Lever action
- Thread starter SimpleSimon
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SCOPES/OPTICS
For the past few days I have been lost down a rabbit hole looking at/for an optical solution for my soon (probably not any time soon actually!) to arrive Marlin. It comes with a picatinny rail on top, which is good, no worrying about getting bases.
What on earth do I put on the rail?!
Iron sights - I know they're what nature intended, but I'm absolutely certain I won't be able to use them with both eyes open due to my eye dominance. Also, to be brutally honest, I probably don't have the time or ammo budget to get good at it anyway!
Red dot - Red dots work with my eyes (or rather, my eyes work with them) and the small reflex types weigh next to nothing and don't look out of place on a lever gun. Obviously there's no magnification to be had, and questions around low-light suitability. I'm not sure a second quicker on-target will make much difference to me in most situations. But having some magnification available probably would...
Scope - Well, wasn't that a can of worms! My Google history will attest I've looked at an awful lot of scopes. Preference would be for something with longer (but not long) eye relief, an illuminated dot reticle with simple crosshairs, low mag range of about 1-4x and a small objective in a nice compact, lightweight, package. I've looked at so many my head hurts.
Leupold, Burris, Meopta, Vortex, Zeiss, Schmidt & Bender (££ ouch!)...
2-4x, 2-6x, 2-7x, 2.5x, 2.75x...
20mm objective, 24mm, 28mm, 30mm...
This one is discontinued
That one weighs nearly a kilo
This one gets poor reviews
That one is the price of a car...
I was all set to ditch the variable option and go for a Leupold 2.5x20. 6 inch eye relief, good glass. No illumination, but I could probably live with that. Low RRP. Super lightweight.
Oh... Never mind, you can't buy one anywhere!
Should have just been content with my Tikka...
For the past few days I have been lost down a rabbit hole looking at/for an optical solution for my soon (probably not any time soon actually!) to arrive Marlin. It comes with a picatinny rail on top, which is good, no worrying about getting bases.
What on earth do I put on the rail?!
Iron sights - I know they're what nature intended, but I'm absolutely certain I won't be able to use them with both eyes open due to my eye dominance. Also, to be brutally honest, I probably don't have the time or ammo budget to get good at it anyway!
Red dot - Red dots work with my eyes (or rather, my eyes work with them) and the small reflex types weigh next to nothing and don't look out of place on a lever gun. Obviously there's no magnification to be had, and questions around low-light suitability. I'm not sure a second quicker on-target will make much difference to me in most situations. But having some magnification available probably would...
Scope - Well, wasn't that a can of worms! My Google history will attest I've looked at an awful lot of scopes. Preference would be for something with longer (but not long) eye relief, an illuminated dot reticle with simple crosshairs, low mag range of about 1-4x and a small objective in a nice compact, lightweight, package. I've looked at so many my head hurts.
Leupold, Burris, Meopta, Vortex, Zeiss, Schmidt & Bender (££ ouch!)...
2-4x, 2-6x, 2-7x, 2.5x, 2.75x...
20mm objective, 24mm, 28mm, 30mm...
This one is discontinued
That one weighs nearly a kilo
This one gets poor reviews
That one is the price of a car...
I was all set to ditch the variable option and go for a Leupold 2.5x20. 6 inch eye relief, good glass. No illumination, but I could probably live with that. Low RRP. Super lightweight.
Oh... Never mind, you can't buy one anywhere!
Should have just been content with my Tikka...
Does anyone shoot reduced loads for gallery rifle from their .357 marlin’s and if so what sort of grouping are you getting at 50 yards?
The reason I ask is I am having no luck with mine…I just can’t get a consistent accurate load with 158gr RNFP, 3.2gr of titegroup.
Regards,
Gixer
The reason I ask is I am having no luck with mine…I just can’t get a consistent accurate load with 158gr RNFP, 3.2gr of titegroup.
Regards,
Gixer
aboynamedjim
Well-Known Member
A Swarovski habitch 4 X 32 on a 1" tube would be perfect. When do you need it by? I might have one available soon and not expensive at all.
Like all of us you are looking for a scope that is cheap, lightweight and good quality. Pick any two of the three
scrumbag
Well-Known Member
I would look at it like this for iron sights
10 boxes of 30-30 ammo from Dauntsey would cost you £205
Miroku / Browning BL22 (.22lr lever action) £225
www.guntrader.uk
Skinner peep for the above ~£85 with shipping. (Email Sknner what you want and call Skinner, 8hrs time difference, they will ship direct to you).
skinnersights.com
.22lr ammo - not as cheap as it used to be but a lot cheaper than centre fire.
You now have a fun plinking rifle which will save you money to practice / develop skills and if you sell it probably won't lose much money if any.
Optics wise, generally the less the zoom range and less high end magnification you have the more forgiving the eye relief and eye box is.
Leupold VX-Freedom 1.5-4x28 IER Scout Rifle Scope might work quite well for you.
I think it is what this guy uses to take a moose:
(Look at that, new rifle, sights and glass purchase rationalised and enabled in one post. @alberta boy would be proud!)
Scrummy
10 boxes of 30-30 ammo from Dauntsey would cost you £205
Miroku / Browning BL22 (.22lr lever action) £225
Guns For Sale | New and Used Guns | GunTrader
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Skinner peep for the above ~£85 with shipping. (Email Sknner what you want and call Skinner, 8hrs time difference, they will ship direct to you).
