Marlin 1895 Lever Action Scope

[CAMPMEAT]

I want some input on scopes for my 450. I might put a scope on it for bear hunting and was wondering what some of you that own one, have on top ? 1 inch tube or 30mm and why.

Thanx all

[netcoyote]

I got an 189GS last year and have been trying different sight arrangements and loads to be ready for this season. I was going to mounts a guide scope on it and got the rail mounted but am now having second thought. I also have an 1894 Marlin that I mounted a Skinner rear sight and a fiber optic sight on the front.
http://www.skinnersights.com/1895_sight_4.html
I am really pleased with how well this works for me even out to 100 yds, that I have no intent to mount a scope on that rifle.
I now have an XS ghost ring sight on my 1895 now and find that it just does not let me focus close enough for the 100 yd range. I'm going to swap out the ghost ring for a Skinner/fiber optic and try that out before I think about a scope.
I'm not sure of the ballistics of the 450 but my 1895 is in 45-70 and I don't plan to take shots longer that 100 yds anyway so I choose to skip all the complexity of scope mounting. It makes for a solid, lighter weight brush gun and one less thing to deal with in the field.
This is what works for me, just thought I'd suggest you consider the aperture sight approach before you spring for a scope.

[CAMPMEAT]

I want a scope because of the different landscape here, open to thick brush/timber. It's only for bear hunting. I've shot at bear at 120 yards and missed....ugh, open sights. My neighbor uses a scoped 45/70 for deer and always seems to get one.

[AWS]

I have my Sav 99 set up with with a Leupols VX-II 1x4x20mm thay works very nice for fast close in work on 1x (70' FOV) and if something is out there a ways there is plenty of time to to crank it to 4x.  All my predator hunting rifles are set up with 1x4 to 1.5x6 scopes and I'm good for about as far as I can see one enough to shoot.  I do have a little 250 Sav carbine set up for calling out here on the penninsula with an Elite 4200 1.25x4x24mm Ill. Dot scope. It' a 30mm scope but I only bought the 30mm because I couldn't get an Ill. Dot in a 1" scope.

AWS

[CAMPMEAT]

I have my Sav 99 set up with with a Leupols VX-II 1x4x20mm thay works very nice for fast close in work on 1x (70' FOV) and if something is out there a ways there is plenty of time to to crank it to 4x.  All my predator hunting rifles are set up with 1x4 to 1.5x6 scopes and I'm good for about as far as I can see one enough to shoot.  I do have a little 250 Sav carbine set up for calling out here on the penninsula with an Elite 4200 1.25x4x24mm Ill. Dot scope. It' a 30mm scope but I only bought the 30mm because I couldn't get an Ill. Dot in a 1" scope.

AWS

The 1x4 type is what I've been looking at. Sounds like I'll sell one of the kids and get it.......
Thanks guys.

[dawei]

For a "Big Bore" lever gun I have a Marlin® 444SS purchased new in 1988. Mine wears a Tasco® World Class® 2x7x32mm. This scope provides the best of both worlds in that I have 7 power magnification for long shots out in a clearcut; and 2x for when I am in the 'Black Timber' in Western WA. This gun is my primary Bear and Elk rifle.

[BULLBLASTER]

mine had a cabelas alaskan guide scope. 6x fixed with 44mm objective. it worked well and i killed an elk with it in the thick stuff. then i traded the gun to my dad for a 30-06.

[Deep Forks]

My 1895 has a Vortex Diamondback in 1.75x5x32mm
and I like it very much.  Works very good in the thick stuff but also out in the open.  The outfit works really good in the bear thickets and when calling them in.

[CAMPMEAT]

I just ordered a Millett 1-4x25 Donut - Red Dot Rifle Scope for it. I hope I won't be disappointed.

[MDGrand]

I just got a Marlin 1895G .45-70 and I am in the same process..

Here is what I am considering...

http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-shooting/products/scopes/vx-r-riflescopes/

[CAMPMEAT]

I cancelled my order and will get the same scope.

[CAMPMEAT]

I cancelled my order and will get the same scope.

I lied. I ordered a Leupold 2.5x20.

[MDGrand]

Well, unto each his own. Mine is arriving early today from Midway. So, I am very excited.

Why the change again? I think this one 1.25-4 makes this a great quick site aquistion rifle, which is the nature of the .45-70 anyway. Doubt I will ever be over 100 yards with this one.

Have the big loop lever on its way too. Can't believe I found this Marlin for sale.. so rare to find the 1895G factory ported anymore.

I hear the new Marlin's are having a lot of trouble.. anyone familiar with this?

[CAMPMEAT]

Well, unto each his own. Mine is arriving early today from Midway. So, I am very excited.

Why the change again? I think this one 1.25-4 makes this a great quick site aquistion rifle, which is the nature of the .45-70 anyway. Doubt I will ever be over 100 yards with this one.

Have the big loop lever on its way too. Can't believe I found this Marlin for sale.. so rare to find the 1895G factory ported anymore.

I hear the new Marlin's are having a lot of trouble.. anyone familiar with this?

Mines ported also. $450 when I bought it used. It was in 99.99% condition when I got it. Nice brush gun.

[MikeWalking]

Well, unto each his own. Mine is arriving early today from Midway. So, I am very excited.

Why the change again? I think this one 1.25-4 makes this a great quick site aquistion rifle, which is the nature of the .45-70 anyway. Doubt I will ever be over 100 yards with this one.

Have the big loop lever on its way too. Can't believe I found this Marlin for sale.. so rare to find the 1895G factory ported anymore.

I hear the new Marlin's are having a lot of trouble.. anyone familiar with this?

Mines ported also. $450 when I bought it used. It was in 99.99% condition when I got it. Nice brush gun.

I've read about some feeding problems.  I've had 3. An 1894 Cowboy .44 mag  1895GS & an 1895 LTD III both 45-70.   The 1895GS had problems right off. The carrier arm had some serious tool marks that snagged the rims sometimes and jammed up solid. I tore it  down and polished the heck out of it, spent a whole Eastwood movie polishing every surface I could..   The other two worked perfect 100% of the time.  FWIW all were bought  10-15 years ago.