What scope for my Marlin 1894

[calif 15-22]

SWFA has a "Samples Page" with excellent deals. I've bough lots off there and condition is always top notch.

It's overpowered by compact, the Burris Timberline 4.5 to 14 has a 32 mm objective. For even smaller their straight 4X is just a bit longer than the receiver.

I had never heard of SWFA before. Thanks for the link. Interesting they have the Leupold 2-7 VX1 for $199 no tax. Now it's getting interesting.

https://swfa.com/optics/browse/riflescopes/leupold-2-7x33-vx-1-riflescope.html

[lewdogg21]

OP - I run a marlin 336 in 35 Remington with a Leupold Vari-X II 2x7. Any of the leupold 2x7 or 1x4's are pretty ideal. I use mine to hunt deer/bear with.

[bluzman]

Nice rifle Congrats. And you got a Stainless.

I have both the .44mag and .357mag marlin 19894 models. Neither ar scoped. The sights on it are just fine. Also the trajectory of either bullet is good under 100 yards...why do you want a scope on a lever action.

Glockman that pic was just to show the rings. Mine is still tied up for 10 days and it's a black receiver. Sorry for the confusion.

The scope is due to my distance vision at 54. Just not what it used to be.
The Vortex Crossfire 2-7 is looking pretty good. Midway has it for $129.
We'll see . . . Still have 8 days to go. Lol

FWIW, the picture looks like a Marlin 336SS. That said, I'm totally envious. I'm also looking for a JM stamped .357 1894 but the prices on those rare birds are putting me off. I was hoping that there'd be a SHOT Show announcement that the .357 1894 was being reintroduced but it didn't happen. Guess I'll have to keep saving up.

[dfletcher]

I had never heard of SWFA before. Thanks for the link. Interesting they have the Leupold 2-7 VX1 for $199 no tax. Now it's getting interesting.

https://swfa.com/optics/browse/rifle...iflescope.html

I've dealt with them for a few years, evidently big in TX. Sell on Gunbroker too. I've traded in a few scopes - the crappy ones I bought enroute to getting what I really wanted. I think I got the world's only HS Precision HRT 1.3" diameter barrel 378 Weatherby target rifle from them, darn thing should be mounted on wheels.

I've found that on their scope samples list they'll get a boatload of Leupold or Nikon or Burris, etc in all at once. I wouldn't be surprised if the Las Vegas shows result in more product coming their way.

Very dependable outfit.

[calif 15-22]

FWIW, the picture looks like a Marlin 336SS. That said, I'm totally envious. I'm also looking for a JM stamped .357 1894 but the prices on those rare birds are putting me off. I was hoping that there'd be a SHOT Show announcement that the .357 1894 was being reintroduced but it didn't happen. Guess I'll have to keep saving up.

Yeah this one cost me a bit of coin. I had been watching Gun Broker for about a month or so. JM stamped in .357 where going from $900 - $1100 used. I saw a BNIB SS 1894 go for $1695. I was even eying a couple of Uberti's instead. Ran a WTB add here and got a PM from the seller and said "I'll take it". Great Guy by the way. BNIB circa 1997 JM with stippled (if thats what it's called) Grip and forend which is what I was looking for.

Seems like .44 can be had for much less, but the .357 seem to command a premium.

[nickel plate]

Nickel that is a very nice setup you have there! Is the 20mm enough of an opening to gather light? I always thought the 20mm looked a bit odd without the front view port (or whatever the term is) being widened.

I'm not qualified to completely answer that as I have never had it out in dawn or dusk conditions (probably never will) but at a recent target shoot there was plenty of illumination at 10:00 am with fog/complete overcast.

[Ki6vsm]

Is the 20mm enough of an opening to gather light? I always thought the 20mm looked a bit odd without the front view port (or whatever the term is) being widened.

It's funny, I think a scope with a front "bell" objective end looks wrong on a lever gun, A small, pistol caliber LG anyway. Partly it's because leverguns look "old fashioned" and the newer large bell scopes look "modern". In the early days of scopes most of them had straight objectives.

FWIW, I have a detachable Weaver 2.5x scope for my 1894. 20mm objective. No complaints and it's light as a feather.

As far whether 20mm lets in "enough" light, believe me, it kicks the cr@p out of using no scope at all in low light. And look at what our Military is using: 24mm with the same basic idea on their lower powered optics, like 1-4x. It's just 24mm because of the 30mm main tube.

