Scoping a Marlin / Ruger Lever

[wmgeorge]

My new 45-70 has beautiful Skinner sights and I do very well out to 50 yards or so but I would like a scope, at times. I debated a long time and finally ordered this last night and in Stainless Steel to match my rifle. I am not sure about Talley rings but maybe someone here can offer suggestions.

http://www.skinnersights.com/images/95EXPRESSMOUNTe.jpg?867

 

[earlthegoat2]

I presume that mount is intended so a scope can be mounted with either see through rings or QR rings.

I would go with any cam lock type QR ring myself.

The scope you choose should look and feel lightweight with nothing bigger than a 36mm objective. The old and no longer made Leupold FX2 was a solid choice but a 2-7x33, 1.5-4x20, or 2.5-8x36 could all work very well.

 

[rabid wombat]

I went with a fixed 4x on my 30-30…. Never felt like I was missing anything…

FX Series (Fixed Power) | Leupold

We’ve been making world-class optics that bear our family name for over 100 years. We honor that legacy every day as we design, machine and assemble…

www.leupold.com

 

[rabid wombat]

As for rings, this style would work well. I like Tally over Warne, but I have a LOT of Warne rings - they work!

201LM Warne 1 inch, QD, Medium Matte Rings

Maxima QD scope rings from Warne Scope Mounts allow you to remove and reinstall your scope with reliable performance without loss of zero.

warnescopemounts.com

 

[.45Coltguy]

Agree with earlthegoat2. I put a Leupold VX1 2-7x33 shotgun scope on my Henry .45 Colt rifle. Very sleek with low profile turrets.
Weaver 1-3x20 on my .357 lever gun. Those "smallish" scope look just fine on a lever gun.

Edit: Agree also with rabid wombat on fixed 4x on 30-30. Weaver K4 on my mod 94. Works.

 

[CraigC]

For me it's got to be a small straight tube. Either a ~2x fixed, 1-4x or 1.5-5x variable.

 

[3Crows]

I would go with the Warne quick release steel rings. They are solid and hold zero.

One thing you will run into is getting the scope far enough forward with such a small grip dimension on that mount. The Leupold 1.5-4 PigPlex might work. Here mounted on my SBL rail, note the positions of the Warne rings and compare to your Skinner mount groove positions.



And closer to your Skinner, Warne steel bases with a Nikon 1-4 African scope. I would not mind it a little further forward but no room:

 

[wmgeorge]

As for rings, this style would work well. I like Tally over Warne, but I have a LOT of Warne rings - they work!

201LM Warne 1 inch, QD, Medium Matte Rings

Maxima QD scope rings from Warne Scope Mounts allow you to remove and reinstall your scope with reliable performance without loss of zero.

warnescopemounts.com

The problem is the Skinner rail is I think 11 mm or 3/8 inch, yes I like that locking bar .

 

[.45Coltguy]

Agree with earlthegoat2. I put a Leupold VX1 2-7x33 shotgun scope on my Henry .45 Colt rifle. Very sleek with low profile turrets.
Weaver 1-3x20 on my .357 lever gun. Those "smallish" scope look just fine on a lever gun.

Edit: Agree also with rabid wombat on fixed 4x on 30-30. Weaver 4K on my mod 94. Works.

Knew I had a picture some place.

 

[Smokin Gator]

I haven't done it yet but at some point will probably put a scope on my Marlin 45-70.

 

[hdbiker]

Weaver has a CLASSIC 4X38, K-SERIES scope that's perfect for the 30-30. Bright, clear, really opens up the woods. https://www.opticsplanet.com/weaver-rifle-scopes-k4-4x38.html

 

[Chuck R.]

My solution to a similar "problem for my 7600 in 358Win.

Leupold V3HD 1.5-5X CDS "Twilight" Hunter with illuminated dot in Warne QD mounts (my 4th set of Warne QD rings):

VX-3HD 1.5-5x20 CDS-ZL Illum. FireDot Twilight Hunter

The VX®-3HD 1.5-5x20mm delivers legendary performance and extreme clarity in an incredibly tough, lightweight package. It's the perfect workhorse for those close to mid-range shots.

www.leupold.com

The 30mm Tube is 12.5 ounces, compared to 10.1 ounces for the 1" non-illuminated. The dot is daylight bright, so just about as fast on TGT as a red dot. It replaced a 1.25-4X Swarovski and save a couple ounces over that 30mm optic.

