Have a JM stamped 44mag due in tomorrow / has a old & unmarked 2x )

Not sure of the rings yet but for that time period I would say low/med 1 inch

I want to hunt whatever out to 100yard:

what scope and reticle ( not over 44mm max)

or go with a Red dot( if there is a magnified version 2x or 3x+

or just go with a reflex site

Eyeball Mod 0 is not great anymore, so reflex site is last choice

Something 1-4X, 1-6X, 1-8X, or 2-7X, maybe even 3-9X, are what comes to mind. You could get by with a duplex reticle, just learn your holds. You know better than anyone how much magnification you need to be able to see what you're doing.

I have a FX-2 sitting waiting to go in one of my marlins. Compact and lightweight. It’s the perfect fit for me. The problem is I haven’t been able to bring myself to scope a Marlin yet.

My 1894 in 45 Colt wears Lyman sights.

I would like a true 1x on the low end & lighted reticle , I would like to keep rifle trim as possible but still be able to shoot at dawn and dusk mag as JG said can be whatever 1x to 7x+

How about a VX-R 1.25-4x20mm
I like the fire dot reticle.
https://www.leupold.com/scopes/compact-scopes/vx-r-1-25-4x20mm

That's cool / pricy / LOL scope listing for more than the Marlin but that never stopped me before

I had 1 Bushnell 1.5 x 4.5 on a 336 and it worked great. it was good enough to where I could keep 3 shots within 2" easily. I could see the 3" dot sticker pretty clear at 100 yards and that was the max I was willing to go and it was zeroed for 50 yards.
I have to use a scope now, old eyes, and I always wanted a 44 mag lever gun. If I were to get one, something in 2-7 is what I'd put on and try to keep the bell under 40mm. That Bushnell I had was a 32mm and it sat really low on the rifle and looked pretty good.

Athlon 1-6 on page 5 of the classified Camera Land. A lot of scope for 200.00 marked down from 529.00

I struggled with the same decision on lever guns for some time. Finally, I got tired of looking, and mounted some good 3x9 scopes that I already had but was not using. They work fine. And, usually never get moved above 3 or 4 power.

Aimpoint pro

My 1894 in 44 mag has a period correct Redfield 4X on it.

Have you tried a scout set up? I'm loving this on my 44. Im using a Leupold 2x scout. I can get on target very quick with it.

I've tried several scopes on my 1895. I need long eye relief because it kicks like a mule and I've been bloodied too many times. I tried the scout scope thing and never could get use to it. I tried the Leupold hog scope 1-4x20, didn't like the clarity. I tried a Bushnell red dot and it didn't hold up to the recoil. I tried several others that I can't remember. Best scope I've found is a Leupold FX-II 4x33mm. Its compact, light weight, glass is clear and light gathering is good. Magnification is enough that I can go to 200 yds if necessary but not so much that its hard to quickly acquire a close range target.

I have been dinged 3 times by scopes all 3 times were with the 350 Remington Magnum. I stopped that with a Burris Short Mag scope, this scope has 4+ inches of eye relief and works well on that rifle and a couple others I have. my 1895s have never dinged me and the scoped one has a 1-4X20 Leupod on it IIRC