Search: 27 results found for "rimfire sight"
Machined from Solid Bar stock, Skinner Sights offers improved function, durability, and appearance over factory sights. Specializing in Peep Sights - Aperture sights. Check out our innovative and expanding sights, optics and accessories product lines.
skinnersights.com
.22lr ammo - not as cheap as it used to be but a lot cheaper than centre fire.
You now have a fun plinking rifle which will save you money to practice / develop skills and if you sell it probably won't lose much money if any.
Optics wise, generally the less the zoom range and less high end magnification you have the more forgiving the eye relief and eye box is.
Leupold VX-Freedom 1.5-4x28 IER Scout Rifle Scope might work quite well for you.
I think it is what this guy uses to take a moose:
(Look at that, new rifle, sights and glass purchase rationalised and enabled in one post. @alberta boy would be proud!)
Scrummy
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I don't necessarily mind all 3 within reason, as long as it satisfies all the other criteria and only has 3 figures! I like Meopta scopes for that, but they're bulky.Like all of us you are looking for a scope that is cheap, lightweight and good quality. Pick any two of the three
I'll just pretend I didn't see the part where you tried to make me buy another rifle...!
The Leupold is the best I've seen, I think, however... You don't seem to be actually able to buy one anywhere! They "pre-order" at Uttings and non-existent elsewhere
I shall PM you, sir
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Told you before, it's probably a lube and or size issue.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Wrong eye dominance is easily fixed with glasses.
Just not when aiming which part of the lense your dominant eye is looking through when aiming.... now place a pea size of tape just in that spot. Now when you aim your brain will be forced to use the other eye.
It usually fixes the issue in no time.
Don't get open sight anxiety. It's really not that hard to shoot opens. Just forget trying to aim at a inch square. Put something up you can see and concentrate on good shooting. After all, your not shooting mice n rat's with it are you!
It'll be the trigger that will annoy you first... probably!
If you do reload you need to do some cheap plinking ammo to build your confidence up.
Just not when aiming which part of the lense your dominant eye is looking through when aiming.... now place a pea size of tape just in that spot. Now when you aim your brain will be forced to use the other eye.
It usually fixes the issue in no time.
Don't get open sight anxiety. It's really not that hard to shoot opens. Just forget trying to aim at a inch square. Put something up you can see and concentrate on good shooting. After all, your not shooting mice n rat's with it are you!
It'll be the trigger that will annoy you first... probably!
If you do reload you need to do some cheap plinking ammo to build your confidence up.
I’m using the same size as pretty much everyone else in the club with the same bullets and it will shoot flat nose bullets loaded for a pistol into a 1” group but it won’t consistently feed them without jams so no use for competition.
Regards,
Gixer
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Sorry, so is it a feeding issue and not an accuracy issue?
It isn't the Marlin jam issue is it...it is a Marlin is it?
scrumbag
Well-Known Member
Gixer,
I found with my .44 mag and "powder puff" 6gr of Unique loads the groups really open out at 50yds.
I have done much better with a gas checked bullet and slightly punchier load (I use 2400 because I was given some) - I use the Shell House 255gr SWCGC:
50yds, not bad. Not as soft as the Unique loads but far from the recoil of ~23gr of H110 and a 240gr jacketed bullet. Also that 2400 load according the GRT keeps the pressure about 19kpsi which is what Shellhouse rate their bullets too
You could probably do something similar with 170gr .38 sized to .358 and Gas Checked — ShellHouse Castings
Other option you might have is to try a 38spc case with the bullet you like. Might well feed then?
Scrummy
No, it’s a feeding issue only with flat nose (the barrel shaped bullets but accuracy with the RNFP bullets. It has the upgraded lifter.
It was shell house castings I got the bullets from although not gas checked?Gixer,
I found with my .44 mag and "powder puff" 6gr of Unique loads the groups really open out at 50yds.
I have done much better with a gas checked bullet and slightly punchier load (I use 2400 because I was given some) - I use the Shell House 255gr SWCGC:
50yds, not bad. Not as soft as the Unique loads but far from the recoil of ~23gr of H110 and a 240gr jacketed bullet. Also that 2400 load according the GRT keeps the pressure about 19kpsi which is what Shellhouse rate their bullets too
You could probably do something similar with 170gr .38 sized to .358 and Gas Checked — ShellHouse Castings
Other option you might have is to try a 38spc case with the bullet you like. Might well feed then?
Scrummy
Tried both the GM hard cast and the shell house casting bullets shown below.
Tried changing to new starline brass, tried CBC…tried up and down on charge weights and everything in OAL from 1.50” to 1.59 and everything in between basically…
Regards,
Gixer
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Can the wad cutter bullets be seated deeper and the case mouth roll crimped more...
Have you slugged your barrel and measured the groove diameter? The wad cutters if hollow based should expand to the barrel but the others may not and so any gas getting past will have a negative random effect at the muzzle as the bullet exits....
reiver
Well-Known Member
I use reduced loads in my .444 marlin 1-1/2”. @50 m . What type of rifling is you 357 ? You might need a slightly bigger bullet .
If the hp is fragile I would think it has to make "bunny pop". I have shot jackrabbits with a 240 hard cast SWC and if you hit the heart or brain they die now,if nit hit them again.
scrumbag
Well-Known Member
Didn’t tell you anything you didn’t wanna hear…
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