[Horrendo Revolver]

I'll probably get some backlash but glass quality is much more important for low light clarity than objective size. I do most of my hunting in low light and don't even consider objective size when purchasing a scope

[Horrendo Revolver]

The Burris is only $158 on Amazon! That's a great price for a great scope as well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019FG82O/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1SX1R00E2EUMR

Well I think the mount is set for me with the DNZ. I'm going to order that today. Still need to research scopes a bit more.

I don't know about all you guys, but the research and learning about all the options and what people use, is half the fun for me. (Not as fun as shooting but still very enjoyable )

Cart before the horse. If you buy DNZ, which are very good, then the scope you buy, especially if you get a smaller scope, may not be able to be mounted using DNZ. Get your scope first and then get your mounting system.

[orangeusa]

Cart before the horse. If you buy DNZ, which are very good, then the scope you buy, especially if you get a smaller scope, may not be able to be mounted using DNZ. Get your scope first and then get your mounting system.

That makes sense, logically. Not emotionally. We get the scope and go 'DANG, I WISH I HAD THE RINGS ON IT..."

.

[calif 15-22]

Cart before the horse. If you buy DNZ, which are very good, then the scope you buy, especially if you get a smaller scope, may not be able to be mounted using DNZ. Get your scope first and then get your mounting system.

That makes sense, logically. Not emotionally. We get the scope and go 'DANG, I WISH I HAD THE RINGS ON IT..."

.

LOL Both of these are true

I'm down to either the:
Leupold VX1 2-7 33mm for $199
Or
Weaver V series 2-7 32mm for ~$175
Or
Burris FFII 2-7 35mm for ~$134 (on sale at Midway)

All of which will fit in the DNZ. For a ~$65 difference between the Burris and the Leupold I may just go Leupold. I have read tons of great reviews on all three. The only thing keeping me from just getting the Burris is you have to turn the eye loop to change the magnification which would make lens caps not ideal. Just a minor issue not a show stopper either way.

[Horrendo Revolver]

It's mostly personal preference. I'm a Leupold fan, have a number of them. Actually have a VX-3 1.75-6x32 with a custom shop German #4 reticle on my Marlin 336. The rifle is used exclusively for hunting hogs in low light. Before that it wore a Fullfield II 2-7x35 for a number of years. The lens cap challenge isn't an issue for me since I don't use them when hunting. I don't often pick other scopes over Leupold but I would take the Burris over the VX-1, to my eyes it is better in low light. But I'm not suggesting you get the Burris because everyone's eyes are different. I haven't looked through the Weaver so won't speak to it.

Just to muddy the waters there is another scope for $99.99 that in the opinion of many, including myself blows the doors off the Fullfield II and VX-1 optically, especially in low light. Only potential down side is it is one step up in magnification.
Minox ZV 3 3-9x40. Free shipping and no tax. From Cameraland.
They also have a demo for $79.99.

I forgot to tell you that is a VERY nice looking rifle.

[calif 15-22]

Thanks for the info Horrendous . . . I"m really leaning toward that Burris especially with the sale price at Midway.

Also just to clarify that pic was NOT mine as mine is still under 10 day until 2/1. That pic was a random internet shot to show the DN mount. Sorry for the confusion.

It's mostly personal preference. I'm a Leupold fan, have a number of them. Actually have a VX-3 1.75-6x32 with a custom shop German #4 reticle on my Marlin 336. The rifle is used exclusively for hunting hogs in low light. Before that it wore a Fullfield II 2-7x35 for a number of years. The lens cap challenge isn't an issue for me since I don't use them when hunting. I don't often pick other scopes over Leupold but I would take the Burris over the VX-1, to my eyes it is better in low light. But I'm not suggesting you get the Burris because everyone's eyes are different. I haven't looked through the Weaver so won't speak to it.

Just to muddy the waters there is another scope for $99.99 that in the opinion of many, including myself blows the doors off the Fullfield II and VX-1 optically, especially in low light. Only potential down side is it is one step up in magnification.
Minox ZV 3 3-9x40. Free shipping and no tax. From Cameraland.
They also have a demo for $79.99.

I forgot to tell you that is a VERY nice looking rifle.

[Horrendo Revolver]

Horrendous? That's a new one but I like it.

[calif 15-22]

Horrendous? That's a new one but I like it.

YIKES! Sorry about that
Spell check on the iPad and these old eyes and all.

See that's why I need a scope . . .maybe even one for my iPad as well