While this was not generally a problem in the field because of standardized weapon issue, specialized combat roles such as scouts and snipers which required weapons tuned beyond standard military specification often encountered difficulty when trying to field-requisition functioning scopes.įor general military use, like many of the AR 15 variable-sight scopes used today, they were the most popular option, allowing for greater range and flexibility in a variety of hostile situations. These scopes were designed to work with one or two varieties of weapon, but were largely useless otherwise. Most scopes were “purpose-built,” intended for various battlefield roles such as sniping and infantry shooting. The most common reason for this choice was that snipers dared not risk their scopes being knocked out of alignment while lining up a crucial shot or while getting into or out of firing position. Many snipers disdained variable-sight scopes for fixed scopes with 4x or 8x magnification. While the standard infantry carried variable-sight scopes which allowed for changes of windage, elevation and magnification, snipers largely set their own standards for scopes based upon personal preference and advanced knowledge of sharpshooting techniques.
Because of this, certain high-end scopes adopted etched-glass reticules, but this was largely avoided in the standard field-issue scopes because of expense. While this posed certain advantages, it also made scopes prone to damage from moisture, impact and environmental factors such as aridity. Most early reticule sights were constructed of hair, spiderweb or even human hair.
Basic Scope Designĭespite “tweaks” and refinements by opticians such as Zeiss, Bausch and Lomb, and Weaver, basic scope design had not changed a great deal since the Chapman-James telescopic sights invented between 18 by two men in New York. Many of these scope designs have not changed today, and are used in some of the best rifle scopes available in today’s modern combat situations. In this article we will discuss the overall technology of WWII-era scopes and how they were employed in combat. However, for the time these scopes were considered to be the cutting edge of individual warfare and contributed to the kill rates of legendary snipers such as Lyudmila Pavlichenko of the Soviet Union, who retains the world record among female snipers to this day and Matthäus Hetzenauer of Austria. Despite the obvious technological advances war inevitably gives rise to, the scopes of the day appear hopelessly antiquated compared to modern sniper optics. Click here to learn more about the M73G4.Sniper rifle technology was still relatively primitive during World War II. This is the brightest and clearest scope of its kind ever produced. What truly sets this scope apart from the originals is the quality of the optics. The scope features a 3.54" eye relief, and the 2.5x magnification is ideal for those under 100-yard shots at deer in the woods.or at a bushytail gnawing away at a hickory nut on a limb 15 to 20 yards above. Malcolm line would also look right at home on older hunting rifles, like the Savage Model 99 and Winchester Model 75 Sporter.
While it is being introduced primarily for those wanting to shoot a fairly authentic looking and shooting M1903A4 in Vintage Sniper Rifle competition, this newest addition to the Wm. Hi-Lux Optics is now adding a new-made version of this scope - which has been totally re-engineered from the inside out to produce a scope that is far superior to the originals. In all, 29,964 of these rifles were produced. This version of the Remington M1903A3 came without a rear or front sight, and had been fitted with a 3/4-inch diameter Weaver 330C 2.5x riflescope, designated the M73B1, attached with a one-piece base and rings produced by Redfield. Army adopted the M1903A4 as the first standardized U.S. To fulfill the need for sniper rifles, in 1942 the U.S. Using original tooling for building these rifles, both Remington and Smith-Corona also began producing what became designated the M1903A3. Hundreds of thousands of WW I vintage Springfield Model 1903 rifles were pulled out of storage and sent back into war. military rifle - the semi-automatic M1 Garand. When the United States entered World War II, the country was not prepared to arm as many soldiers as needed with the latest U.S.