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Sambarmans latest book on scope/optics
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I graciously received a copy of Samuel B. Mann's latest book on Rifle scopes entitled:
"Light At The Ttart of the Tunnel."

Its well written, a must read for those of us who have never really made a study of rifle optics..

I found much to agree with and nothing to disagree with but would make for stimulating conversation, and information that I had no real knowledge of, nor had I ever considered, I found some of my opinnions on scopes and their use that came about thru my personal experiences to be fact rather than personal opinion, that many have taken issue with over the years that proved to be more than theory.

At any rate I would recommend anyone who is a shooter should contact Sambarman for a copy.


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
 
Posts: 41833 | Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Registered: 04 June 2000Reply With Quote
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Thanks Ray,
I realise Light at the Start of the Tunnel (subtitled: Are rifle scopes off the rails?) is to some extent locking the stable door after the horse has bolted - but hunters who have had scopes fail might find it of interest. And you never know, good old scopes are still out there and some maker might yet introduce a techno-retro model analogous with Leupold's Lyman Alaskan.

We are launching the book at the Melbourne Arms & Militaria Fair on 14 April. I have reserved the right to organise my own mail-order sales as well, but that is yet to be set up.

Not having my own credit-card facilities, I will direct international payments to the publishers, Bunduki Books - but a PM or email to me might secure a signed copy for AR members Smiler

Cheers
'Samuel B. Mann'
 
Posts: 4957 | Location: Melbourne, Australia | Registered: 31 March 2009Reply With Quote
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Got any details of price , postage etc, mate ?


________________________

Old enough to know better
 
Posts: 4457 | Location: Eltham , New Zealand | Registered: 13 May 2002Reply With Quote
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Sam,

Research alternatives to Credit Cards. You can use Pay Pal and there are other services.


Mike



What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
 
Posts: 10057 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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The nominal price is $30, Muzza. Simple postage in Australia is $4.30 and $10 to America, though Bunduki is sending a batch to a shop over there. I'll try to adapt an account to accept payments in Aussie dollars ASAP.

I'll have a look into PayPal etc, Mike, though I have agreed with Bunduki that they can do the international-money stuff.

Maybe I can just pay them extra for any I send overseas. Watch this space.
 
Posts: 4957 | Location: Melbourne, Australia | Registered: 31 March 2009Reply With Quote
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Thanks for the heads up, Ray, and thanks for writing the book Sam.
Funny, I was just talking to a lifelong hunter who actually had dealings with old Bill Weaver in his El Paso shop back in the day.


There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.
– John Green, author
 
Posts: 16369 | Location: Sweetwater, TX | Registered: 03 June 2000Reply With Quote
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The problem is Sambarman is that once we have all got your book and glean all your knowledge on rifle optics you won't have any need to post anymore on your favourite subject tu2 I'm sure you will though.
 
Posts: 3853 | Location: Nelson, New Zealand | Registered: 03 August 2009Reply With Quote
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That's true, Eagle. Does reading the bible stop believers listening to the Gospel in church, focused on subjects of the season?

old

I have mixed feelings about Weaver, Bill. On one hand he brought scopes to the masses in the Depression; on the other, he was neck-and-neck with Kollmorgen in inventing image-movement. Some of his later scopes at least lacked that obtrusive field stop Redfield thought essential to reminding the user the reticle was centred.
 
Posts: 4957 | Location: Melbourne, Australia | Registered: 31 March 2009Reply With Quote
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As a way to kick the sales along, I've decided to give a few books away - and have sent some off to members who have joined the conversation so far.

Some of you will have an additional chapter that came to me in a dream as they say in the classics (though I was walking along in daylight at the time). It is my belief that it may actually be the 'answer' to 60 years of BS.

I can't be bothered patenting things any more but it would be nice if a few people bought the book to find out Smiler

Mike and Ray, watch out for PMs/emails.

Cheers
'Samuel B. Mann'.
 
