The Marlin 336 is an eternal classic made by Marlin all the way back in 1948. I’m aware of the fact that Marlin and Merlin aren’t the same, but I just did it for the sake of a pun. Anyway, back to the topic.
The Marlin 336 is a great weapon that can operate on a lot of cartridges depending on what kind of shooting practice you do. The 336 is also capable of hunting deer and helps you practice at a shooting range.
This lever-action rifle has a lot of nifty features and great accuracy. The weapon can fire cartridges at a 2000 FPS speed and can do a lot of damage to close-quarter targets. That’s why, finding a scope that can shoot close and mid-range for the Marlin 336 should be on the top of your list.
I know it’s not easy to find the best scope for Marlin 336 and that’s why you are here. Don’t worry, you will find out exactly that. Without further ado, let’s start this.
Should You Buy A Scope Or A Sight For Marlin 336?
The decision is yours to make. If you hunt a lot and want to experience mid to long-range shooting as well, then you will want to have a scope. On the other hand, if you are all about CQB and don’t care about range, then the sight is a better option.
Also, often red dots cost less than a scope. The budget will also play a big enough role in the decision making.
1. Steiner 5201 P3TR P4Xi 1x-4x24mm Riflescope
Steiner scopes are known to be expensive and versatile. While the P4Xi is not as expensive as other Steiner scopes, it’s still quite pricey. Yet, it’s one of those scope where you won’t feel like you spent too much money or your money was wasted.
The P4Xi is made out of extremely durable aircraft-grade aluminum and the optic features a mid-range magnification of 1 to 4x. The lenses of this optic are fully multi-coated. They are extremely vibrant and visible in the low-lighting conditions as well.
The chassis of the scope is water, fog, and shockproof. Thanks to that, you can take the optic and use it on any possible conditions you want to.
The P3TR P4Xi riflescope is usable as a hunting scope and a tactical scope. While the Marlin is not used as a tactical weapon, the scope still can be used as one.
What’s the tube diameter of the scope?
The tube diameter of the scope is 30mm. It’s a standard sized tube and you can use the Vortex Precision Rings with this.
Is the reticle illuminated?
The P3TR reticle was designed with CQB and tactical rifles in mind. That’s why, the reticle with a centered illuminated dot allows you to shoot at 600 yards with ease.
Can this be used with Marlin 336 lever action?
Yes, you can. But you will need to have a Picatinny rail on your Marlin. Monstrum makes some of them.
2. Primary Arms GLx 2.5-10x44FFP Rifle Scope
Primary Arms make budget, mid-tier, and high-end scopes for hunting and tactical shooting as well. The GLx is a part of their mid-tier lineup. The idea behind this lineup was to provide premium and better technology at an affordable price tag.
The GLx features a maximum of 10x magnification. If you are a plinker and want to have the best possible recreational shooting, then the highest magnification will come in super handy to you. The build quality of the optic is excellent and the tube is fogproof.
The scope is also sealed with O-rings to make it waterproof. The main tube thickness is 30mm. As the tube is standard size, you can use scope rings like Vortex Precision Matched Rings and use the scope on a Marlin 336 with ease.
Are the turrets also made out of aluminum?
No, they are not. They are made out of steel-on-steel. The adjustments are precise and have no issues holding zero.
Is the reticle illuminated?
The first focal plane ACSS Raptor M2 features an AutoLive illuminated reticle. The center of the reticle lights up and helps you in all scenarios.
Is this a good optic for hunting?
It is. It’s a great choice for beginner hunters. The reticle of the scope seems a bit overwhelming at first but learning it is quite easy. And once you manage to do that, you will be able to hunt to your heart’s content.
3. Trijicon TR20 AccuPoint 3-9×40 Riflescope
Trijicon makes great red dots and their ACOGs are legendary. In case you didn’t know, they also make hunting scopes and tactical scopes. The TR20 is a part of their versatile lineup. It can work as a hunting scope with the right weapon and tactical scope with all weapons.
The scope is made out of durable aircraft-grade aluminum. The aluminum is lightweight and extremely sturdy. The anodization on the optic seems flawless and it looks pleasing to the eye.
