Sights for Marlin 336

[Charlie Martinez]

Ive been shooting my Marlin 336 (35 Remington) with buckhorn sights for over 40 years but my eyes are beginning to fail me w/buckhorns. These days the gun is strictly a 50-100 yd. range toy & HD.
I have a compact 1.5 power scope I can mount on it or I can go with peep sights.
Any opinions?

 

[amflyer]

I have a Williams peep on my 336. Replaced the front bead with a post; works well. If you remove the peep insert, it becomes a ghost ring type setup. On a Marlin 1895 in 45-70, I have the higher-dollar XS sights. True ghost ring, a little tedious to sight in, but solid and well made. Probably more robust than the Williams.

I'm not a fan of conventional scopes on lever actions, but if you had to due to eyesight, that 1.5 would be about perfect too. I always had poor cheek weld with conventional scopes though, with the drop in the LA stocks.

 

[badkarmamib]

I believe that I have the Williams FireSight set (peep/ghost ring rear, fiber optic front) in a box. I couldn't get the peep to adjust low enough for my .30-30, was still shooting 1" high at 50 yards. I probably have the wrong front sight, might have used the correct one on another project.

 

[GooseGestapo]

The Williams sight requires the front sight blade be replaced with a taller blade. Most of my Marlins wear scopes. 1.5-5x, 2-7x, or 2.5-8x Leupolds. Though one has a Williams Sourdough, another the Williams “Ace in the Hole” scope Base/reciever sight combo.
Both required taller blades.

Leupold scopes are light, sturdy, and quality.

Don’t under estimate your .35. With proper sight in, it’s a capable 200yd+ deer slayer!
+3” at 100yds gives a 165yd zero, -4” at 200yds. (Federal, Rem, Win. 200gr RN at 2,100fps).
The 200gr Hornady FTX is even flatter shooting...

 

[Charlie Martinez]

My 1.5X scope is a Weaver & its actually pretty good quality. I love my 35 Rem & at one time it was my only hunting rifle. Got some hogs & deer with it using the standard 200 grain RN bullet but never shot anything longer than about 50-60 yards. I enjoy reloading for it & it's a ton of fun when loaded with 357 handgun bullets. Those little suckers go like hell & it recoils like a 22. Great HD gun with the light handgun bullets

 

[earlthegoat2]

I’ve used both peeps and low power scopes and if you need a quick shot, the scope is faster despite all the claims of the speed of open sights. The scope has a single point of aim and sights have two (or three sometimes).

Despite this your needs may dictate what makes more sense for you. If the gun is not a dedicated hunter and may be used for HD then some form of open sight makes a lot of sense.

I have an 1894 with a Skinner rear and XS front blade. I like the setup but would probably have opted for the XS rear if the gun hadn’t already had the Skinner.

I have a 1.5-5x20 scope on my 444 as it has longer range capability. Both are quick to aim. The 1894 is just a better handling rifle though all around so it is probably faster....not at 100+ yds though.

 

[jmr40]

A small compact 1-4X scope or something similar is near ideal. You'll never need more than 2X; that'll get you to 200 yards. Peep sights can be very accurate in good light, and with good vision, but they don't address the fact that you can't see them in poor light. When most shots are taken at game.

 

[Ks5shooter]

I have these on my Marlin 45-70
https://www.xssights.com/Products.aspx?CAT=8535

 

[22250Rem]

Welcome to old age....... Check out some peep sights and let your eyes decide if they like them. They're great for aging eyes. If a scope is in your future a compact 1-4x like jmr40 suggested would be ideal. For 50-100 yd. work even a 2.5x would be great and while I have no experience with a 1.5x I bet that would work well also. I broke down and put a 1-4x Leupold on my Marlin 30-30 and it's plenty for a 30-30 woods gun. About the only time it gets cranked up to 4x is at the 100 yd. target board. IMHO big scopes just don't look "right" on 30-30 lever guns and aperture (peep) sights are ideal. If I were 20 years younger I'd be running a nice peep but a compact 1-4x sure does work well for a senior citizen.

 

[DocRock]

The Williams sights are very good but they may not be the solution for aging eyes. Hard to beat the likes of a Vintage Weaver 4x if you want to scope up.

 

[beeenbag]

I’m probably about to get shunned from the old folks group here but, if I were to suggest something easy for eyes to pick up, quick for home defense, use within 100 yards, the clear answer is a red dot of some sort. I know no one wants to say it cause it’s a classic lever gun, but I think it’s doing yourself a true disservice to purposefully handicap yourself due to nostalgia.

Flame suit on

 

[rabid wombat]

Williams or Lyman for peep sights, or go a fixed power scope. I went Leupold 4x. Regardless, either are better than buckhorns.

 

[Steve762us]

I put on a Williams receiver sight on my 336, many moons ago.
4D or Foolproof--can't recall. The sight used existing holes in
receiver to mount, very easy. Just used the Marlin OEM post/
gold bead front sight, worked great.

 

[Slamfire]

Ive been shooting my Marlin 336 (35 Remington) with buckhorn sights for over 40 years but my eyes are beginning to fail me w/buckhorns. These days the gun is strictly a 50-100 yd. range toy & HD.
I have a compact 1.5 power scope I can mount on it or I can go with peep sights.
Any opinions?

The day comes for all of us when irons were something we used. I have a 1 X 4 Leupold on my Marlin 336





And at four power it is entirely adequate at 200 yards. Of course at one power, it is entirely adequate at 25 to 50 yards in the woods.





Accuracy fell apart at 300 yards. I did find an online ballistic calculator and the bullets are going too slow and are too wind sensitive, and the bullets have to jump two tenths of an inch before they engage the rifling (!!!!) in my Marlin, so, my Marlin is clearly a 200 yard or less rifle.

 

[possumbelly220]

You might want to try a set of fiber optic sights. I have the same problem, my eyes ain't nearly as good as they used to be and I put a set on my Winchester model 94 and have been well pleased with them.

 

[cdb1]

if you need a quick shot, the scope is faster despite all the claims of the speed of open sights.

I agree with a scope being faster. I’m 60 and iron sights don’t cut it for me anymore, even peep sights. Unlike some people I believe a scope looks fine on lever actions. Being that 336 stocks are designed for irons I had to do something to raise the comb, which was easy to do on my 336 with a comb raiser. Mine wears a VX-3 1.75-6x32 with a Leupold Custom Shop installed German #4 reticle. For me it is the perfect scope on a Marlin 336.

 

[Jerry M]

one of these: http://www.skinnersights.com/ or a 1.5x5 Leupold.

Good Luck

Jerry

 

[Down Range]

I have Skinner sights on all my Henrys. Here is a link. http://www.skinnersights.com/1895_sight_4.html
Great American made quality. I have the rear sight removed and a spare peep sight holder installed. On the Henry rifles the prep sight mounts to the receiver.

 

[Stevel]

I like a fixed Leupold 2.5x20 for lever actions. Heavy duplex if you can find one. Otherwise the low power variables.