The Best Scope for Marlin 336 Rifles | Options for .30-30 Cartridges

The Marlin Model 336 is one of the most popular lever-action rifles out there. This rifle has been around since 1948 and it is still as popular and reliable as ever.

Many hunters and shooters even refer to it as the best deer rifle ever made. While this rifle is known to be very powerful, you can further boost its performance with the best scope for Marlin 336.

This rifle does not need the most powerful scopes. The maximum zoom range it needs is 9x or 12x at most. As such, you do not need to spend a lot of money when shopping for a scope for your Marlin 336. Here are our top picks.

Our top pick is the Simmons Truplex Riflescope 3-9x40mm. This scope is pocket-friendly and it comes with the optimal zoom level for the Marlin 336. It is lightweight, with fully coated optics, and it comes with generous eye relief.

Here Are The Best Scopes For Marlin 336 Rifles:

ProductDetails
1. Simmons Truplex Riflescope 3-9x40mm

  • 3 to 9x
  • 12 inches
  • 10 ounces
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2. Leupold VX-1 3-9x40mm Compact Riflescope

  • 3 to 9x
  • N/A
  • 11.2 ounces
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3. Vortex Optics Viper HS-T Second Focal Plane Riflescopes

  • 6 to 16
  • 13.7 inches
  • 20.8 ounces
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4. Trijicon RS20 AccuPower 3-9x40mm Riflescope

  • 3 to 9x
  • 12.3 inches
  • 17 ounces
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5. Nikon ProStaff 2-7x32mm Black Matte Riflescope (Nikoplex)

  • 2to 7x
  • 11.5 inches
  • 12.5 ounces
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6. BARSKA 3-9x40 Huntmaster 30/30 Riflescope

  • 3 to 9x
  • 12.2 inches
  • 12.9 ounces
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7. Burris 200261 Ballistic Plex 2-7x32mm Riflescope

  • 2 to 7x
  • 9.7 inches
  • 13 ounces
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1. Simmons Truplex Riflescope 3-9x40mm — Best Scope for 30 30 Marlin 336

Simmons Truplex Riflescope (3-9X40, Matte)

If you are looking for the best scope for Marlin 336 and you are on a budget, then the Simmons Truplex Riflescope 3-9x40mm is one of the best options you have. This is a highly dependable product and it comes with many great features.

Despite its low costs, this unit offers outstanding precision. This scope is built for durability and it features a fog-proof, waterproof, and shockproof design.

One of the most outstanding features of this scope is that it prevents movements once you set it to zero. It does this with the help of a fingertip adjustment for elevation and windage. With this adjustment system, you will no longer find it complex and challenging to set it up correctly.

In addition to these features, this scope comes with high-quality and fully coated lenses to provide you with super clear and bright images.

The magnification range of this scope is perfect for Marlin 336, at 3x to 9x. This is great for acquiring targets at short to medium-ranges. You can also use it for long-distance shots.

It also comes with a 40mm objective lens, which is large enough to allow for great light transmission. This scope comes with a quick target acquisition focus eyepiece that is very useful.

It is lightweight and portable, making it very easy to manage. The downside to this product is that the band covers it comes with are not the best of quality.

Specs

  • 3 to 9x
  • 12 inches
  • 10 ounces

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Fully coated and high-quality optics
  • Ideal for any type of shooting and hunting
  • Highly durable and easy to adjust

Cons

  • Higher quality band covers would have been better

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2. Leupold VX-1 3-9x40mm Compact Riflescope

Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40 1" Matte (174180)

The Leupold VX-1 3-9x40mm Compact  Riflescope is one of the best scopes for .30-30 lever action rifles out there. This unit features a rugged and robust body tube that is crafted with strong, high-grade aluminum.

It is also designed to withstand all weather, which means you can use it under the rain, snow, and in foggy weather. This is because it is waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof.

It also comes with a super clear glass lens that allows for great light penetration. The objective lens of this scope is 40mm and it offers crystal clear and sharp images.

The lens of this scope is multicoated and it comes with a wide duplex reticle. Multicoated lenses are great, as they produce clear, sharp, and bright images even in poor or low-light conditions.

This unit also comes with finger-adjustable dials that make it very easy and fast to make adjustments and zero the scope. It also comes with the ideal zoom range for Marlin 336, at 3-9x.

This unit will also impress you with its stylish and sleek design. It has a tactile indicator that allows you to zoom in and out with just a touch. To crown it all, this scope comes with a full lifetime warranty.

