So, Where do you stand?

[Mitty38]

I figure all guns are made to use.
So there is nothing sacred to me.
I will bubba a gun with no remorse if it makes it serve my purpose.
Ghost ring on a pistol, Red Dot on lever. Hacksaw to the stock, file a sight. Duct tape a butt pad on, to get it thru hunting season.
I probably red necked sporterized over 50 Mausers in lifetime. Some even throwing away the original sights, and drilling and mounting Tasco scopes to. Or painting camo.
Whatever as long as it suits me, got it to use not sell or show.

 

[Walks]

Me too

 

[popper]

All my rifles wear scopes. Gotta SEE the target!

 

[Jeff H]

Agree with everything I've read so far.

Lever-guns, to me are simply the best tool for many jobs. I think we had it right in America when it came to that, while the Europeans were all about bolt-actions. I am VERY fond of bolt-actions, but to be practical about it, short of poking at a woodchuck or coyote at 300 or 400 yards, a lever makes more sense for everything I'd need to do. I have no nostalgic motivation and never watched the western movies which made them so popular.

My eyesight... (fill in here half of what others have said) is not improving.

(EDIT): I'd much PREFER receiver sights - a peep with a square-topped front post, and while I've used them, I do not like scopes on levers because they really seem to take away from the sleekness and handiness - become more clumsy to me. They'll work and will help me see what the gun can do, but it just contradicts so much of the handling properties of a lever.

That the dot-sights have become SO compact, seem more reliable and have much better battery life, they make a lot of sense. Less weight, less bulk, fewer snaggy thingies... I'm no opposed to them on levers at all. I LOVE this "shake-awake" on the Sig Romeo 5.

To maybe seem a bit hypocritical, I'd not put one on a Remington Rolling block - it's not something I'd grab for the kinds of things a lever excels at. While utility is the key attraction to me, regarding levers, some of the over-the-top tacticrap that's been put on a few "tactical levers," to me is ridiculous. I'd take the wood over the unfriendly plastic any day and not for the sake of aesthetics or historical accuracy. Wooden stocks feel better and are more comfortable to me, and in some cases lighter than the "plastic" stuff, whatever it may be made of. Profuse protrusions - knobs, levers, wheels, dials are all dangerous (or at least highly annoying) snag-potential. Picatinny rail all over everything is like wrapping a shovel handle with gravel-embedded tape and if you need a light, a laser, dot-sight, 4-16x scope with night-vision capability, "co-witness" sights, you probably need different gun and a couple more guys with guns.

 

[Winelover]

Levers were a means to an end for me. I'm a southpaw so they are pretty much ambidextrous. I do own LH bolts but for along time, they were scarce as hen's teeth.

 

[RBHarter]

It's funny the way we set perspective .

A scope on a Rolling or Falling Block , High or Low Wall , or Trapdoor..... No maybe a brass Malcolmish set up , maybe .
Why wouldn't I put 12-40 x60 on the No 1 6.5-284 ?

I don't think I doubt many would give a 3-9×32 or even a 40 on a BLR or 99 even a second look but cringe at the idea of it on anything pre 1896 destinated Marlin, Henry , or Winchester and it's suddenly like dropping a Toyota tuner motor in in a 67' X vin Mustang ......

Aesthetics, lines and to a degree feel . I can't imagine trying to get up high enough on the BPS , a M12 , a gas matic A5 to use an optic for slugs , pumpkin balls , or turkey loads much less the look .

Realistically the 92's in 45 Colts and 1894C Marlin in 38/357 just aren't practical much over 75 yd . If it takes a bull ring and golf ball to get lined up on a dinner plate that far out it's not a big deal (gross sarcastic exaggeration of course) .
I don't know that I will scope the the 1895 even if it is d&t for a rail and I have a couple low magnification 3 MOA dots . I can see the peep for now . I have the bolt gun replacement in process for the cartridge when the optic becomes a need .

I'm not likely to scope a "Cowboy" gun .

 

[Rick]

Doesn't matter a bit where I stand, matters to the owner of the rifle and how he makes it useful to him.

 

[Jeff H]

.....Realistically the 92's in 45 Colts and 1894C Marlin in 38/357 just aren't practical much over 75 yd...

"Realistically" is sort of key here, for me. Realistically, (for "business" purposes) I'm very seldom offered a shot at more than 50 yards anyway, and most often it's within TEN. For FUN, usually within 75 too really.

"much over 75 yd" has always ended up being a small percentage of my shots, so the 92, or another short, light carbine is pretty much perfect as a utility/homestead gun at my house.

Took me many years and many bolt-actions capable of much longer range and power to finally admit that. Turns out these puny pistol cartridges in carbines are even more fun and much cheaper to shoot than everything else I've had that would reach farther and punch harder. Nothing wrong with that stuff, and it was fun to mess with, but I sold all my bolt-actions but a petite CZ 527 in mild-mannered 222 Remington. If I had to sell one, it would be that before the rimmed pistol-cartridge carbine(s).

 

[todd]

"Realistically" is sort of key here, for me. Realistically, (for "business" purposes) I'm very seldom offered a shot at more than 50 yards anyway, and most often it's within TEN. For FUN, usually within 75 too really.

"much over 75 yd" has always ended up being a small percentage of my shots, so the 92, or another short, light carbine is pretty much perfect as a utility/homestead gun at my house.

