Questions about vintage scopes.

[EuroMan]

I have several older hunting rifles and would like keep period optics on several of them. I have a 722 Remington with Stith, Master bases and plan to put either a B&L BALvar 8 or a Stith/Kollmorgen on it. A pair of Custom 98 Mausers will get Kuharsky/B&L. I just became aware of an Early TASCO MODEL 703 that was manufactured for a Govn contract in the mid 1960's. These have one inch tubes with no internal adjustment. I would like to know if anyone here has any experience with the Tasco model 703 and they handle recoil well or were only meant as a training aid with blank firing weapons.
Thank you

 

[Herzo]

My recommendation would be to look for a Weaver K series if you are trying to come up with a period scope. Ironsight no longer repairs them [sadly Mike retired], but it appears that they have sold their parts inventory to Heritageoptics.com [also in Tulsa].

 

[nashlaw]

I have several older hunting rifles and would like keep period optics on several of them. I have a 722 Remington with Stith, Master bases and plan to put either a B&L BALvar 8 or a Stith/Kollmorgen on it. A pair of Custom 98 Mausers will get Kuharsky/B&L. I just became aware of an Early TASCO MODEL 703 that was manufactured for a Govn contract in the mid 1960's. These have one inch tubes with no internal adjustment. I would like to know if anyone here has any experience with the Tasco model 703 and they handle recoil well or were only meant as a training aid with blank firing weapons.
Thank you

Not sure how much this means to you, but for what it's worth...

During the Vietnam Conflict, it is often discussed that the Marine Snipers of the time would replace the external adjustment scopes (Lymans/Unertls) on their Winchester Model 70 Sniper Rifles with variable scopes they purchased at the PX in Okinawa. From what I have read, they were at 3-9x variable scope and it was called the "Marine Variable". In my collection of sniper pictures of that era, I have at least 2 that show what appears to be a variable scope on their Mod 70 Sniper Rifles. If you would like, I can look for them this weekend.

As a note, I was not a Marine, Sniper or otherwise. I was in the Navy, later trained as a lawyer and love military history and research.

 

[EuroMan]

Not sure how much this means to you, but for what it's worth...

During the Vietnam Conflict, it is often discussed that the Marine Snipers of the time would replace the external adjustment scopes (Lymans/Unertls) on their Winchester Model 70 Sniper Rifles with variable scopes they purchased at the PX in Okinawa. From what I have read, they were at 3-9x variable scope and it was called the "Marine Variable". In my collection of sniper pictures of that era, I have at least 2 that show what appears to be a variable scope on their Mod 70 Sniper Rifles. If you would like, I can look for them this weekend.

As a note, I was not a Marine, Sniper or otherwise. I was in the Navy, later trained as a lawyer and love military history and research.

Thank you for your reply. I am aware of the later variable scopes used by military during WWII, Korea, & Vietnam. Shooters from all points of history have modified their rifles with the best sighting equipment available and I understand the reasons why. But for this project I want to set up a few period hunting rifles with Stith and/or B&L mounts and non adjustable scopes. I ask about the Tasco 703 because it mirrors the B&L and Kollmorgen scopes in appearance but I have no information on its use beyond a training device for the military.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

Take a look at the old Weaver V8. The cat's meow back in the day!!

 

[AWS]

I like the mount on the Weaver V-8 better than the Bausch and Lomb/Kuharsky, but really like the Balvar 8 scope and still use one in Leupold windage adjustable one piece mounts and shim for elevation, it makes for a very sturdy set and forget scope set up. I call my rig the "Turret Twisters Nightmare". I do get some weird looks and comments when they see my scope with no turrets or even adjustment caps.

 

[Tommie]

The Balvars had great optics for the time. But I have to agree with others that the old El Paso Weavers are rock solid (and relatively plentiful).

 

[EuroMan]

Check the K6's for sale. Newton

Thank you, but I am wanting to mount a scope with no turrets. I have a 2 B&L, BALvar scopes already. Looking to complete my mount sets to get it working. Might add a Weaver V8 on another vintage rifle later.

 

[EuroMan]

I was able to locate a Kollmorgen 6X scope with the proper ring assembly and the wear bands. This completes a matching brand/period rig on this 722 Remington.

I would like to thank all of you that posted with helpful information.

John