There are lots of options in the 1(ish)-4/5/6x category. A couple of important questions are: What are you going to be using if for primarily? Will you be using at night?

The tactical (AR, etc.) market has flooded the industry with illuminated 30mm low-power variable (LPV) scopes, but they may not be the best for your use. The non-illuminated 1" scopes tend to be significantly smaller and lighter. However, they won't be as useful at night and you lose to "red dot" (like) experience at 1x.

Another consideration is that the bullet drop compensating reticles on most tactical models won't be particularly useful for a .44 (drops to quickly.)

There's another thread on here (right after yours, currently) in which we are discussing a scope that is above the iron sights vs. one that is mounted very low. The smaller non-illuminated 1" models are easier to mount low, which is the natural height with a good cheek weld.

 

Burris has made some wonderful small compact scopes over the years and they are still out there. Pentax made some also. They are short and come in assorted powers. I just sold a burris 4x compact that looked like a match made in heaven when sitting on a 1894. The fist compacts in the Burris line was called the Short Mag and they changed the name later to Timberline Personally I like the 2x7 Leupold, if the deer aren't moving I can bird watch with it. LOL

 

I have a new Weaver V3 1-3X, a 1980s Leupold Vari-X 1-4X, a 1970s Leupold M8 4X, a 1970s Weaver 4X, and a 1970s Weaver V7 2-7X on my various 1894s. The wife has a Redfield Revolution 2-7X on her 1894CL 32-20.

 

Thanks, I will not be using it at night, It will probably be used for deer and target shooting.

 

I put a Weaver V3 1-3x on my '94 last fall for deer hunting. It worked well with low Leupold "Rifleman" rings.

 

Personally, I'd pick a 1-4X or a 1.5-5x Leupold for it. I've got a 1-4x Leupold on my .444 Outfitter and it is a great little scope which doesn't upset the balance of the rifle.

If you are after a bit more magnification for those longer shots, I would recommend the 2-7X Leupold. I wear one on my .30/30 Texan.

 

My 30mm Burris scopes on my AR's work very well, but on one of my 336's I have a Redfield 2x7 that I really like. My others have peeps. There are a lot of nice scopes available.

 

I am a pretty big fan of the leupold 2-7 on leverguns. I guess I have 10-12 set up like that. Just my opinion

 

P.s. if you have to chose between a better scope with cheap rings and bases or a cheaper scope but quality rings and bases go with the quality rings and bases.

 

Over the years I have had my 1894c its worn various sights. Irons by Skinner, glass by Nikon and now a dot sight by Vortex. Half the fun is changing it once in a while. It even sported a Aimpoint Micr for a spell, until another home for that called.

 

I have a Weaver 2.5 x on my 94 S. I like the proportions, and it's plenty of magnification for the 44 Mag.

 

First off LEUPOLD . . . a poor man can only afford the best !
2nd I don't think a lever gun looks right with a scope that has a bell.
Mine get 1x4's or 1.5x 5's.This lets you keep the rear sight on the gun without removing it plus a good low mount to keep your head down on stock of gun.

 

1-3x20 Weaver here on this 44........

1-3......1-4 purty much all ya need......

 

I went the cheap route "for now" Simmons 4x shotgun scope.

 

I like the low power scopes like everyone else is suggesting. I'm very partial to the Leupold shotgun/muzzle loader scopes with the Heavy Duplex reticle. They even have the parallex set for a shorter distance. I really like those heavy crosshairs in the woods and find them to be a great help when hunting in low light. I have Leupold 2-7x on all my Marlins but two. One of them, my 1894 41magnum, I'm about to put a 1-4x Leupold on. I like using two piece bases where I can just for the clesn appearance but I am likely going to have to use a one piece on the '94 to get the right spacing because of its short receiver. I would LOVE to be able to hunt with iron sights but when I turned 50 my eyes began to change and hunting with irons became a memory. I haven't hunted with irons in a long time anyway so it's not that big of a deal. The '94s feel and handle so much better without optics. Times change and we change so we do what we have to do.

 

IMHO, 1894s look funny with GIANT optics. In fact I like the way my 1894 looks without optics. Unfortunately my eyes need help so I put a micro red dot on mine.

 

I agree that the 1894's small receiver looks unbalanced with a large optic. Now, a 336 ...

That's not mine, but it has the best LPV scope that I've ever used (Vortex Razor Gen II 1-6x). The 1X experience is unbelievable. I have one on an SCR:

 

I placed a Leupold FX-II ultralight 2.5x20 scope that weighs 6.5 Oz. in a DNZ one piece base on my 1990 1894 .44mag and find it to be a perfect set up.

 

I put scopes on 1895, 1894 and 375win Marlin for Ohio deer. Had k3 on the 94. Ended up taking them off and putting reciever sights back on them. For ranges averaging less than 100yds scopes in the way. If you have vision problems you have to do what you have to do to beable to shoot.

 

Leupold makes a fixed 2.5 power FX-II Ultralight scope that weighs just 6 ounces. I have that on my H-word .41 magnum using an integral one-piece base + rings. The offer heavy duplex and wide duplex reticle options. I went with the wide as I don’t like a cluttered view.

 

That’s what I have on mine. Really like the setup. Farthest I have taken a deer with it was 90 yards; plenty of scope for that

 

What ever scope you mount on your rifle. Don't go cheap on the mount. I been using DNZ one piece mounts on all my Marlins. Its just as important to torque the screws down correctly. Scopes are getting lighter and the tube wall will crush or twist if you do it wrong.

 

I use a Leupold Freedom 1.5-4 with a Pig Plex reticle on my 1894P 44 mag.I have it mounted to a rail and low mounts.Sweet set up for brush hunting.OB

 

I do like that PigPlex reticle...it might be the next scope I get. I have also been hearing excellent personal reviews from other forum members on the Vortex scopes with the illuminated dot reticle.
By the way, who still offers a post reticle in their scopes?

 

Hated the pig plex for one reason. It says 'pig plex' on the reticle. Drove me mad, always drawing my eye to the wording. Otherwise it would be a great short /mid range hunter.

 

I went with a Vortex 1-4x24 on mine, quite happy with the accuracy and flexibility.

 

Vortex Diamondback 2-7*35 BDC, chose because of the +60 FOV. Hard to find, maybe no longer available.
I use a Vortex Diamondback 2-7*35 Rimfire (Parallax set @50yds rated for shotguns & muzzle loaders) on my 1894 357mag.

 

I have a Weaver 1-3X20 and a set of Talley low rings in the mail for my .357. Will post up a picture when I get it mounted. I have accepted the fact that the detached retina I suffered in my dominant eye has pretty much killed open sights for me.