older low powered scopes

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ratherbefishin

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K-what would you look for in a older low powered scope?-2 1/2 x, 4x perfectly acceptable.[I rarely crank up my variable higher than that anyway,and most shots are well within 100 yards-maybe 200 at the very farthest.Years ago I had an old Bushnell ''scopechief''and as far as I know that is still functioning just fine.I've had a couple of leopolds[a 2 1/2 and 4X ] that also about 25 years old and a 2-7 vx11 that has never let me down.I have an old steel weaver k-4 too-got to be the same vintage or older but haven;t mounted it,the crosshairs are a bit fine-I like something a bit heavier,but apart from that it seems functional-no fogging anyway
Right now I need a small belled [28mm] scope to go on my 9,3x57-to accomodate the altered bolt.Any opinions on Burris,or other older scopes?Anything you would either choose or avoid?
 
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Some of the older Bushnells were made in Japan and had pretty decent optics. I had a Banner fixed power scope that was very bright and clear.
 
Going to older scopes presents problems. The optics are generally not that good. Coatings are absent or not as efficient so they are not very bright. And worst of all, the seals are often gone and they fog up in the cold or humidity.
You would get a better scope for a good price looking at new manufactered Leupold VXI or VXII.
 
I have several old Weavers from their made in U.S.A. days, K2.5, a couple of K4s, a Challenger (alloy K4, the rest are steel) and a MicroTrac Variable 1.5-4.5x. K4s and K6s are no bigger than 38mm objective and the others are smaller.

Although more modern stuff has better coatings and good technology has become available more cheaply than it once was, these old Weavers that I have are all working well and I doubt if you will find any new stuff under $100 that is tougher. (All of my used Weavers cost $40-60each.)

As long as you can afford it, redleg is right, but when the budget is tight, I say go for used examples of fixed power models from the old good makers.
 
one other point- i know nothing of today's scopes, but we( wild lietz) used to hand grind the lenses, out of REAL glass, and the whole scope was HAND made- that's why they cost so much- it took 5 years apprenticing under direct tutilage under a master to become a journeyman, and 25 years to be a master- not one scope left there without being inspected by a master- all that being said, i'm wearing a pair of chinese made presciption plastic lenses these days, so maybe newer is better- remember, the old scopes used to adjust externally as well, and that's pretty well gone now as well
 
If you're looking at "older" scope... I would stick to Leupold.

A few years ago I got a stupid deal on a older M8 2x... after some time at the range I realized that something wasn't tight in the scope anymmore... It costed me $15 to mail it back to Leupold... 3 weeks later I got the scope back with the detail work-order of what had been done, they had changed seal/ring and re-tested it...

It's been working good ever since! I doubt I would have been able to get similar service from another scope manufacturer.
 
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