Hello to all:
Just bought a new Marlin 444S. Any ideas on the best scope/rings/mount for 50-100 yards? Most of my shooting will be target and occasional big deer hunting. But in any case, looking for for a good scope set-up that will work well in the 50-100 yard range and will be durable enough for loads in the 300-320 gr.range.

Thanks,
Dan

Not a varmint gun, so high power is pretty useless...not a dual use gun, so a variable isn't really called for....it's a big game gun, and here you need (1) clear crisp optics (2) light gathering (3) field of view.

Is nice to test loads with a high power scope on top...but it certainly isn't going to be a big help hunting.

If you really need to ahve a variable, just be sure it has a low end at the 2 to 2.5X range...when that buck jumps up at 50yards, you'll be glad to have the field of view. Can't see a good hunting reason to go above 4X with a .444.

Think I talked myself into either a good 3X or 4X fixed power scope (my preference) or a 1.5-5X / 2-7X if you desire a variable.

Brand? Leupold or Weaver (of the various grades of Weaver, bet the expensive one). OF the two, can find good Leupold 2-7X's are an (almost) reasonable price.

Ribbonstone is right, these guns are great with a low power scope. I have the Bushnell Banner 1.5-4.5X32 (#71-1545) (http://www.bushnell.com/products/riflescopes/specs/71-1545.html) on my Marlins from my 39A and 1894CL in 218 Bee to my 444P, 444T, and 1895MR (450 Marlin) with a bunch of other calibers in between. I've racked up a bunch of rounds and miles in the brush with these scopes and just can't say enough about them. The best prices on Bushnell products are through D&R Sports Center (http://www.dnrsports.net/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=DSC&Product_Code=BSN711545&Category_Code=scopesbsn).

http://www.bushnell.com/products/riflescopes/specs/images/71-1545.jpg

Guys,

Many thanks for the great advice! You've taken the mystery out of this for me and saved me a lot of time, worry and probably money.

One last thing.....any advice on what to use to mount this to the 444S? Sorry for the naive question, but I'm new to this.

Many thanks,
Dan

Basic Weaver mounts are not all that stylish, but they are inexpensive, have amultitude of ring choices, and are solid.

Idea here is to mount that scope as low as you can. Marlins are already kind of vertical, and hanging that scope up in the air makes it difficult to get your cheek on the stock and see through the scope at the same time. That .444 isn't taht bad a kicker, but if you have your cheek above the stock and it gets a running start at you, it can slap you a good one.

So...low enough that your face in in good contact with the stock when you are looking through the scope. That's a big pluse for these little variables, they don't have fish-bowl sized lens, so they allow you to mount them doen where they can do you the most good.

To follow up on Ribbonstone's suggestions... The Weaver 63B (http://www.dnrsports.net/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=DSC&Product_Code=WEA48069) is pretty much standard equipment for a Marlin. I would recommend that you use the Weaver 1" Quick Detach Medium Matte Black Rings (http://www.dnrsports.net/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=DSC&Product_Code=WEA49041). There is very little height difference between the low and medium rings but I have had some problems with the Low rings allowing the hammer extension clear the eye bell of the scope. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't so now I just use the medium rings.

The base and ring installation is pretty easy and the instructions that come with the scope and rings very complete.

I prefer the one piece base and rings by Leupold, which hold a VXII 1X4 atop my Marlin.

get an old or new weaver 2.5x k-series with low weaver rings. looks good and compact and for your hunting distances is all you need with good eye relief and plenty field of view.

I'm almost an expert on this subject.I have a Mod.444 and to date have mounted a 3X9 on see thru mounts,too high and big.Then I went to a Tasco Accudot,great package for hunting.I switched to a Weaver 2.5 Microtrac for targets,also used it afield this year.Then I wanted more magnification,bought a VX-I 3X7 Leupold,mounted it but didn't like the look,too big like the first.Traded for a Burris FF 1.5x5,mounted it,didn't like the eye relief.All the variable power scopes blocked easy access to the hammer,all came off.Now it sports a Leupold 2X IER(scout) I used Weaver offset rings on the Weaver base that was used on all of the above.I just had to cut a second notch to move the scope out.I like this last setup the best so far.I still may use the Reddot for hunting they are very fast and clean.
If I were to do it all over again,I wouldn't bother with variable scopes.The Weaver is a fine scope,it's now on my smokepole.The Weaver is the best buy. IMHO

I've had a 2.5 weaver on my .444 since 1983. I can print clover leaf groups at 100yrds and hit at paper plate 5 out 5 past 150yrds every time . Pleanty of meat and no failures from this combo.
I would like to add one thing to your list while your at it, a hammer extension makes pulling the hammer back nice. These are great guns and make practicing with them very fun. I will shoot close to 1000 rounds between 2 of these rifles per year. I also take it horse back riding in the high country when we're close to Grizzly country.
Have fun and practice.

To all:

Many thanks for the great advice! You guys are great!

I'll let you know how I make out.

Many thanks,
Dan

You might want to consider a scout scope. It is the quickest for a snap shot. XS makes a bolt on mount for Marlin.

I use a fixed 4-power shotgun scope. The Simmons Pro-Diamond 4x32. I like fixed power. This rfle isn't made for the long shot so I don't think it's worth spending the oney for more than a 1.5, 2, or 4 fixed power scope, but that is only my opinion. What I did and reccomend is that you get a two piece base, or make it yourself. I took the weaver base and cut it about 1/2 inch in front of the rear screw holes and removed a chunk from the middle. Then I swapped them and moved forward my scop enough where I don't need a hammer spur. My scope has close to 5 inches of eye relief so it works PERFECT.

