Scope for an older .270?

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MacAR

MacAR

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I've got a Ruger M77 that's an '83 model. It currently has a Tasco Pronghorn on it, but it's becoming fogged and difficult to see out of. I'd like a period-type scope to replace it with, and was considering a fixed four power scope such as a K4 Weaver or a 4x40 Bushnell. I won't be shooting past 200 yards with it, regardless of what glass goes on it, but I'm not quite sure that the 4x scopes would be sufficient. A 3x9 would be ok, but so far all the vintage one's I've looked at are a bit out of my price range. The rifle has some sentimental value, and as such I'd like to keep it "correct" to the early 80's if possible.

Any suggestions or advice?

Mac
 
A person can shoot accurately at 4x to 200 yds and beyond. The flexibility of a variable is nice, but I bet I keep mine set on 4x 95% of the time while hunting.

I used to be in the market for K2.5's on Ebay and noticed many K4's for sale in the $100 range. I assume that you want something gloss which puts you in the used market. Keep looking. Weaver or Leupold would be a good fit. I think that Redfield was on the downslide by '83 but those produced in Denver a few years earlier were great optics.

ETA: Don't forget some of the older Bushnells. They made about 3 different grades in those days, of which the top 2 were definitely serviceable optics. Heck, anythings a improvement over a Pronghorn!
 
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Laphroaig said:
I used to be in the market for K2.5's on Ebay and noticed many K4's for sale in the $100 range. I assume that you want something gloss which puts you in the used market. Keep looking. Weaver or Leupold would be a good fit. I think that Redfield was on the downslide by '83 but those produced in Denver a few years earlier were great optics.
Click to expand...

Essentially, yes. Gloss finish is a must-have. Of course, there is a little wiggle-room on the year of the scope. Perhaps should've said between '80 and '85. The rifle was my grandad's, and I think at one time he had a 4x or 6x scope on it. I "absconded" with it to save it from the hock-shop (long story), and have been using it for a couple years. The rifle shoots good, as I said, but the scope is just getting cloudy. Thanks for your advice.

Mac
 
.270 is long action.
Easier time of fitment with a longer scope.
Early 80's suggests Leupold Vari X ii or iii.
3-9x in the ii, 3.5-10x in the iii

Unfortunately, clean gloss old Leupolds are fetching silly prices.
The custom shop isn't running at the moment so no new gloss scopes.

Not the time to be buying an oldie at any savings.
The arched letter logo is pre 74 IIRC so you want the reg block letter logo.
I forget what yrs the serial number changed, from number to alpha prefix to suffix.

Saw a breakdown on the web someplace.

An old 4x is a usable piece, but the objective on those back then was small and it's not gonna look right on that rifle.
Better would be a fixed 6x if going that route.

But they command even higher prices.
Best allaround and most economical, is to find a clean 3-9X Vari X ii.
Internet auction sites have them around 300.

Which is IMHO ridiculous for a friction adj 40 yr old scope.
There are deals to be had, and one could score one at a show or shop maybe for under 200.
Of course, every little mark drops the price.

Recently played this game trying to scope a Ruger #1.
 
An 80's Japan made Bushnell glossy would suit and they were good scopes with Bausch & Lomb glass. I found a nice early 80s 2-8 x compact on ebay for a claw mount going on a vintage Mauser Sporter. Good glass.
 
I wouldn't trust a 30-40 year old scope. The rubber seals dry rot over time even though the glass may be clear. Buy a new production scope. You'll get a lot more scope for the dollar with a 3-9X40 (no such thing as a 3X9 scope). And a 3-9x40 is certainly period correct for a 1983 rifle. But if you want a fixed power scope 4X40 is plenty for big game out to 400 yards. A lot of people consider a fixed 6X40 to be the perfect all around fixed power. I've always thought it too much magnification for closer shots, until I actually tried one. It is a lot better than I'd originally thought. And I've shot 6X out to 600 yards just fine.

