Marlin 336 what rings and mount for a Leupold VX-1

[kungfustyle]

Hello and thanks ahead of time for your input. A friend of mine got a Marlin 336 and he wants to scope it. What rings and mount are going to give him the best set up for the $$? The Leupold VX-1 has a 40mm objective. Looking for ring height etc.

[Kestrel4k]

My Marlin 336's have Weaver one-piece bases & Weaver rings - as solid as it gets & quite inexpensive. Pretty easy to find used Weaver bases & rings for ~$25 total.

As you mention the 40mm objective, it sounds like you're talking about the Lp 3-9x40. Any particular reason for so much magnification? Both of my 336's use Lp 2x20mm's and that combo makes for a perfect package IMO.

BTW I used a couple of the VX-1's for a while - they're 'ok' - but I didn't like a couple things about them incl. the mushy click adjustments. Much better are the VX-2's IMO, ~$100 more but worth it I think. A neat little variable for that 336 would be the Lp 2-7x28mm ultralight perhaps ?

Edit: One thing I found out about trying Lp variables on the 336 - the power ring can require 'Medium' rings so that it can clear the scope base. My fixed 2x's can instead use Weaver 'Low' rings because of not having that issue.

[FergusonTO35]

I use the Burris steel turn-in base and medium rings on mine. Burris calls them "Permamount" or something like that but they are identical to the Leupolds. The kind of places I do my hunting with a 336, a scope that large would be more of a hindrance than a help. It's not a matter of if it gets dropped or smacked by a tree branch but when. I think the small variables such as 1-4x20 or 2-7x28 are just about ideal.

[popper]

I have a Banner 3x9 on mine, low rings. You need to make sure the rings allow clearance of the rear sight and will allow hammer access. The side extension is mostly worthless - it won't stay on and chews up the hammer spur. Mine came with see-through rings but I replaced them, no parallax correction.

[kungfustyle]

this guy gets his head around something and won't let go, he's sold on the Leupolds. I'll suggest the lower power to him. I was worried about the rear sight clearance that's why I was asking about the rings/height.

[FergusonTO35]

Nothing at all wrong with his choice of scope, I just think most people find the 3-9x40 a bit large for that rifle and cartridge. I will say this, if he does alot of hunting in faint light the bigger objective does make things brighter. I've never felt the slightly better view justified a bulkier scope though.

[RickinTN]

I use straight tube 1 x 4 Leupolds on those 336 and similar models that are scoped. The lowest combination I have found is Weaver style 2 piece bases with Burris low rings. If you put a 3 x 9 Leupold high enough to clear the rear sight I'm afraid you won't be anywhere near achieving a good cheek weld. To my taste the straight tube scopes just look right on a lever rifle if one must have a scope.
Good Luck,
Rick

[FergusonTO35]

I use straight tube 1 x 4 Leupolds on those 336 and similar models that are scoped. The lowest combination I have found is Weaver style 2 piece bases with Burris low rings. If you put a 3 x 9 Leupold high enough to clear the rear sight I'm afraid you won't be anywhere near achieving a good cheek weld. To my taste the straight tube scopes just look right on a lever rifle if one must have a scope.
Good Luck,
Rick

My thoughts exactly. All my lever actions have receiver sights or straight tube/low magnification scopes. As a bonus, even most cheap scopes of this type are pretty rugged.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

There are many possibilities for the 336, Weaver makes 1 and 2 piece bases, Leupold, Millet, most everybody makes bases. A 'medium' ring will probably be needed for a 3-9 X 40. I haven't found much use for the powers under 2.5-3, mostly use 3, even on my 1-4 and 2-7's in the timber. I like 6 for antelope. The higher the better for load development, the 30-30 doesn't beat up a scope so most 'decent' scopes should last. I like scopes on my levers. Makes shooting through thick stuff or at moderate distance MUCH more effective. That 3" group might be 1.25" with a 10 power scope.

[FergusonTO35]

My super accurate Glenfield 30 wears a Swift 1.5-4.5x20 shotgun scope with Burris rings and bases. Darn good little scope for the money, I just leave it on 4.5. When and if I upgrade it I'm going with a VX-3 1-5x20. Yes, a $400.00 scope on a $200.00 rifle!:lovebooli

[Kestrel4k]

Just a couple pics to try to demonstrate the nice proportions of a fixed-power Leupold 2x Compact on the Marlin 336:

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/Kestrel4000/RimfireCentral/Marlin%20336T/IMG_7478.jpg

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/Kestrel4000/RimfireCentral/Marlin%20336T/IMG_7479.jpg

Edit: Actually, I may have newer pics after I mounted a shorter (i.e. a more modern M-336 revision) Weaver rail - these older ones were longer in front like that.
(And no, the rail isn't just shifted forward - I've sectioned off the rear-most segment & mounting hole of the Weaver rail to provide a location for the Skinner Lo-Pro aperture sight.)

