Project Appleseed

Road to Rifleman => Rifle / Ammo / Gear => Topic started by: Cory Mathis on May 03, 2012, 08:09:30 PM

Title: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: Cory Mathis on May 03, 2012, 08:09:30 PM
Does anyone know if there is a top mount made for the marlin 795 in a picitany rail.  I am looking for one and none of my sporting goods store has one.

Needs to take the standard weaver mounts.

Thanks,

Casper
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: BradCoudriet on May 03, 2012, 10:55:04 PM
I actually mounted one on mine this year! Here's how I did it!

1. Buy this dovetail to weaver adapter http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CJ67E6 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CJ67E6) from Amazon.com
2. Position it on the factory rail where you want it, and mark with a punch where the set screw is going to be on top factory rail.
3. [OPTIONAL] Take off the adapter and then drill a small dimple (just enough for the set screw to dig in) where your set screw is gonna be. This will be make sure that your new rail never ever moves.
4. When you are satisfied with the placement of everything, screw it down, put a few dabs of blue locktite before before screwing everything together.

Small caveat. Your Red Dot is now going to be REALLY high up. I had to build up my stock a bit so when I get a good cheek weld I can actually look through the new sight.

To build it up I bought a sheet of Kydex off Amazon. Used a heat gun to bend it into shape and drilled some holes to make it adjustable. Home Depot hardware for the win.

Here's my finished product:

(http://i.imgur.com/xHti6.jpg)
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: dart67eb on May 03, 2012, 11:09:04 PM
Nice job Brad!  I've been contemplating one of these from CDNN.  http://www.cdnninvestments.com/ta21xreddosi.html  It is set up for a .22 rail.  I've been thinking more and more about this since most troops now us optics of some type. 
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: Cory Mathis on May 03, 2012, 11:55:31 PM
Can you shoot rifleman with it?  I ask this because with my eye sight I just can't see that front site like I did before...............God made dirt.

Thanks for the info.

Casper
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: BradCoudriet on May 04, 2012, 12:31:47 AM
I personally haven't been able to shoot rifleman, but I am 100% positive that has NOTHING to do with the red dot.
My last scored attempt was a 198 I think. Very close. The sitting stage kills me. I just can't get my body in a solid position.

Also... while transitioning from standing to sitting/prone and its cold and rainy out... don't breath heavily on your red dot.. you will fog it up and score a zero on that stage  :'(

While zeroing in with squares I was able to double up some holes all in the black, only a few flyers.. which was me flinching and instantly calling the shot.

With the Kydex i'm able to get a really reliable and consistent cheek weld. If you wanted to you could even get crazy and mold the kydex to fix your face a bit :)
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: dart67eb on May 04, 2012, 02:50:51 AM
I just ordered a couple of these.  The dot is 5 moa so I'll let you know how they work.  They got good reviews on opticsplanet.

Quote from: dart67eb on May 03, 2012, 11:09:04 PM
Nice job Brad!  I've been contemplating one of these from CDNN.  http://www.cdnninvestments.com/ta21xreddosi.html  It is set up for a .22 rail.  I've been thinking more and more about this since most troops now us optics of some type.
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: The Log on May 04, 2012, 11:16:05 AM
Quote from: BradCoudriet on May 04, 2012, 12:31:47 AM
I personally haven't been able to shoot rifleman, but I am 100% positive that has NOTHING to do with the red dot.
My last scored attempt was a 198 I think. Very close. The sitting stage kills me. I just can't get my body in a solid position.
If you're scoring consistently in the high 190s to low 200s, look at your trigger discipline - especially with that crunchy, crusty pseudo-two-stage trigger on the Marlin 795. Make sure you're not flying off the trigger!!

And, nice job on the Reddot mount. Plus the Kydex build-up is a nice idea!

</log>
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: dwarven1 on May 04, 2012, 01:51:10 PM
I have a Marlin Papoose - same receiver as the 795, I think. I mounted a red dot on top of a Picatinny Rail on top of an adapter for the 3/8" scope rail... and man, was my cheek weld up high.

Since I have a drill press and a machinist's vice - and I'm not afraid to USE them - I'm going to drill and tap the receiver so I can just mount the Picatinny rail to the receiver nice and close. Should let me use a lace-on pad to get a good cheek weld.
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: Cory Mathis on May 04, 2012, 05:51:54 PM
Thanks Dart and Brad C.  Dart please let me know how these red dots worked.  Thanks a million for the info.

Casper
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: Roland on May 04, 2012, 06:28:42 PM
That Kydex thing is awesome! How long/how easy was is to do? I really like the way that looks.
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: Caliper on May 04, 2012, 11:36:23 PM
Quote from: Casper on May 03, 2012, 11:55:31 PM
Can you shoot rifleman with it? 

