I bought a Marlin 1895G in 45-70 awhile back and it was cheap because someone had striped the lever screw to the point that the head looked like a dish! Well i got the screw out cleaned out the gunk and polished the action and now shes as smooth as glass! So my Question is what would be the proper power scope for this gun? i have a 2.5x33 on it right now.
i live in Wisconsin and my deer hunting is never really more then 150-200 yards. sorry for the long post!

Well there are a number of possiblities. In a fixed power scope no more than 4X.

In a variable scope a 1X-4/5X, or a 2X-7/8X. A 3X-9/10X might be ok but that's starting to be to much scope for a gun used in the Wisconson Woods at 100-200 yards.

There are a lot of good scopes out there for you to chose from at reasonable prices.

I agree with that

carner,

I'm almost 58 years old now and, given my eyesight, I probably need a little more scope power than the younger guys (and older guys with better eyesight!). For optimum accuracy for deer hunting at 150-200 yards, I would like a 3x9 power scope. I do not hunt deer this range, however.

In deer hunting for the past 40+ years up here in the northern Adirondack Mountains, almost all of my shots/kills have been at 60 yards or less. This is due to the very dense forest. For this, I have Williams receiver (peep) sights on my Marlin 444 and 1895's.

I do a lot of handloading and target shooting with my Marlins (I have 23, including four 1895 versions). For this shooting, I use Bushnell Banners 1.5-4.5x32 for ranges to 100yds and the 3-9x40's for ranges to 200 yards. Almost all of the shooting is at 100yards. Any shooting longer than 100 yds is just for kicks.

My hunting load for my 1895G uses a BTB .460"-425gr and a stout load of H335 that produces 1800 fps muzzle velocity. With a 100-yard zero, bullet drop of that big flat-nosed bullet is 17 inches at 200yards. At 100 yards, 5-shot groupings are very good at typically 1.5 inches (scoped, SteadyRest w/50 # lead); at 200 yards my groupings would be too sloppy for deer hunting. If the occasion arose that I would be in an area that I would be hunting deer at 200 yards, I would use my Marlin 338 MX, which has ballistics very similar to a 30-06.

Good luck with the 45-70! I really like mine!

I'm interested to see what others say about their required scope muscle out to 200 yards as well as any thoughts about experience with the 1895 out to 200 yards for deer.

Best,
Dan

Take a close look at the Leupold 2-7X33 shotgun/ML scope.

I own 4 of these scopes including one on my Marlin 1895(16" bbl). They are not recoil shy(I also have one on my 458Lott) and they have heavy crosshairs for quick shots or for use in the low(er) light situations. Paralax is set for 75yds and they have generious eye relief. Mine stays on 2X for the closer shots but it is great to know that on 7X you can take that 100yd+ shot if necessary.

Couple this with a well made hardcast or a Hornady XTP, and I would take on any animal in north America.

These scopes can be had for a little over 2C$,and if you watch the Cabela's sight,when they have their sale promotions(take $20 off of any purchase over $150)they can be had for <2 bills. FOR A LEUPOLD !! -----pruhdlr

Thanks for the info guys!

I bought a Marlin 1895G in 45-70 awhile back and it was cheap because someone had striped the lever screw to the point that the head looked like a dish! Well i got the screw out cleaned out the gunk and polished the action and now shes as smooth as glass! So my Question is what would be the proper power scope for this gun? i have a 2.5x33 on it right now.
i live in Wisconsin and my deer hunting is never really more then 150-200 yards. sorry for the long post!


Because of the production numbers and the economy of production , you will probably find you get the most scope performance for the $$$ with a 3 x 9 scope .

Gods bless
Wyr

Don't get a 3X9 for any woods hunting. 3x is too much magnification for a quick jump shot. Get a 1.5 - 4 or 2X7. I leave my scopes on 2x because in a quick shooting situation I can leave both eyes open and get on target. You can't do that with a 3x.
I never understood how 3x9 got so popular in wooded deer hunting. A scope set at 4x makes a deer at 200yards look as if it is at 50 yards. If you can't hit a deer a 50yards , more magnification won't help you.
Good Luck!

I have the exact same rifle and put a 1.75 X 6 Leupold scope on it and I really like it. Not a budget priced scope though. My original plan was to send the scope back and have a German style reticule installed. I think it's the "German #1" style. Anyway, it does not have crosshairs but instead has a vertical post with a pointed tip and two side bars that come in about half way from the sides. Gives the visual impression of a thick but finely pointed front sight bracketed by the side bars. I have it in another scope that is from the 1940's and love it. You can get super fast target acquisition if in a hurry and with the fine point on the post, you can aim very precise on targets too. The only drawback is if holding over on a small target, it can obstruct what you are shooting at. My scope is on a .22 and I once shot a groundhog at about 150 yards and had to hold about a foot high. Couldn't see the groundhog at all behind the post. But on deer size game, it's a non issue.

You said you have a 2.5 X 33 on it now... That's about perfect! Sounds like maybe an older vintage scope like a Weaver or something? If so, and the clarity suits you, that is all you need. If you want something newer and maybe clearer, the Leupold like mine is excellent. Oh, and if you go for the Leupold, I personally feel the Vari-X III is the way to go.

I have 3 2.5x fixed scopes. Love em! Should be good for minute of deer at guide gun ranges, and it is nice for 2 eyes open shooting. They're not bad for bifocal eyes either. :D

Yup its an old weaver, got a old 2 3/4x22 luminar by firearms international corp too.

Carner; I have a 2.5 Leupold, and an XS peep set up on my 444 Marlin...both work exceptionally well for larger game woods hunting. Most of my shots for deer come in at well under 100 yards, but, if I was going to hunt at distances beyond 100, I believe a bit more magnification would help me. The 2X7 variable as suggested above would be my choice for the longer shots......or, a much better set of eyeglasses! I guess it all depends on how well you can see...I have seen some fellas with good eyesight hit the mark at long distances with low power scopes...even iron sights, but at my age, and with my poor eyesight that is impossible anymore! Experiment and you will find the perfect set up for your situation.

I have been quite pleased with this little Burris scope i mounted on my guide gun. It has excellent eye relief and holds up to the hot loads that i shoot.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/burris-timberline-4x-20mm-riflescope-201312.html

I use a Bushnell 1.5-4.5, I think is the power range. It is good for any animal up to 200 yds, although you would need a better shooter than myself, but at the range it works well up to 150 yds. I think for most of us who hunt in the woods of the Adirondacks or western PA, you just don't need a 9 power scope, it is too much for the forest. My Bushnell was $65, its a sweet little scope and i basically leave it on the low setting nearly all of the time.

I also have an 1895, but I have a Williams peep sight on the rear and a fire sight front post. Have given some thought to using a scope as my eyes age a bit. Anyway, if I were to put a scope on it.........it would either be a fixed 2.5x or a 1-4x/1.5-5x variable. Probably the 2.5x as that's plenty of optics for a woods gun and shooting out to 150+ yds.

Regards, Vic