Rifle scope advice

Danbo

Danbo

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Nov 28, 1999
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Picked up a sweet, near mint condition Marlin Golden 39A a month or so ago, at the Indy 1500 gun show. Wanting to put a nice scope on it, but not wanting a cheapo. No Tasco, Weaver, Simmons, etc...

Any advice on what to put on it? I'm very close to buying a Zeiss Conquest 2.5 x 8 x 32mm for this rifle. Would a 3 x 9 x 40mm be overkill for this lever action .22 rifle?
 
I've got a bushnell elite 3200 3-9X40 on my .243. Its my first "nice" scope (read that as didn't come free with the rifle or cost less than $50 :rolleyes: )

I've shot it at varying ranges, and I don't see it really being overkill for a .22. You may not spend much time with it cranked out to 9X, but its a quality scope and the clarity and focus are very good through the whole range. It won't handicap you at all, and with a rifle that nice you'll probably be shooting some groups at the 100 yard berm where that 9X will let you see your shots and keep em tight :D

The only issue I can see with it, is getting it mounted on the receiver of that little marlin. Haven't looked at one in awhile, but if memory serves me right, they have a fairly short receiver. At least compared to a bolt action.
There's a ton of room on my 3200 to move the rings together. Actually have them spread almost all the way out to match up with the bases on my savage. But if you have to scoot them all the way together to get them on the top of your rifle, you don't get much room to play with the eye releif.

So you might want to check scopes out somewhere that you can have a 39 handy to look at the fit up before buying.

And I highly recommend the bushnell elite 3200. Its a great scope for the money. I haven't gotten to use too many different brands of the nicer scopes, but I'm really happy with this one.
 
Suggest you spring for a Leopold 2-7x scope designed for the .22 rimfire. It's a one inch diameter scope with parallax set at 75 yards which matches up well with the .22 LR.

You will enjoy the 39A. It's a fine little rifle. :thumbup:
 
Danbo said:
Picked up a sweet, near mint condition Marlin Golden 39A a month or so ago, at the Indy 1500 gun show. Wanting to put a nice scope on it, but not wanting a cheapo. No Tasco, Weaver, Simmons, etc...

Any advice on what to put on it? I'm very close to buying a Zeiss Conquest 2.5 x 8 x 32mm for this rifle. Would a 3 x 9 x 40mm be overkill for this lever action .22 rifle?
Click to expand...

Please don't put a 3-9x40 on it. It's just waaayy too much scope for this nice compact rifle. I recently swapped my Marlin 336 from a 3-9x40 to a Leupold VXII in 1-4x20. Much better choice for the rifle. Most of my shots with that rifle are in cover and less than 50 yards.

The 2.4x8x32 is a much better choice. You won't go wrong with the Zeiss Conquest or the aforementioned Leupold. Both are good glass. Both stand behind their respective products. For plinking with the 22 at 75 to 100 yards, the 32mm variables will be fine.
 
Here's what I have on my CZ 452.

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It's a Leupold 3x9x33mm compact, E.F.R..
I like the way it fits the bolt action, and I shoot out to 100 yards frequently, so the nine power comes in handy.

For a lever action I might want something a little more compact.

What ever you get, remember if you take care of your scope it can still be on your rifle twenty years from now, so you might as well buy a nice one.Patrick
 
Spinnerblade said:
Here's what I have on my CZ 452.

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It's a Leupold 3x9x33mm compact, E.F.R..
I like the way it fits the bolt action, and I shoot out to 100 yards frequently, so the nine power comes in handy.

For a lever action I might want something a little more compact.

What ever you get, remember if you take care of your scope it can still be on your rifle twenty years from now, so you might as well buy a nice one.Patrick
Click to expand...


You should see what I've got on MY CZ452! Mine is .17HMR caliber and has the Harris bipod, heavy barrel, and a 6.5 x 20 Nikon Monarch scope on it. :thumbup: :)
 
just depends on what ya want it for and if ya mind a big scope on a smallish rifle, i have a 3X9 simmons on my 10/22 and it works just fine for precision small animal eradication, only con is it adds some weight to the rifle, i would as soon have a 3X9 variable as a 4X on one.
 
SIFU1A said:
just depends on what ya want it for and if ya mind a big scope on a smallish rifle, i have a 3X9 simmons on my 10/22 and it works just fine for precision small animal eradication, only con is it adds some weight to the rifle, i would as soon have a 3X9 variable as a 4X on one.
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There is something to be said for balance. Still, while probably a little "top heavy," your set-up is just fine unless you're going to be lugging the rifle all over creation.
 
Danbo said:
Picked up a sweet, near mint condition Marlin Golden 39A a month or so ago, at the Indy 1500 gun show. Wanting to put a nice scope on it, but not wanting a cheapo. No Tasco, Weaver, Simmons, etc...

Any advice on what to put on it? I'm very close to buying a Zeiss Conquest 2.5 x 8 x 32mm for this rifle. Would a 3 x 9 x 40mm be overkill for this lever action .22 rifle?
Click to expand...

What will your intended purpose be for this rifle?
 
Get yourself a Leopold Gold Ring 4X scope. That's one of the best, and is what I have on my Ruger 30-06.
 
Guyon said:
There is something to be said for balance. Still, while probably a little "top heavy," your set-up is just fine unless you're going to be lugging the rifle all over creation.
Click to expand...

yeah agree it does mess up the balance of the rifle but not that bad, anything by leaupold is top notch but pricey.
 
ralphtt said:
Suggest you spring for a Leopold 2-7x scope designed for the .22 rimfire. It's a one inch diameter scope with parallax set at 75 yards which matches up well with the .22 LR.

You will enjoy the 39A. It's a fine little rifle. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I agree with both points.

BTW, my buddy has a 39A that was purchased new when he was around 8 yoa. He used to work at the local country store doing whatever, and they paid him every week in so many 22LR's, 22 Long's, and 22 Short's.

He can hit anything with that rifle, and too my knowledge it has never had anything on it besides the factory sights.

These are extremely handy and well balanced.

Can you see the factory sights? If you can I would shoot it like that for quite a while. You won't regret it.

If you can't see the sights as well, which is common for me now in my old age, the 2X7 rimfire Ralph is recommending looks great on any 22, and is top notch.

Another buddy of mine has proclaimed long and hard that one should spend as much on glass as the rifle itself. This is an expensive route, especially since there are so many better quality, low cost scopes on the market today.

However, he has never had a scope problem. Everybody also loves shooting his stuff b/c the glass is of such good quality.

JD Jones said something to the effect of "People have no idea how much they deserve glass that starts in the $1,000 range." Of course he was talking about the extreme quality and clarity you get when buying glass that good.

I am certain many people don't make money to the point of being able to put glass 4X as much as the rifle on a 22, however. :D

We need pics of that rifle. :D
 
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