Just got a Marlin 1894SS in 44 magnum. I was wondering what would be the best scope to put on this for brush/woods shooting. Shots wont be taken over 150 metres. Should i stick a red dot on it, or just a simple low variable scope?

You can get an el cheapo Tasco Scope for you 1894SS. They work fine. I've used one on mine. you certainly dont need to pay more for the scope than the you paid for the rifle. you can get one cheap at regular reatil or you could even catch one on sale like i did when i ot mine and save more money.

I think the best scope in no scope at all! I scoped my 30-30 and thought that was a sacrilege, but never a 44 magnum!

BTW: there is a post site just for Marlin 1894 models.

I have the same rifle and mounted a silver Leupold 2-7x32 VX-1 Shotgun/Muzzleloader scope on it and am very pleased. It is paralex free at 75 yards and that's perfect for a 44 magnum rifle. This scope in silver is out of production but you still might find one. Cost about $189 US. It is going to be difficult to find a low magnification silver scope. Most start at 3-9x40 which I think is too large for your rifle. Some will disagree.

There are many others that will work but choose one with good eye relief, 3.5" minimum. It's necessary for quick shots. For about $70-$80 there is the BSA Catseye 1.5-5x32, with and without illuminated reticule, matte finish. IIRC, eye relief is 4' or 4.5".

Bushnell's Trophy 1.75-4x32 has 3.5" eye relief and 73-30 feet field of view, matte finish. Cost about $110 at Cabelas.

Midwayusa.com has a very good scope on sale for $140. It is the Browning 2-7x32, matte finish. It is made by Bushnell to the Elite 3200 specifications. The 2-7x32 Elite 3200 sells for $190.

Thompson/Center has a silver 1.5-5x32 for $130. I had one and don't recommend it. Poor optics. Maybe I got a bad one.

The optics expert here on the forum is "Jackfish". He is very knowledgable on the subject and maybe he will post his thoughts.

Leupolds 2.5/Fixed-Power/Compact-Model...W/A HEAVY-Duplex-Reticle.

Fiddlin-around with settings on a variable inside of 150M is a notion I would rather not go-to. I have taken numerous heads of game with my Leupold 2.5 from 5 up to 167meters...and had I been messing around with "What-power-am-I-on?..." would have reduced the number of skulls on my mantle significantly. Game-Shots can...and will - Happen significantly faster than on a paper-target at the square-range. Practice with a fixed power scope will alleviate the desire to fiddle with your optics when you should be concentrating on the fundamentals of marksmanship.

- There is a place and time for Variables...but those instances are the exception - not the norm.

Leupolds 2.5/Fixed-Power/Compact-Model...W/A HEAVY-Duplex-Reticle.

Fiddlin-around with settings on a variable inside of 150M is a notion I would rather not go-to. I have taken numerous heads of game with my Leupold 2.5 from 5 up to 167meters...and had I been messing around with "What-power-am-I-on?..." would have reduced the number of skulls on my mantle significantly. Game-Shots can...and will - Happen significantly faster than on a paper-target at the square-range. Practice with a fixed power scope will alleviate the desire to fiddle with your optics when you should be concentrating on the fundamentals of marksmanship.

- There is a place and time for Variables...but those instances are the exception - not the norm. .

Excellent suggestion and point well taken. A fixed power scope is a good choice because it has:

1. Fewer lenses, resulting in better light transmission, lower weight and shorter length.
2. Greater ring spacing due to lack of power adjusting ring.
3. No moving parts allowing for higher reliability and lower frequency of repair.
4. A lower purchase price.

A good example of when "less is more".

However, if one chooses or already has a variable scope, he/she could always just keep it set at 2.5X and use the other settings when and if they are ever needed.

GO bald this gun needs no scope I have one they are a blast to shoot you will enjoy the rifle more without a scope.Have fun with it you will enjoy

Lyman peep sight...

I scoped my 1894C in .357, then took it off because I liked the peep better. It just works.

Peeps for the 44!

