To scope or not to scope, that is the question

I have a gorgeous Vintage Marlin 444 and am taking it deer hunting in western WI where there are some longer shots across valleys. I have a scoped 308 and even a 7mm rem mag bolt rifle at my disposal. The Marlin has ghost ring sights and shoots well out to 100 yards. After that it’s my vision that compromises accuracy. Say for out to 200 yards should I scope the Marlin if groups are good? I belive the downrange force should still be there with the Hornady Superformance cartriges I’m using. Thoughts?

SCOPE!

You could always keep it unscoped and bring a scoped rifle along for longer shots. Might be hard if your in a portable stand bit would work if you have a box blind.
DT

To me it always comes down to what would have to be done to the vintage rifle to mount the scope? I hate seeing nice rifles that would be wonderful specimens except that they are all drilled full of holes from 2-3 generations of owners trying to mount a scope.

The rifles that I have with iron sights are that way because they pre-date scopes, or at least the time when scopes began to be commonly used for sporting rifles. I feel like that’s the way the rifles want to be shot.

It’s interesting to read hunting stories of a time before magnified optics. The hunters back then had their own methods both of hunting to compensate for the limited range and they obviously knew how to shoot and to make the most of the non-magnified sights.

So IMO, I would only scope if it could be done with no or very minimal modifications as far as drilling or tapping.

Grouse

Sitting in a stand, with clear lines of site, and a stationary or slow moving target I prefer a scope.

Currently I use open sites for deer hunting. I often need to acquire targets that have brush in the background, are moving at a pretty good clip and my range is less than 100 yards. I also don’t like to shot with a scope in the rain or snow.

If I were in your situation, I’d want a scoped gun. But I wouldn’t want to scope that gun.

Sorry, no help here.

“If I were in your situation, I’d want a scoped gun. But I wouldn’t want to scope that gun.”

Meaning that sounds like a gorgeous gun, I understand your dilemma.

I personally do not like scope on lever guns I have ghost ring on my 30/30 and accept about 100 yard range. A 444 has enough energy for 300 yards and more but sighted in at 200 it has 18 inch drop by 300 yds and is 3 inches high at 100 according to Hornandy ftx ballistics. I hunt NW Wi and have only shot at a couple deer over 30 yards so the ghost ring is fine for me. Unless you know you are gonna have regular shooting over 100 yards your other rifle are much more suited for those situations. I would leave it as a peep sighted woods killing machine.

Mwal

Agree with all. It’s because I’m now hunting in these across valley situations where longer shots are encountered. The rifles receiver is factory drilled and tapped for specific scope bases so no mods needed except for removing the plug screws. I wouldn’t modify from original this rifle. My favorite close quarter rifle is my Marlin 1894 in 44mag. Quick pointing and light with a decent capacity magazine and that rifle sports ghost ring sights. Thanks to all, jury is still out. I can mount a scope and take to range. If it shoots really well out to 200 I’ll keep her scoped, if not I’ll go back to ghost ring and carry one of my longer distance rifles.

Take the 308 and be happy

grpubl7 wrote:

Take the 308 and be happy

BEST answer yet…take the longer range already scoped shoot pipe and be happy!

It’s drilled for mounts so it reversible so give a scope a try

I’d leave the lever “as is” and use that .308 for the longer ranges.

My eyes have changed too and I have scoped everything I hunt with now because I don’t want an injured animal. I use black powder in lieu of a shotgun/slugs for our deer season and scoped its pretty accurate to about 200 yards but I haven’t shot a deer past 70 yards in years and most inside of 20. Still, one never knows when that “one” will come along a bit further out.

My 308 is a leaver action Sako Finnwolf with a 3×9 scope, and my 7mm Rem Mag is a Tikka Superlight with a 4×12 scope. The Sako is classic blued with walnut stock, the Tikka is all stainless with plastic stock. If fair weather the Sako will be on my shoulder, if foul the Tikka…unless really snowy or rainy, then the 444 with ghost ring sights. Thanks for the input guys.

castle-rock-clown wrote:

My 308 is a leaver action Sako Finnwolf with a 3×9 scope, and my 7mm Rem Mag is a Tikka Superlight with a 4×12 scope. The Sako is classic blued with walnut stock, the Tikka is all stainless with plastic stock. If fair weather the Sako will be on my shoulder, if foul the Tikka…unless really snowy or rainy, then the 444 with ghost ring sights. Thanks for the input guys.

OK now you’re just bragging LOL jkjk
sounds like you a good collection, im a lil jealous =)