Hi folks it beingawile since I last posted.
I have a bit of a problem, I have helped a friend out and as a thanks he has offered to buy me a scope...just name it !!!.....yeah its a dirty job but someones gotta do it.
Iam down in New Zealand hunting in heavy bush , most shots from 20- 50 yrds...long shots 100 yrs....deer.
Iam using in 94 Win in trapper ( 16 inch barrel ) 44mag.
Any power or make of scope you folks like?.......give me all your thoughts as this will really have an impact on my choice of optics.......regards to all Katipo

Look at the Leopold VXII 1-4 or the VXIII 1.5-5. Also the Weaver 1-3 variable is a great lever gun scope.

There are lots of options here. The red-dot scopes are also a good choice for these ranges.

I have a Marlin 336 in .35 Rem. that I use in much the same conditions as you have stated. I went economy on it mounted a 2.5 Tasco shotgun scope.

With the stock of your levergun styled for open sights, I wouldn't get anything that had a big objective lens so you can mount it as close to the receiver as possible.

As mentioned any of the Leupold, Burris, Nikon, Pentax, Weaver Classic or such in the 1x-5x will be very suitable.

If I'm not mistaken, the Trapper is a top-eject rifle. This means a side mounted scope or one ahead of the receiver. When installing in a "scout" configuration ahead of the receiver, I've had good luck with the Burris 2-7 pistol scope and the Weaver Classic 2-8 pistol scopes. Nice eye relief and full sight picture at all power settings.

Personnaly for those kind of shots with that rifle I would rather have a ghost ring peep than a scope, much faster and lighter.

Now with that said I use an aimpoint on my 44 mag for much the same shooting. It's not because it's better its because my old eyes don't line up the sights like they used to.

Check out some of the red dot sights, you can keep both eyes open, there quick and accurate. If I was going to scope a gun for that type of shooting I would use one of the scout type of mounts and associated scope. Again both eyes open and much quicker than a standard scope.

Katipo,
I agree with all of the preceeding posts. This is what I did in the same situation that you are in right now.
I read up on all optical liturature.I asked many questions on various websites.I asked around the clubhouse and the rifle range.
I decided that the Loophole variX2 ix-4x 20mm was best. The scope is overpriced,but,after rehab at Beavertown,it proved to be a satisfctory choice. It looks nice on my Winchester '94,and does a nice job.
This year,I'm trying out a "new hunting companion;a GI Carbine,which is more suited for me now. I just installed a red dot sight,because my hunting is similar to yours;up close and personal.
I would have installed a Bushnell Halosight as a scout style sight,but It was much easier to replace the big Wever K3(steel tube) with the red dot in the same mount.
Good luck,
Frank

If you want something really fast take a look at one of these or something similar.

http://www.eotech-inc.com/

It takes batteries, but I have never seen anything that will give you quicker acquisition. May look a little "non-traditional" on a levergun, but so do scopes. I have one of these on a scout style bolt action, having a sight picture is the same thing as putting the rifle to your shoulder...instant.

In a traditional scope Leupold offers a 2.5x20mm Ultralight in the FXII line that would make a nice levergun scope for close range shooting in heavy cover. It weighs in at a whopping 6.5 oz and comes with a heavier duplex crosshair that should work well for fast and close.

The Leupold scout scope in 2.5X, in a scout mount is worthy of consideration.
I'd druther a low power fixed at such close range.

katipo,
I have a 45-70 marlin that was modified by wildwest guns of anchorage to their 457 which is stretching the cartridge out a little to except more powder. But at any rate I put an ashley peep sight and scout scope rail to mount a fixed power scout scope ahead of the receiver with long eye relief. the scope mounts are quick disconnects so you can take it off and use the peep sights if you want. This rifle work very well in the bush as you keep both eyes open when shooting giving you your periphial vision while shooting. Hope this helps you .
goldbelt