MILITARY & SPORTERIZED RIFLES

BUICK1939

Hello I was noticing that alot of the military rifles from WWI and WWII used very low powered scope usually from 3 & 4 power scopes and then when somebody sporterizes them they use high powered scopes why is that? Is it just because there wasn't an option back then on scopes or does changing the stock and cutting some of the barrel help it be less accuate or more accurate?

sandwarrior

BUICK1939,

A) there wasn't a really good option back then and
B)using a higher power scope helps you to see definition...up to a point. too much power and you will lose all the clarity and light gathering abilities. Thus you find a lot of C) Variable power scopes such as 3-9, 3.5-10, 6.5-20 depending on the type of shooting you do.

rufe-snow

quote:Originally posted by BUICK1939
Is it just because there wasn't an option back then on scopes



During both the First & Second World Wars, small numbers of 6 & 8 power scopes, were used by the U.S. military.

nards444

They didnt have the technology and 99.9% of the soldiers whose job required carrying a weapon, a scope is inpractical. Only snipers would use such a thing

p3skyking

Most shooters then (WWII) were real riflemen. Marksmen who had an inordinate grasp of the combination of wind drift, tejectory, distance estimation, and bullet speed. The scopes were low power because they could be.

Very few kids now start out with iron sights on their rifles. They never learn the basics of practical shooting.

nmyers

Actually, the US military used some 8X Unertl target scopes during WWI & WWII. But, these were very long scopes, & somewhat delicate.

Before WWII, most of our fine optics came from Germany, & there was a shortage of them throughout the war.

Neal

BUICK1939

Well you guys sure know your military scopes but what about the stocks? Was changing the stock just for looks or does it affect accuracy in any way or was it just to cut down on weight?

nards444

probably a few reasons. For one to make accuracy better, to lighten the load. During war materials become scarce so they have to change materials with others. Suppliers go out of business different contractors are making the stock, the possibilites are endless at times. Cutting down barrels was probably a personal choice and would only make a trench gun more accurate. But stocks can be altered for a variety of reasons, just look at hunting rifles in civilian hands.

nmyers

It wasn't until the 1960's that manufacturers switched to cast & stamped parts for hunting rifles, & prices started to come down. Before that, hunting rifles were expensive.

After WWII, there were lots of milsurp rifles available, & cheap. Every gun magazine in the 1940's & 1950's ran articles on converting milsurp rifles to sporters. There were several companies producing replacement sporter stocks at a low cost. Many sporter jobs were done by inexperienced guys who just hack-sawed off excess, such as barrel bands & bayonet lugs, & replaced the stock. There were also gunsmiths who were hired to do beautiful conversions at great expense. So, there's a wide range of conversions.

While some conversions did lighten the weight, many were based on rifles that were bulky & heavy. Most don't compare well with the graceful commercial bolt actions currently being made.

Neal

kimi

5 to 10 Power was the norm for military sniper scopes. Hathcock used a 10 power unertl with a Winchester 300 on his second tour in the NAM.

sandwarrior

kimi,

I know he had a 10x Unertl, but didn't he only use the .300 Win mag for his 1964 National Championship? I was under the impression he got most of his kills with a Win 70 in 30-06. As I remember reading he was pretty disgusted his second tour to find out that the M40 had not found it's way to the front line to be used.