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Joined: Apr 2004
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 42,912 Likes: 12 |
Put an FX II 6x36 on my pre-64 .30-06 this year in Buehler rings and mounts. It's not old, but it looks appropriately traditional. An old El Paso Weaver K-3 or K-4 would be my choice for a period-correct scope, rather than a newer Leupold. I've got a 1955 production 4 power "Alaskan" Model Leupold, I picked up cheap years ago... sent it in the Leupold, they said it was in fine shape... its spent most of its time with me on top of a sporterized 1917 Enfield, that was sportized in the early 1950s... They were a good match for each other...
"Minus the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the Country" Marion Barry, Mayor of Wash DC
“Owning guns is not a right. If it were a right, it would be in the Constitution.” ~Alexandria Ocasio Cortez
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
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M8 4X long tube. No, you can't have mine. I bought it new in 1972, it was the only scope I owned for a while. I'll cross yours off my list. Let me know if you change your mind 
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Joined: Jan 2008
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2008
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So which scopes you narrowed it down to?
Last edited by EZEARL; 04/04/17.
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,263
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2008
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I always thought the Old Pecar scope was the coolist on a vintage rifle. In the 1950's Redfield was top dog and B&L for those who didn't mind using adjustable mounts. Weaver too.
"When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred." Niccolo Machiavelli
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Joined: Oct 2006
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
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So which scopes you narrowed it down to? A new FX-3 6x42 is about $400 from various places. A used M8 6x42 can be found various places for about $300. I wouldn't say I've narrowed it down to just those though. Those are the front runners with what I know at the moment. There are people here who know more about pre-64's and Leupold history than I ever will so I'm still listening.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2004
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On occasion I have run into one of the older Vari-X IIs that has begun to turn plum in color. I always thought one of those would look "right" on an older rifle, but I really can't say I think the newer scopes retaining classic features looks wrong on a pre-64. That's just my own taste, though.
Don't be the darkness.
America will perish while those who should be standing guard are satisfying their lusts.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,213 |
On occasion I have run into one of the older Vari-X IIs that has begun to turn plum in color. I always thought one of those would look "right" on an older rifle, but I really can't say I think the newer scopes retaining classic features looks wrong on a pre-64. That's just my own taste, though. Yeah. Some of the M8s on ebay mention that color. They don't look bad to me that way. I wonder if that means they have been hunting and seen some sun.
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Joined: Jun 2010
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 13,990 Likes: 6 |
My M8 4x has turned plum.
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Better be quiet or the E-bayers will charge more for the plumb color. I like it but act like it is hideous and an insult to my masculinity so the seller reduces the price.
"When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred." Niccolo Machiavelli
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Joined: Feb 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2002
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Though it's more expensive and on backorder right now, the SWFA exclusive, gloss 6X33 might look good on a pre-64 rifle.
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Joined: Nov 2011
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2011
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Reblued 1903 Springfields often turn a plum color. Putting a similarly-colored vintage Leupold on such an action would be interesting visually.
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Campfire Regular
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Old Lyman perma center all american in 4X gets my vote
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OP
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Old Lyman perma center all american in 4X gets my vote Lyman's are cool. Some of them are fetching good prices in the online markets. QUOTE: Lyman All-American Perma-Center
Lyman had been in the gunsight business for decades before it manufactured its first scope in 1928—with tooling and rights from Winchester Repeating Arms. The first Lyman Targetspot scopes appeared in 1934, the famous Lyman Alaskan hunting scope (with 7/8-inch steel tube) in 1939. A decade later came the 26mm Challenger scopes. The Lyman All-American series, with one-inch tube, arrived in 1954—a bit early for this 50-year list. But it got a Perma-Center reticle in 1962 and became, in that form, a flagship line. Fixed-power 2.5X, 3X, 4X, 6X, 8X and 10X models had very generous eye relief. Variables joined the group in the 1970s. A 60-year-old .270 in my rack has a 2.5X All-American that guides bullets into tight knots despite its age and low power. A 6X on another Model 70 still excels on the prairie. - Wayne Van Zwoll
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
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I put a Leupold M8 4x in Redfield Jr. mounts on an FN Deluxe from the 50s and it has been a very reliable setup during many years of hard hunting. Also have a Lyman Alaskan 2.5 with post and Lyman All American 4x with post, still good glass in both, rugged steel and brass. Also have a B&L 4X in Micro Dial mount. Kinda hard to target in but a neat looking setup on my old Winchester. Good luck with the M70.
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Campfire Regular
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Old Lyman perma center all american in 4X gets my vote Yup, the above scope or an older Leupold Vari-X 2-7 41
We deal in lead, friend.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Put a Vari X II on mine 30 years ago. Still there today, still works like it did back then, still filling the freezer. ![[Linked Image]](http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m275/center_shot/2012%20Deer%20017_zpsqc5s676j.jpg)
A true sportsman counts his achievements in proportion to the effort involved and fairness of the sport. - S. Pope
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Old Leupolds are still fine scopes, and a fixed 6x or 4x would be just fine, I'll bet. But their newer fixed powers might be better in both adjustments and optics. The smaller Leupolds, even the new ones, seem right at home on an older rifle to me. The variable 2.5-8x with the 36 mm objective might be just right too.
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Thanks for taking a look.
Really looking for the perspective of gunwriters (or anyone) who has some knowledge of rifle/scope changes over the decades.
I'm looking for an appropriate scope for the vintage of this gun (1952, .30-06 BTW).
There are still new in the box Leupolds out there from decades back that can be found for sale.
I'm not looking to make this the maximum long-range rifle it can possibly be. I have other rifles for that purpose. I'm thinking some whiz bang super tactical scope would look odd on a vintage gun.
I don't want a scope all the way back from 1952, but this is a good opportunity to consider some of the great past offerings.
I DO plan to hunt with the rifle and I DO care about clarity, fast target acquisition, light gathering, and take advantage Leupold improvements of past decades.
M8 perhaps?
Thanks in advance for looking and sharing your thoughts. . I have my grandfather's 30-06 from that era and it wears a Leupold 4X Mountaineer, the forerunner to the M7 and M8. Those also came in 6X and were made until about 1960. If it doesn't have to be a Leupold, a steel tube El Paso K4 or K6 Weaver would also be appropriate. A Lyman All-American also may be appropriate. But you must understand that none of these scopes will perform like newer scopes will. You are giving up performance for historical accuracy or nostalgia. A Leupold M8 would certainly look right on the gun and does offer modern performance. That might be my choice.
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Joined: Sep 2009
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 46,274 Likes: 2 |
The old gloss long tube M-8 fixed 4X's and gloss 2-7's look really nice on a couple Super Grades and FWT's I have, love em, and they hunt just fine.
Trump Won!
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Ignore tradition. A modern FX-3 6x42 Leupold looks just fine and works better than anything before it. ![[Linked Image]](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/gaepps/Elk%202016/IMG_0777_zpsnlbrat6o.jpg)
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