Specs

  • 3 to 9x
  • N/A
  • 11.2 ounces

Pros

  • Built to withstand any weather
  • Sturdy and rugged body
  • Quick and easy to adjust and zero in
  • It produces super sharp and clear images

Cons

  • It does not come with a cover for the lens

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3. Vortex Optics Viper HS-T Second Focal Plane Riflescopes

Vortex Optics Viper HS-T 6-24x50 SFP Riflescope VMR-1 MOA

When it comes to durability, the Vortex Optics Viper HS-T Second Focal Plane Riflescope is one of the most durable scopes for Marlin 336. If you do more long-range shootings, then this is the right scope for you.

This is a one-piece tube that is made with high-grade aluminum in a matte black finish. You might be wondering what the HS-T means. Well, it stands for Hunting Shooting Tactical, which means it is ideal for a wide range of uses.

This scope features a magnification range of 4x to 16x. This means the minimum zoom level is 4 times while the maximum zoom level is 16 times. With this, you will no longer have issues acquiring targets at longer distances.

It comes with a 44mm objective lens that is made with very low dispersion glass. This helps to increase the color, brightness, and resolution of images this scope offers. This scope also offers much room for comfort while shooting, as it comes with a generous eye relief of 4 inches.

It weighs about 20.8 ounces with an overall length of 13.7 inches. The field of view at 100 yards is 27.4’ to 7.4’. The reticle options available with this unit are VMR-1 MOA and VMR-MRAD, so you can choose the one that suits your needs.

The reticle is precise and it does a great job of locking in on targets. In addition to all these great features, this scope comes with an unconditional lifetime warranty.

Specs

  • 6 to 16
  • 13.7 inches
  • 20.8 ounces

Pros

  • Fine crosshair reticle
  • Unconditional lifetime warranty
  • Ideal for long-distance shootings
  • Provides super clear and sharp images

Cons

  • It is a bit weighty and pricey

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4. Trijicon RS20 AccuPower 3-9x40mm Riflescope — Best Scope for 30 30

Trijicon RS20-C-1900008 AccuPower 3-9X40Mm Riflescope, 1" Main Tube, MOA Crosshair Reticle with Red LED, Matte Black

The next on our list is the Trijicon RS20 AccuPower 3-9x40mm Riflescope. If you are looking for the best scope for 30 30, then this is one option you should consider. This scope is of high quality and it is built to last. It is made with aircraft-grade aluminum casing.

This housing is tough enough to withstand any weather or abuse. It is shockproof, which means your scope would still be intact if it drops on the ground.

You can use this scope in any weather condition, as it is fog-proof and waterproof. The magnification range of this scope is 3x to 9x, which is great for short and medium-range shootings.

It comes with an objective lens of 40mm to provide you with super bright images. The lens of this scope is multicoated for high definition and sharp images. This scope also features 11 different brightness levels.

It also allows you to choose between a MIL-square crosshair, a duplex crosshair, and an MOA crosshair, which are all available in green or red illumination. With all these great features, this scope is still one of the most affordable in the market. The diameter of the tube is one inch while the overall length is 12.3 inches.

Specs

  • 3 to 9x
  • 12.3 inches
  • 17 ounces

Pros

  • Simple function and adjustments
  • Lightweight
  • Different reticle styles to choose from
  • 11 brightness settings

Cons

  • It is expensive

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5. Nikon ProStaff 2-7x32mm Black Matte Riflescope (Nikoplex)

Nikon ProStaff 3-9 x 40 Black Matte Riflescope (Nikoplex)

Nikon is very popular for making superior optics. The Nikon ProStaff 2-7x32mm scope is one of the best this brand has made. This scope can transit up to 98% of available light, thanks to the special coating of its lenses.

It offers a very clear view and it is great for short and medium-range shorts. The maximum zoom level of this scope is 7x while the minimum zoom level is 2x.

While many Marlin 336 scopes out there come with small eye relief, this scope is not selfish when it comes to eye relief. It features a generous eye relief of 3.8 inches to protect your eye and face.

The generosity of the eye relief will enable you to use it for a long time without any eye stress. This scope is O-ring sealed and nitrogen-filled to make it fog-proof and waterproof.

It is made with aircraft-grade aluminum to boost its shockproof performance and durability. You can use this scope in all sports and hunting expeditions, as it is very easy to adjust. The objective lens is 32mm, which is a bit small. The overall length is 11.5 inches and it has a field of view of 33.4 to 9.5 feet at 75 yards.

