+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread: Reticle types in miltary rifles

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Contributing Member Atticus Thraxx's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Last On
    10-14-2023 @ 09:51 AM
    Location
    Yolo County CA
    Age
    61
    Posts
    150
    Real Name
    GEORGE
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    03:06 AM

    Reticle types in miltary rifles

    At the suggestion of the fine folks on this blog I bought and am now reading Steve Houghton's "The Britishicon Sniper, A Century Of Evolution". Great read. Anyway I'm reading about the SMLE MK III, MKIII* conversions. These were supplied with Winchester A5 scopes. Winchester supplied them in two different reticle types. I got to wondering why. Does the crosshair solve a different optic problem than a post? I'd buy user preference, but no military I know of cares about user preference so can anyone shed some light on this for the slow kid?
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.
    Last edited by Atticus Thraxx; 07-09-2020 at 08:12 PM. Reason: edited to change Winchester A4 to A5.
    I have a lot more experience than expertise, still have both eyes and most of my fingers though.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Age
    2010
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    Advisory Panel Surpmil's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Last On
    @
    Location
    West side
    Posts
    4,651
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    03:06 AM
    Hesketh Pritchard shows a drawing in his book which illustrates the advantages and disadvantages of each type. I would suspect that at first there was little official understanding of reticules at all, and crosshairs were probably supplied by Winchester by default. Later on perhaps, the advantages of the post probably filtered through the C of C and those were ordered instead/as well?

    Purely speculation on my part, and those who have military marked WA5/B4 scopes can perhaps chip in on what reticules they have.

    It comes down to visibility versus target obscuration. What was really needed was a vertical post from the top of the FoV down, as some of the later Germanicon scopes had. However, the "good enough" mentality was almost as prevalent then as later.

    The reticule in the Winchester scopes is just soldered to a thin sheet brass ring which was designed to be easy to replace, so it would be possible that reticules were replaced or changed post-war as well.
    “There are invisible rulers who control the destinies of millions. It is not generally realized to what extent the words and actions of our most influential public men are dictated by shrewd persons operating behind the scenes.”

    Edward Bernays, 1928

    Much changes, much remains the same.

  4. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to Surpmil For This Useful Post:


  5. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  6. #3
    Legacy Member Merle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Last On
    09-28-2022 @ 12:27 PM
    Location
    Mercer County, PA, USA
    Age
    76
    Posts
    321
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    05:06 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Surpmil View Post
    Hesketh Pritchard shows a drawing in his book which illustrates the advantages and disadvantages of each type. I would suspect that at first there was little official understanding of reticules at all, and crosshairs were probably supplied by Winchester by default. Later on perhaps, the advantages of the post probably filtered through the C of C and those were ordered instead/as well?

    Purely speculation on my part, and those who have military marked WA5/B4 scopes can perhaps chip in on what reticules they have.

    It comes down to visibility versus target obscuration. What was really needed was a vertical post from the top of the FoV down, as some of the later Germanicon scopes had. However, the "good enough" mentality was almost as prevalent then as later.

    The reticule in the Winchester scopes is just soldered to a thin sheet brass ring which was designed to be easy to replace, so it would be possible that reticules were replaced or changed post-war as well.

    I have an old Lyman scope with the post coming down from the top - and it is not installed incorrectly.....

  7. Thank You to Merle For This Useful Post:


  8. #4
    Advisory Panel Surpmil's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Last On
    @
    Location
    West side
    Posts
    4,651
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    03:06 AM
    That's interesting, in the A5 IIRC the reticule could probably be inverted.

    In case anyone isn't sure, the advantage of the top-down reticule is it can be more easily seen against the sky or the upper (lighter) part of the field of view, than a typical post can be seen against the darker lower half, especially at night.
    “There are invisible rulers who control the destinies of millions. It is not generally realized to what extent the words and actions of our most influential public men are dictated by shrewd persons operating behind the scenes.”

    Edward Bernays, 1928

    Much changes, much remains the same.

  9. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to Surpmil For This Useful Post:


+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. AI scope reticle
    By Jovan in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 36
    Last Post: 02-22-2020, 01:10 AM
  2. AN/PVS-2 reticle diagram
    By old tanker in forum Milsurps General Discussion Forum
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 10-01-2019, 04:41 PM
  3. Miltary Toy Collecting
    By Aragorn243 in forum The Watering Hole OT (Off Topic) Forum
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 12-28-2015, 11:32 AM
  4. PPCo reticle
    By Promo in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 04-21-2014, 02:30 PM
  5. No32Mk3 reticle querie
    By Riflechair in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 01-29-2011, 05:14 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks