Between what year and what year were the following fixed power scopes manufactured?

- Leupold M-8 3X

- Weaver (USA) K-3 3X

- Weaver (USA) K-3W 3X wideview
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Regarding the two Weaver 3X variations, were their fields of view and/or eye reliefs significantly different from one another?

While Leupold services M-8s, is there a source for servicing these fixed power American-made Weaver (discontinued) scopes?

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
http://forums.accuratereloadin...1421043/m/5011051921

Many thanks. Repair-servicing is firmed up.

Now for the remainder of my query.

M-8, early 1960's until the early 1990's. It was preceded by the very similar M-7 3X made in the mid-50's until the M-8 replaced it. No one seems able to figure out why Leupold discontinued their straight 3X, nor why they refuse to re-introduce it.

K-3, roughly late 1940's until the early-1980's, and K-3W mid 70-'s until early-80s or so. I can't recall if the two were offered contemporaneously, so the cut-off date for the regular K-3 may be earlier. There were, of course, several different iterations of the K-3 with differing turret housings and early ones with non-centered reticles.

These are just guesses based on certain personal timeframes, so take them only as guidelines and not gospel.

quote:

No one seems able to figure out why Leupold discontinued their straight 3X, nor why they refuse to re-introduce it.

Stonecreek,

Valid question. Even a 4x scope gets blurry at 25 paces in the thickets. This is where a 2.5x or 3x is more appropriate. I noticed this with a 4x40mm Lynx scope that I had when I shot some Impala in thick brush - a very clear scope though, but it is not focused for this short distance and tha parralax is set at 100 yds.

How about putting it to Leupold and see how the respond.
I guess the popularity of the 3-9x40 mm killed it in terms of sales.
If they bring out the 2.5x tomorrow, I will be their first buyer.
At short-range there is seldom time to tamper with settings.
I used a S&B once in 1.5-6x, and I just set it at 2.5x and it was a delight.

With today's technology Leupold should be able to bring out a superior product, far better than the M8's. These are specialist scopes and can be offered only in premium-grade mush like their current top range.

Warrior

Warrior,

I have a couple of the 2.5X Leupold Compacts. They are good little scopes, but in order to build them in their very compact size a number of optical trade-offs have to be made, resulting in a somewhat more constrained sight picture than the full-sized M-8 3X of yesteryear.

Leupold has "upgraded" their line of fixed scopes from the M-8 to the "FX-II" line. I doubt there is really much difference, but the great thing about low magnification is that it is not nearly as demanding of the scope's optics, thus there is essentially no difference (optically) between a $200 3X scope and a $700 3X scope.

I notice that when an M-8 3X comes up on Ebay that bidders always push its price up well beyond what I'm willing to pay (and much higher than a 4x, 6x, or 8x M-8) -- indicating that there is still a lot of interest in scopes of this type.