Marlin 512 Broke EVERY scope I tried so far....

Joey V. · March 23, 2011, 09:22 AM

I can't believe it but I broke my 4th scope yesterday with the 512! I tried first a piece of junk old tasco and of course that broke but I tried a Bushnell, Nikon, leopold! Oh wait I broke a Vortek Crossfire too so that make 5 scopes. I am thinking of tapping the barrel of the 512 and putting a red dot on it. Any suggestions or issues with tapping the barrel on the 512 for a scope base instead of the crap side mount? I know if I do this the scope will have tpo be mounted forward leaving me with little choice but a red dot or pistol scope cause of the eye relief.

THX!

zippy13 · March 23, 2011, 12:26 PM

As you suspect, the mount may be the culprit. I can't think of any scope that's happy being hammered in a loose mount. Typically, shotgun barrels aren't thick enough to be drilled and tapped for scope mounts; but, the M-512 is far from being a typical shotgun. It's seems there's enough metal in the barrel to receive a dovetailed rear sight, perhaps there's enough for a scope mount.

Yes, LER (long eye relief) rifle scopes, as used on lever guns, are not as popular as they once were. There are those who find pistol glass more appropriate for shotgun use. Or, would you prefer a red dot?

Joey V. · March 23, 2011, 01:44 PM

I think I would prefer a red dot. For me it is much faster for targeting and also i hunt in the PA woods where shots are 50 yrds or closer mostly so magnification is not an issue.

HiBC · March 23, 2011, 01:56 PM

If I had 4 reasonable quality scopes fail on the same gun in a short period of time:
I think I would run a lapping bar in the rings to confirm the ring bores are coaxial.
Just because they are"supposed to be" doesn't mean they are.

Tightening misaligned rings will tweak a scope tube,and the innards suffer.

March 23, 2011, 09:22 AM	#1
Joey V. Member Join Date: October 18, 2010 Posts: 55	Marlin 512 Broke EVERY scope I tried so far.... I can't believe it but I broke my 4th scope yesterday with the 512! I tried first a piece of junk old tasco and of course that broke but I tried a Bushnell, Nikon, leopold! Oh wait I broke a Vortek Crossfire too so that make 5 scopes. I am thinking of tapping the barrel of the 512 and putting a red dot on it. Any suggestions or issues with tapping the barrel on the 512 for a scope base instead of the crap side mount? I know if I do this the scope will have tpo be mounted forward leaving me with little choice but a red dot or pistol scope cause of the eye relief. THX!

March 23, 2011, 01:44 PM	#3
Joey V. Member Join Date: October 18, 2010 Posts: 55	I think I will try to have it tapped. I think I would prefer a red dot. For me it is much faster for targeting and also i hunt in the PA woods where shots are 50 yrds or closer mostly so magnification is not an issue.

March 23, 2011, 12:26 PM	#2
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	As you suspect, the mount may be the culprit. I can't think of any scope that's happy being hammered in a loose mount. Typically, shotgun barrels aren't thick enough to be drilled and tapped for scope mounts; but, the M-512 is far from being a typical shotgun. It's seems there's enough metal in the barrel to receive a dovetailed rear sight, perhaps there's enough for a scope mount. Yes, LER (long eye relief) rifle scopes, as used on lever guns, are not as popular as they once were. There are those who find pistol glass more appropriate for shotgun use. Or, would you prefer a red dot?

March 23, 2011, 01:56 PM	#4
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,286	If I had 4 reasonable quality scopes fail on the same gun in a short period of time: I think I would run a lapping bar in the rings to confirm the ring bores are coaxial. Just because they are"supposed to be" doesn't mean they are. Tightening misaligned rings will tweak a scope tube,and the innards suffer.