The lenses on the optic are also fully multi-coated. And it features a MIL-Dot crosshair. You can also choose a standard Duplex or Triangle Post reticle if you want to.
The yellow thing you see on top of the scope is a tritium fiber cylinder that illuminates the reticle of the scope.
If you have seen night sights of pistols, you already know that they don’t operate from a battery powered LED. Instead, they operate with a tritium fiber stick. The same logic is applied here. The tritium stick lights the reticle bright yellow without any batteries.
Is this optic good for hunting?
It’s good for mid-range and small-game hunting. But it’s not great for long-range or big-game hunting.
What kind of rings will I need with this scope?
You will need 1” rings. The optic features a 1” main tube. The tube accepts all standard 1” rings.
Is this scope reticle on FFP?
No, it’s not. It’s part of their SFP scopes lineup. The Credo Scope from Trijicon is part of the FFP reticle.
4. Burris RT-6 1-6x24mm Tactical Rifle Scope
The RT-6 is an all-in-one complete system from Burris. The optic features a robust aluminum made housing and it also has the option to choose the scope only or choose it with the BurrisFastfire 3 red dot combo and use both together.
The scope also features a P.E.P.R scope mount. As I said, it’s a total system to give you the best tactical performance possible on this price bracket.
As the optic features a maximum of 6x magnification, it can also do a bit of mid-range and small-game hunting.
The lenses on this optic are fully multi-coated and the tube is purged with nitrogen as well. The purging makes it immune to internal fogging and makes it a fabulous performer under tough weather as well. The scope performs admirably well in low-light conditions.
Is this a good scope for hunting?
It’s an okay scope for hunting and definitely can be used for small predators. But it’s not something you take into your big-game days.
Should I get the scope only or with the red dot?
The red dot system is overall a better priced and valued deal. The red dot comes in clutch in CQB. And Marlin 336 is good at close range shooting.
Does Burris provide any warranty?
Burris has one of the best warranty policies in the country. Their scopes are under a lifetime warranty. Their warranty policy is smooth as well.
5. Leupold FX-II Ultralight 2.5x20mm Riflescope
The FX-II Ultralight from Leupold is a fixed magnification scope. The scope is equipped with a 2.5x magnification on a 20mm objective lens. On paper, it seems extremely small and low on power. But the scope is excellent for a gun like Marlin 336 if you are not after range.
The scope is by no means a mid-range scope. Rather it’s made for close-range practice and close-range shooting scenarios. The scope has a Wide Duplex reticle that is perfect for it. While it seems like it obstructs a lot of field of view, the reality is quite the opposite. It can provide you with an unobstructed vision with great clarity.
Leupold’s twilight max light management system is one of the best methods of improving low-light performance on the market right now.
Without using ED or HD glasses, Leupold made the performance of this optic on par with both of them. While it’s not better than HD glass by any means, it’s good enough to perform well in low light.
What kind of hunting can I do with this?
You can hunt varmints, squirrels, and other small scale animals that don’t require you to shoot from 200 yards away.
Is this made in China?
No, it’s not. No Leupold is made in China and this one isn’t either. Leupold designs their products in the USA and makes them there as well.
What’s the main tube of this scope?
The main tube is 1” thick. You will need rings with a 1” diameter.
6. Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7×32 SFP Riflescope
The Crossfire II is available in plenty of different configurations for different rifles. From magnification to reticles, you can choose what sails your boat. For the Marlin 336, I recommend sticking with the 2-7×32 model with a dead-hold BDC reticle. The combination is nice for plinking and close-range hunting.
The scope is made out of durable aluminum. The aluminum is lightweight and sturdy. The anodization on the optic is well done. The lenses are fully multi-coated.
They don’t have any glaring issues or fish-eye distortion. The scope won’t show double your target or mirage either.
The tube is nitrogen purged and the rings are sealed with O-ring. Thanks to that, the scope is water and fogproof at the same time. The scope is also shockproof and it doesn’t suffer from issues related to zero resetting.
