1970's - 1980's hunting scopes

Our passion is your passion... stalk with us!
S

SmallGame

Member
Great minds
If you were out in the field in that sort of era - what would your typical go to scope be? Earlier times I assume old WW rifle scopes brought back as 'prizes'.
I have some P-H modified (sporterised) Lee Enfield No.1s and No.4s still in .303 and I am interested in what would have been typical fitments.
Old P-H catalogues seem to indicate Redfield, Pecar 4x 6x and Nikko Stirling 'Gold' of about the same magnifications. Would fixed mag or variable been the choice as well?
Thanks
 
“That sort of era”? It wasn’t that long ago!

As Tegner mentioned, Tasco were popular but Zeiss, S&B, Swarovski, Kahles were all available (the latter two imported by the Hilton Gun Company in the 1980’s).

Weaver, Burris & Leupold were imported from the US.

Parker-Hale offerd a good selection of scopes as you’ve noted, but a browse through a few ‘Guns Review Magazine’ issues from the 70’s & 80’s will show many other makes were available, many long gone.

Fixed power scopes were certainly more popular than now & formed a good proportion of optical companies offerings.

My father had a Tasco on his P-H 1100 ‘Safari’ in the 1970’s. In the very early 80’s I purchased a Kassnar 6x42 out of my saved pocket money. The next scope I bought when I started earning a wage was a S&B 2.5x22 with a lovely blued steel tube.

As to what would have been used on a P-H sporterised No.4 - in the period you mention it would have been a ‘budget’ option rifle so a lower priced fixed power, glossy finish scope would be the most appropriate - along with flared jeans.
 
Years ago l had a Parker Hale sporterised Remington P14 in .303, I’m sure the scope on that one was a WW2 No 51, or was it the No 42 it is a while ago, l remember that type of scope (by different manufacturers) could be found with four different reticle’s, fixed power scopes that are now used (for their lenses) to repair the No 32 sniper scopes.

The scope was mounted overbore in a Parker Hale mount similar to the P14T sniper rifle.
 
Last edited:
I have two rifles built in the 1970’s. One has a 6x42 Zeiss in claw mounts with a German No 4 reticle which remains in the middle when you adjust reticle.

The other has a Shmidt & Bender 4x36 with a pointed post that moves when you adjust reticle. Admittedly I have put a modern Leica on this rifle, but truth be told I doubt I have shot a deer with it, that I couldn’t have shot using its original scope. I know the previous keeper of that rifle shot many many deer with it on the open Scottish hill.

Both have a very bright clear image and compare very favourably with modern optics.
 
My old SMLE, it was my great Uncles, he had that Nikko Stirling "Special" 4x32 in Parker Hale mounts fitted. He gave it to me when he gave up his certificates, it was my first "big" rifle, I shot my first sika and fox with it!
It is an amazingly clear scope!
 

Attachments

  • 20170904_165936~4.webp
    20170904_165936~4.webp
    256.3 KB · Views: 16
4x40 Nikko sterling gold crow on my Parker hale 303, all you needed for reds and fallow, even slayed a few roe.
 
1970’s I used Tasco, 80’s Burris 3-9 variable which I still have but not on a rifle and Habicht 6x42 which still adorns my Sako forester in 308.
 
Late Sixties and the Seventies? We used Tasco, Kassnar and Nikko. l still cherish memories of a wonderful Tasco 1.75 - 5X zoom on an Original Model 45…

However, on my first ever grown-up rifle - a Voere .22 semi-auto - l had a strange wee 4X scope whose body was longitudinally ribbed! Was it a Bushnell 4 x 20?

maximus otter
 
I was bought a Lisenfeld 6×42, secondhand,in the early 80's as a bonus for a good season. Went on my trusty BRNO 601.
Still got it, only ever had a new tensioner spring for the elevation adjustment replaced.
It replaced the Gold Antler on the rifle.
 
farmer7 said:
My old SMLE, it was my great Uncles, he had that Nikko Stirling "Special" 4x32 in Parker Hale mounts fitted. He gave it to me when he gave up his certificates, it was my first "big" rifle, I shot my first sika and fox with it!
It is an amazingly clear scope!
Click to expand...
Ah - that is mounted nice and low - now reminds me I need to avoid big objective lens scopes. I assume the front scope mount is a P-H BA.28.
If it was a No4 it would be a BA.21 rear, what is fitted here for the SMLE?

Again all responses really appreciated.
 
SmallGame said:
Ah - that is mounted nice and low - now reminds me I need to avoid big objective lens scopes. I assume the front scope mount is a P-H BA.28.
If it was a No4 it would be a BA.21 rear, what is fitted here for the SMLE?

Again all responses really appreciated.
Click to expand...
I will have a wee look later and let you know.
 
Another vote for Tasco Titan.
I still have a battered 4x somewhere with target turrets and good glass.
 
I used a Weaver V7 for years, a mate had a Leupold 3-9 variable. There were quite a few Zeiss 8x56’s about and a the Weaver 3-9 was popular but weighed a ton. Some Bushnells came in too. All the variables leaked at some stage and had to be returned to the factories for maintenance, which back in those days was no problem at all.
Optically they were poor or very very poor, when I replaced my v7 with a Swarovski 3-9 X 36 I was shocked at how crisp the image was and how well it performed in low light.
Back then there really was a difference between brands and expensive glass was much better than budget models, the difference is much smaller nowadays.
 
In 1982 I bought a Weaver K3 for my k98, and retired it 2 years ago off a .22. That scope had seen thousands of deer, goats, possums, rabbits - and one pig.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Leica Geovid Pro - Green
Back
Top