line of the bore. Unlike the Winchester 94, pre-AE.

idiot problem

When customers ask about see thru scope mounts i discourage them by showing them forcing the cheek down to the stock and lifting the head up to see the scope. This usually convinces them. If they insist, i install the see thru mounts. Oftentimes they come back to have the mounts removed- for a charge, of course! Mel

I have bought guns with the see thru rings installed, it the first thing I remove and throw in the trash, even before shooting the gun.

them that think they need see through's to pick up a running deer don't know how to use a scope. they throw up the scope and start hunting for the target.. i have shot many running deer with a scoped rifle with no problem. keep your eye on the target and put the scope between the two works every time.

I have a 1950 vintage, "G", Marlin 336SC in 35 REM that has a Williams Side-Mount on it that centers the scope over the bore. It never gets any attention, just sits in a corner and collects dust, so it should go to a home where it would be appreciated more than it is here.

I have had older vintage scopes fog up big time!

I also had snow and rain make modern scopes useless.

I use detachable rings and a spare iron sighted firearm when possible.

I think we take for granted our modern optics, and quite possibly our hunting from stands / blinds with roofs.

Back about 1994 I shot a charging sow brown bear at about 25 feet on September 7th at 9:20 PM on the Kenai Peninsula. My scope was a Leupold Vari X 2.5-8x36 with a Duplex reticle. Rifle was a pre-64 Mod. 70 Westerner .338 mag. and 250 grain Barnes X bullets. I was the weakest link, but every thing went well, I am still amazed that I did not pull the bolt out of the gun or bend he handle.

It just depends on how familiar one is with their chosen equipment and ones mind set.

I have exactly the same rifle in beautiful condition. Completely unmolested waffle top. Just bought it a couple of days ago. Need to get out and try it. My limited experience with see though mounts has been just fine. Not sure how this one will be.

I think it's a Pennsylvania Game Commission law that all Remington 760/7600's must have see-thru mounts.

Marlin started factory drill & tap of 336 in 1960 "T" prefix for top mounting.

Actually I've got a 1955 straight grip 336sc in 35 Remington, which has what is obviously a factory drilled and tapped receiver. I don't have it scoped and don't intend to but I did order a new Leopold mount just to have one on hand. The holes line up and the included screws fit.

I've never cared for see-through mounts simply because I like to mount a scope as close to the receiver as possible. Many years ago I had a Remington 740 in 30-06 that had a set of Weaver tip-off mounts. They were hinged on one side and had a spring steel claw on the other, to ostensibly hold it tight in place once it locked. The selling point was that it allowed you to swing your scope to one side and use the irons if you wished. I could never get that rifle to shoot worth a damn and being a kid it never occurred to me to put a decent scope mount on it. It went down the road and to tell the truth I've never missed it.

Same setup on my 336. All of my scoped centerfire rifles are fitted with flip up lens caps.