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Redfield or Weaver?

9K views 8 replies 5 participants last post by  Boltman 
#1 ·
I'm going to install a 3-9X widefield scope on a bolt action deer rifle. I've owned and used fixed-power Weaver scopes for years and know they are dependable. Going into variable powers is an unknown for me. I've never owned a Redfield.

Any thoughts on which scope, Weaver or Redfield, would be the best choice? Optical specs on the two scopes are similar. I know Weaver used steel tubes and Redfield used aluminum, which means Weaver probably handles abuse better. Generally speaking, I do not abuse my firearms, so an aluminum tube does not bother me. It's mainly a question of reliability.

Looking forward to your input..
 
#2 ·
Redfield is out of business and hasn't made scopes for a while. Meade Optics bought the name from Blount/Alliant a couple of years ago, but hasn't made any scopes. Leupold just bought the name from Meade so we'll see what they are going to produce.

Weaver was also bought by Meade at the same time and Alliant just bought them back. They are to my knowledge still in production. I've got several modern Weaver scopes and they seem like good optics. It has been a nightmare getting any warrentee work done by Meade optics. With Alliant taking back control of Weaver the warrentee work should be much better now, but who knows what scopes they will stand behind.

If your looking for a recommendation I'd recommend Leupold scopes. They start at around 188 bucks from Wally world or Cabela's and have a lifetime warrentee. I've had nothing but good luck from sending them in for repair.

Another scope I'm hearing good things about is the Bushnell Legand models.
 
#3 ·
Clarification

I'm looking at period El Paso Weaver scopes and period Colorado Redfields, both original - not the new products.

Put another way, would you rather outfit your rifle with an El Paso Weaver or a Colorado Redfield? We're stepping back in time here. There are plenty of both scope brands available on the used market - no problem there.
 
#4 ·
Probably either one would work for you. Lots of the new optics are much brighter though. Another one you might look at for a period scope is the Bush & Lomb Balvar 8's. They were a 2.5 to 8 and used a Stith adjustable mount and were very good and tough scopes. Got a friend that had them on several pre-64 Winchester magnums and had great results with them.
 
#5 ·
In the older Bausch and Lomb's, which were great scopes, if you can find a Balvar 8B, that's the model right after the model Faucett's talking about. The 8B had internal adjustments and could be used in any standard mount set up.
The 8B was also a 60's period scope, if that's what you're after.
I traded a Redfield 3x9 and some bucks for an 8B back then, and never regretted it. Later sold the 8B to a friend who fell in love with it, and that scope is still going strong.
IMO, the B&L B series scopes were better than either the Redfield or the Weaver of the same era.
 
#7 ·
I used a 3x9 redfield on my old 243 and never had any problems with it, it went 5 good years of slight abuse and never hit far off, now that i'm shooting a .280 i'm considering finding a good used redfield for it also if i can find one. the only problem is that the new company wont do work on models sold before they took over the name. other than that you wont find a much more reliable tube.
 
#8 ·
boltman, you and i are on the same ferry.
I have been looking into a scope for a 1961 Styer MCA mannlicher and have decided that im probably better suited by buying a lew gloss leupold. as much as the redfield or weaver or Lyman or B&L would look closer to period because of the forward turrets i can discount the light transmissin factor or the warranty factor of the leupold.
I paid a pretty good sum for the rifle and i want to use it w/ the full faith that it will perform. putting a 40 year old piece of glass atop it doesnt make good sense to me.
If you were to buy a antebellum home and not upgrade the plumbing would you?
It only makes good sense to me to put a scope that i will actually use. if not why have the rifle scopes at all or have the rifle at all for that matter?
 
#9 ·
COHIBA, you make a good point, especially in the variable power scope. Some of the middle-priced modern scopes are way brighter and probably as or more reliable than the older Weavers and Redfields. Also, servicing the older scopes is not cheap. On closer examination, those I looked at needed work.

All things considered, I decided to stay in the fixed-power mode for the time being.

Thanks to all for sharing your thoughts and experience. Boltman
 
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