Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Are vintage scopes worth it?

I have a few rimfires I need to scope, including a CZ 455FS in .22WMR. I've taken a real liking to little straight tube low power variables, in particular the like of the Weaver V4.5 or similar for such rifles. Something about a straight tube scope on a Mannlicher stocked rifle just looks so right, and the vintage scopes have a certain appeal. I also find I enjoy the way some older reticles look, including post and crosshair types.

My question is, rebuilding them aside, are these older scopes worth it if found in good oncition? I know I can pick up a Leupold 1-4x20 or 1.5-5x20 for between $150-450 or so depending on model, but every once in awhile one of these classics pops up at a good price (just missed a Weaver V4.5W for about $65) and I'm tempted. With it just going on a little .22, I'm not worried about recoil. Thoughts?

Yes and no. If they are in good working order go for it, but don't expect them to be free from fogging up. I have had a bunch of vintage Weavers and they do have a certain appeal, but if they need repair it's not worth it.

No.

Scopes are like CD players, once they're a year old they're out of date and worthless.

How about an I answer in between the previous two. Old Weavers with dust or fog in the innards, pass. Repair costs is not a sound investment these days. Leupolds and any other brand that warrants the product forever, may be a good buy. I have several Vari-X III scopes that are about thirty years old that are too good to toss. If one goes bad, they will repair or replace it. New technology is better. I have a couple of Leupold Ultralight 3-9EFR scopes on two of my better .22s. I think they were worth the investment. One old, one right new. The new one is a shade better.

Best wishes,

Jack

I like the old Redfield scopes. Some are 30 years old, work just fine.

I have the Redfield accutrac 4x12 on my 22. Sight in dead on at 50 yards. Move target out to 75 yards, count clicks to dead on. Move to 100 yards, count clicks to dead on. I do this out to 200 yards. I have it taped to the stock. I do this out to 300 yards with my 22 magnum. You might look at that. Those accutrac Redfield’s go for less than 150.00 in the classifieds

I have accumulated around 300 scopes that are over 30 years old, and think that some vintage scope are worth owning, some are even worth spending the $100 or so that places like Iron Sights, Inc. charge for a rebuild them, but I don't have any vintage scopes on first tier hunting rifles.

I have a few 1960's and 1970's Weaver V4.5s and think that they are fine for casual hunting/shooting, but I have installed Weaver RV7s on my CZ 452 FS rifles in 22 LR and 22 Mag.

A good, but often neglected, scope with a "straight" objective that can often be purchased for under $50 on eBay is the Japanese-made Bushnell Banner in either 1.5-4.5x20 or 1.75-4.5x20. I bought several of these scope within the past year to put on used deer hunting rifles that I have been giving away to kids who are just getting started.

This doesn't surprise me in the least bit. Good on you, 260Remguy!

I've got a buddy that I've known for about 45 years who hunts with custom built rifles all over the world. He is not one to spend a lot of money if he doesn't have to. So his guns wear plain walnut stocks that he installs himself. He uses surplus military 6.5 and 7mm barrels that he has contoured, etc.
He hunts for old steel tube Weavers and Leupold fix magnification scopes in good shape. He doesn't hunt wet country with the Weavers I'm told. Never had one any of them let him down on a hunt.
I've got an old Leupold 7.5XAO, an 80's M8 4X and a B&L that I bought in 1972. The only one I wouldn't use for a serious big game hunt is the 7.5XAO. Not because I don't trust the scope. I wouldn't because of it's short eye relief and small eye box. But the two 4X's are proven performers. One of them is a backup scope for my custom '06'.
I do prefer the modern scopes. But one of the rifles I'm about to take on my three week hunting trip is a 20 yr. old 6X42 Leupold. So, it's your call. If it is a new to you scope, I'd test it a good bit before trusting it. The other thing is all scopes will fail if used enough. So, take a backup if hunting far from home. E

I have a Burris 4X that I bought new in 1983. It has been on many rifles including a lightweight 338 that eats scopes for lunch. It has held up fine and it's clarity and reliability matches or beats newer scopes I have.

I currently have it on a pre-64 M70 and it has a nice retro look and matches the gun well and I trust it.

This^^^

I grew up hunting with the old steel tube Weavers. They were prone to fogging up which I surely don't miss. That said, I do like to use them on rifles I really only shoot at the range or plink with, mostly .22's. For a hunting rifle, I tend to favor Leupolds.

I have several rebuilt steel tube Weaver 4xs on hunting rifles and like them a lot. The scopes were free in the junk box at a local gun shop so the $60 to rebuild was an easy thing to do.

they are good for good conditions/ youth/ retro builds etc. But for not alot more money you can really benefit from the last 20+ years of optics evolution.

That may be true, however when I consulted with D'Arcy Echols about using a 2.5x steel Weaver on a light weight .416 he agreed that it was a good selection. I have several hundred rounds thru the gun and it still works. I'll use them 'til the break and then see where it goes.

I like the Leupold VX3’s, but a lot of people on here bash them. I’ve never had a problem with one, but I’m careful with my rifles. I’m not on horseback. I have a soft case I carry them to the stand, this helps a lot. I don’t carry them in gun racks. I’ve been lucky and never fallen with one in the rocks. I keep them in socks in the safe too.

I must have ten or so of the old accutracs laying around. They are my all time favorite scopes. I still have them on 5 or 6 rifles. I’ve killed many a deer and pigs with them. I like the old 3x9 widefield with a crosshair and post. I have a couple of them somewhere too. They aren’t quite as bright as new glass, but I can see 15 minutes before and after legal shooting hours. I killed a pig last Sunday with one. I couldn’t see the feeder until I put the scope on it. He was right under it. This was shortly before He expired.





Killed these a little later.

I found a Ted Williams/Sears model a couple of weeks ago in a 1.5-4.5 variable. I have been told they were made by Weaver. Have a Ruger 44 carbine I will put it on. Believe it or not, it is one of the clearest scopes I have. I hope it works as it should. Gave $50 for it at a pawn shop. If it doesn't work, not out that much. For me, it is worth the $50 to have a scope not many people have around on a sweet little carbine. To me, as an old Geezer, it is worth the cool factor. BTW, I am comparing the clarity to a few Leupolds (not the newest models, a couple of VX-III's) and a Monarch.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone!

My primary draw to the older designs is first for the "vintage" reticle styles that most manufacturers (if any) just don't seem to use anymore, in particular the post and crosshair (Leupy does the post and duplex, but I found the intersection of the hairs too think and the vertical line above to be unnecessary), or the standard crosshair (while you can get them, they're usually in high power target scopes). Since this is going on a CZ 452FS, I'm hoping to keep with classic looks both inside AND out, I guess, haha.

The potential for fogging is noted. Where I'm currently located, I don't think that'll be a problem (AZ) for most of the year, but I'll keep it in mind. Now to track down a few examples for a reasonable price (particularly that post and crosshair)...

eBay often has Weaver K2.5 and K3 scopes with PCH reticles up for auction.

I still have my Banner 1.5-4x20 I bought new in 1972..............

Free ones may be okay, like the Redfield 3-9 Lo Pro I picked up yesterday on a trade into a very nice Remington Model Six. I've abandoned the notion of picking them up for real money, though, except for a very few exceptions, and I'm not real sure about those, unless I can take a look before I buy or the seller has a return policy.

Redfield 3-9 Lo Pro or 2-7 Lo Pro best hunting scopes ever made