Zac
Phil 1:6

Dan,
I'm using an old 3X Leupold scope on my 444P. The low power scopes seem to fit this rifle/caliber combination best. I hunt mostly in hevily wooded areas and it's sometimes hard to find a deer in a scope, even though you see it with your eyes. I'm able to find and follow deer very well in this lower power scope.
Don

OK, guys, went with the Bushnell Banner 1.5-4.5x, Weaver 63B base and Weaver 1" Quick Detach Medium rings for my 444S. My question is: Should I be putting any kind of adhesive on the base (63B) mounting screws? I will only be using the base/scope for testing different cartridge loads for accuracy. All other times, including hunting, I will be using a Williams receiver sight....which means that the base needs to come off, because the receiver sight mounts using the two rear (on the top) tapped holes in the receiver.

I can probably get away without using a thread adhesive?

Best regards to all!

If that is all the shooting you are going to be doing, no, I wouldn't use any thread adhesive.

OK, guys, went with the Bushnell Banner 1.5-4.5x, Weaver 63B base and Weaver 1" Quick Detach Medium rings for my 444S. My question is: Should I be putting any kind of adhesive on the base (63B) mounting screws? I will only be using the base/scope for testing different cartridge loads for accuracy. All other times, including hunting, I will be using a Williams receiver sight....which means that the base needs to come off, because the receiver sight mounts using the two rear (on the top) tapped holes in the receiver.

I can probably get away without using a thread adhesive?

Best regards to all!


Which receiver sight? The side-mounted Williams, et al, only cover the very rearmost scope base hole. You can cut off about half an inch from the sight base, then the receiver sight and base can both stay on. See Marshall's .444 articles.

If you have a receiver sight that's top mounted, like the Ashley, then no, that won't work.

MikeG,

I have a newer Marlin 444, so it doesn't have the tapped holes in the side of the receiver. I'm going to have to use a top mount....

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=799753

Thanks,
Dan

Well, if you are going to switch the pieces around, then I would definitely not use any threadlocker. Good luck!

You may want too leave the scope on, peep sights have cost me many deer over the past 10 years, Low light, leaves on the trees, shadows all have saved many a deer that would other wise would have been in the freezer if I would have used a scope, 3 years ago only 1 marlin had a scope in our house now, 9 out of 10 have scopes, change is hard and age is ****!
.................................................. ...................................Marko

I know that's right!

No doubt about it, optical sights are the best hunting sight. Do use open sights on some guns, apatures, and scopes on others...but in rifle competition, there is a reason that scoped and non-scoped rifles don't compete head-to-head.

No doubt about it, if my survival depending on one shot, under any condtion that may arise, the rifle wold have a scope on it. Hunting for recreation gives me the option of using less efficent sights...and of passing on shots that are "iffy" my survival isn't linked to that hunt.

I agree with you guys - I used to prefer peep sights on
my bolt actions too, but age and bad eyes are forcing me
into putting glass on all my rifles. I just bought a
Weaver V3 (1x-3x variable) to mount on my 1895 that
I think will fit the bill just great. I'd recommend
considering one of those for a 444 as well - very clear
optics, IMO.

I don't jump as high as I used to !

To all:
Many thanks to all of your input; I really appreciate your time to help me. I went with the Bushnell Banner 1.5-4.5x, Weaver 63B base and Weaver 1" Quick Detach Medium rings for my 444S as Ranch Dog recommended and I am very happy with the set-up. Initially, the recoil of the rifle jammed the back varible power ring of the scope up against the scope mount, but that was because I didn't have the ring screws torqued down enough. Now, they're torqued sufficiently with Locktite 222 (a "workable" adhesive that will release with moderate heat from a small soldering iron) and remain stable, even with strong loads utilizing BTB 330g bullets. Great consistent accuracy out of my gun...many thanks Marshall!

Now, I have bought a used (but unfired) Marlin 39A that is about 20 years old with two drilled and tapped holes in the top of the receiver. I want to use the same (but separate and dedicated) scope and ring set-up as above, but don't know what base to use. Any ideas? This is probably the wrong forum to ask this question, so (moderators) please move it to where it needs to be.

Again, many thanks to all...just wanted to give you some feedback on the thread.

Best regards,
Dan

To all:
Many thanks to all of your input; I really appreciate your time to help me. I went with the Bushnell Banner 1.5-4.5x, Weaver 63B base and Weaver 1" Quick Detach Medium rings for my 444S as Ranch Dog recommended and I am very happy with the set-up. Initially, the recoil of the rifle jammed the back varible power ring of the scope up against the scope mount, but that was because I didn't have the ring screws torqued down enough. Now, they're torqued sufficiently with Locktite 222 (a "workable" adhesive that will release with moderate heat from a small soldering iron) and remain stable, even with strong loads utilizing BTB 330g bullets. Great consistent accuracy out of my gun...many thanks Marshall!

Now, I have bought a used (but unfired) Marlin 39A that is about 20 years old with two drilled and tapped holes in the top of the receiver. I want to use the same (but separate and dedicated) scope and ring set-up as above, but don't know what base to use. Any ideas? This is probably the wrong forum to ask this question, so (moderators) please move it to where it needs to be.

Again, many thanks to all...just wanted to give you some feedback on the thread.

Best regards,
Dan

Considering the centerfire information, think we can leave this one right where it is.

Thaos two holes are the mounting holes for the scope mount for that older mod. 39. It's a kind of canteliver device (with the hanging leg projecting forward) but is rather short. Mave to have one in hand before deciding if the spacing and location would be OK with the scope you have in mind. takes the .22 type clamp on rings.

Two screws seems kind of rinky-dink but that .22 isn't going to kick it off..and expoy would help if you expect rough treatment (can get the expocy off with heat if you ever need to).

Know there is a rusty one in my parts box some place...if needed, can try to dig it out and list the dimentions so you can get a vauge idea how the ring spacing would work out.