As far as classic American firearms go, it doesn’t get better than 30-30 Marlin 336 lever-action rifles. They are not too big, but packs in enough impact to handle medium to large games, depending on the range you use it from. By pairing it with scope for 30-30 Marlin scope, you can further improve your accuracy and also boost your effective range often by up to 150 yards or even beyond.
With so many scopes out there, it’s difficult to find the best scope for 30-30 Marlin 336 rifle.
But, I made it easy for you by reviewing the available best scopes for Marlin 336 rifle.
So, Let’s take a look.
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Best Scopes for 30-30 Marlin 336
1. Vortex Optics Crossfire II Second Focal Plane
The Vortex Optics Crossfire II is ideal for the hunters who need a little extra zooming on their Marlin 336 lever-action rifles. Notable for its BDC reticle, the scope uses deadbolt dots with crosshairs, which is great for adjusting rounds in windy conditions.
The reticle further has a second focal plane feature, so irrespective of magnification range you’ll get consistent target imaging. The zooming range is capped at 2X to 7X which also happens to be the ideal sweet spot for 30-30 winchester rifles like Marlin 336 to better offer their destructive power.
Fast focus enabled, the eyepiece is wide with enough eye relief for a comfy experience. The lenses are also multi-coated to prevent unwanted glares.
Overall, you get a super clear picture of your target every time you put the Vortex Optics Crossfire II to use.
One thing we really loved was how low profile the whole thing is. It’s minimal enough to better blend into the gun without damaging Marlin 336’s retro-ish looks.
Vortex has gone with a milled all-aluminum construction.
The tube has been anodized for both rust & shock resistance. The hull is also nitrogen purged to help make it fog & dustproof.
The capped turrets feature easily adjustable MOA clicks that you can easily reset to zero after sighting your targets on the field.
2. Simmons Truplex 3-9×40 Riflescope
Offering the perfect blend of classic looks & essential features, the popular Simmons 3-9X40 is a wonderful best scope for 30-30 Marlin 336 that won’t leave you disappointed.
The 3X to 9X is best for both 30-30 close range shots & long distance deer hunting. Thanks to the multicoated lens, you get excellent imaging with improved light transmission.
Paired with the duplex 8-point reticle, you can aim at even the tiniest targets with absolute precision. The textured turrets promote efficient adjustability, especially when it comes to both windage & elevation.
It’s rated at ¼ MOA and the clicks have excellent audible feedback for that easy “adjust by feeling” experience.
The dials are larger and are rubber coated to make adjustments easy even under wet conditions and while wearing gloves. Like all other scopes, the Simmons Trueplex too is water, fog, and recoil proof with a rugged matte finish on its aircraft-grade aluminum body.
The hull has been purged by noble gas and is sealed again all elements for class-leading sighting quality. Even with such a robust construction, Simmons has managed to keep the weight of this scope under just 700 grams.
This is great since it’s not gonna add much bulk to your Marlin 336 or any other lightweight lever action 30-30 rifle platforms.
3. Leupold VX-Freedom 4-12x40mm Rifle Scope
Machined and assembled right here in the US, The Leupold VX-Freedom is clearly one of the best scopes for 30-30 Marlin 336 for a number of great reasons.
For starters, the scope has a variable range of 4X to 12X which is perfect to turn your 30-30 lever-style rifle into a full-on long-range killer. You get extra clear imaging with the 40mm objective lens that’s been multi-coated to reduce glares.
Even better, the lenses have scratch resistance to military standards, you don’t see that every day. Leupold VX Freedom scope’s major highlight, however, is the proprietary twilight max light management system which can add ten extra minutes to your dawn/dusk hunting time.
You get enough light to be accurate for 100 yards. The build quality awesome here. The milled aluminum casing is coated in hard matte paint and is O-ring sealed for weather & impact resistance.
The lenses are anti-fog, you get 3.66 to 4.77 inches of eye relief which is enough for a low recoil device like Marlin 336.
The knurled turrets offer a strong while you use the ¼ MOA to adjust wind, elevation, and bullet drops. Once you get the target in your sight, the Duplex reticle will ensure that you don’t miss it.
At just 1.3 pounds, the Leupold VX-Freedom doesn’t add much bulk to your Marlin 336 so you can easily carry it around & fire without much fatigue.
4. Vortex Optics Diamondback Second Focal Plane
Like the earlier Vortex scope we saw, this Vortex DiamondBack scope for Marlin 336 features a BDC dead hold reticle. This allows you to track your targets much effectively at a distance without needing much thought on elevation.
The scope itself is highly versatile. You can use it for 30-30 rifles, and also slug shotguns, big game guns, and even for a bit of sniping, thanks to the 4X to 12X range.
We found it especially a perfect match for our lever-action rifles. The scope’s body is made from anodized aluminum to prevent rust and corrosion.
The matte paint job offers excellent camo, and the O-ring sealed, argon purged the design prevents fogging & offers improved weather resistance.
Then again, even if something does go wrong, you always have Vortex brands lifetime warranty to settle back on, it’s nice having this security. The tactile & highly accurate ¼ MOA turrets make it super easy to adjust the sight to your preferred target.
The wide visibility afforded by the multi-coated lenses further ensures that your target, once acquired, will be easier to track even in high motion. You also get that SFP or Second Focal Plane lens array to facilitate easier sighting at max magnifications.
5. Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm Riflescope
The DiamondCoat 2 lenses used here with the Leupold VX-3i ensure that more light is transmitted to the eye for a much sharper and brighter sighting.
This coating is also highly scratch-resistant so that you’ll get the same clean sighting even a decade later.