Posts: 4957 | Location: Melbourne, Australia | Registered: 31 March 2009Reply With Quote
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Mine arrived very quickly. Thanks again, Paul. I know you are out in the bush just now, and hope you are having a ball.


There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.
– John Green, author
 
Posts: 16369 | Location: Sweetwater, TX | Registered: 03 June 2000Reply With Quote
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I was out of town for a few days so will check the post box on Saturday! Looking forward to it...

Thanks again.
 
Posts: 690 | Location: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA | Registered: 17 January 2013Reply With Quote
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My complimentary copy arrived safely a couple of days ago, I'm a terrible skim reader of books so have read through this one already. I will go back and leisurely read the book again savouring all the interesting information and Sam's take on the world of scope optics. Enjoyed the book and Sam's writing style, a nicely put together and narrated treatise on a subject not often come across.
Indebted to you Sambarman for your generosity.

BTW 1951 was a good year to be born, I feel I'm in good company tu2
 
Posts: 3853 | Location: Nelson, New Zealand | Registered: 03 August 2009Reply With Quote
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Thanks Eagle,
I guess it was written with a little suspense intended but the plot really did thicken as I wrote it and my final conclusions, now bleedingly obvious to me, are something the scope industry has swept under the carpet for 60/30 years.

Yours should have a recent update added but the story moves on - I'll try to message you the latest in a few days.
 
Posts: 4957 | Location: Melbourne, Australia | Registered: 31 March 2009Reply With Quote
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Ordered mine yesterday. Sounds like a good read.
Smiler
 
Posts: 430 | Location: New Mexico | Registered: 23 July 2006Reply With Quote
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I hope it doesn't get lost, cessna, because that one has three 'custom' additions. If it has not turned up within three weeks, let me know and I'll send another.

Unless I fix or replace my printer, however, I may have to email the update in the back.

Cheers
'SBM'
 
Posts: 4957 | Location: Melbourne, Australia | Registered: 31 March 2009Reply With Quote
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Will do, thanks.
 
Posts: 430 | Location: New Mexico | Registered: 23 July 2006Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by sambarman338:
I hope it doesn't get lost, cessna, because that one has three 'custom' additions. If it has not turned up within three weeks, let me know and I'll send another.

Unless I fix or replace my printer, however, I may have to email the update in the back.
Book arrived safely today. Thank you. I already have it packed for a long plane flight tomorrow. Thanks again.
Cheers
'SBM'
 
Posts: 430 | Location: New Mexico | Registered: 23 July 2006Reply With Quote
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Boy that last post got screwed up. Anyway books here. Thanks.
 
Posts: 430 | Location: New Mexico | Registered: 23 July 2006Reply With Quote
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Thanks cessna, I hope it works for you.

BTW, I was reminded today (by a Leupold Mountaineer from 1955 appearing on the market) of how the company's FoVs dropped almost 20% when they changed from reticle-movement to constantly centred reticles about 1964.

I did mention this in the book but wondered then if it may have been a mistake by Stroebel. But no, there, on the original scope box, were the specifications claiming an FoV of 35 feet at 100 yards (from a 4x!). This can be fiddled by shortening the eye distance of course, but Leupold also claimed a flexible eye relief of four inches. The only other factors I can see governing field of view, in the old scopes at least, are ocular diameter and field stops. Leupold did have generous oculars at about 35mm but the new ones are much the same. However, in changing from the 4x Mountaineer and Pioneer to the image-movement M-8, the FoV dropped from 35 feet to 30, where it has stayed since, as far as I know.

Some brands' variables are much worse than that, too. I've got a Nikon Monarch 4-16 where the FoV at 4x is only about 25 feet, yet the rubber booted ocular housing is enormous and the eye relief no longer than the old Mountaineer's.
 
Posts: 4957 | Location: Melbourne, Australia | Registered: 31 March 2009Reply With Quote
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