Scope opinions- 1903a4 "clone"

[Charger442]

So i bought this rifle several years ago (for a very good price, i think) from a gunsmith who had "built" it for a guy who wanted to shoot the vintage rifle matches. as far as he told me, he just tapped the receiver for the scope mounts, did some adjustment and polishing on the trigger, and removed the front sight.

It has a scant stock with all the cartouches and markings in tact and readable, has an early '43 marked barrel, and has a Weaver C4 scope in the redfield mount. This is a Remington in the 3 million range, so not a real "sniper".

With all that being said, i have contemplated selling this rifle a few times, but i think what i want to do is put a more accurate representation of the A4 scope on it and keep it. So what would everyone recommend i do for a scope?

1) Lyman Alaskan?
2) Weaver 330c?
3) leave Weaver C4 on because its not a real A4 anyway?
4) some other option?

Thanks in advance for your opinions

 

[pmclaine]

CMP sells a repro scope.....

https://estore.thecmp.org/Catalog/Item/PC03SM

Wouldnt expect it to be S&B quality but....

 

[Charger442]

CMP sells a repro scope.....

https://estore.thecmp.org/Catalog/Item/PC03SM

Wouldnt expect it to be S&B quality but....

Well but for that price, I can get an original, if I shop around. Also don't need an extra base and rings.

 

[pmclaine]

Well but for that price, I can get an original, if I shop around. Also don't need an extra base and rings.

Yep. Just an aswer to the open ended question of what is out there for options.

I dont think you will find an "original" at that price but you likely can find a period "equal" at a reasonable price.

Id opt for "era correct" over "chicom repro" or "modern but works".

 

[Sooter76]

Well but for that price, I can get an original, if I shop around. Also don't need an extra base and rings.

Not with the correct reticle you can't... I have a Hi-Lux reproduction and I have an original vintage Lyman Alaskan. The only reason to get an original is if you have an original and authentic sniper rifle. The Hi-Lux repro has clearer glass, is reliable, and cheaper. Go with the Hi-lux/Malcolm, you won't regret it. Shop around and you can find new ones for $300-350.

 

[Charger442]

agreed. you're always going to pay for condition and rarity with those original items. im not saying money is no object, but if i pay $400 for an alaskan, it will probably always keep its value around there. So im not against going into the $400-500 range

 

[lonegunman762x51]

You can watch ebay and find a very nice Lyman Alaskan, 2.5X with a post for $350 or less a lot of the time. I found two minty ones. I spend another $160 bucks for two repro rubber eyecups and two repro sunshades and now I have two M82 scopes. From 3 feet away most people cannot tell.

They give you a tad more of the real feel in sight adjustments and optics quality, I like that.

 

[cplnorton]

It really depends on how accurate you want it to be. One I might recommend that goes cheap is a weaver 440. Usually no one really watches those, and they go under the radar cheap.

Another one would be a repo M84. The M84 and the 330/M73B1 were really the scopes used.

Even though there are stories of the 03A4 being used past WWII, it really doesn't seem that way when you read the official sniper docs. Even when the M1C was adopted in 1945, the Army was looking past the M1C onto the M1D. So by 1945, they were looking at the second variation past the 03A4.

So the A4 for all purposes was basically done in 1945, except for very small sporadic use as they were surplus and in storage.

The one thing you might look into though to make your decision, is can you find the rings. Some of the rings are getting really hard to find, especially for the 7/8 scope

 

[Charger442]

Pictures for those interested. My memory failed me on this. It's a 4 million Remington and the scope is a weaver B4.

 

[tunaman]

I was able to find an Alaskan several years ago to mount on one of my M1Ds, and it was in great shape. I also found the retro rings from Sarco, if I recall correctly, and then also bought a mount so that I could move it to my 03A3 if I wanted.

All in all I’m satisfied with that scope for my purposes, and I didn’t have to mortgage the Harley in the process.