I recently picked up a 700 Mountain DM in 270 that is destined to be a gift for my nephew.
It came with a 3-9x40 Pentax Lightseeker (not the latest iteration.) I understand that the scope is of good quality (US made, Burris?) but the info that I find lists the weight at 19oz. It also came with Weaver bases and rings.
My plan was to replace the Weavers with Talley LW and find a different (read lighter) scope. I suppose a Leupold VX2 or 3 (3-9, 3.5-10) would be ideal, but more $$ than I want/can spend.
Would it be wrong to put a 3-9x40 Revolution on it? And what's a fair price to ask for the Lightseeker?
..............From my local dealer, I bought a new 3-9x40 Redfield Revolution w/Accurange reticle the other day for my 300 WSM. I will tell you that it is a "DARN NICE" scope for the dollar, that optically compares very favorably to a VX3 I have mounted on another rifle. The listed weight for that Redfield is 12.6 oz. Would have preferred the more compact 2-7x33 Redfield but it was not on hand. Settled for the 3-9x40.
Imo, 19 oz is too heavy for a 3x9, and would kinda defeat the purpose in keeping your 700`s theme as a lighter weight mountain rifle.
I was contemplating ordering another brand name new scope in the $350-$400 range, which he had a used sample there on consignment. But after looking through the 3x9 Redfield which my local dealer happened to have on hand for $159 and comparing it to the one I was going to order, I decided to take the Redfield home.
If you go to the SWFA site on check out their "sample list" section, they do show a 3-9x40 Redfield Revolution in excellent condition (classified as a "Demo A") for about $125. Well worth it.
The 3x9 Lightseeker you have, should imo, sell for more than what you would pay for the new Redfield.
Good luck.
