Qestion about the M82 rifle scope

[Sgt. Tom]

I am new to WW2/Korean War rifle scopes. Is the M82 rifle scope "non-centering" (meaning, the post is not centered in the image once the windage/elevation adjustments have been made)?
Thanks for any help,
Tom

Information

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[mike radford]

I am new to WW2/Korean War rifle scopes. Is the M82 rifle scope "non-centering" (meaning, the post is not centered in the image once the windage/elevation adjustments have been made)?
Thanks for any help,
Tom

Tom the M81, M82 and the Alaskan are centering. They are not like a PU or WW2 German or Brit scope.

[tom gray]

Interesting. The top of the post of my M82 appears to be above the centerline of the scope.

[Sgt. Tom]

Thanks Mike,
I just received an 03A4 with the "early" M82 mounted on it. The post was 3/4 of the way to the left of the image. I cranked the windage knob to see what would happen and was able to move the post to the right and left in the image. I don't have a lot of experience with old internal adjustment scopes so I am somewhat confused about this. Is there some kind of adjustment I need to make? I have mostly used external adjustable scopes on single shots.
Tom W

[mike radford]

It is possible I am wrong but I have never noted that on my 2 M82s and 3 Lyman Alaskans?? I haven't used them in the last few years either though. Such movement is obvious on the German, Russian and British scopes of the time. If it is moving as you say I must be wrong. I would just get it zeroed at 100 yds and have the point centered but slightly high than center. That will give you more adjustment for long ranges. Maybe Jim Gaynor or Chuck will come by and set me straight. I doubt there is anything wrong with the scope. My memory is apparently another story.

[mike radford]

Sorry for the misinformation. I just checked an M-82 and the reticule does not self center. Movement is very small and suttle compared to the Russian scopes I use frequently but it moves and does not center like a modern scope. It was centered for zero, which could be a coincidence. and one Alaskan I checked also appeared centered for the 100 yds I had zeroed them for.

[rayg]

Bore sight the rifle and scope at home, could do it out the window at an object about 75-100 yrds away and see what it looks like bore sighted, Ray

Oops just reread your 1st post, I misunderstood, you must have it sighted in already and it's off, sorry,

[Brian Dick]

The old Lymans are not centering in the way we look at modern scopes. You need to mechanically center the post and adjust the windage using the large screws on the the base and shims under the base itself. Original 1903A4 rifles will have these shims present if the base is original to the rifle and hasn't been removed/replaced. Once you have it boresighted this way, you can shoot and make the fine internal adjustments you need using the windage and elevation drums.

[Neal Myers]

Possibly the mount on your 03A4 was installed incorrectly by a previous owner. When it left the arsenal, several thicknesses of brass shims would have been installed under the front, & both mounting screws were staked. Also, it was aligned & the left windage knob staked; the right windage knob is supposed to be used to R&R the scope without having to adjust the windage.



Neal

[Sgt. Tom]

Neal and all,

I suspect that the problem lies in the left coarse adjustment screw (which I can soften and "un stake" if necessary.
After tearing the rifle down to have some work done to it, I am fairly certain that the rifle has been "corrected" by a previous owner. Nice enough work, with all the original parts (including the mount shim), but may not have been fired since completed. I am a shooter/fan of U.S. small arms and the most recent owner is (I believe) strictly a collector. By the time it hits the range I should have all the anomalies sorted out. Thanks for the help....A very helpful forum !!
Thanks
Sgt. Tom