1941A1 sniper reproduction scope questions

I'm considering building a 1941A1 repro USMC sniper rifle for the vintage sniper match and have a few questions about scopes.

The rules indicate that a non-issue alternative scope would be a 6x or 8x Unertl, Lyman or Fecker with an objective no larger than 1.5".

Can anyone guide me to a source to determine which of the scopes would be suitable. Lyman, for instance, made the Targetspot, the Super Targetspot and the Junior Targetspot. Are any of these suitable for 30.06 recoil? How about the various Unertls and Feckers?

Thanks

Any one of these would be suitable and will with stand the recoil of the 30-06 round just fine. I've read that the early USMC 1903A1 sniper rifles were equipped with Lyman STS and Fecker scopes borrowed from the shooting teams until the delivery of the 8x Unertls, but you can't believe everything read from a book. I built up a USMC sniper clone from a sportered NM rifle a few years ago with a 10x Lyman STS and it performs very well. Took a better than average buck with it last year at 359yds. I have a Unertl 10x as well and have to say the Lyman has slightly better optics and a wider field of view. It also out does the Unertl in low light conditions. I have yet to see a Fecker so can't comment on them.

Thanks, vh.

I would love to see some pics of your USMC clone.

I glommed a Rock Island that someone had turned into a target rifle that will need a scope and a bit of stock work.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...02/00132-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...02/00232-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...02/00441-1.jpg

Last year, I built up a M1941 Sniper rifle clone from acquired parts. I am using an 8X Lyman Targetspot scope. I had the recoil spring removed per the rules. I did not havr to modify the bolt handle, but it is a little close to the scope at 100 yard settings. I believe that as I increase elevation to 300/600 yards, the clearance will increase. I have on'y had the rifle out twice at 100 yards. Will get dope for 300/600 yds next time I am home. Recoil does not seem to be a problem, but just need to remember to pull the scope back into battery. Optics on this vintage scope seem fine. Attachment 31332Attachment 31333Attachment 31334Attachment 31335Attachment 31336Attachment 31337Attachment 31338

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Originally Posted by Calfed

I'm considering building a 1941A1 repro USMC sniper rifle for the vintage sniper match and have a few questions about scopes.

The rules indicate that a non-issue alternative scope would be a 6x or 8x Unertl, Lyman or Fecker with an objective no larger than 1.5".

Can anyone guide me to a source to determine which of the scopes would be suitable. Lyman, for instance, made the Targetspot, the Super Targetspot and the Junior Targetspot. Are any of these suitable for 30.06 recoil? How about the various Unertls and Feckers?

Thanks

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Jason, that is one fine looking and fine shooting 1903. Thanks for the pictures and range results. Please keep us informed as you shoot the 300 and 600 distances.

Steve

Calfed, heres a few pics of the 1903/Unertl sniper clone:

Crap, hit the wrong button. Heres a couple more.

Vintage...a fine looking 1941. How does it shoot?

Quite well actually, but it has a fair amount of throat erosion so I don't shoot it much. Mostly during deer season. It has a particular fondness for handloads using 180gr Nosler Ballistic Tips and IMR 4064 powder at 2600 fps. ATM, my range is limited to 300yds and it stays sub MOA that far, will be interesting to see how it does at longer distances. Got yours up and running yet?

I got to the range last week and fired a few Federal Powr-Shok 180 grainers through it. I didn't want to waste much ammo, because I had to use the threaded hole that the aperture screws into as the rear "aperture". I tried to use a couple of my other apertures and they either wouldn't screw in far enough or were too large to operate the bolt with.

Fired a few @ 50 yards to make sure the windage on the sights was good...
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...02/00415-1.jpg

Moved the target back to 100 and got this...
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...02/00531-1.jpg

Without an aperture this was more of a Ghost ring sight than a target sight. I'm pretty sure that the flyers that went high were my fault. I usually do fine with the windage using aperture sights, but have some trouble reproducing the elevation aim from shot to shot. I'm pretty sure this will do better. The barrel is a Sedgely in great shape
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...02/01111-1.jpghttps://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...02/01241-1.jpghttps://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../02/0101-1.jpg

I got an aperture from Apertures and More and hope to get to the range again in the near future.

Thats some fine shooting. Looks like you have a winner there. Mine has the holes for the Lyman 48 but I'm not going to go to the trouble of inletting the stock, besides my eyesight isn't what it used to be so theres no reason to ruin a good pre war stock. Decided on a scope yet? Several non USMC 8x Unertls have sold on ebay in the last couple months in the $1200 range. Looks like the rising popularity of vintage sniper matches has had the same effect on they're prices as cowboy shooting had on Winchester 97's.

I'm leaning strongly towards the newly made Leatherwood reproduction "USMC" 8x scope. Supposed to be better optics than the originals. I'm waiting for some reviews of the scope and just as importantly, the mounts for those.