Ted Williams Winchester 53 Scope

[Duddddly]

Hey everyone, new to the forum here but hope you may help with some ideas.

I have come into possession of my grandfathers Ted Williams model 53 30-06, which from what I have found is pretty much a Model 70. I know the gun isn't really pricey, but it means something to me and seems to shoot pretty good with the standard metals. But I would like to add a nice set of mounts, rings and scope. Nothing crazy but decent quality, obviously I don't want to spend more on attachments then the gun is worth.

Any help would be great, especially if you can give actual parts and or model numbers.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I would look for a nice steel Weaver scope to compliment that gun. A K4 or K6 can be had for not much money.

 

[Schofield3]

i'll second weaver mounts and you might be able to find ted Williams branded optics too match the rifle as well....

 

[Art Eatman]

I've had Weaver mounts and rings on my pet '06 for over forty years and some 4,000 rounds. Never a problem at all.

Scope? A Weaver K4 would work well. For daylight hunting, even the old steel-tube versions are plenty good. At worst, maybe fifteen minutes less shooting time at first and last light of the day.

Nothing wrong with a K6 except that I'm sort of a field-of-view freak.

 

[Duddddly]

I understand keeping the character of the rifle with one of the weaver scopes, but what about a newer tech scope that may give me one more capability with the rifle?

And would you suggest raised rings or standard? And 1or 2 piece mounts?

 

[Awsomepossum]

what,no love for the Redfield scopes. Maybe a widefield?

 

[Willie Sutton]

Maintain the character. The rifle was sold as an economy version of the Model 70, and would have been most likely fitted with a Weaver in 2 piece weavr mounts. These are good workable mounts with pretty good return to zero after removal. It would be the classic choice, work fine even today, and are available at very reasonable cost with a little searching on EBay or Gunbroker.

An upscale yet vintage choice would be a Redfield, in either Weaver or Leupold mounts, and the Gucci choice would be a vintage Leupold in Leupold mounts. Redfield mounts are 2 piece, Leupold often one piece. Stay away from any raised mounts, they prevent a proper cheek weld.


Were it me, it would have a vintage 4X Weaver.


Willie

.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Ain't nothing wrong with steel Weaver scopes. I have at least half a dozen and use them.

 

[Duddddly]

Ok, I'm sold....weaver mounts and scope it is!

Should I go with weaver rings as well? And what's the difference between the K4 and 6 scope if I may ask?

 

[rcmodel]

K4 = 4x power.
K6= 6x power.

You want a K4 & old Weaver rings to be period correct on your 30-06.

Back then, we considered 6x to be a varmint rifle scope.

Nobody had told us yet in those pre-internet days we needed a 24x scope to shoot prairie dogs at 300 yards!

rc

 

[Duddddly]

Alright, the parts hunt begins.

Many thanks to everyone for all the great input, I'll load a photo once it's complete.

 

[rcmodel]

Here's what you are looking for.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Wea...659?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58ac20ad13

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Wea...641?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51b962b079

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-WEA...018?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7674e732

Rc

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Store Brands

Here's my model 53...probably looks similar to yours.

I have Weaver base and low rings on it. I opted for the one piece base instead of the two piece. Reason being the one piece allows for more front-to-rear movement for positioning the scope for best eye relief.

The scope pictured on it here is a newer Weaver Classic (Japan) V-10 2.5x10. I've since replaced it with a store-brand scope. I found a NIB Montgomery Ward Western Field scope with a post reticle. It is a fixed 4x scope with 40mm objective lense.

I am not a fan of the older steel tube Weaver scopes. That loss of daylight as mentioned in a post above ("At worst, maybe fifteen minutes less shooting time at first and last light of the day") can ruin your hunting day and eventually will. That is prime time for deer movement.

The newer Weaver Classic (Japan) aluminum tube scopes are great and have fully multicoated lenses. You won't loose prime time hunting minutes and they are available in fixed or variable powers.