Rifle Scopes Looking for scope recommendations

IowaPlinker

Interested amateur
Full Member
Minuteman
Supporter
  • Feb 12, 2017
    438
    710
    Eastern Iowa
    I recently bought a marlin 1895 in 45-70 with a 24” bbl.
    I intend to deer hunt with it and anticipate my ranges to be 100-300yards
    I normally Hunt deer in December and the temps range anywhere from bright and sunny 0*F to raining and 40*F
    my budget is roughly $600.

    If there are others that have put scopes on lever guns, what have you mounted and why? And if you had it to do over, what would you replace it. With?

    thanks in advance.
     
    Years ago, I put a Burris Scout scope on a Marlin 30-30. I never really did get comfortable with the nature of the long eye relief and somewhat constricted field of view. I didn't like how the forward mounting affected the balance and handling of the gun either. Some folks swear by scout scopes, but I would more often swear at mine. I sold that rifle and scope and currently only have iron sights on my Rossi 92 carbine. While it's not a lever action, my Ruger Scout Rifle has a Burris FourX 1.5-6x42 scope on top of it that might work well on your 45-70 too. It's fairly light and compact, has pretty good glass, and the 42mm objective gathers enough light to make seeing things at twilight less of a struggle. It comes with a German #4 reticle and an illuminated center dot. Camera Land NY still shows this scope on sale for $259.99 here. I think it's pretty hard to beat for a budget hunting optic.