Non adjustable rifle scopes ; like in WWI and WWII

[Aragorn243]

Jeff Cooper was a bit off in this lament. Most externally adjustable scopes are MORE fragile than what later replaced them! And the old Unertls and Winchester/Lyman types had to be returned to a mechanical stop each shot to repeat zero at all. Forget to slide the scope back to it's stop and suffer the consequences. What Chairman Jeff wanted was good gear. At the time most domestic scopes were not rugged at all in a military sense.

I use scopes almost exclusively for hunting and it's always been my experience that the problem with accuracy has been improper mounting, not the scope internals. If anything is loose, the scope will wander. External adjustments of the mounts would seem to introduce an entirely new issue with having to protect the mounts from contact and/or impact to prevent them from moving the scope.

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[jmoore]

I use scopes almost exclusively for hunting and it's always been my experience that the problem with accuracy has been improper mounting, not the scope internals. If anything is loose, the scope will wander. External adjustments of the mounts would seem to introduce an entirely new issue with having to protect the mounts from contact and/or impact to prevent them from moving the scope.

All true, but I've seen many hunting scopes which have lost adjustment function, shift zero (up to 12 MOA) with power changes, have had lenses come adrift, fog internally, and have been bent. Variable power scopes seem particularly bad, and that apples to new stuff as well. Some don't hold zero with power changes even when new. And that's not just cheap stuff either. The old saw that your optic ought to cost as much or more than the rifle is not a bad guide, but I fought it for the longest time.

(Weaver scopes have been and appear to be now good value optics, but I know where there's a box of dead ones, including one with the adrift lens drama. Too bad, because it was a nice LER stainless scope that would be loverly on a 629 S&W.)

[Aragorn243]

All true, but I've seen many hunting scopes which have lost adjustment function, shift zero (up to 12 MOA) with power changes, have had lenses come adrift, fog internally, and have been bent. Variable power scopes seem particularly bad, and that apples to new stuff as well. Some don't hold zero with power changes even when new. And that's not just cheap stuff either. The old saw that your optic ought to cost as much or more than the rifle is not a bad guide, but I fought it for the longest time.

I've never spent much for a rifle scope. Half I have came with the rifle they are on, the Weaver being one of those, the rest are about the least expensive scope I could find at the time. Mostly due to economics I suppose. I purchased a Savage 99 30 years ago and put a $19.99 Bushnell Sportview 3-9 variable on it and it's been there ever since. I've carried that rifle long enough that the bluing is mostly gone from the receiver. The scope has one noticeable dent in it that I don't recall when or where occurred. The exterior logo fell off about 15 years ago and the internal rings showing which way to turn the adjustment screws both came loose many years ago. The scope however still works like the day I bought it. I haven't moved it more than 1 or 2 clicks in any direction at its annual sighting in for as long as I can remember. It has outlasted my eyes as I can no longer set it higher than 6 now because of my changing focus points.

I have seen scopes that have failed. I guess I've just been lucky myself.

[jmoore]

I haven't moved it more than 1 or 2 clicks in any direction at its annual sighting in for as long as I can remember.

And that might be the secret right there! (However, I have fixed four-power Sportview purchased used with target turrets that has survived uncountable adjustments on a .22 silhouette pistol or two.)

The most common drama for me has been the "wandering zero with power change". Redfields being the worst. Had a brand new Burris that had the same problem. Kept it, but never change power.

[HILLBILLY-06]

(Weaver scopes have been and appear to be now good value optics, but I know where there's a box of dead ones, including one with the adrift lens drama. Too bad, because it was a nice LER stainless scope that would be loverly on a 629 S&W.)

I have a Weaver Classic Extreme 2.5 - 10 X 56mm, with 30mm tube, German #4 crosshairs, variable brightness lighted red dot, and side adjustible A.O.
I LOVE this scope, which sits atop my Savage model 114 in .270Win. It's the best combination I have, and it always works. It has awesome light gathering capability, and the variable power red dot helps me place the crosshairs on the bucks in very low light early in the morning and late in the evening. I have never had any problems with this scope at all. But I often forget about the fact that I zero'd it 1.5" high at 100 yards. So what happens is if a Buck gets within about 25 yards of me, as the last one did, I nearly shoot under him, nearly, but thats not a scope malfunction. It's a problem only with me not thinking about the trajectory of that bullet at 25 yards. The scope would have cost more than the Rifle if I purchased it (locally) over the counter, but I got it nearly $200.00 cheaper buying it online. I have never had any problem with this scope ever, except finding really good working flip-open covers that will fit the 56mm objective lense.