Armory Sponsor
Posted: 1/17/2012 4:59:21 PM EDT
|
I just acquired 3 marlins from a friend who lost his father. They are .30-30, .35 remington and 45-70.
I feel like I am in a catch 22 because I dont want to spend big bucks on higher end scopes, but at the same token I want something half way decent that will hold up. I also am not sure if there are special reticles for these fine firearms? They are in showroom condition and he has tasco pronghorns on them. Are these decent scopes? Please excuse my optics ignorance. Maybe some opinions on scopes in the 150-200 ish range? THANKS FOR YOUR TIME!! mufflerman |
| Tasco pronghorns are the absolute cheapest junk scopes a person can use. I've had very good luck with fixed 4x Weaver scopes. They are lightweight, very clear, and durable. Burris Fullfield II 2-7x and 3-9x variable scopes are also very good quality for the money. The Weavers can be had for around $125-140 and the Burris FFII for $130-180 depending which magnificaton and reticle you choose. |
|
I like a compact scope on my lever guns, as small as possible.
Weaver makes a V3, 1-3x variable that is a nice little scope. Burris has made a couple of nice compact 4x scopes, the 4x mini and 4x Timberline. Both of these are out of production. I don't have one of these, but a lot of folks over on the Marlin forum like the Bushnell Banner 1.5-4.5x. |
|
I have the same caliber Marlins with the following scopes on each:
336XLR 30-30 and 336CS .35 have Bushnnell Elite 3200 2-7 x 32mm that I purchased from Midway for $145.00 1895SS 45/70 has a Nikon African 1-4 x 20mm that was purchased from Primary Arms for $229.99 All three Marlins have DNZ High mounts 
|
|
Quoted:
I like a compact scope on my lever guns, as small as possible. Weaver makes a V3, 1-3x variable that is a nice little scope. I like compact ones on mine as well. I have either the Leupold 2.5x Ultralight or the 1.5-5X VX3 on my lever guns. However were I to want to spend less $$$ the Weaver stated above would be my choice. |
Another vote for compact scopes. If you must go cheap then Weaver, Nikon or Redfield will fit the bill but I'd take those crappy Tasco scopes off asap. I'm a big fan of Leupold and have several Marlins set up with VX-III 1.5-5x20mm scopes. These are ideal for the typical range of the calibers specified in the OP.
|
|
Quoted:
Another vote for compact scopes. If you must go cheap then Weaver, Nikon or Redfield will fit the bill but I'd take those crappy Tasco scopes off asap. I'm a big fan of Leupold and have several Marlins set up with VX-III 1.5-5x20mm scopes. These are ideal for the typical range of the calibers specified in the OP. http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t138/kingstrider/stainlessmarlinssept20111.jpg Ain't a cell in my body that thinks that you have a problem. BTW, I won't ask about your pocket knife collection. 
|
|
Quoted:
THANKS to ALL for the great advice. Nice collection of fine firearms too!
Is there any disadvantages to a smaller objective 20 versus like a 32 ?? I am assuming a smaller field of view? I really LOVE the looks of the 20 objectives on the marlins. No effect on the field of view. There *might* be an impact on light gathering, but there is a limit on how much light the eye can see, terrible explanation but in the low magnification scopes the 20mm objective is sufficient to gather all the light your eye can use. |
|
I'd suggest seeing if you can actually find the scopes at a retail store and compare them side by side, the Weaver really surprised me (really) in comparison to scopes that were a LOT more money. I've got a few higher end Burris, Sightron and Nikon scopes, and an old Leupold. Not a scope snob by any means, but everyones eyes see things differently. Still impressed with Weaver's newer stuff.
I bought this Marlin new, in 1983. I was 14, saved money, seems like forever, and my dad went and picked it up for me at Otasco. I think it was $139? Don't remember for sure now, but it was all the money I had! I think a box of shells was $5.99 then 
|
|
Quoted:
THANKS to ALL for the great advice. Nice collection of fine firearms too!
Is there any disadvantages to a smaller objective 20 versus like a 32 ?? I am assuming a smaller field of view? I really LOVE the looks of the 20 objectives on the marlins. There's a similar thread on Marlinowners about this very same subject. Good info in it. |
If you can find one of the older Simmons 1.5-5x20 Pro Diamonds scopes they are nice. That is what I have on this one. It fits the rifle well, is nice and bright, and has a reticle that covers the vitals of a deer well. I took a nice 150lb doe a few weeks age with this one. Simmons sells the newer model Pro Diamond, but it is not nearly as nice as the older ones.
|
|
Quoted:
Tasco pronghorns are the absolute cheapest junk scopes a person can use. . .................... yeah, sorta, but ya might want to try 'em and see if they are truly bad or not –– Guide Gun pictured below wore some sort of Tasco 3x9-40 for 3 hunting seasons without a problem. roughly 250 rounds of 45-70 recoil. I can't tell you if this is the dreaded Pronghorn scope or not, but i do know it was inexpensive. Its now in use on a .22 and is still clear and does an acceptable 4 square test (off a bench, cycle the adjustments through a square with the clickers while you shoot to see how accurate the adjustment is) That said, i think the 40mm bell looks a bit out of place on a trim lever gun –– thats really the only reason i am changing it out 
|
Old fart checking in 
I 100% agree with the compact and low mount way of thinking , whatever you do don't let somebody talk you into one of the god awful "See through" scope mounts They are crap crap crap. Consider your uses of these rifles them consider a receiver mount aperture sight. Old school use of the good old Lyman peep was the aperture for target or daytime use or remove the screw in aperture for a gost ring type in lower light hunting uses. Simple , solid and cost is about the same as premium rings. The lever guns have the stocks shaped to put your eye at the height of the low iron sights and any scope,even the lowest most compact type is quite a bit higher than that. You might be surprised at how accurate and easy to use the aperture sights are and how useful they are on a good old lever gun. The lever gun with its great old cartridges are wonderful but due to somewhat rainbow shaped trajectories most will agree they lend themselves to shorter range hunting of say 175 yards for the experts and more like 125 yards maximum for us mere mortals. At these ranges the aperture actually has advantages over optics in many situations. If you have a 30/30,35rem and a 45/70 you need to find a nice model 39A (22rimfire) to round out your classic marlin collection. Marlins were made in all sorts of calibers and recently some fairly odd new ones (gotta come out with new stuff to sell new guns!) but you already have all the real calibers! |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Tasco pronghorns are the absolute cheapest junk scopes a person can use. . .................... yeah, sorta, but ya might want to try 'em and see if they are truly bad or not –– Guide Gun pictured below wore some sort of Tasco 3x9-40 for 3 hunting seasons without a problem. roughly 250 rounds of 45-70 recoil. I can't tell you if this is the dreaded Pronghorn scope or not, but i do know it was inexpensive. Its now in use on a .22 and is still clear and does an acceptable 4 square test (off a bench, cycle the adjustments through a square with the clickers while you shoot to see how accurate the adjustment is) That said, i think the 40mm bell looks a bit out of place on a trim lever gun –– thats really the only reason i am changing it out http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb285/streetstar707/Guns/007-7.jpg I've had half a dozen trashco scopes of varying models, including the pronghorn, world class, and varmint. They ALL let me down one way or another, just the more expensive ones took longer to fall apart. I've replaced every Tasco I owned with much better scopes and haven't had a failure since. After my extensive experience with the brand and their terrible customer service, there's no doubt in my mind that they are junk. |
Armory Sponsor