The thread on "what to do with old scopes" got me thinking about all the crap I have in my parts boxes.. I'm sure we all have a few odd take-off or junk scopes on our bench or in our parts box, so here is my thoughts.

I recently bought a Savage 17 HMR for giggles because it was real cheap... It came with what I consider a POS 1" Bushnell rimfire scope. Although clear enough, and it seemed to hold zero, I didn't like the adjustments so I replaced it with a Vortex.(cost more than the rifle LOL)

what I plan to do with the "take-off" is I'll just put it in my range box, and when I see a younger shooter on the smallbore range without a scope, or with one of those POS 3/4" Chinese gar'bage k-mart scopes, I'll just gift it to him or her.

Doin my part to keep the sport alive.....

Frank

I dug out a Weaver external adj. 3x9 . It's got a faint scuff on the eyepiece. crosshairs are doubled so they create 4 squares in the center.

Nice steel scope but tough to change the power. I may pop it into a set of kurharski rings and try it on the p64 257.

Cross hairs doubled in both directions, rich? I know Elmer Keith helped them develop the double horizontals but four squares in the centre suggests they are both tripled. B&L-type mounts are a great idea IMHO but they only exist for old rifle models.

Over the past 35 years I have encountered several scopes which were adequate tire chocks and tent pegs.

Generally speaking, cheap fixed power scopes are fairly dependable and usable, particularly for something like a rimfire or a knock about "truck gun".

Introducing the variable mechanism into a cheap scope brings with it a plethora of potential problems with shifting zero, poor focus, and moisture leakage. A cheap variable makes a great gift to a kid to play with as a telescope or, for older and inquisitive ones, to disassemble to learn how telescopes work.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
Generally speaking, cheap fixed power scopes are fairly dependable and usable, particularly for something like a rimfire or a knock about "truck gun".

Introducing the variable mechanism into a cheap scope brings with it a plethora of potential problems with shifting zero, poor focus, and moisture leakage. A cheap variable makes a great gift to a kid to play with as a telescope or, for older and inquisitive ones, to disassemble to learn how telescopes work.

Yes, well put! If any readers in Australia have an old scope with a constantly centred reticle, which rattles but is not covered by a hide-the-evidence warranty, I'd be glad to buy it for a reasonable sum.

Price them cheap here or on eBay. Someone will buy any "deal"