An Illuminated Reticle Scope... on a Levergun?!

[Woodtroll]

All right, folks, I'm stepping WAY outside my range of knowledge to ask a question here...

I've bought a Marlin 338XLR as my one long-range, scoped rifle. I'm much more at home with blue and walnut single shots and lever guns with iron sights, but need a "truck gun" for coyote targets of opportunity, and for the occasional times I expect to get long shots from ridge to ridge, etc. Many of the coyote opportunities seem to be at twilight, and I am pondering getting an illuminated-reticle scope, like the Burris LRS 3-9x40 with the illuminated ballistic plex reticle.

I'm not normally a scope user, and have looked through only one lighted-reticle scope (never shot one). I don't know if such a thing is practical or not. And I am not about to shoot at shapes in the dark- in this part of the country there are lots of reasons to be sure of your target. I just wanted to know if any of you had experience with these scopes in general, or this particular scope specifically.

Thanks, guys, y'all take care!
Regan

[JB]

I've played around with a few and find them o.k. for pretending I'm shooting a zombies with an AR, but haven't found the practical for my own use on a hunting rifle. Once it's too dark to see a standard reticle, it's normally too dark for me to see the details needed for an ethical shot. To me the lever gun is a gun to use with open sights or at best a low powered standard scope. If I'm going high tech, I'll go for a nice bolt action.

[kimwcook]

If you're going to scope your rifle than I don't see a problem with it. They're good for low light situations, shaded areas, etc.. And, they're getting better all the time.

[Tycer]

Man, I love my Accupoint. In deep woods around dusk, at 75 yds, I can make out an animal clearly with binos but can't see the reticle in a regular scope. The Trijicon fixes that.

[AJMD429]

I didn't start my project with any notion of beauty, and even if I did, I see just as much 'beauty' in a stainless and synthetic gun as a blued and walnut one, if it is well made and gets the job done. I only chose a levergun (specifically a .357 Marlin) because they are compact, offer better power for under-100-yards shooting than other reasonably quiet chamberings, plenty of 'firepower' for a few shots at a running coyote or two, and not nearly the muzzle flash and noise of an AR-15 or SKS - I don't tend to wear hearing protectors when out tending the stock or choring...! I do really like aperture/iron sights, though (probably why I couldn't help but use the scout mount so I could have room for the bulky Bushnell plus the Williams WGRS). Anyway, I thought you might find the link below and pics useful, since the goals seem similar.

I prefer the Bushnell Holosight over all 'illuminated' optics I've tried, due to it going even dimmer than most - most seem way too bright, even on the lowest setting, in low light situations or at night.

Here's what I made for coyotes and other 'night varmints' that come around the livestock - http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... =1&t=23531

Here's the best I could do with a photo through the sights



And here's the gun - I put a 4-watt LED light on it since coyotes around here are more likely to be out in total darkness than dim light (I can see our black cat with this setup at night out to about 75 yards). Read the above link if you want to know more of the rationale for the other stuff (basically, I used the 'scout' mount vs. receiver mount, so I could have room for a couple other sights on the same gun - a laser in front of the Red-Dot one which helps to 'confirm' target, facilitating both-eyes-open shooting, and since the Bushnell Holosight & pistol-type laser are 'quick detach' types, I have the WGRS peep on it I could use if I didn't want to offend any nearby traditionalists... ). NOTE - the Bushnell I have is NOT the normal size - it is an older model with an integral shield around it for 'combat' (I guess it will help me if the coyotes rush me and try to bite the scope... )



TruGlo makes a couple of similar, more compact, but less robust red-dot units; I'm trying one out, but so far the dimmest dot setting is too bright for night use.



If you do decide on an IR scope, the short little 'AR' ones BSA makes aren't exactly Leupolds, but they are light and handy for a levergun, and good enough for a 'truck' gun IMHO.



I'll bet some ELECTRONICS smarty could figure out a way to 'dim' the LED circuits in either type of scope, too... I thought about trying, but my electronics knowledge quit evolving in about 1980, so the parts are all 'too little' for me to understand these days...

[fordwannabe]

My 1895ss has worn a mueller optics sportdot since I got back from my first bear hunt in Maine 7 or 8 years ago. The spot the guide picks for his barrels is in the deepest darkest parts of the woods and you get to a point you can't see the cross hairs on a black bear at dusk but can still see the bear. I have used this thing with full power 45-70 for years and last year it broke, dang it. I called them and they replaced if for a few dollars for the shipping and it was in my hand in less than a week. The best thing about the sport dot is it is only a dot(and a small one at that) at the point where the cross hairs meet, the problem I have with most ill rect. scopes is the whole thing lights up like a Christmas tree and it's way too bright. Try the sportdot and I think you;ll be surprised at the quality and good optics. I got mine from a guy on fleabay not direct from mueller because they charge more than their distributors, but their website has all the info. I am going to put one on my 336 35 remmy before we leave in August so I have a backup lever. Good luck. Tom

[oldbrownhat]

Here's the setup on my Marlin 1894.