Specs

  • 2to 7x
  • 11.5 inches
  • 12.5 ounces

Pros

  • Waterproof, shockproof, and fog-proof
  • Generous eye relief
  • Easy adjustment
  • Superior optical clarity

Cons

  • The objective lens is a bit small

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6. BARSKA 3-9×40 Huntmaster 30/30 Riflescope

BARSKA 3-9x40 Huntmaster 30/30 Riflescope

The unique design and finishing of this scope are some of its major selling points. Many shooters love plinking scope, which is another reason why this scope is the number one choice of many.

It features a clicking sound that seems to put shooters “in the moment,” helping them to put their head in the game.  This scope comes with a great build and silver finishing. Also, if you are looking for the best budget scope for Marlin 336, then you should consider this option.

This scope offers super clear images, and it features a great zoom range. The minimum zoom level is 3x while the maximum zoom level is 9x. This is great for medium and short-range shots.

It comes with multicoated lenses to provide you with superb clarity and sharpness at all zoom levels. The image will remain clear even during a foggy condition, as it is resistant to fog.

The manufacturers made this scope with aircraft-grade aluminum, and it can handle gun recoil. It is also shockproof, which further boosts its durability. The packaging includes a microfiber lens cleaning cloth and scope caps.

The weight of this scope is 12.9 ounces while its overall length is 12.2 inches. The eye relief is 3.3 inches with 1/4 MOA click adjustments.

Specs

  • 3 to 9x
  • 12.2 inches
  • 12.9 ounces

Pros

  • Plinking turrets
  • Allows for fine adjustments
  • Water, impact, moist, and shock-resistant
  • Lifetime warranty

Cons

  • The eye relief is a bit small

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7. Burris 200261 Ballistic Plex 2-7x32mm Riflescope

Burris 200261 Ballistic Plex 2-7x32mm

The last on our list is the Burris 200261 Ballistic Plex 2-7x32mm Riflescope. This is another great scope for Marlin 336 as it has everything you need in a scope. It features the ideal power for Marlin 336, as it allows you to zoom from 2x to 7x. With a maximum magnification range of 7x, you can acquire any target from 30 yards out past 100.

It comes with an objective lens of 32mm to provide you with exceptional brightness. With this, you can use this scope in low-light conditions. It comes with a duplex reticle with a few bullet drop markers.

One of the most attractive features of this scope is its 11 inches eye relief. This gives you more room while shooting and you can also shoot with both eyes open if you are so inclined.

The lenses are multicoated to provide you with super clear, sharp, and bright images. It is very easy to adjust and it features audible clicks. The overall length is 9.7 inches while the weight is 13 ounces.

Specs

  • 2 to 7x
  • 9.7 inches
  • 13 ounces

Pros

  • Easy to adjust
  • Lightweight
  • Durable
  • 11 inches of eye relief

Cons

  • A larger objective lens would have been better

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Buying Guide

Magnification

When it comes to riflescopes, it seems everybody wants to go over the top. However, there is absolutely no need for that when using any of the calibers available for the Marlin 336.

When using the Marlin 336 you do not need the most powerful scope in the market. Using a 20x scope on this caliber is not bad, it might be basically what you want. However, the ideal range of this caliber is 9x or thereabout.

10x and above might be too much power, but if you want to make very long-distance shots, then it’s okay. But we recommend you go for something, as it would even save you some extra cash. All the Marlin 336 scopes in this guide come with optimal magnification range for this rifle.

Eye Relief

Another vital thing you need to consider when buying a scope for your Marlin 336 is the eye relief of the scope. Some versions of 336 are pretty heavy and they come with heavy rails and other accessories to increase the weight of the rifle. This helps to reduce the recoil to a level. Whereas, others are pretty light, and they come with streamlined, short barrels.

This means there is no concrete rule as to how far your eye relief should be. Hence, we recommend you go for a scope with a lot of room for your eyes. The minimum eye relief you should settle for is 3 inches. The larger the eye relief, the better, and it would help to protect your eye.

Click Adjustments and Reticle

The details of the turret should allow for easy and fine corrections. This would provide you with more precision when shooting. As such, the recommended MOA is 1/4 inches.

We also recommend you go for a reticle that allows you to make fine shots without making many adjustments. Some reticles are also lighted, and they help you to make better shots even in low-light conditions.

Conclusion

Those are some of the best scopes for Marlin 336 you can find on the market. From our top recommendations, the clear winner is the Simmons Truplex Riflescope 3-9x40mm because it is budget-friendly, lightweight, and it comes with generous eye relief. It also boasts of great performance and it comes with the optimal magnification range for the Marlin 336.

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