Unertl Scope Battery Reset

[Cosine26]

For Informational purposes here is Unertl information taken directly from the 1964 "Shooter's Bible" the Stoger Arms catalog

[Cosine26]

Unertl Reticules
After further research, I find that I was incorrect. The Unertl scopes were available with reticules as follows:
“The reticules offered are plain cross wires , fine , medium, medium coarse , and extra coarse; ditto with center dot; flat-top post with horizontal crosshair (best for offhand) a blunted post with horizontal crosshair and pointed post (picket) with cross wires. New scopes can be had with any of these cross wires.”
`Interchangeable eyepieces to raise or lower power 35% are available for all but the Small-Game scope.
“Medium-fine crosshairs are the only ones for target scopes. Unertl will even provide a crosshair and dot at no extra charge in his target scopes. As a target reticule, a enter dot is the best big game aiming point available. You can’t see the blasted dot against the bull, and you can’t see the bull behind the it!”
These are direct quotes from one of the better known rifle shots and gunsmiths of the time.
I do not ever recall seeing a dot reticule used on a target rifle. This does not mean that they did not exist.

[Jim Tarleton]

That looks like a 2 inch Unertl, and the recoil spring is still in operation. I suppose that the Ma Duce would require that as it probably had a lot of recoil.
I believe the rifle that Hathcock used was a M70 Winchester in 30-06 using M72 ammo - probably NM grade. Must have been a chore keeping those Unertl mounts operational in the Nam climate.
I had a friend who served in Nam with a USMC radio operatioin and repair outfit. Said that a Marine came in with an M16 and asked if he could use the sonic cleaner. The cleaner removed all of the finish, and my friend said that you could watch the rust form.

Hathcock put his scope in a hot box at night, but the Unertls were all repaired more than once. The biggest problem was broken reticules. They used spider web for replacements.

Jjt

[mike radford]

Sorry it took me so long to get back. Currently I am trying to figure out what to do with regards to getting back to Leatherwood on my scope, or using SWAFA customer service.

I took it to the range last week and put it on a CMP M70. Optics were good. Some groups were looking pretty good, about equal to the real scope's performance. Somewhere around 20-25 shots the front scope ring walked completely off the front block. I carefully reattached it with considerable attention to detail and after about 10-15 more rounds it was obvious it was heading forward again and that was the end of it. The metal ring/washer looking part of the contact point with the block had deformed. The metal must be insufficiently hard. In any event, this was not what I was expecting. It is also possible that the reproduction blocks provided with the scope are slightly different than originals??

Since I am the only one I am aware of that has had this experience, it will be a good idea to read more reports on the scope in action.

[TW56]

Sorry it took me so long to get back. Currently I am trying to figure out what to do with regards to getting back to Leatherwood on my scope, or using SWAFA customer service.

I took it to the range last week and put it on a CMP M70. Optics were good. Some groups were looking pretty good, about equal to the real scope's performance. Somewhere around 20-25 shots the front scope ring walked completely off the front block. I carefully reattached it with considerable attention to detail and after about 10-15 more rounds it was obvious it was heading forward again and that was the end of it. The metal ring/washer looking part of the contact point with the block had deformed. The metal must be insufficiently hard. In any event, this was not what I was expecting. It is also possible that the reproduction blocks provided with the scope are slightly different than originals??

Since I am the only one I am aware of that has had this experience, it will be a good idea to read more reports on the scope in action.

Mike, thanks for the range update on the Hi-Lux USMC copy. I believe yours is the first hand range report I have been able to find on the web. Without decent micrometer mounts the reproduction scope may end up having problems with repeatable adjustments or maybe just having the mounts staying attached to the blocks.

TW56

[vintage hunter]

Mike, you'll probably save yourself some time by dealing directly with Leatherwood. They have an excellent costomer service department. Acouple years ago I had some issues with the William Malcomb scope on my Sharps, a stripped screw on the rear mount, IIRC. It was Thanksgiving Eve when I called about a replacement parts and according to the postmark they got them out that day, and free of charge at that. Can't ask for better service than that.

[mike radford]

Hi-Lux service is very helpful and I feel sure that they will resolve the problem I had. They are most responsive and apparently there have been no other problems reported with the Malcolm repro. I am pretty sure the problem is due to the front scope block on my M70 having a slightly larger notch to hold the scope than the notch on the block provided with the scope.

Now, here are a few pictures of the differences as compared with my original USMC Unertl.

[JGaynor]

Thanks for the pictures Mike. When you put them side by side they are quite different.

Regards,

Jim

[Sniper1944]

The differences are quite noticeable in length. Although I notice the original USMC Unertl has a 1.5" objective aperture? Were USMC Unertl scopes made in both 1.25" and 1.5"?






Paul.

[JGaynor]

The differences are quite noticeable in length. Although I notice the original USMC Unertl has a 1.5" objective aperture? Were USMC Unertl scopes made in both 1.25" and 1.5"

Paul.

The USMC used the 8x (7.8x) 1.25" Combination Target Scope on the WW2 M1903A1. The only variation i ma aware of in that production run is that a portion of the scopes had 1/4" click stops and the later ones had 1/2" click stops.

In later years as in Vietnam the remanants of the WW2 scopes were recycled and some target scopes with different specs may have found their way into sniper service.

Regards,

Jim