Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters old Weaver K-X scopes

I have several Weaver (El Paso made) scopes.....one a K-6 and the others K-4. I bought the K-6 57 years ago and it was used then!!! I had it reblued and nitrogen filled many years back and it's still (seemingly) in fine shape.

That said I put it on a Remington 700 .30-06 and it seems to not move well.....I dial it two inches right and it moves three. I bring it back an inch and it doesn't change anything.

Further it seems to have variable settings as at times it gives me three shot groups around and inch and the next time it produces three inch groups. As a matter of fact this is about the same grouping I had on the original gun (a Remington 760 pump) way back then.

Now I'm very aware that this doesn't mean the scope is bad....it could be other things.
It seems to be my memory that JB has done extensive work with rifle scopes testing for these types of things.....so....my question to JB (or anyone that can lend credible posts)…..just where do the El Paso Weaver scopes stand in the light of much more modern scopes....or would I be much better served with a Leupold or other medium priced sciope?

People still seem to like them, but IMHO they were an affordable scope when new - decent value but not top line - and now they are just an old scope which really doesn't hold up against what you can buy new. I don't say that to be harsh - I had long service out of a K6 and also have a steel-tube 4-12 around the place, but both have been retired. While fixed-power scopes are less common, I have a Leupold and a Meopta, both 4x, which are leagues in front of the Weaver optically, and have been completely reliable. You could also get something like a Burris FFII if you want a variable, which is leagues in front of the Weaver too, for only about $150.

If you are absolutely, dead confident of your rifle's accuracy and your shooting ability...that Weaver very likely has a weak erector spring. Rare...but it happens. If it takes a couple shots to move the bullet impact after clicking RIGHT and /or UP: weak erector spring. Frequently you can right- click or up- click well past your intended correction, tap the scope sharply and the click back left and /or down to your originally intended adjustment. Make every effort to not push inward on the adjustment screws, just apply radial torque or pull outward on an adj knob when adjusting. By doing this, you are keeping the thread clearance slop to a minimum. If you are going to store a scope for a possibly extended period, back the adjustments all the way out. Engineers tell us springs do not get tired.... nonsense. I use several old steel Weavers for "proof scopes" when customers come by with accuracy problems.
+1 on the Burris FF II

I have never owned a Weaver scope, really haven’t ever seen one.

El Paso K-series Weavers vary considerably in construction, the reason many hunters have had mixed results with them. The older models didn't have ANY coating on the lenses, weren't sealed against moisture, and sometimes had iffy adjustments due to weak erector springs. They still sold well because there basically wasn't much competition at their price-point for a long time--in fact Weavers pretty much dominated the scope market for the "average guy," because they were so affordable. But they're also one of the reasons so many hunters experienced "fogged" scopes and adjustments that weren't exactly consistent--and so many believed you had to beat on adjustment turrets after you turned them.

The later models were sealed, had coated lenses and much better adjustments. I have several, partly because they're an even better deal than they were back then, and use them on my more traditional hunting rifles. The K4 on my pre-'64 Winchester Model 70 Featherweight .308, for instance, has very consistent adjustments--though they're 1/2" instead of today's common 1/4" or 1/4MOA. It has coated lenses, though probably only single-coated, and is sealed against moisture. It also has a plex-type reticle, one of the most reliable indications of a later-model K-series scope.

What Flintlocke & JB said. Also the adjustment may be dry. Try turning the knobs all the way to max in each direction and then back to your original setting. If there is any lubricant at all this will re-distribute it.

I like the looks of a Weaver on a vintage gun and the steel tubes are stout you could use then to drive fence staples with. But the glass is no comparison to even the entry level scopes currently produced. If the scope doesn't settle down I would replace it as it would kill my confidence on a longer shot knowing there might be a problem.

My lenses do not seem ti be coated and it sports very fine cross hairs.....not the "plex tyoe"

I do have a 2-7 X (about) 35 Leupold sitting in the closet all by itself.....maybe it's time to retire the (possibly) late 1950s Weaver

Yes the old weavers are a bit clunky. I have had very good service from 2 or 3 . One on a 30-06 1917 Enfield that I hunted first about 1960. A K-6 with a post .

