Author Topic: Marlin 30A for SHTF. (Read 1059 times)

strider72 · « **on:** November 04, 2004, 12:24:35 PM »

I have a Marlin 30A(actually a 3085S,Otasco Limited Edition) that I want to use for general purpose(hunting,SHTF,etc.) and was just wondering what you boys would recommend added or taken away to it to make it a more capable rifle. I have added a Super Sling and Tasco 3-9x50mm scope and was just wondering what else might help it out. Been debating puttin a scout scope on it along with a Williams Peep sight.

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** November 04, 2004, 12:44:47 PM »

Scout scopes have got to be the dumbest idea to come along in many a decade. But what would you expect from Cooper. I'm a handgunner and the weakest part of handgunning is the tiny FOV of handgun scopes. To put one on a rifle in place of a real rifle scope is the worst possible kind of idea.

I have more or less identical Marlin 336s in .35 Rem. with peep and fire sight on one and a Bushnell 1.5-4 scope on the other. One or the other is just fine or most any kinda hunting a .30-30 or .35 Rem. is suitable for.

You're just a few miles up the road from me. If you'd like to drop by some time and take them up to my back yard range and see what I mean contact me off line and we'll set it up. I'll also show you what I mean about the tiny FOV of handgun scopes and why I say bad idea.

256-435-1125

strider72 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 04, 2004, 01:12:20 PM »

Where you live Graybeard? I actually live about three miles north of Forney. I wish the dealer had a 336 when I traded. I agree about the handgun scopes not having enough FOV but a friend of mine has a Savage Scout rifle that has a nice Leopold (dang what$$)Scout scope on it and it is quick to use. We are going to shoot it this weekend so I will know whether I like it or not.

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** November 04, 2004, 01:33:44 PM »

I'm on the far end of Hwy. 204 out of Jacksonville. If you ever travel that way we're the blueberry farm with the big white sign. Can't be more than a half hour drive at that I'd think. Piedmont is at most a 20 minute drive from here. And that's because of having to go slow thru town.

strider72 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 04, 2004, 01:37:31 PM »

Thanks. I shoot IPSC in Anniston at Moss Branch so I come thru about once a month. I will try to holler at you one day.

paul47 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 15, 2004, 07:46:58 PM »

Hey Bill, I bet that scout scope has a bigger FOV than the peep sight on your 336. :wink: Leaves a rifle just as handy as iron sights do, too.

To each his own, as they say.

Doc TH · « **Reply #6 on:** November 16, 2004, 09:15:02 AM »

Actually, the field of view of a peep sight is dependent upon how far from the aperture your eye is. Most of those sights give a very wide field of view. That is certainly the case for my Garand, Rem 513T, Marlin 39A, etc. Moreover, the FOV problem with a handgun scope is accentuated by a small field that is magnified within a much larger field that is unmagnified. I have chosen not have a handgun scope mounted on any of my rifles so I can't speak from long experience, but the rifles I have fired with forward mounted scopes have been uncomfortable for me, so I have not gone that route.

leverfan · « **Reply #7 on:** November 16, 2004, 11:11:55 AM »

Quote from: paul47

Hey Bill, I bet that scout scope has a bigger FOV than the peep sight on your 336. :wink: Leaves a rifle just as handy as iron sights do, too.

To each his own, as they say.

Hmmm. My field of view with a peep is dang near 180 degrees, since both eyes are open, and there's no big, black tube sitting on top of the rifle to block the view.

Handy as iron sights? Well, let's see, the scope and mounts weigh at least 12 ounces or more, and the scope sticks out from the rifle at least a couple of inches. If that's as handy as a peep that weighs a few ounces and sticks out .70", your definition of handy is different from mine.

To each his own, as they say!

Leverdude · « **Reply #8 on:** November 16, 2004, 01:20:36 PM »

I agree with these guys. I have Williams aperature sights on most of my lever guns & never had any trouble with fov. Heck theyre more open than standard sights to me. I thought about putting a scout setup on my guide gun but passed on that idea after I had the opertunity to shoot one wth a scout setup. I put a 1.5 shotgun scope on instead & like it just fine. Its got a nice fov & plenty of eye relief to keep the scope out of my eye no matter what I feed the gun.

paul47 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 16, 2004, 04:38:44 PM »

Well, you shoot a scout-scope-equipped rifle with both eyes open, just like iron sights. The scope therefore blocks nothing (unlike an ordinary scope which is much closer to the eyes).

I just went down and did an informal test of sighting. My Leupold scout-equipped rifle was perhaps slightly behind my ghost-ring-equipped Model 94, although that is arguable because the scout also gives the advantage of a single focus plane and 2.5 power. The scout was easier to sight with than an AR-15 (with all it's protective wings, front and rear), and way easier than a 6x conventional scope.

By "handy" I mean it doesn't add much weight (compared to conventional scopes), but more importantly I can grasp the gun around the middle which I like to do - heck, I'll carry the gun all day that way. And it won't have a front sight snagging on things. I'd put it perhaps just behind irons in handiness, and way in front of a conventional scope.

It has a narrower cone of view than a conventional scope, but that doesn't matter with a stocked gun because you put your face in the same spot on the stock every time anyway. It's not like sighting with a scoped handgun which I admit is difficult.

A scout scope combines the handiness of irons with the single focus plane of a conventional scope, and modest magnification. A compromise, but a good one. Another way to look at it, it's iron sights for guys too old and blind to use irons any more.

Harder to fog the lens with your breath, and no scope cuts for hard kickers either. :-)

leverfan · « **Reply #10 on:** November 16, 2004, 07:33:47 PM »

Quote from: paul47

Well, you shoot a scout-scope-equipped rifle with both eyes open, just like iron sights. The scope therefore blocks nothing (unlike an ordinary scope which is much closer to the eyes).

I shoot all my guns with both eyes open, even high-magnification scopes, and LER scopes, too. My stereoscopic vision is partially blocked by having a scope on top of a gun, and it doesn't matter what kind of scope it is. Unless the shooter is one-eyed and cursed by tunnel vision to boot, you're cutting down on your field of view with a scope. A hunting style peep sight introduces only a fuzzy, unfocussed circle into the line of sight of one eye, and one sharply focussed blade or bead. If the shooter concentrates on the front sight, there's only one focal plane that really matters. Everything else is fuzzy when you shoot.

I have to admit, I'm mostly just stirring the conversation, here. Scopes are great, most of my bolt guns have worn them. I'd prefer a red dot to a scout scope for a defensive rifle, or maybe some of the purpose-specific CQB type sights on the market today. I might even pick one of those over a peep sight (but not for a lever gun :-D ).