I'm heartened to see these "modern" lever guns attracting new shooters into the lever action fold, I really am. Their modern features seem to appeal to the pragmatic non-traditionalist, which is great. With the direction modern gun law is rather unfortunately going, they seem to be an attractive alternative to the AR platform and other semi automatics. I applaud that whole heartedly.
But, well, I'm a traditionalist at heart. I'm attracted to the older guns for the challenges they present. Any sort of optic on a lever gun (even worse on a single shot) is anathema to my view of them. Just not for me. I'll go as far as a peep sight, but that is my personal limit. Doesn't have to be everybody's.
Here is a trio of old Marlins. 1895 in .45-70 with a Williams peep, 1894 in .45 Colt with a Skinner peep, and a 39A Mountie with an XS Sight Systems "ghost ring".
