Light, classic looking scopes?

For a basic, durable scope, the old Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40 has worked well for me . I used a couple for many years and then gave them to friends who are still using them.
https://www.amazon.com/Burris-Fullfield-Hunting-Ballistic-Reticle/dp/B0941TPNGF

Leupold and Burris are consistently the lightest traditional 2x7 , 3x9 scopes available .Usually around 12 ounces . I don't know if they still do , but Leupold made an ultra light model at something like 9 ounces .

crestoncowboy said:

Looking for a light weight scope for a 700 mountain rifle in 257 roberts. Not looking to build the lightest hunting gun in existence but trim some weight from the 20+ power 50mm monstrosity its wearing now. Looking for 3-9x40 ish power but not opposed to fixed power, though I prefer variable. I don't want a busy reticle. A fine cross hair is plenty. I don't really even want an adjustable objective but I'm not opposed to it

View attachment 1140879

Another issue I have is finding a decent low profile turret. I don't want 3 inch tall tactical turrets Will be a set it and leave it scope. No need for such turrets. nor do I need a floppy lever for the zoom ring . Lol.

I have an old rifleman 4-12 on a CZ 17 HMR that I may use if I can't find anything I like. I have thought about the VX-freedom.

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I have a .257 Roberts. My favorite scope (which it is wearing now) is the Leupold VXIII in 2.5x8. I have also had a Leupold fixed 6x scope on it in the past.

A Leupold with the features you’re looking for would be my preference.

If budget permits, a Swarovski in their Z3 line

Since mine are basically just range toys, I have several classic rifles wearing old Weaver scopes from the same vintage:



As for a current production, I rather like the Leupold VX-Freedom 1-4x series -- I have one with the Hog-plex reticle and another with conventional duplex crosshairs. They work and won't break the bank, but today's glass snobs may sneer at your choice.

https://www.leupold.com/vx-freedom-15-4x20-pig-plex-riflescope

A Leupold will be in the 11-13 oz range and is about as light as you will get in a 3-9x40 scope. If you can find one the now discontinued Burris FF-II is I think a little better scope. They are a little heavier at around 15 oz, and not quite as classically designed. But IMO are a better scope than the lower end Leupold. I see them for around $160 occasionally.

tdbmd said:

I have a .257 Roberts. My favorite scope (which it is wearing now) is the Leupold VXIII in 2.5x8. I have also had a Leupold fixed 6x scope on it in the past.

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The Leupold 2.5-8x36 is also my choice for a 300 & under hunting rifle, I've got 2 of them, one on my .260 and another on my .350RM. Both are Remington M7s, so the scope dimensions/weight go nicely with 20" carbines.

350RM:


Same scope on my .260Rem:






The .260 wears lightweight Talley's and the .350 is in Warne QDs as it also has a Swarovski 1.25-4X for timber and drives.

I've also got a 3.5-10x40 on another M7 in .223Rem and it only weighs a couple more ounces than the 2.5-8s and doesn't look out of place either:

I like Leupolds, can't beat them for durability. They perform well too. I used to like Weaver Grand Slams but they are done. I also recommend Burris. I had a Mountain rifle like yours in 30-06. I didn't like the recoil so I sold it but it was pretty and shot well.

I can also recommend the Leupold 2.5-8x36.

Amazon has the Burris Fullfield ii pretty reasonably priced. It is around $130.

This Leupold 3.9X EFR scope is about right for this .308 Win built on Pre-64 M-70 action. Classic stockwork by Bob Emmons and sleek Conetrol scope rings compliment the rifle's trim profile.

2ndtimer said:

For a basic, durable scope, the old Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40 has worked well for me . I used a couple for many years and then gave them to friends who are still using them.
https://www.amazon.com/Burris-Fullfield-Hunting-Ballistic-Reticle/dp/B0941TPNGF

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Pretty hard to beat this for what OP mentions. Have two of them since early 2000's. 25-05 and 30-06. Works.

crestoncowboy said:

I don't mind that one. I wish it had a plain reticle though. Of the 4 options they have none are plain

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Looking around, man, these things are hard to locate. Did find a Leupold Freedom VX CDS 3-9x40 with DuPlex recticle at Midsouth Shooters Supply. $299 and ships free.
Maybe check that one.

