Is this scope worth using?

[leadchucker]

I've had this scope pretty much forever. I think it came with my Marlin model 99 when my dad bought it for me in 1961 or so. I think it mounts on 3/8 inch dovetail mounts. It's been stored all these years in the box. I never installed it.

Now, I have a nice little Ruger American Rimfire rifle that is just begging for a good scope. I think that these mounts, although primitive, will bolt right on that Ruger.

The lens size doesn't seem to compare with more modern scopes. I have no idea how it would perform compared to a newer scope. I've never been a scope person.

Would you use it or would you opt for something a bit newer and more technologically advanced??

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Try it and find out.

 

[entropy]

Looks like a standard 3/4" .22 scope from the era. Yes it will 'bolt right on'.

 

[WestKentucky]

Nothing to risk, only options are break even or win. Go for it.

 

[cdb1]

I’d get a newer scope.

 

[Slamfire]

I installed an El Paso Weaver on this pre WW2 M70, and it shot great:



I did not dare touch the elevation or windage adjustments once shooting for a group, because the group could have jumped yards instead of inches. Old hunting scopes, they are a bit touchy in this regard. Still, at 300 yards, if you can see what you are shooting at, you can hit it.



But, the clarity of the image was not as bright as modern scopes. Old scopes may not have had multi coatings on the lenses, or the lens may not have been fully multi coated, and lense glass is much more consistent today. Since this rifle shot well, and I wanted click adjustable E&W, I installed a Leupold 4-12X, which in every regard, is a superior scope.



I recommend, go buy a nice $150.00 scope. You know, Cabelas periodically has 3 X 9 Luepold American Marksman scopes on sale for $150.00. That is a deal.

 

[Scooter22]

If you had a vintage Marlin that you wanted to put it on I'd say yes. I like to use them for plinking on some of my old ones. But on your new Ruger I'd get a modern 1" scope to get the best out of it.

 

[Danoobie]

See if it keeps zero. IMHO, that's the acid test. What brand is it?

 

[LoonWulf]

I wouldn't use it. Optically i doubt it would compare favorably to even the 100 dollar scopes (possible not the sub100s).
Like was previously posted, we're it going on an old vintage "boys" rifle, then I'd use it but only on a gun I didn't shoot offten.

If you have all the boxing and paperwork tho, you might get a decent price for it from someone looking specifically for a scope for such a rifle.

 

[burrhead]

I have a Rem 722 in 244 with the original Balvar 8 in an externally adjustable mount. It's in nice shape, doesn't compare to my Leupolds but will kill Texas Hill Country Whitetails with alacrity. I have no plans to replace it; it's just right.

 

[22250Rem]

What LoonWulf said........... I'd put it on a nice old vintage 22 for that "period correct" look.. Or else it might be valuable to someone with a nice old 22 who's looking for period correct. With the original box & papers that's a big "plus" . If I had a nice Ruger American rimfire I wouldn't use an old 3/4" tube scope like that on it, as a more modern 1" tube scope would serve you much better. I like more modern 2-7x variables on modern rimfires but that's just me. That's a cool old scope but just about any modern 1" tube scope would out perform it.

 

[leadchucker]

You guys confirmed what I suspected. The LGS pointed me to the Bushnell Rimfire 4x32. I had no idea that I could buy a scope that is in every way superior to this old one for under fifty bucks! Yeah, its the bottom of the line and I'll have to buy mounts too, but it's all I really need, This old one is going back in the closet... or maybe on evilbay.

Thanks for the answers.

 

[22250Rem]

That Bushnell 4x should serve you well... 4x is a good choice for a fixed power on a rimfire rifle and some of the Bushnell optical stuff I've seen in the last few years has ( IMHO ) real good optics for that price range. A couple of my rimfires have inexpensive scopes that I'm very happy with for my uses of general plinking and small game hunting. Back in 1999 I put a $60. BSA 2-7x on my 10/22 intending to eventually replace it someday with a real high quality scope but discovered that the BSA is so suitable for all my usage that I left it on there and it's still going strong. For general 22 rimfire usage you don't have to worry much about the scope standing up to strong recoil forces and my .22's rarely get shot at stuff more than 50-60 yards away so decent rimfire scopes can be had without shelling out the big bucks unless you're looking for high magnification precision & long range stuff. Here's the 10/22 with that BSA circa 1999 $60. special that works great ( for me anyway).

 

[SamT1]

I've had this scope pretty much forever. I think it came with my Marlin model 99 when my dad bought it for me in 1961 or so. I think it mounts on 3/8 inch dovetail mounts. It's been stored all these years in the box. I never installed it.

Now, I have a nice little Ruger American Rimfire rifle that is just begging for a good scope. I think that these mounts, although primitive, will bolt right on that Ruger.

The lens size doesn't seem to compare with more modern scopes. I have no idea how it would perform compared to a newer scope. I've never been a scope person.

Would you use it or would you opt for something a bit newer and more technologically advanced??

View attachment 784182

I’d put it on a gun from the same era. Im kinda a sucker for those old optics and old rifle combos.