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/Kestrel4000/RimfireCentral/Skinner%20sights/IMG_7486.jpg

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/Kestrel4000/RimfireCentral/Skinner%20sights/Sights008.jpg

[FergusonTO35]

Yup, that's what mine look like. Straight tube scopes are just perfect for lever actions and carbines. What year is your Texan? Mine is a '76, just gave her some exercise today in fact.

[nseries]

Weaver sold a ring/base combo which isn't currently catalogued. Medium height Quad-Lock rings and a one-piece base, part#49098.

[FergusonTO35]

Williams now has a combination receiver sight and scope base called the Ace in the Hole. If I were looking to get a 336 set up today, that and a set of quality QD rings is what I would roll with.

[Texas by God]

THAT is the setup right there. You could probably shoot Trap in the desert with it. (Texan/2xLeupold)
Best, Thomas.

[xdmalder]

http://rangerpointstore.com/categories/rifle-front-rear-.375-dovetail-sights.html

These are my favorite. Skinner Sights also has a mount with an integral peep sight

[357Mag]

Grasshoppa -

I wanted a high clearance mount/rings, for my Weaver 36X ( shooting M-336 XLR .35 Rem as a target rifle ).

There are no manufacturers markings on the rings, but I can say that they were form a well-known supplier of muzzle loader items.

Plenty of height / clearance.


With regards,
357Mag

[kungfustyle]

thanks for the input. Scope was on its way already and when it gets here he'll get the rings/mount. A member suggested an ebay link to a weaver 336 set up, so he's probably going with that. Thanks again everyone.

[FergusonTO35]

357Mag, I hope there are no low flying aircraft in the vicinity!!

[Follow Me]

Greetings,
Mr KungFu, please recommend that your friend get a smaller size scope. A big one definitely gets in the way of Everything. I paid a gunsmith a lot of money to mount a Kahles 8 x 56 scope on my Western Auto 30-30. What a d%$ disaster. No cheek weld at all. Great light gathering scope for early morning hunting but not for the rifle on which it was mounted. Two mornings out and I was done. My hunting pardner said that he was surprised that I lasted for two times. Embarressed.
Size the scope for the job to be done. Just my $.02

Follow Me

[FergusonTO35]

Hmm, huge Monte Carlos on lever actions were a big trend in the 60's and 70's. If his 336 is so equipped then a 3-9x40 may be just what he needs.

[Chainsaw2]

Apologies for the ancient thread resurrection if it is an issue.

I am planning to do something similar to “Kestrel4k” using a Leopold VX1, 1-4x on my 336 .30-30. I may end up installing a hammer spur similar to Kestrel’s if needed. Wondering if I need medium height rings for my setup.
This is a very accurate rifle, but my old eyes can’t use the open sights effectively as in decades past. I plan on taking deer and hogs for a while yet before I retire from hunting.
Thanks for the help
jim

[Rapier]

I have two Marlins with scopes mounted, same reason, old eyes. Best for accuracy to keep the scope low, if you do not have a cheek piece. You need the cheek weld to keep the bullets hitting in the same place. With a Marlin, I try to eliminate the scope's front bell entirely, straight tubes, except for the rear, which can be enlarged, out over the drop in the action, to a point. the eye piece does not interfere with the hammer. So, depending, the lows to medium rings should be what you are looking for. The bases are sitting on a flat surface. A 30-30's recoil does not require steel bases or rings, so save weight where you can.

[farmbif]

I like the Burris signature rings the best

[MostlyLeverGuns]

I have some leverguns with 4-12 and 4-16 scopes, which help a great deal when shooting groups at 200 yards or more, on both Marlin 336's and Savage 99's. A Weaver 63B base with a'Medium' height ring should allow the bell to clear the barrel. To me weight of scope is more important than size. The 'standard' 3-9 by 40 works just fine. I've got 1-4's, Leupold 2.5-20, Weaver 3X20, 2.5-7x32's, 1.75-6x31's, 4.5-14x4042's on rifles. For hunting, getting down to the 3 to 4 power range is preferred, but that 3-9x40 Leupold should work just fine. Some of the 'old guy' tradition gets pretty tiresome. I consider my leverguns to be capable to at least 250 yards or more, but I am not shooting pistol/handgun cartridges.