Henry Rifle Forums

I'll admit that I always thought putting a scope on a levergun was akin to blasphemy, but as my eyes aged, along with everything else, I can't see using open sights. Even peep sights, which kept me going for many years, aren't good enough. I wear bifocals for both seeing and looking so when I use iron sights I can look at the target, or see the front sight, but not both. That said I'm forced to turn to scopes and was wondering what you all think is the ideal scope for a leveraction rifle? I've been eyeing the Leupold VX-R 1.25-4x20. Usual hunting distance for me is under 100 yards with a rare shot going beyond that.

Sooner or later, we'll all get there. I sure have. Have no hesitation putting a scope on a lever gun, now, but I still keep some setup with peep sights and even some with red dots. That way I choose the rifle setup to suit my needs and tastes on any given day.

I'm a huge believer in these low power 1-4, 1.5-5x class scopes with a straight tube in front on lever guns. They don't weigh much, plus you can mount them lower than scopes with a bell in front. Set at 1x with an easy to see reticle and they are lightning fast to get on target. Here's an old Leupold 1-4x on our Marlin 357.


To answer your question on the Leupold R, have used that scope on other guns and it is superb. Simple as that. Love that lighted dot in the center. At 4x, it draws your eye right to the illuminated dot, right now. Keeps your concentration on the crosshairs where it belongs. Would be amazing back in the dark wood or dim light. Only disadvantage is that it's a 30mm tube scope, so it weighs more than most of these low power scopes. Also very expensive, of course.

Another great scope, 1" tube and more affordable, though not cheap, is the Leupold 1.5-5x 3i. Great optics, a noticeable improvement over the VX2 grade. Nice to have that 5x option for longer shots, too. Here's one on another Marlin 1894.


Don't overlook a red dot. Yeah, it can be tough getting past that traditional thing, but absolutely nothing easier to use without going to a scope and never enough weight or bulk to affect handling. I can keep up with a red dot as far as group sizes at 50 yards with a peep, but only on days when my eyes are cooperating and the light is good. With a red dot, though, I can ALWAYS shoot, well, regardless of the light.

An Ultradot 25 on another Marlin

I wanted one rifle w/o a scope, and that would be the Henry.

When my eyes start to go, that's when the scatter-gun comes out....

The Leopold VX-R series of riflescopes are my favorites. Got a VX-R Patrol 1.25-4 on an AR15 and a VX-R 2-7 on the Henry 45-70. Love them both. Someday when I get a .44 Mag rifle it will wear a VX-R.

as with all rifles, to my way of thinking, several factors go into determining the best scope .... anticipated shooting range is but one of them .... field of view, weight, reticle, fixed or telescopic, anticipated target, are others ..... as a rule of thumb I've always gone with 1 power for each 10 yards of your longest projected shooting distance .... I consider most Henry big game rifles (Long Rangers excluded) to be 100 yard rifles .... can they hit at further distances, absolutely .... that's just a figure I chose .... accordingly a variable power scope with a top power around 10 would be my choice .... accordingly, our 357 Mag, 44 Mag, and 45-70 have been fitted with 3X9's .... scope brand is most certainly a matter of personal preference .... for me, any brand is fine so long as it is a Nikon ..

Well, I decided to took up hunting later in life. I also thought a scope was not fitting for a lever action rifle. Yet, I wanted to take advantage of the times. This basic Marlin (336W) came with a scope.
It is a 3-9x32mm. It has no markings on it. The best that I have gathered is it was produced for Marlin's rifles. It has what is called a duplex reticle.
Nothing fancy. I imagine the scope does not cost much more than $50. So far, I have been able to hit what I am aiming at with it though. However, it seems fitting to keep the Henry without a scope. It looks more traditional.

BigBlue wrote:I've been eyeing the Leupold VX-R 1.25-4x20. Usual hunting distance for me is under 100 yards with a rare shot going beyond that.

Honestly, I don't see how you could go wrong with that choice. It would be right up there at the top of my list.

I am considering an Aimpoint on a rifle that will be used for Cape Buffalo...but I could also see putting one on a short-range lever actioned thumper rifle.

So yeah... ~ 1 - 4 x variable or a red dot of some sort.

I too am struggling though with the thought of ruining the beautiful lines of my Henry rifles.

The Skinner peeps look right at home. Scopes...not so much!!

North Country Gal wrote: "Love that lighted dot in the center. At 4x, it draws your eye right to the illuminated dot, right now"

Agree!

I shot the below hog on my place in MO and it was so dark I could not see it with my naked eye. I was actually coming down out of my tree after last light, when the sounder came through - I had to pull the rifle back up quickly and get it loaded for the shot, before they got out of range!

The Leupold VX-6 2-12 gathered just enough light that I could make out the outline of the porker, and the illuminated dot told me where to hold. The pig never took a step after the 180gr Ballistic Tip from the 300 H&H hit her.

And just for the record...that is "sort of" a lever gun in the pic! haha

tarbe wrote:
And just for the record...that is "sort of" a lever gun in the pic! haha

Two of my favorite" sort of" leverguns look just like it. One in .30-06 and the other in .280. Congrats on a nice hog!

We have a few of those "sort of" rifles, too. They load up real fast.

I put this little Weaver 1-4 on mine. The 1x setting is true zero mag so you can shoot with both eyes open if you like. 4X on the high end is plenty for 44 magnum ranges. I like that it is small and light as well.

rwortman wrote:I put this little Weaver 1-4 on mine. The 1x setting is true zero mag so you can shoot with both eyes open if you like. 4X on the high end is plenty for 44 magnum ranges. I like that it is small and light as well.

Nice!

That sure is a cute little rig rwortman!

Very clean look.