After installing a Williams peep and visiting the range once with my .444, I had to have a scope to wring out more accuracy. I ordered a Vortex Crossfire II 1×4 - 24 with 4" of eye relief. Got Leupold standard base and rings on the way too. I would have felt comfortable nailing game at 50- 75 yards with the peep but past that not so confident. I have a Vortex on my Anschutz .22 LR Exemplar that I am very impressed with and have no problem with head shots on squirrels. Anyone use a Vortex on their Marlin?
Not a Vortex, but... My .444 wears a Burris Full-Field II 2-7x35 and that combination will do anything I need out to practical hunting ranges and then some.
My 2008 NIB 444 Marlin came with a 1970s era 2-7X32mm Redfield Tracker scope. The NYC gunshop owner just wanted to sell this fine JM Marlin that had been sitting around in his shop--so he threw in the scope for free. The old Redfields are outstanding--I still have two of them from the 70s that are still going strong to this day.
My 2008 NIB 444 Marlin came with a 1970s era 2-7X32mm Redfield Tracker scope. The NYC gunshop owner just wanted to sell this fine JM Marlin that had been sitting around in his shop--so he threw in the scope for free. The old Redfields are outstanding--I still have two of them from the 70s that are still going strong to this day.
My 1970 T4 has a Bushnell that came on it when I bought it, it seems to have held together okay but it's getting replaced with a 4x28 Leopold. As far as the OP question about the Crossfire, I put a Vortex 2x7 on my 35 Remington and I love it (so far) it's as bright and clear as any of my Leopolds. I have another Crossfire on my 25MN that's performing great. While neither of them are riding the recoil of the mighty T4, I believe they would do fine, and like Bro said, they do have a lifetime warranty.
Heck, over the years I've dropped two Bushnells from trees that are still with me. :ahhhhh: (one I was lowering to the ground and my knot came loose and the other was when a Tree Lounger decided to drop a couple of feet and my muzzleloader sailed to the ground)
I have a VX3 1.5-5x on my 444. Hope the Vortex works out for you. I put a 4-12X Crossfire on a 500Mag rifle just for the extra magnification; I was going to try it at long range just to see how it would do. (it had been on a .22) It lasted about 6 rounds, factory sent me a new one and I gave it away. I have read nothing but good about the higher end Vortex scopes; however I'm shying away from the Crossfires, hopefully you will have better luck than I did.
I use Vortex Diamondback scopes on two of my three 444 Marlins. I think the Diamondback's are great at their pricepoint, they're proven tough and the customer service is among the best in the industry.
I do not have any experience with the Crossfire line. The first gen Crossfires had problems and they came out with a gen II Crossfire that was supposed to have addressed the issues with the gen I crossfire scopes. If you have any issues, I am willing to bet you'll appreciate their customer service.
I know my 444 Marlins ruined an older Weaver V8 and tweaked a Burris.
My '71 444 wears a period correct Weaver Micro 1.75 - 4.5 x 20; popped a 120 lb doe in the neck at 75 yards; dropped her in her tracks... I picked up a 70's model Burris Fullfield 1.5-4x20 and I am thinking about swapping the weaver out but I really like the weaver too... Maybe I just need another 444
My 1989 444P wears a Leupold 3x10x50 hvy-duplex vari-x 111. We can hunt 1 hr before sunrise to 1 hr after sunset. Also that big scope works wonderfully in the thick swamps we have. No puny scopes for me.
Well, I ordered low standard 30mm rings because I thought I had measured correctly but they are too low! Ordered some medium rings on eBay and hope they are here by Friday. Anxious to get to the range!
I like the Leupold Rifleman 2x7 33 with warne Low QD rings, just me though
That combo is on 4 or 5 of my Marlins and its on my 1965 444 in my signature with the deer.
I considered those but I'm set in my ways since the standard mounts have served me well. Have some that have been mounted 40 years with no problems. The only thing that I might need qd's on would be a pistol.
I wouldn't worry about the Vortex holding up on the 444. I've had a 1 x 4 Crossfire on a 50 caliber muzzle loader for the last four seasons and a 2 x 9 on my 12 ga. slug gun. No problems at all.
I'm a broken record on scoping. My choice was a 2.5X Leupold M8 Compact. The current FX-II 2.5X Ultralight would be my choice. VX-2 technology and 5 inches of eye relief.
I went with the Cabela's Lever-Action scope designed for the Hornady Leverevolution 265 grain bullet. I used this set up but with Grizzly WFNGC, 320 grain bullet to take a cow elk @ 185 yds. The scope has served me well and held zero after 40+ rounds.
Most of my Marlins wear 3-9 x 40 of many persuasions. But the odd one sits on my 45/70 which is a Vortex re dot and a great quick aquisition scope. Mind you that is only for big things that I can see the whites of their eyes stuff. Burris, Leupold, Nikon are all good scopes.
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