[Wade505]

I get a chuckle everytime I read a post on scopes on Guide Guns and such....
Now don't get me wrong, I used a scope when workin' for Uncle Sam way back when, but....on a bolt gun and an M14 that was tuned up a might for those days....I was hunting a different aahhh, target then. But a scope on an 18.5" barrel 45-70 levergun? Ahhh, come on now. That's kinda like mounting a bazillion candle power searchlight on a VW bug! I just ain't right....Now to be very honest here, I was "talked into" mounting a scope on my stubby Marlin by my son. He's got a huge 4X-16X monster scope on his old Savage 99. Looks like a submarine sitting on top of his weapon. He kept at me telling me I ain't getting any younger and I "need" to mount a scope on my Marlin. So I did. I put a 1.5X-4X mil-dot long eye relief scope on it. Got it dialed in and was shooting just as good as I did with the old Millett Series 100 rear sight and the factory front. I kept it on there for about a month or two, then it just plain drove me crazy! Sure, I could use the dots to get the range. But then again, how far are you really gonna shoot a round that has a trajectory like a mortar anyway? I could see targets at a distance better, but I didn't shoot any better, and the look of the weapon was just too much for me to endure! I hadda strip that scope off my GG before I went and did something even more silly like putting one of those humongus rail things on there and mounted lights and a lazer on it! Now that I have my beloved Marlin looking like it SHOULD, I'm much happier and shoot just as good as I did with the glass tube on my weapon. Now I know this is gonna start all you guys up with your scoped GG's and you're gonna tell me I'm full of it, but a scope on a short carbine just looks so silly to me that I just start laughing at myself for ever halfway believing that I "Hadda have a scope on my GG" so I could shoot. My best argument falls to Friday last, when my dogs alerted on a pack of coyotes in the back pasture. I grabbed up the GG and walked to the fenceline. About 2 min. went by then I caught movement in the brush about 40 yds. off. With an old flashlight held under the forearm of the weapon I lit up a coyote enough to see him a bit and locking in on him with the iron sights, popped him in the vitals without a hitch. Could I have done this with a scope? Don't think so, as you can't get enough light to see with one! Yup, I'll keep my iron sights thank you very much. My son and his buddies can have their super dooper giant scopes and this old man will be just fine......Yeah, I do get a chuckle when I see "What kind of scope should I put on my guide gun?" My answer would be "Why would you want to mess up a perfectly good lever gun with a bunch of gizmos and such?" Now, fire away all you scope gunners with your rails and elevated quick release mounts, you have for the day that I always see in print where "you all fear your scope will fail and you need your iron sights"....By the way.....with your backup iron sights, do you EVER practice with them by taking your scope off anyway? Ok, fire away scope people....I can't wait to see what will be said here! ;D

Wade

 

[MattPair]

To each his own! I've ran them both ways and see the benifits and limitations of each way. Far be it for me to rag on somebody for their choice.

Right now my guide gun runs XS ghost ring and front post but i'd run a low power variable on there and still hunt all day long!

 

[sandman7925]

I have 2 guide guns. One is scoped and can shoot with that scope like you would not believe. That one is for hunting deer from elevated positions. The other has xs ghost rings and is for walk/and stalk for pigs. Both serve a purpose.

 

[FredT]

I do not care for Skinner sights, not traditional looking enough for me. Don't care for the looks of a scout set up. Don't ever want to see a drilled and tapped waffle top. A lot of people do like what I just mentioned, but I will not post 29 lines belittling the use of such.

A simple "I do not care for a scope on my GG" would have summed it all up.

This does not apply to see through scope mounts. ;D

 

[CKB]

To each his own! I've ran them both ways and see the benifits and limitations of each way. Far be it for me to rag on somebody for their choice.

Right now my guide gun runs XS ghost ring and front post but i'd run a low power variable on there and still hunt all day long!

