Should I put this old Redfield on my rifle?

[MD]

Buddy gave me an old Redfield 3-9 scope.

It seems to be intact and everything. Clear glass, not fogged. Perhaps not as bright as my new Leupold scope, but bright enough I suppose.

I'm having accuracy issues with a rifle and having checked all the screws and bases and rings and crown and bedding and everything, it is still just not shooting anything but random groups. One minute it shoots big 6-inch groups around the bull at 100 M and the next try it shoots a tight group up in the left hand corner of the target. This is what looked like a new Bushnell Elite 3000 same buddy gave me in the box.

Maybe it was in the box for a reason. We found it in his storage locker while looking for something else and he couldn't remember getting it.

Think I should put the Redfield on and try it?

How do those optics compare to today's?

I remember from the SIR catalogues 40 years ago they were a high end scope at the time, equivalent to Leupold in price. When were they last made? Mine looks 40 years old.

 

[galamb]

Redfield went out of business in 1998.

Ten years or so later Leupold bought the name and started making (new) Redfield scopes as their less expensive/everyday line option.

If the scope is still in good shape put it to use. It was built at a time when there was still some pride in the mfg process and having things assembled in China to maximize profit was not thought of yet (although to be fair I have a pair of 1980'ish Bushnell scopes that were made in Korea).

I had an old TV view Redfield in the 70's - loved that scope but it met an untimely death when it (and the rifle it was mounted on) fell from a tree stand - otherwise I might still be shooting it now.

Most of us that hunt our rifles, at least in Eastern Canada are way "over scoped" compared to our actual needs. Despite having three scopes with variable rates of zoom, drop compensators and windage marks for crosswinds out to 500 yards I have never had to take a shoot further than 100 yards for a game animal that I have hunted - a fixed 4 power Redfield from the 1970's is probably all the scope "I really need".

Mount it and shoot it..

 

[retoxtony]

The old Redfields are decent scopes. Nothing special, but they do the job. I have one that i got off the EE a few years ago and its been swapped around on a 308, 303, 22-250 and now sits on a 223 Contender barrel. Its always held zero even banging around in my truck, and the glass is pretty decent. I'd give it a try. If not, just send it to me. I'll put it to use.

 

[kamlooky]

Them old Redfield's may not be as crisp as some new glass, but they'll do in a pinch.
One or two of them kritters tawped on some chewter's round here.

If the Redfield tightens up yer groups, send the Bushnell in for repair.
You may be delighted with an improved Elite Series as a replacement.

 

[kawicrash]

I have a Redfield 8x A.O. Metallic Silhouette that's from the mid to late 1970's and I really like it. Completely functional and nice and bright.

 

[fraserdw]

Go for it. I use a Weaver Marksmen from the 60s on my Savage 340 222.