5 Best Scopes for 30-30 Marlin 336 in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Last Updated on Jan 03 2024

This thing of always going with scopes that come with the highest price tag, or those that have the most hi-tech features, is the wrong strategy if you’re shopping for best scopes in the market.

Those features may seem attractive, but we guarantee you that they won’t live up to the hype.

In our world, the best scope isn’t the one that looks technologically advanced, but one that’s capable of registering exceptional scores.

That being said, are you ready to be acquainted with the best scopes for a 30-30 Marlin 336? Let’s get to it.

A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024

The 5 Best Scopes for a 30-30 Marlin 336

1. CVLIFE 3-9×40 Optics R4 Reticle Crosshair Scope– Best Overall

The CVLIFE 3-9×40 Optics R4 Reticle Crosshair Scope is often referred to as a blue blood optic, for the mere fact that it comes from a family of scopes that are known to guarantee high-quality performance.

This high-value product is not only fog proof, but also waterproof and shockproof. And we’ve got to thank the O-ring seal and nitrogen inside of it, because it’s one of the many reasons why it’s top ranked among scopes that can perform exceptionally well in harsh conditions and/or environments.

The CVLIFE scope is a fully multi coated lens scope. “Fully Multi Coated” means you’ll be working with a device designed with lenses that are covered with multiple layers of coatings in all air to glass surfaces. Making it the best sighting device to deliver at least a 95 percent light transmission.

The elevation and windage adjustment turrets are precise and to the point. They’ll give you that pinpoint accuracy that will help prove that you’re not just any other shooter, but THE best shooter in the game.

There’s also this other feature that you don’t see every day. We’re talking about the Special Inner and Outer Structure. It’s incorporated into the scope to ensure your reticle doesn’t rotate even the slightest bit, anytime you make adjustments.

What was the material used in construction? Aluminum. And this shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who understands how this industry works. Aluminum is the type of material that will make your product ultra-strong, and lightweight.

In case it wasn’t obvious, the 3-9×40 Optics R4 Reticle Crosshair Scope is a 9-power scope adjustment with a 40mm objective lens diameter. It therefore offers optimum brightness and versatility.

The only downside is that it comes with a limited warranty.

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2. CVLIFE 4×32 Compact Rifle Scope– Best Value

Anytime we hear guys asking what’s the best scope for someone working with a shoestring budget, we immediately think of the CVLIFE 4×32 Compact Rifle Scope. We kid you not, this great innovation is the best scope for a 30-30 Marlin 336 for the money.

And just like all the other smart design scopes available in the market, it also comes with features—such as the inert gas inside it—that make it usable in any weather condition. Yeah, you heard that right. Our CVLIFE 4×32 Compact Rifle Scope is also fog proof, water proof, and scratch resistant.

“What if the guy holding the Marlin 336 will be running while aiming?”

The windage and elevation adjustments will take care of them. The knob is finger-adjustable, so it will make it easier for you to adjust your reticle accordingly, and thus, align the aiming point with your crosshairs.

This aluminum-housed device is 190mm long. And CVLIFE were intentional about that because they needed something that could produce clear target images. We also loved how perfect the exit pupil was, but the eye relief was such a disappointment.

Regardless, we choose to focus more on the positives. You see, even though it’s a simple scope, the field of view was wide enough to ensure we didn’t lose moving targets.  

We’ll give this single piece one-inch tube a 4 out of 5-star rating. It would have gotten a 5 out of 5, if we felt comfortable with that eye relief. Again, such a bummer.

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3. Vortex Optics Diamondback Riflescope – Premium Choice

Okay, we’ll just keep it a hundred, and tell you what we first thought when we saw this scope. Our immediate thought was, there’s no scope in the world that would be able to beat it to the punch. But then, we saw that ridiculous price tag on it, and our souls were crushed. 

We later on took it for a test run, and started noticing other small stuff. Like for example, how the turrets don’t even track well.

But all in all, it’s still an incredible scope. One of the familiar features that we liked was its solid one-piece tube design. One-piece tubes are notoriously known for being extra strong, compared to their counterparts the multi-piece tubes.

The hard-anodized finish ensures it can withstand the test of time, and handle any form of shock that you might expose it to. Also, it camouflages the shooter’s position.