Took me many years and many bolt-actions capable of much longer range and power to finally admit that. Turns out these puny pistol cartridges in carbines are even more fun and much cheaper to shoot than everything else I've had that would reach farther and punch harder. Nothing wrong with that stuff, and it was fun to mess with, but I sold all my bolt-actions but a petite CZ 527 in mild-mannered 222 Remington. If I had to sell one, it would be that before the rimmed pistol-cartridge carbine(s).

for me ,"realistically" the shot is under 30 - 40 yards on deer. groundhogs, foxes and coyotes it is around 200 yards max. the furthest shot on a groundhog, in my 20 Vartarg (TC Encore, 23" MGM barrel), was 326 yards (laser range finder thingy). it used to be .1 - .2" at 100 yards (5 and 10 shots, bench) but this with carefully handloaded brass and a 32gr Hornady V-max with Reloder 7. but it got so demanding on shooting a .1 or .2" group that it just wasn't worth it. i figured it would cost me about 20 or 30 minutes per cartridge. time i could be shooting. now, instead of careful handloads, it's "sloppy reloads" that go around 1/2 - 3/4" at 100 yards (5 shots, bench) with 34gr Midway/Midsouth HP with Reloder 7.

 

[Winelover]

Had to bushwhack a shooting lane to make 100 yards from bench to berm. Range is also slightly sloped, down hill. Hundred yard shot on game is virtually impossible, on my acreage. Pistol or pistol chambered carbine is all that's required. Mostly, I opt for the 44 Marlin carbine. Easier to tote (slightly heavier) than a scoped 44 Magnum or 45 LC.
Most of my bolts are collecting cobwebs.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

As for what sights/optics to put on a gun – It’s your gun, do what you want.

The lever action rifle is truly an American thing. I think the iconic status of the lever action rifle invokes some strong traditional feelings from some folks. Those feelings are fine but shouldn’t dictate what others do with their rifles.

I will say that the first firearm I ever shot was a lever action. I inherited that rifle, and it is a prized possession. However, I’m not a “lever action” guy. I’m not opposed to the type and have owned a few but I just went in a different direction.

 

[Rick H]

Asked the eye doctor and he said that usually happens just before you need cataract surgery.

My eyesight started improving a couple of years before I opted for cataract surgery. My Dr. explained it by noting the lens thickens and changes shape as the cataract "ripens". The vision focus sharpens but the cloudiness and color shift continues. Once you have the surgery on the first eye you will be astounded. Closing the repaired eye will be like pulling a dirty yellow window shade over what you see. The UV damaged lens (cataract) washes out colors. It creeps up on you a little at a time and you don't notice it until repaired.

 

[Glaciers]

Well colors for me are bright to this point but interesting information. I will certainly be asking the doctor next spring at my next appointment.

 

[Walks]

I see the Eye Doc in October. I'm asking about that. And about My depth perception too.

 

[todd]

I see the Eye Doc in October. I'm asking about that. And about My depth perception too.

it was the best decision i have ever made. i think i was 4yo when i first started wearing glasses. i was 16yo when i didn't need them anymore. my eyes were 20/20 on the right eye, 20/15 on the left. i'd go once in every 10 or so years for my eye doc exam. when i was 47yo and it was deer season, i was in my ground blind and a big doe showed up at 35 - 40 yards. i got my Williams FP sight (Win m94 in 35/30-30) and i lined it behind the doe's shoulder, or rather i would of. i'd see a blurry blob of the deer when i was lined up the sights. i'd see a deer if my eyes doesn't do the sights. i did this off and on many times until i let the deer go.

i needed a eye doctor in the worst way. i went to him, he did my eyes, waited for about 2 weeks and got my eyeglasses and my deer.

 

[Bret4207]

I'm not a fan of the red dot type sights, but then I've never really used one. A scope on lever depends on the lever- on a 94 Win, no, in fact heck now. On a 336 Marlin or later Savage 99, yeah, it's okay if you want it. On a little 92 Win I think anything but irons looks silly, but it's not my gun or my business. Do as you want and be happy. I can still use a peep fortunately and I prefer that to open irons anytime.

 

[Rally]

All mine do, and have for about 45 years.

 

[Cadillac Jeff]

If it has holes drilled and tapped I will scope it.
Funny thing I have a 336 Marlin, drilled and tapped on top, someone drilled and tapped the side also it had a big Willson? Mount on it when I bought it at a gun show, I promptly removed & put plugs in. Man it is a shooter.

Also a Henry big boy 357.

But not my 94 Winchester, poor ol thing is over a hundred years old probably put it in shock!

 

[Walks]

I put a Tasco red dot on a REM 552 30yrs ago. Still there, best Can Dancing rifle I've ever had. It's a bit big now, but still balances fine.

 

[Rockydoc]

If you’re young enough, the sights that came on it will do just fine. When you get to that point where you can’t see sights and target at the same time, then it is a matter of whether you want a shooter or a wall hanger.

My Marlin 35 Remington looks normal with a scope on it. The Winchester’92 just doesn’t look right with anything but irons on it. It didn’t come with any holes drilled for any other sights, so I had it drilled and tapped for a receiver sight, a Williams peep and a fiber optic front. It now looks reasonably normal and it definitely doesn’t hang on a wall.