Succeeding the ever so popular Marlin 1881, Marlin 1894 was the first lever-action rifle made by Marlin Firearms. Over the years, this gun has received several upgrades. Even in 2022, you will see people using this gun to learn to hunt.
Without a good riflescope, you won’t be able to hunt properly. Shooting just won’t feel good. While this gun requires a mounting rail to support scopes, it’s worth it upgrade. If you already have a Marlin 1894 riflescope mount installed, then let’s talk about some scopes.
There are tons of scopes available that can support Marlin 1894. Among them, which one is the best scope for Marlin 1894? That’s what we are going to find out.
Best Marlin 1894 Scopes – [Editor’s Pick]
1. Burris Fullfield II 3-9×40 Ballistic Plex Hunting Scope
Burris FullField II is a hunting rifle that comes without any mounting rings. Depending on what type of rings you buy, you can very well mount it on top of any gun.
This budget medium-range hunting riflescope is constructed from high-quality aluminum. Durable enough to withstand any weather. That includes rain and snow as well.
Nitrogen purged inside won’t let any moisture go inside. It’s a fog and shockproof scope. Suitable for Marlin 1894, it won’t interfere with the rifle action or disassembly.
The lens of this scope is fully multi-coated as well. Providing you best possible image. The contrast of this scope is on point as well. There are no forced hue or fake coloring issues involved. You can find those issues on a plastic lens. A large 40mm objective lens gathers plenty of light to work during low-light conditions as well.
Adjustment knobs are placed in a good position. They are easy to access and operate. Even with gloves on, you can adjust this scope.
Does it come with mounting rings?
No, there is no mounting ring included.
What is the reticle of this scope?
It comes with a Ballistic Plex reticle.
Does it come with a sunshade?
No, it does not.
2. Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7x33mm Rimfire Riflescope
Leupold is an excellent manufacturer. Their scopes are praiseworthy for many different reasons. Most of the time making high-end scopes, it took them a while to take over the budget section.
VX-Freedom is a budget offering from Leupold. It’s made out of 6061-T6 aircraft-quality aluminum. Capable of withstanding military-level torture, this scope is waterproof as well. Inside of the scope is nitrogen purged to make it fogproof.
The lens of this scope is coated multiple times to perform better. Light transmission of this scope is on a different level. 33mm objective lens is capable of generating extremely vivid pictures. There is no color alteration present either.
Single cylinder design supports any mounting rings you plan to put around this. Making it compatible with any type of rifle.
What is the reticle of this scope?
A classic Duplex reticle invented by Leupold back in 1962.
Can this be used with .22 rifles?
Yes, it can be used with that.
Is there more than one reticle available?
You can choose this scope with 4 available reticles. The one we have here is a Duplex.
3. Leupold FX-II Ultralight 2.5x20mm Riflescope
FX-II Ultralight is a small and compact riflescope made for airsoft and other types of air guns. Naturally, it’s supposed to be paired with a not-so-powerful rifle. Marlin 1894 is a perfect candidate for this scope.
Constructed from high-quality durable aluminum, this scope has some amazing features. One of them is being waterproof. Besides that, it’s also shock and fogproof. Sounds surprising, but it is. There is no anodization error present on this scope either.
One of the best features of Leupold’s scope is the twilight light management system. It’s a patented system that gathers more sunlight than other scopes. Thanks to that, it performs incredibly well during the low light. Despite not having a pair of HD glasses.
Fully multi-coating also helps enhance the vision of this scope. Overall, the lens is fabulous.
What is the tube diameter of this scope?
It’s a standard 1” single-piece tube.
Can it do 125 yards easily?
Quite easily possible. If you have the gun for it.
Is the magnification fixed?
Yes, it’s a 2.5x fixed magnified scope.
Read More Scope Blogs:- Marlin 1895 SBL | Marlin 336 | Marlin 795
4. Leupold VX-3HD 1.5-5×20 CDS-ZL Rifle Scope
There are so many good Leupold scopes available on the market, that it’s hard to just recommend one. Leupold makes some of the best Marlin 1894 scopes. Granted their main target is not that gun. But the scopes they make, they are the perfect choice to be paired with an 1894.
The housing of this scope is made out of aluminum. High-quality material and lightweight. A widely chosen material for making scopes. While hunting, you couldn’t care less about sudden rain or snowstorms. Thankfully, this scope is capable of withstanding both of those.