Quick question:

Aren’t you tired of buying new scopes every time the one you’re using drops in water? Well, the Vortex Optics Diamondback Riflescope is the solution. It’s o-ring sealed and argon purged to guarantee an incredible waterproof and fog proof performance.

And just so you know, the dead-hold BDC reticle feature was a necessary addition, as it’s meant for users who are always hung up on how a scope performs when estimating hold-over. What about the fast-focus eyepiece? Oh, that will provide a quick and seamless reticle focusing.

Another feature that makes this scope special is the precision glide erector system, which ensures the user gets an accurate tracking and repeatability. Lastly, the lenses are fully multi coated, so as to create crystal clear images from dusk to dawn.

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4. BESTSIGHT 3-9×40 Tactical Hunting Riflescope

As you can see, the BESTSIGHT 3-9×40 Tactical Hunting Riflescope is a variable scope. And seeing as it’s an adjustable optic, it’s safe to assume that the field of view also comes in the form of a range. At 100 yards, your field of view will range from 13 to 38. Which is pretty decent for a scope of its caliber.

The objective lens diameter is 40mm, so you don’t have to be told it has the ability to collect enough light for the production of bright and clear images. But that’s not the only feature that makes this scope a one-of-a-kind tactical scope. We also have to at least say something about the high-strength aluminum alloy, that’s strong enough to safeguard the structural integrity of the device as a whole.

And sure enough, it can outperform your average scope during winter or during the rainy season, since it’s completely sealed and 100 percent nitrogen purged.

 “How does it handle parallax?”

Exceptionally well. Our BESTSIGHT 3-9×40 Tactical Hunting Riflescope has been designed to deliver a parallax free view starting at 15 yards, all the way to infinity. And… There’s something called the Focus Component that works with the moderate damping to quickly focus and maintain accuracy.

To enhance visibility, BESTSIGHT thought it would be a good idea to illuminate its crosshairs. Therefore, you’ll be getting a green and red illumination, and a 5-level brightness setting to control the intensity.

What’s the other thing that makes it the ideal Marlin 336 scope? The free 20mm scope mount that comes with it, and the dioptric adjustment lens that caters to users with eyesight problems.

We were however confused by the windage and elevation adjustments as they’ve been designed to move in the opposite directions. Instead of clockwise, they move anticlockwise.

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5. BARSKA AC13490 Plinker-22 Rifle Scope

Last but not least, we have the BARSKA AC13490 Plinker-22 Rifle Scope. A scope known to guarantee results in the precision accuracy department, courtesy of the ¼ MOA click adjustments. Which, by the way, are very audible even to users who might have some hearing problems.

The tube diameter is one inch, and it’s among the features that credit goes to when we’re talking about how impressed we are with the construction quality. We’re also happy to confirm that it’s yet another fully coated optic, designed to improve the clarity of the type of images generated.

We thought we should ask, have you ever heard of the new-tech 30/30 reticle? You incorporate this type of reticle into a scope when you want it to provide you with easy targeting in any environment. And to top that off, the margin of error will be insignificant, given it’s parallax free at 50 yards.

We would describe the design as robust because this device has been built with an extra-rigid construction. So rigid you could even dismount it from the rifle, and use it as a weapon. And like all the other scopes that we’ve already reviewed, it’s shockproof, fog proof, and waterproof.

Do we have any drawbacks to add? Unfortunately, yes. Those 3/8” Dovetail Rings that’s included in the package are unusually thin and low profile. They need to be replaced, if the scope is to compete with other scopes on a level ground.

Buyer’s Guide – Picking the Best Scope for 30-30 Marlin 336

You know, the funny thing about this industry is, everybody thinks they already know what has to be taken into consideration before buying a good scope. But that’s just it. Not every piece of information out there is accurate. That’s why you’ll see a shooter rush to get a particular scope, only to come complaining about how they feel duped.

The type of features that you’ll find on a scope are typically divided into two. We have the standard features, and the unique features.

The standard features are those that the scope has to have, irrespective of the price point. The unique features, on the other hand, are more high-tech. Your style or kind of shooting is what makes them important.

Despite the fact that the unique features are just as weighty, we’re often advised to always pay close attention to the standard features. That’s because the standard features are what makes an optic worth purchasing.