I had it out and fired it a few days ago. Has not changed point of aim ever as far as I can remember.

As mentioned all are not like that .I have cussed several over the years.

Have more K series El Paso Weavers than the rest combined. Buy them cheap and have them overhauled...still cheap, very functional and durable.

From my cold dead hands,

DD


PS: you can't have the Unertls, Lyman, Leupolds or MVA glass either.

I now only have a K-4 on a vintage rifle, seldom used for hunting unless I'm feeling nostalgic. That said, it is new enough to have a plex reticle and works fine. As many have noted, the optics aren't as good as my newer scopes, and though getting them sighted in was a pain, once sighted in they stayed sighted in in my experience. But I enjoy those old Weavers. My uncle Bill put a brand new K-4 on a brand new M99 EG in .300 Savage in 1954. His scope always bothered me when I looked through it...the reticle was not centered in that era Weaver and the intersection of the crosshairs was noticeably a bit to 7:or 8 o'clock in the field. It didn't bother him, he killed deer with that rifle till his death in 1984. It did have covered turrets, and must have been sealed, as he never had fogging problems. My uncle Bob had an even older K-4 on a .250-3000. His had exposed adjustments...no turret covers. It also had a non-centered reticle, and I would suspect was not a sealed scope.

I have two V-7's and both won' t adjust anymore.They tell me they can't get parts for them

I try to pick up nice Micro Trac models.

Yep, they are finally out of parts for the V4.5, V7 and V9 scopes per a call to Ironsight Inc. They still have plenty of parts for the K series scopes. The days of using the old variable power Weaver scopes on actual hunting rifles is nearly gone. Too bad because they had good eye relief and looked right atop a blued steel and walnut rifle.

I have had the more recently made for awhile V 1-3 on many big magnums and 45-70s. Worked like a charm, never fogged, and always dialed right in. Same with the 2x7. Now, the 4x16 was hit or miss. I liked the early Tascos for shooters, only had one fog up. In the 70's I saw 3 Redfield 3x9 x TV Wide views fog up. Worthless. I never had a Weaver fog up. I've had some you had to work with to get zeroed, for sure, ha. Those early era scopes "ruint me" ( that's Texan for "more than ruined" ) for "dialing for distance", ha.

The old waver K series scopes were kind of the low priced gold standard back in the day. Optics perhaps weren't as good as the Redfield and Leupold competitors, but they were good enough and were common scopes back in the early 70's when I was cutting my teeth. All those scopes suffered from balky adjustments, but would usually stay zeroed once they were sighted in.and provided good service . Optics have come a long ways since then. Your scope is 57 years old. I retired when I was 57 and have been doing light service ever since. Suggest the same for that old Weaver.

When I came into my 300 Savage Remington 722 it had a really not good looking scope from the 80's on it. I was in a LGS and there in the case was a K2.5. Large Eye Bell and small tube front lens. Very nice looking on the 722 with a set of weaver rings. And it shoots. Holds zero. This scope has a Plex so may be later. Still TX made. I like the look on the rifle. It would look just as nice with a Leopold. But this scope is fine for our "Sunset" close to shooting light. And the thick cover up this way shots are not long.
I dont hunt wet days with this gun. Have a syn stock 06 with a modern sealed scope for that.
Within its limits the Weaver works and looks the part.

Hey Dude, we're on the same page.

If anyone is looking for an early K Weaver, I have an excellent K-4 Duplex reticle I purchased in 1968 and a very good K-3 with post and crosshairs that was made in 1959-60. If you have an interest in either or both, please PM me.

I grew up on them and built this a few years ago. It is perfect for my hunting. 1.5x with a duplex. Target is 100 yards.

I have dozens of old Weaver take off scopes. I have not shot one in 20 years. The new grand slam Weavers are usable.