Scope and rifle reunited...

[Mustang51]

Years ago (2013) I won a wonderful old target rifle at an estate sale of a WWII vet who had been an avid target shooter. That man's name was James A Norton. The rifle was set up for an old style long tube target scope, but one was not included. It did come with a very nice target sight. Amazingly, I recently saw James Norton's target scope at another online auction. I bid on the scope and won it.

Here is Mr. Norton's obituary.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/s...aspx?n=james-a-norton&pid=163527379&fhid=8733

Here's the rifle...





And here is the scope..

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

WOW! That. Is. Crazy!

 

[chicharrones]

A helluva reunion. I'd like to think Mr. Norton would approve.

 

[Mustang51]

Thanks, guys!

I won the rifle in 2013, not long after Mr. Norton passed. It is Winchester Model 70, has a Jewell trigger and a 30" Hart barrel. It came with an RPA "Trakker" rear sight and a variable front globe.

Here is a thread that I started on the CMP forum back in 2015, a few years after I won the rifle, requesting any information about using the rifle in competition, finding a scope, etc.


http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=172125


Here is the recent auction listing for the scope.

https://hibid.com/lot/84043538/lyman-super-target-spot-scope

 

[BigBore44]

Some things are just not meant to be apart. That’s what you call fate. And it’s really awesome.

 

[Nature Boy]

What a great story

 

[Speedo66]

How does it shoot?

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Beautiful iron. Love the Dymo labels too!

 

[Mustang51]

Some things are just not meant to be apart. That’s what you call fate. And it’s really awesome.

Beautiful iron. Love the Dymo labels too!

What a great story

Thanks, guys. I was amazed when I saw the name on the scope box. Ever since getting the rifle, I've been kind of on the look out for a long tube scope. I never imagined that I would find Mr. Norton's scope after all these years.

I recognized the name as soon as I saw it and the home town and resolved to win the scope, whatever bid was required. As it turned out, I actually got it for a decent price.

 

[792mauser]

Love it!

 

[lightman]

Thats a cool story. Mr Norton sounds like quite a guy! RIP Sir!

 

[Barnfixer]

Wow, like a lottery win! Congratulations, it has to be satisfying to have them together. RIP Mr. Norton.

 

[Mustang51]

How does it shoot?

It has been quite a while since I shot it. Here are some targets shot with Federal GMM and my handloads, when I first mounted a conventional scope on it.



After getting it on paper with some cheap .308 ammo, I switched to 168 FGMM at 100 yards



Moved back to 200 yards and switched to 175 gr FGMM



Moved the target to 300 yards



Finally tried some handloads at 300 yards...the Winchester liked 41.7 grs of 4064 best. (I was going to try a three shot group, but threw the third shot out at about 11 o'clock, so I turned it into a 5 shot group). I noticed that the point of impact shifted to the right when I switched to my reloads.

 

[Mosin77]

That is amazing. Like, literal needle-in-a-haystack odds. Congratulations, and I hope it becomes one of your favorite rifles.

 

[loose noose]

That rifle is simply gorgeous, excellent find and acquisition to say the least.

 

[Mustang51]

The scope arrived yesterday.

Good news: It is in great condition. Bad news: one of the scope mounting blocks is boogered up. I could not mount the scope.

I've already put in a call to Steve Earle for a replacement set.