1903A4 Scope - Too Late for 330?

Long time no see! After a year of getting into more modern guns I've gotten back into C&R stuff again. I've committed to a Remington 1903A4, fairly late in the initial run being in the 17,000 range with a 8-43 dated barrel. The gun is solid and legit, I am 100% confident in that.

I'm curious if the scope is correct. It has a Weaver 330 with the markings on the windage and elevation plate with a tapered post. I am of the impression that a tapered post model should be marked 330 M8 on the tube or M73B and this gun is a bit too late to have gotten one marked 330.

It doesn't make a huge difference to me but I am curious about it and would look to correct it if it isn't right.

Should be electro pencil markings on right side, what sn is on it (early, late etc)? Commercial 330s came with post too but not nearly as common as the crosshair. As far as the M73B1, to my knowledge they were never issued with a post as the crosshair was specified in the A4 program. Unofficially a few M8s with post "may" have made it in but no one has every provided any supporting documents. Officially the first scope spec'd with a post was the M82, now that being said in the 330 series, scopes were commonly rebuilt and just about any combination can be found now days specially with Bubba involved.
If your scope bears the 330 label (roll stamped in the plate) and does not have a serial number electro penciled on the right side below the plate and/or the M73B1 noumenclature then I would venture to say it is a commercial 330. Do you have pics?
If it is electro penciled, I would not worry about correctness, technically it "is" correct. The 330 series was commonly replaced/ repaired due to its many flaws.

Bruce Canfield says (American Rifleman, August 1999, page 22) that the M8 was a later variant with the tapered post reticle rather than the crosshairs of the 330C and M73B1 scopes.

There are still a few scope technicians who work on the 330 series scopes. One told me that he used to swap knobs &/or reticles for many of his customers. Not difficult for them, the 330 series isn't sealed. There are many out there, this series was made pre-war with production resumed after the war & continuing for many years.

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Originally Posted by Neal Myers

Bruce Canfield says (American Rifleman, August 1999, page 22) that the M8 was a later variant with the tapered post reticle rather than the crosshairs of the 330C and M73B1 scopes.

There are still a few scope technicians who work on the 330 series scopes. One told me that he used to swap knobs &/or reticles for many of his customers. Not difficult for them, the 330 series isn't sealed. There are many out there, this series was made pre-war with production resumed after the war & continuing for many years.

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Same with M8s I've seen more with crosshairs than with post. Production of those scopes ended in 47 but the M8 never came out with the late knobs. That scope is a mystery, no mention in any Weaver history or military contracts (at least that I'm aware of).

There is no "M-8" Scope.
The "330 Scope - M.8" is a prewar Weaver commercial Telescopic sight.

In the early days of M1903A4 production US Ordnance was scrambling to furnish scopes to Remington and meet urgent demands of combat troops. Ordnance basically went to Weaver and scrounged everything that was correct or close to correct to fill the need. The "330 Scope - M.8"
was very close differing principally in the style of reticle.

To the O.P.'s basic question a "330 Scope-M.8" would be most correct on a reactively early production M1903A4 - Probably a March, April or May barrel date.

See Clark Campbell "The 03 Springfield Era" (2003).

Weaver had other scopes that used variations "M.*" in their commercial nomenclature.
The "330 Scope - M.8" is seen with several variations in the locations of the markings. Each change would have required an engineering change to design and manufacture new stoping dies. Something i believe would be unlikely during wartime.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_4010-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_4011-1.jpg

Some pictures of the scope. Body finish is pretty warn, scope is pretty clear. No other markings I could find. I'm going ahead on it as comparable guns (similar condition, serial range, same 330 marked scope) have sold for around what I'm paying for this and the gun itself is way too nice a find to pass up.

Cipher, Does the w&e adjustment plate or anywhere else on the tube contain an "330 Scope - M.8" designation? The regular Weaver 330 Scope was optionally available with either Cross-wire or tapered post reticle. Given the standard scope was available either way the reason for the M.8 designation remains a mystery.

Regards,
Jim

I went over it, nothing that says "330 scope - M.8" I or anyone else could find. Worth noting from the screws someone was in it at one time, given the heads look rough.

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Originally Posted by cipherk98

I went over it, nothing that says "330 scope - M.8" I or anyone else could find. Worth noting from the screws someone was in it at one time, given the heads look rough.

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I seldom post anymore but I agree with JGaynor's comments to your ?'s. I,ve seen hundreds of Weavers scopes on A3-A4.s. I've see authentic originals, oriiginals that have been rebuilt by US Depot. I've seen mix-master rebuilds from "who knows where?."

I've only seen one marked M8 and that was crudely engraved on the scope tube " M-8 " with no other engraving. The data plate was the standard Weaver 330.

Jim Gaynor ..you and yours stay safe & well! The same goes for everyone else

Rob257 - AKA Mike Haas