Old Scope:

New Leupold:

It is very, very good in low light.

 

[troy fairweather]

1-6 power lpvo or lower or a 2-7 pretty much anything else will look weird and be to big, old 4x if it's short but even a k4 is a little big.

 

[CraigC]

My solution to a similar "problem for my 7600 in 358Win.

Leupold V3HD 1.5-5X CDS "Twilight" Hunter with illuminated dot in Warne QD mounts (my 4th set of Warne QD rings):

Leupold seems to be lighter in their 30mm tube scopes than most others. I put a VXR 1.25-4x on Dad's SCAR17 and was surprised at how short and light it was. Even with the Firedot it's only about 2-3oz over its 1" equivalent VXII without illumination. That V3HD 1.5-5x looks like a really good option and only 3oz heavier than the 1" 1.5-5x.

 

[dh1633pm]

On my 1895G, I went with a 4x shotgun scope. Hasn’t let me down for many years.

 

[.45Coltguy]

1-6 power lpvo or lower or a 2-7 pretty much anything else will look weird and be to big, old 4x if it's short but even a k4 is a little big.

Just depends on what you like I suppose. Those scopes pictured on my levers work for me. No criticism on my part. We all like what we like.

 

[22250Rem]

I always liked smaller, trimmer, straight tube scopes on lever guns. My Marlin 30-AS had a 1-4x Leupold with a 1 inch tube on it for 20 years and it was perfect for a .30-30 woods gun.
.. Only removed it a couple years ago when the state extended legal hunting hours, (to 30 min. before dawn until 30 min. past sunset), so I could put on something with an illuminated reticle for those dim periods at first & last light. Put on a Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x, illuminated reticle, with a 30mm tube that I wasn't using. Have only filled one tag with it so far and that was done in broad daylight at 3X magnification. As far as looks go, I liked the smaller Leupold better, but one of these days I'm gonna need that low light help that comes from a reticle that's visible when the light starts to fade. That Vortex is starting to look better every time I think about having crosshairs you can see in low light. ..Fatter main tube, but at least it's still a straight tube on a lever gun, so it's OK with me. The 1-4x Leupold is now atop the CVA Accura 50 cal. Inline muzzle loader.

 

[troy fairweather]

I went with a fixed 4x on my 30-30…. Never felt like I was missing anything…

FX Series (Fixed Power) | Leupold

We’ve been making world-class optics that bear our family name for over 100 years. We honor that legacy every day as we design, machine and assemble…

www.leupold.com

So yours is the rimfire version, did you have them reset the parallax on it. Wish there had more 4x options.

 

[rabid wombat]

So yours is the rimfire version, did you have them reset the parallax on it. Wish there had more 4x options.

I will have to look, but I think it is a Vari X III. Ancient by today’s standard - I purchased it new in the late 80’s.

If I linked rimfire scopes - sorry.

 

[troy fairweather]

I will have to look, but I think it is a Vari X III. Ancient by today’s standard - I purchased it new in the late 80’s.

If I linked rimfire scopes - sorry.

Good old scopes so we're the m8. Only 4x leupold makes now is the rimfire.

 

[bratch]

I just scoped my 1895G and couldn’t be happier so far. Bushnell 1–6 in Weaver rings on an EGW rail.


Initial sight in at 100 yards.

 

[IALoder]

With that sight/rail set up a set of warne QD rings and a 1-6x or 2-8x(ish) of your choice would be an awesome set up! I run a 1-6x on my 1895 Guide Gun for deer hunting and it's a great set up!

 

[troy fairweather]

I just scoped my 1895G and couldn’t be happier so far. Bushnell 1–6 in Weaver rings on an EGW rail.


Initial sight in at 100 yards.

How's the eye box on that Bushnell

 

[bratch]

How's the eye box on that Bushnell

Initial sight in was fine I’ll get a better idea once I get it out in the field.

I went with the Trophy instead of the Elite because I wanted an illuminated dot but if that doesn’t matter to you the Elite 4500 has a better eye relief spec.

 

[Robert]

I have an old El Paso made, I believe, Weaver K4 on my 1895G. But I can't remember what mount/rings it's in. I'll pull it out when I get home and check.

I never felt under glassed with the K4 on that rifle.