Does anyone here have any experience with "red dot sights" on lever action rifles? I'm ready to try Hornady's new Leverevolution ammo in my 30-30 and want a sighting system that will reach out there beyond open sights. Or should I just try a scout scope?

I put a scout system on two lever action rifles, a 7-30 Waters and my 45-70. I could not get used to it and removed it. What I found on my 45-70 was that because of the long eye relief once the sun started down it got harder to pick up the target.
I have a red dot on a single shot .223 and it works well out to about 75 yards. There is no magnification and I am not sure how much area the red dot would cover at, let's say 200 yards.
I looked at a 1 power Nikon scope the other day and was impressed. Great field of view, very crisp and bright. I would prefer it to a red dot for the use you describe.

quote:

Originally posted by plainview:
Does anyone here have any experience with "red dot sights" on lever action rifles? I'm ready to try Hornady's new Leverevolution ammo in my 30-30 and want a sighting system that will reach out there beyond open sights. Or should I just try a scout scope?

Thanks, Bill.

I checked out a reflex optical sight today and I'm going to go with that. I'll let you know how well I like it in a week or two.

Just curious as to which one you are going to try. I was thinking about one for one of my 1911s for IPSC.

I'll be trying my trijicon reflex sight this weekend on my 1895 cowboy 45-70 -- it's going to be my Africa gun in March

Bill:

Probably either a Hakko BED 35 Panorama or one of the better ATN's. There are several available with a 2-3 MOA dot @ 100 yards.

quote:

Originally posted by plainview:
Does anyone here have any experience with "red dot sights" on lever action rifles? I'm ready to try Hornady's new Leverevolution ammo in my 30-30 and want a sighting system that will reach out there beyond open sights. Or should I just try a scout scope?

The first step up from stock irons is a peep sight (Williams WRGS is best for the $). Remember why you own a levergun in the first place: handy, fast-handling, easy carrying, etc. You mess it up when you put a scope on it.

Now a red dot, depending on the type, might not interfere with carrying, might be rugged, and might be reasonably priced.

But when you're all said and done, you've still got a rifle and cartridge that isn't going to shoot better than pie-plate groups at 200yds - and you don't need a red dot or a scope to do that.

Well, I shot my 1895 Marlin w. Trijicon reflex sights, and it worked quite well for me -- I couldn't put my head down tight against the stock, like I do w. a scope and a bolt action, but the heads up, both eyes open position works quite well, up to about 70 yds. I have a 4.3 MOA dot on mine, and it pretty well blotted out the target -- I was lazy and used some NRA 25 yd. slow fire pistol targets I found in my truck. -- at 100 yds -- I know, I should just sight it in to shoot right above the dot -- but it doesn't seem to really work when the dot's the size is about the same as the black -- should do well for my purposes, though. I was able to aim, and reaim very quickly though, and able to focus on the target, rather than the sight or gun.

Regarding your 45-70 take a look a Garrett Cartridges web site. Not sure where you are in Texas, but I will be hunting near Mt Home next weekend with my Marlin.

I'm in Kerrville, at the moment -- I'm in houston during the week. I've ordered 60 540 gr solids from Garrett to try -- I just got done shooting some corbons this weekend -- not too bad on recoil, but I'm not very impressed w. softpoints -- or at least theirs -- hit a 1/2" pig iron bar, and little pieces of bullet and jacket went everywhere.

dla:

One word: Trifocals.