Thoughts on an optic for 45-70

[4RNR]

Have a Marlin 1895CB in 45-70. Have very little time on it. I understand that the rounds pretty much have the trajectory of an artillery shell so I was wondering what would a good powered optic for something like that. I was thinking an LPVO but ...I dunno... I'm used to ARs.

The purpose is just general purpose, fun, maybe hunting but probably not. Im not really into long range shooting so an LPVO seems like something that would work pretty well for under 400 yards.

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[GJM]

Aperture iron sights and/or an Aimpoint micro is how I roll on mine.

[Rick R]

My Guide Gun has a Leupold 2.5x Scout scope, my TC Katahdin carbine wears a 2.5x Leupold FX-II Ultralight and my wife’s Guide Gun has XS aperture sights. Being kissed by the scope is a real possibility with a .45-70 so long eye relief is a good thing. Where we hunt 75 yards is a long shot.

I had the 1894CB in .44 and put one of these on it

https://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...H%2bENTERPRISE

Pricey and I had to try a couple different front sights but it worked and looked appropriate.

[4RNR]

At what distance do you guys zero?

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[Caballoflaco]

I’ve thought one of those PA 1x or 3x prism scopes might make a dandy lever gun optic, though I haven’t mounted one myself. There’s a thread here where people seem to be pretty happy with them.

[JEC]

This is the best setup I have found for mounting a scope on a Marlin.

https://ashleyperformance.com/produc...tionscopemount

I have one setup with super low rings and a Leupold fixed 2.5X Compact scope and another one with low rings and a Leupold 2-7X VXII.

Mounts low enough that you still get a good cheek weld and allows you to mount the scope forward enough that the scope's eyepiece doesn't interfere with the hammer spur.

Also keeps the scope well forward to combat any "scope eye" with heavy 45-70 loads.

[4RNR]

This is the best setup I have found for mounting a scope on a Marlin.

https://ashleyperformance.com/produc...tionscopemount

I have one setup with super low rings and a Leupold fixed 2.5X Compact scope and another one with low rings and a Leupold 2-7X VXII.

Mounts low enough that you still get a good cheek weld and allows you to mount the scope forward enough that the scope's eyepiece doesn't interfere with the hammer spur.

Also keeps the scope well forward to combat any "scope eye" with heavy 45-70 loads.

I was looking at this. About double the price but doesn't loose irons

https://rangerpointstore.com/cloverl...picatinny-rail

Or this
https://rangerpointstore.com/rhino-picatinny-rail

But I prefer not to loose irons

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[rd62]

My 1895 Guide Gun wears a Holosun 407 for the relatively close shots I have in SC and in the SW VA mountains.

Works well as a light and handy package.

[JRB]

I mounted a 1-6x SFP on a friend's 1894 in .45-70 he was setting up for hog hunting. It was an off-brand 1-6x that 'had good reviews' but looked like a side-door copy of the Chinese made PA SFP 1-6x's. I wish I could remember the brand.

After mounting it in a forward low pro cantilever mount, and getting the cheek riser etc set up to be comfortable, we took it to the range and fired about 40 rounds figuring out the dope to the generic BDC reticle. The BDC was intended for 5.56/7.62x51 out to 800M but we were out of holdover by 300ish. Kind of pointless, and you could almost count the hang time after the shot, but slamming a 300yd gong with a .45-70 was *REALLY* satisfying.
We left it set at 3x as he wasn't planning on shooting it beyond 75-100yds and he was the type that just didn't want to screw with it.

If I had it to do over again, I think I'd do a lighter/smaller 1-4x FFP or Mil-dot and dope it out in a similar fashion for 0-250 or 0-300. A 3x prism would also rock so long as it had decent eye relief and the reticle was generic enough to map out your own dope effectively.

[JEC]

I was looking at this. About double the price but doesn't loose irons

https://rangerpointstore.com/cloverl...picatinny-rail

Or this
https://rangerpointstore.com/rhino-picatinny-rail

But I prefer not to loose irons

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Those are good options. I have tried various rails, but they always mount the scope up higher than I like. Leverguns generally have a lot of drop on the stock to accommodate iron sights and I'm not a fan of putting a cheek riser on them. The Ashley mount, especially in conjunction with the super low rings and the 2.5X Leupold, are as low as you can possibly go and are very easy to pick up fast and stay on the stock. I can also wrap my hand around the scope and action for easy carrying in the brush.