4x scope or open sights... help me decide - Page 2

btmj · July 1, 2013, 10:17 PM

On my wife's Marlin 336 (which I also hunt with), I put a Leupold FX-II 2.5x20 Ultralight fixed power scope. Total weight of scope, rings, and bases is 9.5 ounces. I don't think you can get a lighter scope. I am exceedingly pleased with this scope. Very fast on target, lots of eye relief. 2.5X is plenty of magnification for a woods gun. I sighted it in at 100 yards, and I have no problem popping soda cans at 150 yards (with about 6 inches of hold over).

Jim

bamaranger · July 5, 2013, 12:11 AM

Back in the day, if somebody was going to mount a scope, almost everybody ran a fixed 4x on a deer rifle, Marlin 30-30's, .35's, bolt '06, you name it, a fixed 4x was thought just fine. I'd have to say it is not to much magnification.

You end up in a situation where you are counting antler points as on a WMA, or trying to find a whole in the brush to slip a bullet, and the extra magnification will be useful. Too, I can tell you that it will work just fine on moving deer in the woods.

If you wonder about this, I'd hazard that lots of .22's have fixed 4x's on them, and get used on all sorts of targets, largish and small, moving and not, out to 100 yds and nobody thinks it odd.

Finally, despite the advance of modern scopes, I'd pick a fixed power rig over a variable based on simplicity and theoretical durability.

July 5, 2013, 12:11 AM	#27
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,820	4x Back in the day, if somebody was going to mount a scope, almost everybody ran a fixed 4x on a deer rifle, Marlin 30-30's, .35's, bolt '06, you name it, a fixed 4x was thought just fine. I'd have to say it is not to much magnification. You end up in a situation where you are counting antler points as on a WMA, or trying to find a whole in the brush to slip a bullet, and the extra magnification will be useful. Too, I can tell you that it will work just fine on moving deer in the woods. If you wonder about this, I'd hazard that lots of .22's have fixed 4x's on them, and get used on all sorts of targets, largish and small, moving and not, out to 100 yds and nobody thinks it odd. Finally, despite the advance of modern scopes, I'd pick a fixed power rig over a variable based on simplicity and theoretical durability.

July 1, 2013, 10:17 PM	#26
btmj Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2011 Location: Near St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 864	On my wife's Marlin 336 (which I also hunt with), I put a Leupold FX-II 2.5x20 Ultralight fixed power scope. Total weight of scope, rings, and bases is 9.5 ounces. I don't think you can get a lighter scope. I am exceedingly pleased with this scope. Very fast on target, lots of eye relief. 2.5X is plenty of magnification for a woods gun. I sighted it in at 100 yards, and I have no problem popping soda cans at 150 yards (with about 6 inches of hold over). Jim