Yep. I have two 1895's, one SBL set up with a Leupold scout scope and the other a custom STBL project that has the XS DRC Ghost ring irons. I love both of those rifles equally and can use them both, one as good as the other. I love these threads where folks feel the need to put forth "their" way unequivocally. ;D

To each their own IS what it all comes down to. Personally, I like to be skilled in a variety of shooting methods and will not limit myself to just "one way". In my travels, I have come to the conclusion that the scout scope is an under appreciated, and often mis-understood sighting system. While I understand it may not be for everyone, it is particularly suited to the .45-70 guide style rifle so there will always be one sitting atop mine. ;D

 

[Snapping Twig]

Just got my first 45-70 and it's a Guide Gun.

I have been shooting a rifle since the late 60's, so my eyes aren't what they were and if not for peeps, I'd have to have a scope.

Big believer in function over form, in my mind's eye something that works as it should has a beauty. If it's made of the right materials and engineered to last, it might as well be the Crown Jewels.

To mis quote Yogi Berra, I don't know what I don't know, so having said that, I really like a scout scope on the Guide Gun. Quick release rings make it work. Take off the scope for straight sighting through the peeps.

I believe this is the ultimate Scout rifle ala Jeff Cooper. If 150 yard range is acceptable for point blank, this rifle handles the work. Nothing it can not end, from a spot and stalk to defending the home turf.

 

[me]

Wade505 I'm kinda with you about the scope.When I was a pup bought a deer rifle w/ 4x scope from a good neighbor.
I love to hunt deer in rainy western Oregon and I was doing it, I was shin deep in a wet area in tennis shoe's soaked to the bone and loving it. I kicked up 3-4 deer 30yds 1 was a good size black tail. I snapped up the gun and couldn't see a thing,scope was fogged up on outside and that buck got away.when I got back to my grama's house I took that scope off. When it rains no scope when it nice big scopes and faster bullets.

 

[GH1]

I don't like scopes at all, I have a hard time looking through them, for whatever reason. I especially don't like them on a levergun, but to each his own. If you have a scope that you like and it works for you then by all means use it.
GH1

 

[1895Gunner]

I get a chuckle everytime I read a post on scopes on Guide Guns and such....
Now don't get me wrong, I used a scope when workin' for Uncle Sam way back when, but....on a bolt gun and an M14 that was tuned up a might for those days....I was hunting a different aahhh, target then. But a scope on an 18.5" barrel 45-70 levergun? Ahhh, come on now. That's kinda like mounting a bazillion candle power searchlight on a VW bug! I just ain't right....Now to be very honest here, I was "talked into" mounting a scope on my stubby Marlin by my son. He's got a huge 4X-16X monster scope on his old Savage 99. Looks like a submarine sitting on top of his weapon. He kept at me telling me I ain't getting any younger and I "need" to mount a scope on my Marlin. So I did. I put a 1.5X-4X mil-dot long eye relief scope on it. Got it dialed in and was shooting just as good as I did with the old Millett Series 100 rear sight and the factory front. I kept it on there for about a month or two, then it just plain drove me crazy! Sure, I could use the dots to get the range. But then again, how far are you really gonna shoot a round that has a trajectory like a mortar anyway? I could see targets at a distance better, but I didn't shoot any better, and the look of the weapon was just too much for me to endure! I hadda strip that scope off my GG before I went and did something even more silly like putting one of those humongus rail things on there and mounted lights and a lazer on it! Now that I have my beloved Marlin looking like it SHOULD, I'm much happier and shoot just as good as I did with the glass tube on my weapon. Now I know this is gonna start all you guys up with your scoped GG's and you're gonna tell me I'm full of it, but a scope on a short carbine just looks so silly to me that I just start laughing at myself for ever halfway believing that I "Hadda have a scope on my GG" so I could shoot. My best argument falls to Friday last, when my dogs alerted on a pack of coyotes in the back pasture. I grabbed up the GG and walked to the fenceline. About 2 min. went by then I caught movement in the brush about 40 yds. off. With an old flashlight held under the forearm of the weapon I lit up a coyote enough to see him a bit and locking in on him with the iron sights, popped him in the vitals without a hitch. Could I have done this with a scope? Don't think so, as you can't get enough light to see with one! Yup, I'll keep my iron sights thank you very much. My son and his buddies can have their super dooper giant scopes and this old man will be just fine......Yeah, I do get a chuckle when I see "What kind of scope should I put on my guide gun?" My answer would be "Why would you want to mess up a perfectly good lever gun with a bunch of gizmos and such?" Now, fire away all you scope gunners with your rails and elevated quick release mounts, you have for the day that I always see in print where "you all fear your scope will fail and you need your iron sights"....By the way.....with your backup iron sights, do you EVER practice with them by taking your scope off anyway? Ok, fire away scope people....I can't wait to see what will be said here! ;D