Does Vortex offer any warranty?
They do. They offer an unlimited, unconditional, lifetime warranty with their optics. As long as you have a Vortex official product, you are set for life.
Is it good in low-light conditions?
It’s quite good in low-light conditions. It’s not made for night-vision by any means, but it gets the job done in low-light hunting.
Does it come with a sunshade?
No, it doesn’t. It comes with lens covers. But there is no honeycomb filter or sunshade included.
7. Bushnell AR Optics 1-4×24 Drop Zone Rifle Scope
Kind of ironic to think that mentioning AR optics for a lever-action rifle. But that’s the thing, the AR optics of Bushnell are compatible with many other guns besides AR itself. The Bushnell AR optics are available in many different magnifications.
Depending on the configuration you go for, the price will vary.
For the Marlin 336, the 1-4x24mm with BDC illuminated reticle is a good option for plinking and hunting. The scope is capable of hunting small-scale animals and close-range deer as well.
The scope is made out of durable aluminum and it’s extremely lightweight as well. At stock, the scope is capable of shooting at 600 yards with ease. The reticle is extremely accurate in tactical shooting. That’s why people love to pair this with their long-range AR including stuff like a DMR.
Is this a good optic in low light?
It’s not the best. It’s okay, but nothing spectacular. For the price, the optical performance is quite good in low light.
Where is this made?
The scope is made in South Korea.
Is this a good scope for hunting?
It’s not made for hunting. The scope is made for tactical sports and range shooting. It can hunt but that’s not the bread and butter of it.
Let’s just say you are not interested in the scopes and you want something close-range. A red dot for example. This part of the guide is for you.
1. Trijicon RM06-C-700672 RMR Type 2 Adjustable LED Sight
The Type 2 is one of the best red dots on the market. Whether it’s for a rifle, a sniper rifle, a dual setup, or a lever action in this instance, the optic is capable of handling it all.
The body of the optic is made out of aluminum and it’s made through CNC machining. The process is flawless and has no issues. The lens is also fully multi-coated.
There are no defects visually. As the reticle is illuminated, the optic is capable of shooting all day around. Even at low light, it’s quite good.
What is this optic good for?
It’s good for close-range target practice and if you are using the Marlin 336 for self-defense, then the optic is also good for corner scenarios.
Do I need a battery for this?
Yes, you do. You will need a CR2032 battery for the optic to power on. Without it, your optic won’t light up.
2. HOLOSUN – HS510C Reflex Red Dot Sight
Holosun makes great red dot sights. The HS510C is a versatile red dot optic made for all sorts of shooting. While it can track prey accurately at close range, it can also perform quite well at 50 yards and beyond.
The optic is made out of aluminum. The entire housing is crafted through CNC machining. The housing is also water, fog, and shockproof at the same time.
The optic has no issues with color alteration or too much light passing through. The light transmission of the optic is smooth.
Does this optic have any mounting accessories?
Yes, it does. It is equipped with a quick release Picatinny mounting system.
Can I adjust the brightness of it?
Yes, you can. You can choose from 10 daylight and 2 night vision settings.
3. Burris FastFire 3 Red Dot Sight
The FastFire 3 is a crazy good red dot for the money. The FastFire 3 is compact enough to be used on top of a scope and that’s exactly what the Burris RT-6 does as I mentioned earlier.
The optic is made out of aluminum, it has CNC machined housing that is water, fog and shockproof. The lens is fully multi-coated. The coating is spectacular. It’s bright and vibrant. The accuracy of the optic is insanely good.
Can I mount this on a Picatinny rail?
Yes, you can. It has compatible plates for it.
Does Burris offer any warranty on this?
They do. They offer the same lifetime warranty on this as well.
Conclusion
And there you have it folks. Those are indeed some of the best scopes for Marlin 336 you can buy right now. They are all quite good at their task and very versatile. If you want to swap guns out in the future you still can use those scopes on your newly purchased gun.
With that said, that’s all for now. Hope you guys enjoyed the read and found it useful. Hope to see you on the next one. Till then, take care and have fun.