Ive been 'lurkin' around here for awhile...figured it's time I registered. Here's my 'latest' thoughts....I bought an AR recently, and wanted a scope/red dot option available...shooter's choice I guess. So, I bought a Nikon M-223 3x12x42 BDC, and a Vortex Strikefire Red Dot. I'll use a Burris AR-PEPR Quick Detach Mount on the Nikon.... and I chose the 'hunt' or low mount for the Red Dot.

My thought is to use either the scope, or the red dot on my 336. Im going to order this mount from Midway USA....Weaver 1-piece Top Mount. Seems to me I can use EITHER option, on either rifle.

Billy G

I also liked the idea of having a scope and red dot combo. Scope for distance , red dot for close up and dim light. My AR started out with an Eotech. I could do alright at 100-200 yards, but had trouble seeing shooting accurately beyond that without any magnification. I bought a Trijicon TRD 31, a 4x scope w/ 5.56mm ranging lines out to 600 meters, and a small trijicon red dot sitting on top for closer in shooting. The 4x scope part uses tritium to light the reticle at night, and a fiber optic tube to light it by day ( no batteries needed!). But it was pricey ( $1500). After I lost my job I had to sell it and put the Eotech back on. I never liked the looks of a scope on a lever action, and had Williams or Lyman peeps on most of my levers, but my eyes are getting worse w/ age. For my 336 in .356 cal, I found this Mueller Multishot 2-7x. It has crosshairs and a circle around a dot. The dot can be illuminated w/ different brightness settings. it looks a little big on the 336, mainly because of the larger eyepiece, but that is common w/ a illuminated reticle. Price was only $150 from Midway. On other rifles I have Leupold VX-II's, Sightron S-I and S-II's, Weaver Classics, and a new Redfield, and I do believe the Mueller is sharper and brighter than any of them.

Good Looking rifle you have there! I'll more than likely end up with a scope on BOTH (30-30 and AR 15)....like you, my eyes arent NEAR what they used to be, and I've worn glasses/contacts since age 6.

I bought my 336 (30-30) for 2 reasons.

• I've ALWAYS wanted one!
• To carry on my Teryx and use at the deer lease for that sudden 'pig' that'll show it's face.

Ive even thought about buying a 'cheap' scabbard to mount on the roll cage just to put it in while riding. My hope with the red dot would provide that 'quick' access to the target. The red dot is on 'backorder', and I still have the option to cancel. Hardest part is gonna be me making up my mind.

Billy G

Sandog that's one sharp looking lever gun. Is it parkerized?

Not parkerized, it's Cerakote, a color they call Sniper grey. Very durable , and one that anyone can apply themselves if you have a small touch -up spray gun.

in my opinion, any sort of optics on a lever gun just kind od ruins it. if you must have something though, i would go with a low power scope.

A small reflex sight (red dot), like this Burris Fastfire (there's several brands out there), isn't too awful - and is as fast as a peep sight.



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I'm not a fan of scopes on lever-guns, but I'm even more averse to dot sights, in general. I would much rather have a low-power fixed or variable on a lever-action, with a small objective lens of 32mm or less. Light n' handy has a lot to do with why so many of these guns were made and I would rather not spoil that with a high-mounted scope that provides way more magnification than I'll ever need. A 2-7X32 would be a little bit too much, but better than an objective of ~40mm.

The Leupold 2.5x28mm Scout scope would be about ideal, or a 1-4 power on a conventional mount, presuming you have angle eject.

FWIW - The OP's rifle in question is a Marlin 336, the same as this section's title - ALL of which are side-ejectors, unlike Winchester leverguns

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I was wondering if you've ever had occasion to use that sight in rainy or foggy weather and if it was affected by the weather? A friend of mine bought one (similar, but maybe not exact same Burris) and found his fogged badly in really moist weather.

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I don;t like anything larger than a 2-7x32 or so on a levergun and, as Jason said, sights are better yet, speaking only of aesthetics. But I must say, a co-worker's husband is selling a little red dot and I have it in my work vehicle for a couple of days. It's awful tempting, though I haven;t considered putting it on one of my levers. Rather, I think on a mini-14 or one of our 22LR rifles....maybe....IF I buy it.

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...is about as large as I care to go on a lever gun.

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Never heard of that before

I went with a Weaver 1X-3X. I can see my 60yd archery target in the back yard, and the crosshairs, past legal shooting time, easily. Not with my Leupold's, not with my Nikon's.

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nder 60 yards...a red dot. over 60 yards a scope.

in updating, I ordered the XS Scout Mount from Midway. Received it the other day, but graveyards have me only THINKING about guns...lol. Hopefully, I'll get it on in the next week, and will start with the red dot. 50-60 yds are what Im looking at (for the norm), as I plan to carry it in my Teryx as a hog gun (and whatever else pops it head out) Im still thinking about a scabbard mounted on the Terxy....my way of having the old west maybe? The Nikon M 223 is on the AR @ this moment...but as usual, ANYTHING is subject to change.

Billy G

I use the 30 mm ultrdot and a Leupold Delta Point on my handguns,the dot covers 3.5 and 4 inches at .100 yds.I like them better than handgun scopes and are great for hunting.

I tried a red dot on my 336, and didn't like the looks or the extra bulk on the receiver. Went with the same Williams aperature as on my 1895.

Not against scopes at all, have them on most of my other rifles, but they just seem out of place on my Marlins.