Marlin 336 Scope Mounting Options
The Marlin 336 offers twice the fun at a fraction of the price as a high-quality lever action that allows for many types of fun and great-looking scope mounting options, many of which allow instant or near-instant access to the iron sights.
Swing Away Options (3 second access to irons and back to scope)
Weaver Pivot Mount System
Seen here, a Weaver K2.5 is mounted using a Weaver Pivot Mount system for 3-second scope swing away access from scope to irons and back again.
Detail view of Pivot Mounts swung away, VGS Restored Weaver K2.5 with modern glass, VGS color case hardened pivot mounts, and a Turnbull 336c rifle. Unique. Sexy. Fun.
Pachmayr Lo-Swing System
Pachmayr Lo-Swing Mount with VGS refubished Weaver KV scope. This is the earliest of “variable” scopes allowing two powers to be selected 2.75x and 5x. Additionally the Lo-Swing mount allows the scope to be tipped out of the way in seconds for iron sight use.
Field view of Pachmayr Lo-Swing in its swung away position. Notice how low the scope tips away allowing full, both eye view for swinging on game.
Detail view of KV power selector knob.
Weaver KV scope c. 1950-55 fully restored with modern glass. Combined with a swing away mount allows shooting from point blank with iron sights to 300 yards at 2.75x and beyond at 5x. And the modern glass allows for true 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after performance.
See Through Options (Instant Selection of Scope or Irons)
See through options allow for instant selection by the eye between scope and iron sights. These were very popular made by many companies including Kwik Site, Weaver, Redfield, Williams and Ironsighter to name a few.
The above 336 is fitted with Kwik-Site See Thru Mounts and a Redfield Traditional 2-7x scope. They are angled so they can be swapped to act like an offset ring for eye relief adjustment. The see-throughs offered the fastest option for switching from scope to irons and back.
Field view of using the see through window below the scope to access the iron sights.
Scout Scope (Intermediate Eye Relief) Options.
Redfield JR 336
A Marlin 336 with Redfield JR 336 base, 6 screw rings and a Redfield 2x Intermediate eye relief (scout) scope. IER Scopes were a German invention during WWII. They were manufactured by various companies in the 1960s. Jeff Cooper is attributed with the term “Scout Scope” in the 1980s. The idea was a very fast target acquisition with both eyes open so you could be shooting one target while still having the peripheral vision to see where your next target might be coming from. These are generally most effective with very low power scopes and a large field of view.
As well as being very functional in close quarters and offering 180 degree quick shooting, the scout scope is a unique, cool look and a real blast to master. The scope can be removed fairly easily leaving the rear scope base attached and the base can be bought with an integral rear sight.
Redfield Front I.E.R. 3/4” Scope
Here the 336 has a Redfield Front I.E.R. 3/4” tube intermediate eye relief 2x. Very much the same as the 1” setup but in a much more sleek, compact design.
The small size of the 3/4 tube “mini” scope and the IER Barrel base make a very trim, easy to carry (or scabbard) design.
By loosening one screw the scope slides off and the barrel base remains as a rear sight for iron sight operations.
Detachable Top Mount Options
Weaver J4
Marlin 336 with Weaver Detachable Top Mount base and rings and Weaver J4 3/4” tube 4x scope. The scope can be removed in minutes, the base left on, and the iron sights used.
The Weaver J4 scope atop a Marlin 336 gives that classic long and sleek look reminiscent of turn of the century scopes even though the J4 is circa 1950’s. The fact that both rifle and scope are similar process blued steel, makes it look like the scope grew right out of the rifle. Even though it may look like a rimfire scope. It is not. The J4 was made for centerfire use and is essentially the same components as the venerable K series but reduced in size to 3/4” diameter.
Weaver 330
Marlin 336 with Weaver Detachable Top Mounts and a friction adjust VGS re-glassed Weaver 330. The scope can be removed in minutes, the base left on, and the iron sights used.
The 1930’s Weaver glass was poor. Add in the light-gathering complications of a long 3/4” scope and you have a scope that maybe gives you 15 minutes before sunrise to 15 minutes after useage. But, with modern glass like this VGS re-glassed 330 you can shoot all of legal shooting light and then some and still have a compact rifle for carrying and scabbarding like you expect when carrying a lever gun.
Weaver K2.5 60B
The Marlin 336 with a Weaver K2.5 60B and Detachable Top Mounts. The scope can be removed in minutes, the base left on, and the iron sights used.
Probably the most common scope/rifle combination for a Marlin 336. The K2.5 60B with it’s straight 1” tube gives the light transmission you need and preserves the classic scoped levergun look. This scope includes VGS modern glass for modern scope light transmission and performance with the right look.
Post and Crosshair Scope for Marlin 336
Since the Savage 336 is often used in the brush, at running targets and close to moderate ranges, a vintage reticle like the post and crosshair adds a fun and effective shooting element. Most of the scopes listed above can be purchased or ordered at Vintage Gun Scopes with a post and crosshair reticle.
The Marlin 336 has been made since 1948 so the above scope and mount options cover a long span. If you are interested in making sure your 336 is era correct with the appropriate mounts and scopes of the day without sacrificing brightness or functionality visit vintagegunscopes.com for the correct refurbished, re-glassed and restored products for your application. And to find the year of your 336 to get started use our serial number lookup here.