What are these standard features that we keep talking about? Well, the first one is…

Magnification

Every shooter has a specific magnification need. Some are similar, but most of them are different. Furthermore, the target will always define a user’s magnification needs. Just think about it. What’s normally at the back you’re your mind anytime you shop for a scope? Is it the 30-30 Marlin 336 that you’ll be mounting it on? Or is it the target?

Back in the day, we never cared much about a scope’s zooming power. We actually didn’t give a hoot if it was a fixed scope with a 4x power, or an adjustable one with a 3-9x range. All we cared about was whether it could magnify targets that are at a distance of 100 yards or less. 

But times have changed. The industry has evolved, and so has the users’ needs. Versatility is the name of the game now, so you need to go for an all-round scope. Preferably, one that comes with a magnification range that will be instrumental when shooting at targets that are under 100 yards, and those that are farther away.

To cut the long story short, if it makes you feel like the target is a couple of yards away, even though you know it can’t be seen without an optic, it’s definitely an awesome scope.

Objective Lens

A scope’s objective lens is what’s responsible for the amount of light that’s allowed into its system. And everybody knows light is an important factor that determines how bright and crisp the images appear.

Okay, we’ll just cut to the chase.

Go for a bigger objective lens diameter, if you have the option. A bigger lens equates to more light, and more light means you’ll be getting a clearer vision. By the way, this is not just some relevant en passant information that we’re asking you to take a note of. It’s key, especially to those shooters who always work under low light conditions.

When it comes to lighting, the shooting range doesn’t matter. Every shooter needs good quality lighting. Be it short-range, mid-range, or long-range.

And for the record, low lighting doesn’t mean hunting or shooting in pitch black conditions. It could mean shooting targets at the crack of dawn or as the sky dusks. And a good hunter knows those are the best times to hunt.

Reticle

You know, it’s best to play it safe if you don’t know anything about reticles, or how they function. We would suggest the German No. 4, also known as the duplex reticle. It’s the type that fits any type of weapon, performs remarkably well under any condition, and guarantees accuracy in any range. But if you’re a long-ranger shooter who understands the ABCs of different scope reticles, go get yourself a finer crosshair.

To be honest, we really can’t say much about the reticle feature because when it comes down to it, there’s a great deal of personal preference that comes into play. Just think about it, we’ve competed against shooters who prefer them thick, and those that prefer them thin.

And while we’re still on this subject, we have to at least talk about the reticle’s position on the focal plane. Assuming it’s on the first focal plane, the reticle size changes will always be proportional to the target size, as the magnification is being adjusted. But if it happens to be on the second focal plane, its size won’t change even if you increase the zoom power.

Eye Relief

You’ll want to settle for a scope that comes with a higher eye relief, if the weapon that you’re planning to use has a heavy recoil. The eye relief factor is important to users who are looking to avoid scope eye—a situation whereby you end up with an eye injury, as a result of the scope hitting you in the eye due to recoil.

Anything with an eye relief of four inches is good. But anything with an eye relief of 3.5 or 3 inches is second-rate.

The Warranty

The truth of the matter is, nobody really likes to spend their hard-earned money on anything. We all like getting new stuff, but hate the transactional bit of the process. And that’s because of something called “Purchasing anxiety.”

This is a feeling that you’ll experience every time you go out there to buy a product. It’s caused by uncertainties. Not knowing whether the product that you’ll be getting will offer value for money.

Most scope brands are now offering unlimited warranty to their customers, so as to put this anxiety to rest. And that’s a good thing because these new scopes come with technology that’s so advanced that you can’t even find a quick-fix in a store near you, should something go south.

Parallax

Parallax is something that you’ll only have to worry about if you’re a long-range shooter. The adjustments are usually found in high-power scopes, and they’re meant to help users align their line of sight.

By definition, the parallax that users often experience is essentially an optical illusion that keeps on increasing as the zooming power increases. If left unchecked, there will be a larger margin of error. And hence, inaccurate shots.

Conclusion

That’s all we had for you today, guys. But remember, our top pick for the best scope for a 30-30 Marlin 336 is the CVLIFE 3-9×40 Optics R4 Reticle Crosshair Scope. It’s been tried and tested. The best scope for the 30-30 Marlin 336 for the money is the CVLIFE 4×32 Compact Rifle Scope, and our premium choice is the Vortex Optics Diamondback Riflescope.

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

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