Wade

yada, yada, yada............

 

[riflerick]

Wade, ole buddy, I think you achieved your intended objective.

riflerick

 

[Gaterskiner]

yada, yada, yada............

A big +1

 

[Halwg]

I get a chuckle everytime I read a post on scopes on Guide Guns and such....
Now don't get me wrong, I used a scope when workin' for Uncle Sam way back when, but....on a bolt gun and an M14 that was tuned up a might for those days....I was hunting a different aahhh, target then. But a scope on an 18.5" barrel 45-70 levergun? Ahhh, come on now. That's kinda like mounting a bazillion candle power searchlight on a VW bug! I just ain't right....Now to be very honest here, I was "talked into" mounting a scope on my stubby Marlin by my son. He's got a huge 4X-16X monster scope on his old Savage 99. Looks like a submarine sitting on top of his weapon. He kept at me telling me I ain't getting any younger and I "need" to mount a scope on my Marlin. So I did. I put a 1.5X-4X mil-dot long eye relief scope on it. Got it dialed in and was shooting just as good as I did with the old Millett Series 100 rear sight and the factory front. I kept it on there for about a month or two, then it just plain drove me crazy! Sure, I could use the dots to get the range. But then again, how far are you really gonna shoot a round that has a trajectory like a mortar anyway? I could see targets at a distance better, but I didn't shoot any better, and the look of the weapon was just too much for me to endure! I hadda strip that scope off my GG before I went and did something even more silly like putting one of those humongus rail things on there and mounted lights and a lazer on it! Now that I have my beloved Marlin looking like it SHOULD, I'm much happier and shoot just as good as I did with the glass tube on my weapon. Now I know this is gonna start all you guys up with your scoped GG's and you're gonna tell me I'm full of it, but a scope on a short carbine just looks so silly to me that I just start laughing at myself for ever halfway believing that I "Hadda have a scope on my GG" so I could shoot. My best argument falls to Friday last, when my dogs alerted on a pack of coyotes in the back pasture. I grabbed up the GG and walked to the fenceline. About 2 min. went by then I caught movement in the brush about 40 yds. off. With an old flashlight held under the forearm of the weapon I lit up a coyote enough to see him a bit and locking in on him with the iron sights, popped him in the vitals without a hitch. Could I have done this with a scope? Don't think so, as you can't get enough light to see with one! Yup, I'll keep my iron sights thank you very much. My son and his buddies can have their super dooper giant scopes and this old man will be just fine......Yeah, I do get a chuckle when I see "What kind of scope should I put on my guide gun?" My answer would be "Why would you want to mess up a perfectly good lever gun with a bunch of gizmos and such?" Now, fire away all you scope gunners with your rails and elevated quick release mounts, you have for the day that I always see in print where "you all fear your scope will fail and you need your iron sights"....By the way.....with your backup iron sights, do you EVER practice with them by taking your scope off anyway? Ok, fire away scope people....I can't wait to see what will be said here! ;D

Wade

I find this bull rude, denigrating and personally offensive.

 

[zerbe]

To each his own....
My 1895 GBL currently has a 3-9 40 on it, not because I like how it looks on the gun, or because it lets me shoot it any better at close range. I shot my first 3 deer ever with a 6mm Rem 788 with its original crude iron sites.