There are a number of iron sights you mught want to look at before scoping your 1894;
As had been mention are the peep sights, receiver and tang mounted. You might also look into changing your current front and rear sights to ones with a better front post/color bead, etc, changing the rear to a semi or full buckhorn, even the cowboy quick sights (three dots). A cast rear sight that just dovetails into the barrel works well and you can file whatever notch in it you want.
http://www.thunder-ridge-muzzleloading.com/sights.htm#lyman

http://www.possibleshop.com/sights.htm

http://www.longhunt.com/sights/sights_thegrabber.shtml
Maybe even trying the Ashley Ghost Ring set up.

As for a scope, I fixed 4X, Leupold Vari-X 1X4 or maybe a scout scope set up.

Some people don't like putting scopes or red dot sights on traditional style lever action rifles, and I can understand their feelings. Some people, however, feel the same way about receiver sights, peep sights, tang sights, fiber optic sights, etc. The bottom line for me is these things all work and have their place on a tool used for hunting, particularly if your eyes aren't as good as they used to be.

I don't see as well as I used to, and have a harder time seeing iron sights in dim light or wooded areas than when I was younger. Because of this, I've been using scopes on a lot of rifles I wouldn't have years ago. I really like the low powered varaibles for these situations. I have Leupold 2-7x32mm shotgun scopes on both a Ruger Deerfield carbine in .44 mag and a Ruger 10/22, and they work great. The paralax setting for a shotgun scope is ideal for the ranges you'd shooting at with a .44 mag. I also have a Bushnell Trophy 1.75-6x32mm shotgun scope on a Remington 870 12 ga shotgun, and I really like it too.

Most of the variable shotgun scopes have heavier reticles which help in wooded or brushy areas, or in dim light. On the lowest power settings, they have a wide field of view so they're fast on target too. For me, they work better than most iron sights.

Just keep the scope on its lowest power setting for most of your hunting, and you'll never have to wonder what magnification you're on. I've never had one move on its own. Crank it up to a higher magnification when you need it, or for more precise shot placement.

dont use CCI the ones that coke cans are made out of. they kinda messed my marlin .357.

Some people don't like putting scopes or red dot sights on traditional style lever action rifles, and I can understand their feelings. Some people, however, feel the same way about receiver sights, peep sights, tang sights, fiber optic sights, etc. The bottom line for me is these things all work and have their place on a tool used for hunting, particularly if your eyes aren't as good as they used to be.

I don't see as well as I used to, and have a harder time seeing iron sights in dim light or wooded areas than when I was younger. Because of this, I've been using scopes on a lot of rifles I wouldn't have years ago. I really like the low powered varaibles for these situations. I have Leupold 2-7x32mm shotgun scopes on both a Ruger Deerfield carbine in .44 mag and a Ruger 10/22, and they work great. The paralax setting for a shotgun scope is ideal for the ranges you'd shooting at with a .44 mag. I also have a Bushnell Trophy 1.75-6x32mm shotgun scope on a Remington 870 12 ga shotgun, and I really like it too.

Most of the variable shotgun scopes have heavier reticles which help in wooded or brushy areas, or in dim light. On the lowest power settings, they have a wide field of view so they're fast on target too. For me, they work better than most iron sights.

Just keep the scope on its lowest power setting for most of your hunting, and you'll never have to wonder what magnification you're on. I've never had one move on its own. Crank it up to a higher magnification when you need it, or for more precise shot placement. .

THANK YOU GUNSLINGER2005. All good points and I agree with all of them.

I noticed that you made reference to a Bushnell Trophy 1.75-6x32 shotgun scope which is a good choice for a pistol caliber lever action rifle. Not everyone can afford a $270 Leupold fixed power 2.5x scope. Nothing against fixed power scopes or anyone who chooses to hunt with one, but a very good lower priced alternative to the Leupold 2.5x (Nothing against Leupold either. I have 6 of them.) is the Weaver K2.5, which can be bought for around $120.

The Bushnell Banner 1.5-4.5x variable gets good reviews. Ranchdog has a bunch of them on his Marlins. I just bought one to put on one of my lever guns.