As the name suggests, it packs a pair of HD glasses with multiple layers of coatings involved. It also features Leupold’s twilight light management system. That light system is truly a blessing. Surely, it won’t make your scope work during the night. But it will make the scope work from dusk to dawn. What more do you need?
There reticle of this scope is a Duplex CDS-ZL. Mouthful name but there is not much going on with this reticle. If you ever used a Duplex reticle before, you wouldn’t have a hard time reading this.
Is CDS present in this scope?
Yes, CDS is available.
Is the reticle illuminated?
No, this version of the scope doesn’t come with an illuminated reticle.
Is the reticle on SFP?
Yeah, it’s a second focal plane scope.
5. Crimson Trace Brushline 3-9x40mm
Crimson Trace makes good riflescopes for hunting and competitive shooting. Their Brushline is a medium-range riflescope made to be paired with weapons like the Marlin 1894!
This scope is made out of high-quality CNC machined aluminum. This material is known for its reliability and longevity. To make sure it’s fogproof, the inside of the scope is purged with chemicals. Crimson Trace also used multiple layers of chemicals to coat both of the lenses.
Thanks to the coating, the clarity of this riflescope is insanely good for the money! You don’t expect a company to deliver such a good item for this price, but here we are! Living in a utopia for scopes, we are!
The reticle of this scope is a BDC. An easy to master and learn on the fly! Doesn’t matter whether you are a beginner or a professional, you can take full advantage of this reticle!
Does it come with mounting rings?
No, you will need to buy them separately.
What size of mounting rings do you need?
You will need 1″ diameter of mounting rings for this optic.
Does this scope hold zero?
Yes, as it’s shockproof. Recoil won’t be able to shake off zero.
How To Choose The Best Scope For Marlin 1894
There are tons of things you need to consider before buying a scope. Marlin 1894 is no exception. First thing first. Make sure you are buying a mounting rail for Marlin 1894 if you don’t have one already.
Magnification
As we are going to use these scopes with a Marlin 1894, you want a scope that has more than 1x magnification. It’s capable of shooting down 100 or so yards. It’s a good idea to have a scope with at least 2x magnification.
Lens Quality
Lens quality is the most important part of a scope. Plastic lenses are a big no. They can get scratchy, show bad color, and make you miss shots. That’s why, buying a scope with a good pair of lenses is a must.
Weight
Weight distribution is a key part of having a balanced gun. Too much weight at the back can make you feel more recoil than usual. It will also make you miss shots. Take a scope that has a good weight balance.
Build Quality
The lens of the scope will be protected by the housing. If your housing is made out of bad materials, it will give up on the lens and break down on its own. It’s a good idea to go for scopes made out of metal. Sometimes plastic is the way to go as well.
Summary
There are tons of scopes, tons of choices, tons of decisions. Or I could narrow it down to 5 for you. That’s right. These are the 5 best riflescopes available for Marlin 1894. Of course, you are allowed to disagree with me. But from our research and testing, these are the ones that performed better than others.
Depending on your budget and what kind of magnification you require, you are free to get any of the mentioned scopes. Until we meet again. Keep hunting.
Scopes:- 22 Hornet | 22 Magnum | 243 | 257 Weatherby | 270 Winchester | 28 Nosler | 3 Gun | 300 PRC | 303 Lee Enfield | 338 Lapua | 350 Legend | 35 Whelen | 375 HH | 444 Marlin | 44 Magnum | 450 Bushmaster | 458 SOCOM | 460 XVR | Benjamin 392 | Browning BLR | CVA Paramount | CVA Wolf | Daisy 880 | Marlin 1895 SBL | Marlin 336 | Marlin 795 | Marlin Model 60 | MK12 | Pre 64 Model 70 | Rossi RS22 | Ruger Gunsite Scout | Ruger Mini 14 | Ruger Mini 30 | RWS 48 | Savage 64F | Savage 99
Mounts: 30 MM | 34 MM | 45 Degree | Benjamin 392 | Browning SA-22 | Browning X-Bolt | Howa 1500 | M1A | Marlin 1895 | Marlin 30-30 | Marlin 336 | Marlin Model 60 | Mosin Nagant | TC Encore
Hi, I’m Brent Hansford. A writer turned hunter & now sharing my love for the sport through writing. As I practically breathe weapons, I firmly believe I’m capable of providing you with new knowledge about firearms and hunting. My mission is to help more people get better at hunting & master the weapons. Let me help with unleashing the beast within you!