Like anyone else who hunts deer in PA, you need to be able to see if that deer with a non-typical, scraggly looking rack is actually legal to shoot at before pulling the trigger.

 

[Digger]

Well, time to amend the forum rules to disallow any mention of scopes on GG's I guess, Wade505 has spoken. One of the things I like most about this board as opposed to others I have been on is the fact that we all seem to be civil and tactful in our discussions, but I guess there has to be one in every bunch. If you don't want a scope, don't use one. I take mine on and off with those silly QRW rings depending on the situation, and I really love the fact that I can do that. Please don't become one of those guys on the board who just likes to stir up crap for no good reason, there are many other boards for guys like that.

 

[Mr Fixit]

And here I thought that I needed a 4.5-14 x40 AO scope on my 1895CB 45/70 SOOOOOOooooooo sleek looking. ;D
I agree Hal, not a post done in very good taste. My firesticks wear scopes because I realize the fact that my eyes are not as sharp as SUPERMANS, and I OWE it to the game to be as precise as I can be when I place that shot...anything less is asinine!! Scopes have a place Wade, but not in your world, Mr fixit

 

[Wade505]

Well fellas, I wasn't trying to be rude. Ya'll didn't see that little "toung in cheek" there, sorry bout that. I'm just really old school I suppose and was spouting off in what I thought was a dark humor way. Shucks, didn't think a rope was needed...

Wade

 

[byf43]

Well, where do I start??
I'm still what you'd call a 'newbie', here on MO, so, I'll just say that there was a time when my eyes were like an eagle's or a hawk's.
Here's what I'm talking about.
This group (3 shots) was fired at 100 yards with open sights (peep and post). (The group measured less than 5/8" center-to-center!)

No, it wasn't with my Guide Gun. It was with an AR-HBAR. The point is, the group was shot with open sights. (Off of sandbags.) I used to be very proud of my eyesight.

Now, fast forward a few years, and an eye injury. My right eye was scratched pretty badly, and now, there's a 'haze' or 'fog' in my vision from that eye.

So. . . . now I have to use a scope on my rifles, so that I can continue to participate in the shooting sports. I wish I didn't have to, but, one does what one has to do.
Just like the 2-1/2 lbs of titanium rods in my lower back and the 1-1/2 lbs of titanium 'cage' in my neck.
Also, as I creep up on 57 years of age (in a couple of weeks), I'll gladly take (and use) every bit of 'help' I can get!! :
So. . . just for kicks and grins, here's how my Guide Gun looks when it comes out to play.

Be glad that you don't need one of these ugly tubes on top of your Guide Gun!!
;D

 

[Tomray]

Well fellas, I wasn't trying to be rude. Ya'll didn't see that little "toung in cheek" there, sorry bout that. I'm just really old school I suppose and was spouting off in what I thought was a dark humor way. Shucks, didn't think a rope was needed...

Wade

Wade,

I understand where you are coming from.................I too, question some things I see that are put on top of lever guns...........And I'll admit here, and in front of everyone, I did use a set of see- thru mounts for one season back in the seventies......................The Scope Police confiscated them.........Luckily.

Now, I'll set up a rifle to do what I want it to do..............Huge scopes, BDC's Mil Dots, Red Dots, QD rings, Big wide tooled Slings, elastic ammo carriers and the like, hold no interest for me.

IMO, all of that stuff is just a lesson in Marketing.............BUT..................If a fellow hunter or shooter thinks some of that stuff works for him,................I keep quiet................Or at least try to..........

TOM

 

[Mr Fixit]

Can't address the bdc scope yet, I do have one on the 30-06 and some sort of distancing scope on the .444 at 1.6-5 x 26 (I think), I will however come to bat for the mil-dot scope sitting on the 336W, It's neat to figure that stuff out and have a 300 yd shot work ...at least on the target range. Mr fixit

 

[Rowdy]

Nope – I’ll not get drawn into this dust-up.
But “Tomray” coming clean on owning a set of see-thru mounts was a real eye opener. ;D ;D ;D