Quote Originally Posted by A3 Pseudo Scout View Post
Two questions, and they go together:

1. Is there a modern equivalent (over-the-counter) of the scope attachments that adjusted the scope for elevation and deflection (windage)?
Modern scopes have adjustments inside the scope.

2. Is there a modern scope that has no built-in adjustments?

Jeff Cooper lamented the loss of the simplicity and robustness of those two items. He said that at Gunsite, there were few rifle classes that did not have scope malfunctions. He advocated a scope that had the reticle etched on the glass; not a wire inside the glass. The elevation and deflection adjustments were to be made by the scope mounts.
Please lead me to any posts in this forum and links outside.
I thank you,
Dave
Be interesting to know precisely when he made these statements or wrote them.

I suspect the real reasons that external adjustments enjoyed several decades of popularity were:
1. Scope manufacturers did not have the technology to seal and moisture proof their products.
2. They didn't know how to make internal adjustments or keep the reticle centered.

Eventually technology improved and these issues were addressed.

Frankly the target scope style micrometer scopes and mounts were never satisfactory in a military role. Just too delicate.
Some of the german hunting scopes used on their snipers had the windage adjustment in the base. You need a special "skate key" to move the scope. Its frankly a royal PITA and not repeatable.

I admit the "V-block" mounts offered by Stith and B&L had a nice clean appearance. But one one has to ask if it was a good idea why did it fade away like 40 50 years ago?

As to the reticles, the military has used a lot of etched reticles where the pattern had a lot of complex ranging marks and where there was a need for illumination. For the simpler crosswire or post and crosswire reticles used on rifles it may just be a matter of cost.

Regards,

Jim