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Marlin 1895 GBL - Scope ideas |
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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Posted: December/09/2016 at 16:37 |
I just picked up my Christmas present from my wife (she doesn't know yet) and curious what optics everyone is running on their lever guns.
This is the GBL model that has the pistol grip but conventional buckhorn sights. I'll replace it with one from XS Sights with the ghost ring and rail. I like the set up and use the ghost ring sight on a Rossi 92 and an original Guide Gun. This will be a 150 yard gun. The trajectory of the 45-70 looks like something coming out of a M198 Howitzer. Definitely can lob rounds in to targets out to 300 yards, but drop is nearly three feet even with the +P 45-70 loads from Garrett and Buffalo Bore. This will be a brush gun for pigs and for clearing the firing line at the range. Expect most shots will be on moving targets. Iron sights would work, but my eyes could always use some help. Generous eye relief, illuminated reticle, low light capability and 1X/2X low end. Leupold VX-R line looks like a good option, but giving strong consideration to the Aimpoint Hunter. Capped version of the SWFA 1-4x or 1-6x would also work, as would most dangerous game scopes.
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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I have a VX3 1.5-5x on mine. I like it a lot. I went wit the 4a reticle, so it is very bold in low light.
Buy the lever evolution bullets. When I first started loading them at 100 yards they were hitting 8 inches higher than the flat points I was shooting. They turn a 150 yard gun into a 300 yard gun. |
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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13181 |
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Budget?
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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My wife is thoughtful like that as well! |
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Ted
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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Like to keep the budget in the $500 to $1K range.
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Kickboxer
MODERATOR Moderator Joined: February/13/2008 Status: Offline Points: 23679 |
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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A very interesting article. I can remember books on the 45-70 being used as an indirect fire round, where infantry lobbed rounds at area targets. Sheer mass of rounds was similar to how they used archers during the middle ages. Man portable artillery.
Always have been a fan of the 430gr LFNGC loads running at 1950 at the muzzle. Even though it has dropped over 16ft at 500 yards, it is still carrying over 800 ft/lbs of energy. Leverevolution ammo Supertool mentioned definitely extends the capability of 45-70 round and their 325gr round is enough for hogs. Vortex 1.5-8x32 Razor HD LH has caught my eye, although illumination would be nice, as does the Meostar R2 1-6x, but pushes the budget.
Edited by Marine24 - December/13/2016 at 06:36 |
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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Handled a Burris XTR II 1-8x scope. I have their 3-15x mounted on a 22-250. Magnification range is good and illumination is well done.
Not sure about a 34mm scope on a lever gun and it is heavy at 24 oz. Definitely a nice scope but it is a lot of scope and impact on balance likely.
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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Leupold VX-6 1-6x looks like a very strong contender. I'm a fan of their VX-6 line and like the FireDot Circle reticle.
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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Any other recommendations? Leupold VX-6 is the front runner and SWFA was very generous with their 110% price match.
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bugsNbows
Optics God bowsNbugs Joined: March/10/2008 Location: North Georgia Status: Offline Points: 11200 |
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Although I'm often criticized for been a nut (guilty as charged BTW), I'd just put a straight 4x scope on it.
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Peddler
Optics God Joined: July/04/2012 Location: Oswego,NY Status: Offline Points: 13526 |
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Agree! |
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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I had one on my original Guide Gun in a scout scope mount and worked just fine.
Is there such a thing as a fixed power scope with illuminated reticle?
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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Opted for the Aimpoint 9000. For 90% of the shooting I'll do with this rifle, this red dot will do just fine plus give me the option of setting it up as a scout scope or conventional eye relief distances.
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Good deal, Mike. Be sure to come back and let us know how it goes for you.
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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http://swfa.com/mounts-rings-and-bases/xs-sight-lever-scout-mount.html mount
http://swfa.com/catalog/product/view/id/103880/category/12135/ scope I have had a couple of the stainless models which already had the rail on them but the scope I used was the 2 moa Aimpoint model 9000L which mounts using two 30mm rings. With the Aimpoint eye relief is not an issue and it works well in a scout configuration. If I didnt use that I would probably use Leupolds scout scope . http://swfa.com/optics/browse/leupold-2-5x28-fx-ii-scout-scope.html scout scope |
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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One other thought the 45-70 is a lot like running a 50 cal musket so a muzzleloader scope might be a really good match they tend to have longer eye relief also. I have this on my muzzleloader and it works very well for me at the distances I hunt deer typically 200 yds and closer.
http://swfa.com/optics/browse/nikon-3-9x40-inline-xr-muzzleloader-riflescope-1.html |
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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
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Whitefire
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/29/2014 Location: Alabama Status: Offline Points: 132 |
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I think you'll be happy with the 9000, so long as you don't have to guess at an extended range.
Great article KB. Wf |
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