Just acquired a modest collection of pre-64 model 70 Winchesters. One of these, and the one I plan to hunt the most with, is a 300 Win Mag. Buying the guns, reduced the firearms and related items budget to the point I will have to scope the 300 with what's on the shelf. In other words, I will use a scope I already have. But which one? I will be hunting mostly northern Minnesota whitetail bucks, with a trip "out west" for elk maybe once every two years. The scopes on hand are as follows: steel tube Weaver K4, (on the rifle now), Weatherby Imperial 4X, Redfield 4X TV eyepiece, with post and crosshairs, Bausch & Lomb 3000 3x9 variable, and lastly my choice, unless someone changes my mind, a 3x9 Leupold vari x ll. Which one would you choose? Thanks in advance for any advice, Grant.

The Leupold is by some bit the most versitile choice and best performer of the lot. While your's may be of later manufacture, essentially the same scope was being built in 1963 and used on Winchester 70's, so would seem "appropriate".

The Weaver K-4 is "contemporaneous" with the pre-64 Winchester and would "feel" right on it. The fixed 4x is not usually a big drawback with the size game you will hunt with a .300 magnum. While the optical quality won't match the Leupold, it is generally acceptable. The biggest question with the K-4 if you do a lot of cold weather hunting would be fogging.

The Weatherby 4x is likely from the same period, but with it's double turrets, it is a bit of a novelty and gives you less latitude in mounting. Likewise, the Redfield "Widefield" is from that period (or just a bit later), but that cartoonish television-shaped ocular lens was the undoing of Redfield and led to the company's long-term decline and failure.

I'd be happiest with either the Leupold or the Weaver. Good Luck!

[ 07-08-2002, 18:12: Message edited by: Stonecreek ]

If you are going to shoot a favorite hunting rifle a lot at the range like I do then the 3X9's will make it more fun there.

Otherwise a 4X is a good choice. I never thought the old Weavers were that clear or sharp. I have one in the drawer and I don't think I would use it.

And to add: What are the other pre-64's that you got? Do you have Rules "The Rifleman's Rifle"?

[ 07-08-2002, 19:00: Message edited by: Don Martin29 ]

Out of all the scopes you mentioned I would pick the 3X9 Leupold. I've scoped a few of the Mod. 70's and I normally use a 1 piece base with an extension ring for the front to extend the scope rearwards a bit. I'm 5' 11" about average build. This may or may not work for you but just something to check on.

If you want a 4X scope I think I would do some trading for a 4X Leupold. I see a few of these, used, at the gun shows and they are fairly reasonable $85-$125 depending on condition.

Good luck, and I would be interested to know how the old rifle shoots.

Regards,
Terry

I agree with Terry use the 3x9 or trade it for a stright 4x....I suspect the 3x9X Leupold will serve you well. The varibles are very popular today...I have had a 3x9Leupold on my 222 for perhaps 40 years and it still works.

Don, the other rifles were, all standards, '06, 270, 243, and 300 H&H. And yes, I have the Rule book, I study it regularly.........Terry, I will post my groups, (patterns?) after I get the scope mounted, and sighted in. By the way, a few shots at my 1/2 inch steel plate "gong" at one hundred yards, showed me I am quite a few notches above my old thirty- thirty in terms of power.... the 300 just drills nice clean holes through that tough piece of grader blade........