'cowboy, you mention the lack of gloss scopes and you're right; damn near everything now is matte finish. I have three Japan glassed Weaver rifle scopes, all gloss finish. These were/are fabulous scopes: 1-3x20, K4 and a 3-9x38. These are hard to come by nowadays. Hope you find what you're looking for.

crestoncowboy said:

As soon as figure out what it is I'm looking for.... I'll be closer to finding it. I figure the gun is 80s so a classic looking gloss scope would look at home.

yeah I looked through Natchez and midway... none gloss
View attachment 1141221
That's midway......Believe it or not.... no gloss.

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Eat your heart out: Nitrex 3-9x40 GLOSS scope. Made in Japan, comparable to the Weaver Grand Slams, IMO better optically than the Leupold VX-2. Picked it up from Natchez a few years ago on close out for $99.99. Would have rather had the matte finish, but found one of those later at Amazon for $69.99 with free prime shipping.

2ndtimer said:

Eat your heart out: Nitrex 3-9x40 GLOSS scope. Made in Japan, comparable to the Weaver Grand Slams, IMO better optically than the Leupold VX-2. Picked it up from Natchez a few years ago on close out for $99.99. Would have rather had the matte finish, but found one of those later at Amazon for $69.99 with free prime shipping.
View attachment 1141247

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And here it is with the nice Montana Muley it took last November:

These guys refurbish vintage scopes and sell ones they have already refurbish if you want vintage.

Vintage Gun Scopes

Ohen Cepel said:

These guys refurbish vintage scopes and sell ones they have already refurbish if you want vintage.

Vintage Gun Scopes

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I was going to add the same link. Look here first if you want to keep the classic look of that rifle.

If there is an all-time Classic American made scope it has to be the Lyman All-Weather Alaskan. Introduced in 1939 and offered only in 2-1/2X magnification, it remained in production for two decades and even today it remains eagerly saught by collectors of legendary hunting optics. During WWII and in Korea the Alaskan had the toughness and durability the army was looking for in a sniper scope and was mated with the Garand rifle to deadly effect. Known as the M-1 and M-2 sniper scope in wartime nomenclature it established it reputation -and legend- for tough reliability, living up to it's "All Weather" promotions. By the 1950's it was the recognized as the premier go-to scope for hunting in Alaska and similar enviroments that had proven too harsh for many other scopes. Though a crosshair reticle was standard, the Alaskan was offered with a choice of five different post reticles, which is why they are often encountered with a post reticle similar to the posts of military sniper scopes. The Alaskan is recognized by it's 7/8" diameter, whereas other scopes of the time were available with 1" main tubes. (When Leupold briefly offered their "Alaskan" scope they reproduced the original Lyman's 7/8" tube in honor of the Alaskan's legacy. Some of the classiest big game rifles ever made in the the US featured Alaskan scopes in Griffin & Howe QD mounts like this Griffin & Howe .375 H&H Mag.

As mentioned in post #24 on this thread, Lyman Alaskan scopes were typically used on higher end rifles such as the 1903 Mannlicher seen here and types of sporting arms perhaps more often bought a carrage trade sporting outfitters like Abercrombie & Fitch in Manhattan and Marshall Fields in Chicago. Though discontinued some sixty years ago there is an amazing number of Alaskans still in use (I still have two on the working rifles shown, plus an extra.) and they are often offered on eBay and similar venues. A main reason for their longevity and continued appeal is their rigid steel main tube and their hard coated lens supplied by Baush & Lomb. They were also relatively expensive, with a 1950 retail price of $60.00, which was nearly twice the price of a Weaver "K" scope of same magnification.