As with most scopes, you get the all-aluminum, single shell anodized build which has been purged with noble gasses & sealed for improved field protection. It’s on the lighter side at just 0.63 pounds so it’s perfect for lighter rifles & is a pleasure to carry.
The Duplex reticle does a great job at keeping the targets insight, even at full zooms.
Rated between 3.5X to a full 10X, this is one of the best scopes for 30-30 Marlin 336 that’ll help you make the most out of this lever-action rifle’s maximum firing range up to a whopping 200+ yards.
There is plenty of eye-relief and we loved how seamlessly it mounts to a Marlin 336. The minimalistic design pairs really well with the gun’s retro vibes without much clashing.
For precision, the ¼ MOA turrets make for easy windage, elevation, adjustments, etc. You also get Leupold’s proprietary Twilight light management system which can add a solid 20 minutes’ worth of shooting light to your evening hunts.
6. BARSKA 3-9×40 Huntmaster 30/30 Riflescope
Don’t let the super low price tag fool you, the BARSKA 3-9X40 is a really high-quality lever-action rifle scope that still carries a ton of smart features. It’s simple to setup & and easy to mount, though you need to get the O-ring mount separately.
Rated between 3X to 9X, you get excellent magnification considering the pricing.
The vision is parallax free at 100 yards, and the coated lenses ensure sharp sighting while keeping the reflections to a bare minimum.
The 30-30 Duplex reticle makes for fast target acquisition and the integrated ¼ MOA turrets allow for easy adjustments on the go.
The turrets are textured & have good tactile feedback so it’s easier to operate by just feeling alone. Eye relief is capped at 3 inches; it’s not a lot but again, can’t complain about the price.
The reticle is second focal plane enabled so the target keeps a consistent shape even at full zooms.
This level action scope is lightweight yet still has a very tough build with a weather-sealed, all-aluminum hull. The lenses are scratch-resistant, and the whole scope is matte black painted to help it more camouflage while hunting.
There is also a bright silver-toned one available if you’re keen on taking the aesthetic route.
7. Simmons Aetec Black Fmc Wp Capped
If you hunk elk or moose or just want a high-quality scope with the latest benefits for a budget, the Simmons Aetec best scope for 30-30 Marlin 336 is sure to tick all the right boxes. The matte black design with red accents looks super cool.
Fuelled by the brand’s custom spherical lens technology, the scope offers flat, distortion-free imaging across its entire 2X to 10X magnification range.
This is more than enough to suit the likes of Marlin 336, 30-30 Winchester, and other lever-action rifles. The lenses are multi-coated to reduce reflections to a bare minimum.
The reticle is wide, and the 40mm objective lets in tons of light so the targets are kept bright even in low light conditions.
This particular model also has self-illumination so you can see your targets more clearly in low light conditions. It’s a rare perk to see at these price points.
Do you wear glasses while shooting?
The Simmons Aetec scope has generous amounts of eye relief for you guys. The ¼ MOA turrets are textured and are super accurate, you can easily adjust windage,
elevation, bullet drop all with just a few turns.
The aluminum made anodized casing is strong & is sealed against weather & shock.
Buying guide for the best scope for 30-30 Marlin 336
1. Magnification
Though meant for medium range (100-150 yards) shooting. A Marlin 336, with the right scope, lets you further shoot up to 200 or even 250 yards. We recommend going for scopes with 7X to 9X as this offers the best experience.
With a 9X scope, you do not need to compensate even at full range. This magnification is also great for shooting in tight groupings. Get a unit with variable magnification as opposed to fixed as this will give more versatility on the field.
Also, consider the objective lens size too as a smaller lens size limits light transmission, potentially requiring you to boost up the magnification. Many of the 30-30 lever-action rifles comes with 40mm to 50mm lens sizes , So choose according to your preferences.
2. Eye Relief
For those who don’t know, eye relief is the maximum distance between your eye and the focal lens in which you get the best clarity. Though a Marlin 336 doesn’t have a lot of recoils, we still suggest getting a scope with at least 6 inches of eye relief for the following reasons:
- A longer eye relief helps avoid the risk of injuries & offer better comfort
- It allows you to mount the scope slightly forward. This is great for easier lever action and allows easy ejection of spent cartridge
3. Rectile Style
As far as the best scope for 30-30 Marlin 336 goes, the popular reticle choices are the Duplex, similar to traditional crosshairs, and BDC – the dot styled reticle style. Both work well for hunting & it’s up to you to pick the comfiest one for you.
Also, get a model with bullet drop compensation as it helps to maximize the effective range of lever-action rifles like Marlin 336.
The turrets knobs that will help adjust windage, elevation, etc should be accurate, intuitive, and clicky. If you can, get a model with self-illumination as it’s better for targeting under poor or very low light conditions.
4. Build Quality
One of the major highlights of the Marlin 336 is its lightweight frame & the traditional design, so make sure to get the best scope for 30-30 Marlin 336 that doesn’t hamper both.
The scope should be light, and preferably low profile. An all-metal build with weatherproofing is a must-have too since these rifles are made for all the great outdoor challenges.
Likewise, the lens should be crystal clear & scratch resistant, preferably multi-coated to reduce unwanted reflections. The casing should be purged & sealed with noble gasses to prevent dust and fog build-up while hunting.
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FAQs
Vortex Optics Crossfire II riflescope is the best choice you can make for a lever action 30 30.
The magnification range of scope of 2-7x is good for a 30 30 rifle. Going above that won’t make much difference and will become expensive.
The Effective range is 200 yards especially when considering the barrel length of it.