Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Classic Varmint scope

That would be a good choice

Yup, am looking for a 12x for a Ruger single shot.....thats actually in 219 wasp LoL

Back in the early 70's in my neck of the woods a large percentage of groundhog hunters were using target scopes like Unertl and Lyman Targetspot. You wouldn't be undergunned by using a 10 or 12x Unertl on that .222. What's not to like- excellent optics, adjustable for parallax, and with turrets to spin, besides being retro cool.

May not be your taste, but I like lots of magnification when shooting at the range especially, but also when shooting critters that like to hide and/or just peek out to see if anyone is around... About the best scope I found for that purpose that was somewhat period correct for what you are doing is the older Balvar 6-24 x 40 scopes , which became the Bausch & Lomb Elite scopes later on. The glass on these is superb- I would put them up against any Leupold I own any day. The early scopes, however , are quite dark compared to the newer scopes from my experience and my search would start with the Bausch & Lomb Elite series . The older Redfield scopes were also very popular in those time periods along with the Weavers....

In any case, the search is half the fun, right?

Bob

That's right and it's not like I don't have a scope to put on it to get me going. That gives me lots of time to find something else.

Ah, the quintessential pondering of calibers, scopes, and rifles. Ain't it great.

Here's an old Tasco that was listed here in Canada. Any comments are more than welcome.

Ad description as follows ......



Marked on eye piece .... W618x40, Japan, AO-58 11

........... I second that motion. I've had a 12x M8 since 1979, and it was used when I got it. Great scope and it's currently on a late 1960's Model 700 Varmint Special.

Dang, i have a big 6-20x50 Redfield Illuminator sitting on a safe top gathering dust, but, it's matte finish.

A Unertl 15X Ultra Varmint would fit the time period; but might be overkill. Great glass for the time though. You could write your name with one of those on top an accurate rifle.

You don't see many of those Unertl scopes in Canada and when you do, the price is surprising.

A Weaver 4-16x42 or old redfield 6-18:

This one is on my 22-250 and it works very well:


Minute of squirrel head..^^^

I know getting them over the boarder is a chore...

but I'd suggest a V 16 would be a good fit...

or an old Weaver 24 power if you are using it for varmint stationary shooting or range target work...

When I got into varmint hunting in the early '70s, I started with a variable 3-9 with AO. I left it at 9x because the zero shifted as I zoomed through the power range. Variables were notorious for that at that time. Most folks who wanted more magnification bought 4-12 or 6x18 variables and tested the scope zero at different ranges so they could reduce the mirage during the heat of the day by reducing down to 8 or 10 power. Or they used a fixed power scope of 10 or 12 power. I finally settled on a Weaver K12 and used it until the groundhog population collapsed.

That is exactly the same Tasco I was referring to when I mentioned the older Japanese Tasco as a possibility. I owned on just like it for quite a few years, I used it as a varmint scope on one of my 223's. I also used it as a Highpower Silhouette scope on my 7 BR silhouette rifle, as a consequence I can tell you that the one I had tracked just fine and held up to a lot of dialing and shooting. I eventually sold it to a friend who really wanted it and he is still using it it. The only downside to them is that the view is a bit dim compared to todays brighter optics.

IMO - The asking price is over the top for that one though, it is just too beat up for the price he is asking. Your rifle deserves a better looking scope than that one.

dover

I also have a 11/2 Unertl target scope in 20x [in Canada] Would like to sell it but have no idea as to value.

PM sent on the 12x Leupold.

Thanks .... I agree on the pricing being a bit optimistic given the condition.

i liked the old lyman scopes, had a 10x that wally seibert[sp] bumped to 16x. great old scope.

Ed

When I was doing "serious" woodchuck shooting in the early to late '70's I didn't trust variable scopes and, on a varmint rifle, figured I didn't need them. My .222 wore a 6X Bushnell, my 77V .25-06 a 12X Redfield with side parallax adjustment, and my 77V .220 Swift a 16X Leupold with fine crosswire and adjustable objective. I still have the .222 and the Swift and am hoping to put them to some use this year.