I already had a Williams 5D on the back and a XS-type front sight (made from one of Brownells generic "oversize" sights from Allan Foundry) with a Scotchlite reflective strip on it. The Surefire G2 was jerry-rigged to the side of the forestock and illuminated the front sight as well as the target. It accounted for a marauding black bear in the wee hours last May.

I recently got a Burris FastFire, with the standard Weaver rail as I was too cheap to spend the extra $45 or whatever for the Burris Marlin mount. I had previously upgraded the lamp in the G2 with an LED drop-in from Lighthound, and it is BRIGHT. They claim about 200 lumens and I have no reason to doubt that. The only problem I've encountered with the flashlight setup was when sighting in, where the light would shift forward in the mount under recoil. I had already glued some thin neoprene rubber on the mag. tube side of the clamp and could probably figure out something for the light, but for a couple of shots in the field it won't be a problem.

The FastFire has a light sensor in the front which auto-regulates the intensity of the dot. In total darkness it could be a bit brighter, plus it seems to pulsate a little but it's not a major problem. Also, it's a "set and forget" sight, as it is not easy to adjust. The adjustments are via two very small recessed slot-head screws with no calibration, which are then locked in place with gib screws. (Similar to the XS peep sight, although that uses opposing screws for windage.) So it's not perfect but it is small and light and will no doubt serve well.

Stuart

[Warhawk]

Down here in Texas we can hogs and other varmints at night, and an illuminated reticle makes a lot of sense. I'm considering putting a Weaver 1.5-4.5x Classic Extreme on my 336 in 35 Rem.

[encore4me]

Check out the last item on this site.
http://www.wildwestguns.com/accessories.html


Matt

[fisheadgib]

I have the Burris 3.5X10 with that same reticle on one of my bolt rifles and am very happy with it. Some of the guys that I hunt with have looked through it at dusk and exclaimed "that's cheating!" I have two more bolt guns in the safe that I need to scope and after having used an illuminated reticle, it's hard to consider a scope without one.

[schauckis]

Dang!!!!!!!
I thought I was the only one on the planet with the guts to put a red dot sight on a classic levergun.... Win 1895 + DocterSight Plus



- Lars/Finland

[Buffboy]

My wife has an illuminated recticle Barska 1.5x6 scope on her 99. It seems a pretty good scope and the illumination is kinda nice in low light situations. I like it, and so does she. I think a higher quality Burris would do quite well for you.

[L_Kilkenny]

IR scopes and red dots are not the same IMO. Red dots are great for fast target aquisition but not very precise. There are times I really like em. A lot!!

IR scopes are another matter. Personally I believe they add un-nessesary weight for very little gain in shooting time. They can also tend to over power the field of veiw if set very bright. I'll never buy another.

LK

[Woodtroll]

Folks, I appreciate your input!

I am indeed considering an illuminated reticle scope, rather than a red dot sight, because I do want to retain the ability to shoot at longer ranges as well.

The difference of opinions here make me feel a little better, as I have juggled this back and forth considering the points y'all raised, and still cannot make up my mind!

Thanks again,
Regan

[AJMD429]

I am indeed considering an illuminated reticle scope, rather than a red dot sight, because I do want to retain the ability to shoot at longer ranges as well.

Understood. Much different applications where they excel.

The difference of opinions here make me feel a little better, as I have juggled this back and forth considering the points y'all raised, and still cannot make up my mind!

Ha! This bunch (except me, of course) is full of disagreeable old curmudgeons who couldn't agree the sky is blue.

IR scopes are another matter. Personally I believe they add un-nessesary weight for very little gain in shooting time. They can also tend to over power the field of veiw if set very bright. I'll never buy another.

The little 3-9x (I'd have been fine with a fixed 4x) one I have isn't that much heavier than an ordinary scope.



On the OTHER hand, I have to agree they are generally TOO bright on their 'lowest' setting - that's why I went to the Bushnell, despite the bulk and lack of magnification.

Again, someone could have a nice after-market 'modification' job just soldering in the right resistor in the right place in the darned things to 'dim them up some'...

[Paladin]

I bought my 1st IR Scope to deploy with Army Special Ops in Dec 02 and put a Burris 3x9 with a Illuminated dot reticule on my M-14 after putting it in to the arms room a few times the armorer dropped it and knocked the reticule lose. The only other option in the local gun shop was a Leopold 1.5 x 5 with IR (the one on my M-14 in my avatar) that I got to replace the Burris (Burris replaced it really fast and it went with me on a M-16A2 for long range use).
After I got back I put the Leopold on my 45-70 and love the ability to use it in the woods and limited light hunting.