A change in the way scopes are made....

Critch · #1 01-31-2007, 02:37 PM

I was reading the latest issue of American Rifleman and they talk about the old Leupold scopes that did not have turrets on them, they had a series of concentric rings to adjust the scope. That got me to thinking about an incident that happened to me.

I was walking to my deerstand in the dark, moving pretty fast, and i hit my scope on a big granite bouilder as i went around it. When the sun came up, I realized that I had a scope that was not going to work, the turret was bent to the side at a fairly sharp angle and the crosshairs were busted. it made me sick, it was a nice scope.

I have noticed that most tactical scopes have really tall turrets, is this not asking for trouble? It seems to me that a design similar to the old scopes might make more sense, especially for riflemen moving through steets and the woods in the dark.

The CCW crowd is always talking about "melting" guns to keep down on snags, does the rifle crowd may to take a look at this too?

I'm also sort orf scope dumb, I'm not sure of the engineering requirments, ie, what can be done with what we have as far as technology goes. But a crosshair that is positioned by say an allen wrench instead of knobs may have it's usefulness.

skeet · #2 01-31-2007, 08:55 PM

Think it was already tried a long time ago. But it was mounts that were adjusted with a separate tool. Just gotta carry a tool with you. Oh sh**....I forgot my adjusting tool.

Well heck... I really would. I forget stuff too much now. But I never forgot my gun or ammo...yet!!

Critch · #3 01-31-2007, 10:05 PM

I know what you mean about not having the tool. I've seen those old scope mounts in pictures.

Jack · #4 02-01-2007, 12:30 AM

Bausch and Lomb sold a series of scopes with the adjustment in the mounts, rather than on the scope. You adjusted those with a coin, same as you do on many scopes today- the knob was on the mount, but no real difference.
Critch, you have an interesting idea there. Maybe, if there's a trend towards smaller and more compact scopes, you'll see something like what you described.

Catfish · #5 02-01-2007, 01:46 PM

You relize that you would have no problems if you did not bang your scope turrets into things.

I just ordered a set of high turrets for a 6 1/2 x 20 Leupold, $ 65 worth. The big advantage to the tall turrets is that they can be seen better and adjusted easier which makes it much easier when rangeing your target and adjusting your scope so that you do not have to Hold 1 ft. over and 6 in. to the left to hit your target.

Critch · #6 02-02-2007, 09:51 AM

You're right Catfish, however, Murphy's Laws of Combat tend to take over a the least opportune times.

Well, like I said, it's an observation. I'm not an LEO or military scout/sniper, just a school counselor, but from reading articles about pistols it hit me that riflemen may want to make thier rifles as snag free as possible also.

I saw a very expensive sniper rifle the other day with all sorts of bells and whistles and enough sharp edges to grab anything...

Skinny Shooter · #7 02-02-2007, 10:45 AM

Whenever I schlepp my heavy-barrelled varmint guns or other rifles, they are always carried muzzle-down on the weak-side (left) shoulder and the rifle lays somewhat across my left shoulder blade. This protects the scope from being hit, the muzzle in case you fall and from having to thread the barrel through the brush ahead of you as you walk.
I can get a rifle into action fairly quick with this type of carry.
If I have to walk through thick brush etc, the left hand snugs the gun against me and the muzzle points back and down.
The only part of my rifles that seem to get snagged are the harris bipod legs. But I can live with it.
Some folks will carry a rifle at port arms but I try not to due to the possibility of tripping in the woods.

Mike Moss · #8 02-08-2007, 12:09 AM

The late fad of large target turrets on hunting scopes is follows the trend to cammo, tactical and other make believe fashions.

Not to say that some don't really use them but I doubt many do.

I have had scopes with real turrets since the early 50's. We use them for target shooting.

Now I even have a 'tactical' scope with turrets. The turrets are just in the way.

However to each his own.

skeet · #9 02-08-2007, 12:29 AM

I also carry my rifles and shotguns pointing down left side. I do however keep my hand on the forend (shotguns at all times) when hunting. Barrel pointed slightly forward. When a bird flushes I twist the forearm to the left bringing the bbl right and up. It is only slightly slower than port arms and a lot safer. If the bird jumps within 10 yds or so...I can have the first shot off within 20 yds of the gun. Rifles I do the same as Skinny. Safe and effective.