My first patch was earned using a Rem 597 with a red dot.  You will want to set the dot to the lowest brightness that doesn't get washed out (makes the dot look smaller for stage 4).  If your sight has a choice of apertures, I liked the one with the small center dot and the large ring around it.  YMMV. 
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: dart67eb on May 04, 2012, 11:38:10 PM
You can really get theses triggers right for no $$.  Look here http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=7e8ce0f18aa39f03af2cdb6a72235fad&f=217

Quote from: The Log on May 04, 2012, 11:16:05 AM
Quote from: BradCoudriet on May 04, 2012, 12:31:47 AM
I personally haven't been able to shoot rifleman, but I am 100% positive that has NOTHING to do with the red dot.
My last scored attempt was a 198 I think. Very close. The sitting stage kills me. I just can't get my body in a solid position.
If you're scoring consistently in the high 190s to low 200s, look at your trigger discipline - especially with that crunchy, crusty pseudo-two-stage trigger on the Marlin 795. Make sure you're not flying off the trigger!!

And, nice job on the Reddot mount. Plus the Kydex build-up is a nice idea!

</log>
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: BradCoudriet on May 05, 2012, 09:15:33 AM
Quote from: Roland on May 04, 2012, 06:28:42 PM
That Kydex thing is awesome! How long/how easy was is to do? I really like the way that looks.

I was easy, only tools required were a drill, a jig saw and a heat gun (a hair dryer would probably work)

Cut the piece to the basic shape you want, heat up the middle of it so only the middle is bending and then bend it around your stock.

Drill holes and slots and WIN!
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: Justsomedude on May 05, 2012, 11:03:35 AM
A 5 MOA Dot is good for quick shooting.
Have you ever tried a 2 MOA?
http://www.opticsplanet.net/barska-1x20mm-ir-red-dot-sight-w-2-moa-ir-reticle.html
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: Nickle on May 05, 2012, 07:18:48 PM
I've got some experience with a 4 MOA red dot, and much more with a 2 MOA red dot (courtesy of my previous employer, since retired). Currently own a 2 MOA red dot identical to the one used on my issue rifle. I'll warn you, this model doesn't come cheap. Replacing it with an ACOG next week, but keeping the red dot for use on another rifle.

(http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/large/971/971768.jpg)
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: dart67eb on May 07, 2012, 09:06:07 PM
That's a Weaver base and 5x the cost, though.

Quote from: Justsomedude on May 05, 2012, 11:03:35 AM
A 5 MOA Dot is good for quick shooting.
Have you ever tried a 2 MOA?
http://www.opticsplanet.net/barska-1x20mm-ir-red-dot-sight-w-2-moa-ir-reticle.html
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: stoneknives on May 18, 2012, 04:18:16 PM
I've used several optical sight on my LTR 795 loaner rifle starting out with an old old Propoint, then to a 40mm 5moa BSA, then a 1 inch Millet 3moa on a Picatinny adaptor ( http://www.ebay.com/itm/METAL-RAIL-CONVERTS-3-8-DOVETAIL-PICATINNY-/230789126682?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35bc1a9a1a ). This 3moa Millet worked well at 25m but even with the lowest mounts was a reach for the kids to use and made it hard for them to get a proper weld. I took the Millett off to put back on it's AR and found this NCSTAR 30mm 3moa Dot on eBay ( http://www.ebay.com/itm/270694130737?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 ) under $40 bucksand mounted it up. Half again lower than the Millet/picatinny adaptor it is working well after a brick of ammo. The dot comes with rimfire 30mm mounts and is half the cost of a Millet dot and seems robust but I have not used it on a big gun. It's still tall for the youngsters but I taped on a mouse pad to try, let my daughter shoot with it and she proclaimed it perfect. So I'll be gluing a pad on before the next 'seed.   my 2 cents - hope it helps you
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: Justsomedude on May 18, 2012, 06:07:20 PM
Yep...Weaver should fit his Picatinny just fine (maybe I've been lucky?)
Sub $100 for Barksa seems cheap to me.
But after talking to 3 Gun guys EVERYTHING seems cheap :)

Quote from: dart67eb on May 07, 2012, 09:06:07 PM
That's a Weaver base and 5x the cost, though.

Quote from: Justsomedude on May 05, 2012, 11:03:35 AM
A 5 MOA Dot is good for quick shooting.
Have you ever tried a 2 MOA?
http://www.opticsplanet.net/barska-1x20mm-ir-red-dot-sight-w-2-moa-ir-reticle.html
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: dart67eb on May 24, 2012, 04:25:47 AM
I mounted the Tasco red dot and the 5moa circle covers one of the squares at 25m.  (imagine that!)  If you line up the edge of the circle with the corners of the square, it works.  It was brutally sunny so the dot was real dim.  Useable, though.  The height was ok with the foam on the stock.  The adjustments on it are not 1/2 moa, as advertised.  More like 1 moa.  I'll let my 12yr old shoot the AS in Biloxi with it and give a better range report at that time.
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: Cory Mathis on May 24, 2012, 06:20:30 PM
Thanks Dart,

Please keep me (us) posted.

Casper

PS  I like the girl vs the rabbit.  Rabbit was kinda creepy..........a pancake on the head????  : )
Title: Re: Mounting a red dot on a marlin 795
Post by: dart67eb on May 25, 2012, 01:33:00 AM
Pancake bunny creepy?  Maybe in a Monty Python sort of way ;D

Quote from: Casper on May 24, 2012, 06:20:30 PM
Thanks Dart,

Please keep me (us) posted.

Casper

PS  I like the girl vs the rabbit.  Rabbit was kinda creepy..........a pancake on the head????  : )