So I picked up a Mid 80’s vintage Marlin 30/30 because of SF recommendations. It is going to my son so I can get my Winchester 94 back. I would like to have it set up for him with a decent scope and mount/rings. I would like to stay around $200 or under but want quality that will hold up. He will be deer hunting in The UP of MI with it.

Thanks
Ed

I'd look at Weaver or Nikon.

You might also take a look at the Redfield Revolution series...made here as a subsidiary of
Leupold with a lifetime warrantee (they are as far as I can tell the VX1)...I have been very pleased with my 2-7X33 with the Accu-range reticle...

https://www.amazon.com/Redfiel...=redfield+revolution

Edit...I am also a fan of the steel Leupold rings...I have the QD rings to remove the scope easily from my AR...but the regular style Torx head rings would be great on a hunting rifle if the QD feature wasn't needed...

https://www.brownells.com/opti...ings-prod116741.aspx

That ^^^ Redfield is the exact scope I have on one of my Marlin 30-03s. With Leupold mounts. It is the perfect size for the cartridge. Anything larger would be a waste. When Leupold first released them, they were selling for $139. You could look at their Freedom line too.

Say what you want about scopes on levers, but the rifle is way more effective with mounted glass over traditional iron sights.

Nikon or Vortex. I have heard about, but not tried the Redfields, although they seem to be worth the look. I have shot with the Nikon, and own a Vortex.

ETA, for what it's worth, I have a 1x red dot on my .35 Remington Marlin 336. It looks a little funky, but works beautifully inside of 100 yards, which is my use for the gun.

quote:

Originally posted by ArtieS:
Nikon or Vortex. I have heard about, but not tried the Redfields, although they seem to be worth the look.

Basically...Leupold bought the Redfield brand name back in 2009 or so and started producing scopes carrying the name in Oregon at a somewhat better (cheaper) price point than their VX-1 series. The Revolution series of scopes are made at the Leupold factory (with Japanese glass as I've been told)...the Revenge series is manufactured and imported from either China or the Philippines (as are the Weaver, Nikon and other "budget" glass...Nikon is pretty good...all my Weaver scopes are the old steel tubes from the 70s).

I would never put a Vortex optic on a 30-30. You need to keep the optic small, light, and handy, like the carbine itself. Keep your options to a 1" tube, and the objective to 33mm. The 2-7x33 is ideal, or perhaps even a 1.5-5x20. 30mm tubes are a complete waste on a 336.

You just aren't going to need to adjust your elevation enough to need a 30mm scope. 30-30 is not a long range caliber, and you won't (shouldn't) be shooting beyond 200 yards at game, ever. Therefore, 30mm tubes add bulk and are ugly(ier) on a lever gun than a 1" tube, with no added benefit. So Vortex is out.

I could see a red dot sight being highly useful, though.

1-4x20 Leupold VX II. If you want to spend more, then the 1.5-5x20 VX III

I'd go with a Leupold Rifleman or VXI in 3-9x. Those should fit within your budget. I used Burris Signature rings on all my firearms.

quote:

Originally posted by ArtieS:

ETA, for what it's worth, I have a 1x red dot on my .35 Remington Marlin 336. It looks a little funky, but works beautifully inside of 100 yards, which is my use for the gun.

I once had a Weaver Quick Point red dot (they were unique to say the least) on a Marlin .44 mag Model 94 back in the day...it worked well enough but the teasing I suffered around the deer camp campfire because of the "shape" was brutal ...I do wish I had it today.

Shotgun scopes are better suited for the 30/30 Marlin because the parallax is usually set for 65 - 75 yards.