Not many, if any gloss scopes available today. But once again, matte finish scopes were already more common than gloss by 1983. If it were a 1960's rifle then getting a gloss scope might be more important.

In optics nomenclature the 1st number, or 1st two numbers with a dash in between followed by an X is the scopes magnification. The number that is listed after the X is the size of the objective in millimeters. A 3X9 scope would be a fixed power 3X scope with a 9mm objective.
 
A new Leupold FX III 6x42.

Other than that, my suggestion would be to scrounge gun shows. I've come across older high-quality scopes like Zeiss Diavari that were selling for just a few hundred bucks and came with a rifle thrown in (a Weatherby Mark V even). You might be able to find a nice older Zeiss or Swarovski Habicht.
 
jmr40 said:
I wouldn't trust a 30-40 year old scope
Click to expand...

You mean like this one:
0911202021.jpg
Its a K 2.5 El Paso Weaver, and quite nice for its age.

Or perhaps this one:
0911202022-1.jpg
The picture isn't the best, but its an old Bushnell Banner 3-9x32 with fine crosshairs. Possibly my favorite scope.

jmr40 said:
You'll get a lot more scope for the dollar with a 3-9X40 (no such thing as a 3X9 scope).
Click to expand...

Yes, I know, and I'm open to a variable power as well. And yes, I also know there's no 3x9; I simply abbreviated out of pure laziness.

Bwana John said:
Leupold M8 4X
Click to expand...

A quite nice scope, John. But alas, too rich for my blood!

Thanks again to everyone for their input. A lot of good advice here. I have a couple scope I'm watching on eBay and other spots. Hopefully I'll be able to snag one before too much longer.

Mac
 
I am in the same boat with a similar thread not long ago. My M77 with a (Tasco) Westernfield 3-9X33 from circa 1964(?) that has ridden this rifle since about 1982 and my dads Springfield before and is currently still fully functional:

IMG-1496.jpg

And the new Leupold I just purchased that I had intended to install just because the Westernfield was old. But cannot bring myself to install the "tacti-cool" matte black scope on a rifle that was clearly meant to host a gloss finish optic :( .

Like, what is with the matte black anyways?
 
I had a vari-xiic in gloss I just gave away, bought it for 125 locally, still seem em sometimes for that. Don't care for the optics, but sure look nice on shiney blue rifles, which I don't have anymore either lol.
 
You guys are correct, a gloss scope is more fitting for the rifle. And, lets face it: 1980 in the Hills was like 1960 in the rest of the world. We're still 20 years behind! :rofl:

@LoonWulf I wish I'd known that sooner, I'd have gladly given you your money back. Locally, if it says "Leupold" its $200 and up. I'd considered a rifleman, but just can't like the matte finish. Nothing wrong with the optics, of course. And were it an All Weather rifle, I'd likely reconsider.

Mac
 
I'll keep an eye out, leupolds don't command a premium here unless fairly new.
They also show up on eBay for about the same, or id have just listed it there. Think I offered it to someone in a thread, in trade a while back, but didn't get a taker.
 
Most folks can run an iffy scope on a .22rf.
Unless maybe they are after Boone and Crockett squirrels and paying big money for guides and pack horses LOL

Am down to just one .22 rifle (CZ455). It wears a Freedom VX 2-7X.
I leave it at 4x.

Works.

Tried to find an old M8 4x for my 10/22 SP but folks wanted way more than they were worth.
I had one, bought on auction site, for $ 125. It was on a #1 RSI that went bye bye.

View attachment 941909
Had a 2-7X VX1 on my SP, matte, looked OK to me
 
I hunt in cold and wet weather sometimes.
Aint risking a chance at a big buck on old seals.

Backyard 100" bucks are one thing, getting a crack at 150's or bigger?

That old Pentax proly made by Burris and newer than the K10 by a fair bit.
Having had a new Weaver fog in 2nd yr, get fixed and fog a yr later..........that was the end for me.

Never had a Leupold fog. Even 80's models.
They however are not perfect, but I learned to turret tap way back and can make use of them LOL
 
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