Do a Google search for “side mount scope” and you get absolute shit results. “Marlin 80 side mount scope?” Forget about it. So to anybody looking for information, here you go.
Who this applies to: anyone who has a rifle with rail mounting holes on the side of the rifle rather then the top. Like my Marlin 80. You need a Weaver side mount (this page also has a complete list of applicable firearms) and a ring mount. I have the shorter one; the longer one is, I guess, for really long scopes.
You put the weaver side mount on — which is really just a riser with two screw holes in it — then onto that, you mount the rings. Then you stick the scope on and you’re done! And yes, the scope is in the same place as normal — when I was looking at the pictures of the parts, I couldn’t quite figure it out and was imagining the scope sticking out from the side or something. Happily, that is not the case.
One thing to note is that at least with my rifle, the scope was so low the bolt handle can interfere with the power adjustment knob on the scope if you’re not careful. One way to fix this might be to weld/glue/magik on a wee little bit of metal to the base of the bolt handle, which would remove the extra play it has and eliminate any possibility of the handle touching the scope.
Thanks man, you were the first result for “Marlin 80 side mount scope” on Google.
Wow, awesome — I’m famous!
Glad I could help. ^_^
Just picked up a Weaver 2 side mount, and it doesn’t have the notch cut into it like in your link — it’s completely rectangular. The screw holes are also different. Doesn’t seem like it will work. Marlin 80 is listed on the package I bought — any ideas? Maybe someone switched it out and returned it.
Huh. Can you upload a picture of what you have, just so I can see what you mean? When I get home I’ll snap a picture of mine.
With regards to the pictures in the first link, I think somebody there screwed up recently, because those don’t look like mine, either.
This is what I picked up
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=119028
I think my rifle may be the problem — it’s a JC Higgins 103.16, which is supposed to be the same as a Marlin 80. The only two holes drilled in the barrel are on the side at the receiver. The Weaver 2 mount didn’t seem to sit right and the screws that came with it were way to big to fit anyway. I’ll work on getting a picture of that in a bit. I already returned the weaver mount.
Figured it out — my rifle is configured for a rear peep sight.
Glad you got it. Yeah, that side mount from Midway is the one I have. Interestingly, I have the same rifle, only mine, of course, is set up for a side mount.
I think I’ll edit this post with some more information, and some pictures once I find the frigging battery charger for my camera. <_<