My first post on this subject had 37 viewersa and no postings so I will make my question broader. Wha scope do you have on your guide gun?

I sure have some typos in my post.

Nikon Prostaff 2x7

Leupold 1.5 x 5 on several, also a Burris 2.75 scout set-up on two...

Leupold VXII 1-4x heavy duplex shotgun scope. That rig has accounted for bear, hogs, and 7 head of African plains game.


Mad Dog

quote:

Originally posted by army aviator:
My first post on this subject had 37 viewersa and no postings so I will make my question broader. Wha scope do you have on your guide gun?

I have a matched pair of 1895s that were created at Grizzly Custom Guns, Columbia Falls, Montana - one being a stored back-up.

1. Burris Eurodiamond 1-4x30 mm scope with German #4 reticle and positive locking reticle. American made, durable by design (a variation of their "tactical" military scope that is identical except for the Eurodiamond having an easily used reticle while the "tactical's" reticle is unusably complex), lifetime warranty.

2. Warne Maxima STEEL mounting system with quick-detachable LOW ring set.

3. In case of inclement weather where scope is not usable, Brockman's adjustable wing-protected FRONT sight assembly, and Marble's windage-elevation adjustable rear sight assembly. Marble's sight remains folded down unless in use. To change from scope to aperture or vice versa, elapsed time is about one minute.
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Being a belt-and-suspenders guy, I have the second 1895 system just in case my primary were to fail. I have concluded that nothing will fail. I never installed the second N.I.B. Burris Eurodiamond 1-4x30 mm scope.

N.B.: There is a possibility that the scope has been discontinued?? If so, used would be fine. They are indestructible.

Hope this helps.

I've got 1.5-6X scopes on my 2 .45-70 Marlins; a Tasco World Class on the 1895GS and a Leupold Vari-X III on the 1895XLR.

I'm gonna remove scopes from both though, and go back to open sights, just as God intended, for lever guns.

Burris 2.75X scout set-up

I think either the Leupold 1.5 to 5 with the illuminated reticle, or the 1.75 to 6 Leupold would be my pick.

I don't lard my guide gun with a scope. It is sinful to mess up a great packing gun with a scope.

I have not scope mine....YET!. I like the idea of the open sights but I also love scopes so I am torn. I have a bushnell elite 1.5-4.5 ready for it when I break down and scope it.

I have a Scout rail on one of mine, and a 2x Leupold pistol scope occasionally rides there. But I primarily use it with ghost ring rear / XS front sight.

My second GG has a Williams peep and front fiber optic alone.

aviator,

Always good to know what others have done.
But you should scope yours with what you need.

If close fast shots - I'd use the low power scout scope.
If general hunting - I'd used a 4X fixed or a low power varible.

I put an Alpin Optics straight 4x scope my Marlin 1895 .45/70. It's a good scope and doesn't break the bank.

I have a Leupold 1-4x20 with heavy duplex with Talley QD rings and the Brockman pop up peep for backup

I've got a Leupold 1.5-5 Vari X III on mine. I really never intended it to be my favorite rifle, but that is what it has become. For whitetails in the Pennsylvania woods it just doesn't get any better!!

No longer have the Marlin, but it was set up with Leupold 2.5x Ultralite w/ post reticle(Leupold custom shop.) Fairly bold post and makes for quick snap shooting in typical WV woods hunting. Scope is of little weight, clear, and tough as nails. Since have moved it and another one to Ruger NO.3, 45/70 and Ruger No.1, 348Win. It will take the recoil.

Most use the GG at fairly close range, so a dot scope makes sense. I have an Accupoint and love it. No sense hindering a fast-handling little rifle like the Guide Gun by having to line up crosshairs and such. Point and Click (then BOOM!) :-)

My Marlin 1895 is not a "Guide Gun" but it is a straight gripped 1972, I formerly had a williams peep on it but have switched to a 4x fixed scope.

The 4x fixed scope I use is an original Weaver K4 with a steel tube and it's mounted on a Redfield/Leupold base and ultra low rings.

FIXED scope because with a fixed scope there is one less thing that can get "messed with" in the field.

On my (now sold) 1895 .450 Marlin I had the scout mount and an EER Leupold.

I think the two 1895's I picked up last weekend will get Skinner open sights.

Straight 4x simmons. Used it last fall to drop a buck at 225yds. Yet its not over powered for the woods i shoot in.

I have a Marlin stainless guide gun. It does not wear a scope. However, I also have a Browning BLR in 450 Marlin. That guns wears a simple Weaver 1-3X20. I have found the Weaver to be a great little scope with excellent optics at a good price. I probably have 150-200 rounds through that gun with the scope and it has held up to everything I put through the gun.

I know Michael uses the Nikon Africa which is another low powered scope and he swears by it.

Mine has an old Lyman 2 1/2 power. I havn't decided what an appropriate peep sight would be or it would have that instead. For now, the little scope will have to do. Oh, mine isn't a Guide Gun, it's the regular 1895 with a 22 inch barrel. Maybe I just should stop now. DW

Depending what/where you hunt and how deep your pockets are, you cannot go wrong with the 1.2-4 Trijicon. Just be sure you get the post and NOT the dot.

2.5x Leupold Compact with heavy Duplex for thick cover hunting. This reticle stands out in (legal) low light conditions. Weaver base and original Weaver low rings - lowest scope mount system I know of.

I have a Ziess 1.5-5 with duplex crosshairs on mine. If I was to do it again Trijcon 1-4 with either the red or green triangle on the command post. I put this on my Double Rifle and they really pick up fast

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Bush:
I have a Marlin stainless guide gun. It does not wear a scope. However, I also have a Browning BLR in 450 Marlin. That guns wears a simple Weaver 1-3X20. I have found the Weaver to be a great little scope with excellent optics at a good price. I probably have 150-200 rounds through that gun with the scope and it has held up to everything I put through the gun.

I know Michael uses the Nikon Africa which is another low powered scope and he swears by it.

Dave,

I tried out one of those little Weavers you mention above too.. And for a 45/70 and normal hunting or shooting I found it very good as well. What I found was it had fantastic field of view, clear as can be, but the eye relief just a little short for the bigger B&M calibers, great for some of the Super Shorts.... Its very compact as well. It would be about perfect for a Marlin.

Yes, correct, I am now heavy in the Nikons, 1X4 Africans, for the bigger rifles. Lots of all the above, eye relief, field of view, clarity, mechanically, and the biggest thing for me, I still have not busted the hell out of one, which amazes me to no end, after years of busting Leupolds and having 3-5 Leupolds always on my bench ready to send for repairs.... I got to where I just waited a bit until I had 3-5 of them to send back, kept me from having to send and be aggravated with sending one a week back......

Michael

I have an old compact Bushnell 4x on my 450 Marlin Guide Gun. Not a flashy or expensive scope but it has never failed and I can hit what I aim at.

If I was going to put a different scope on it I would probably look for one of the old Bausch & Lomb 1.5x6. I've got one of those on my 375 H&H and it is a great scope.

Well the trajectory of a 45-70 is such that anything over 3X is not needed IMO...I have some Leupold 3X and one Leupold 2.5X Alaskan 7/8" scope that would be plumb neat on a 45-70 or any Marlin Lever action.