USMC or ARMY sniper equipment and spotting scopes US issue or off the shelf?

[Johnny in Texas]

Does anyone remember what spotting scope you used or have seen in any combat zone at any time during your service. I am talking about the M48 Bausch & Lomb scope or the M49 that is still in use. Were binoculars used over spotting scopes. 7X50 or 6X30 what models ect. I am curious how long the the M48 scopes were in service it is the one with the extendable sunshade. Also did anyone see the Freeland rifle rest fork being used by snipers in Vietnam. Books are great but I would like to hear first hand what was in use and when.

Thanks for any info.

[MJ1]

We had two shooters and officer spotter with 7X50's in Kontum 67/68

Now I use the 20X scout reg. made in '40. LOL
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/montereyjack/88f858dd.jpg

[Johnny in Texas]

Nice rifle and scope! That make sense using 7X50's shoot and move more easily. Thanks for the info. What year is you rifle and scope. I have a similar set up with a '40 Scout Reg. scope Is your rifle painted Black or Parkerized or both. Mine seems to be Parkerized under the paint. My rifle scope does not match the rifle. The rifle is original BSA '44 with a '45 scope, '41 scope can and the wooden box is numbered to the rifle. Yours looks new. I think mine was unfired because the first time I shot it about 40+ rounds I set it against the shooting bench upright and grease came running out from under the handguards lots of cosmoline .I carefully removed the handguards and the action and found gobbs of cosmoline under the wood.

[Johnny in Texas]

Here are some pics my only non U.S. sniper

[Johnny in Texas]

a few more pics

[MJ1]

Very nice Johnny

I had two new but shot one of them. This one might be the most fun.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/montereyjack/dede1254.jpg


...MJ...

[Johnny in Texas]

Very nice I have heard great things about those rifles. Still looking for one of those. A guy out on the left coast sent me pics of one once that had a special mount and used a Leupold scope. Pardon my ignorance but what is the correct name/model of the 7.62 sniper? Is it an L42A1 or anL39A1?

[MJ1]

L42A1 the IWS bracket is part of the CES kit issued with the rifle.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/montereyjack/bc078702.jpg

[Johnny in Texas]

Are you the guy on the left coast Monterrey Jack. If so I sent you some 7.62MM LC Match Brass several years ago I think. These rifles look familiar. And if so glad to hear from you again.

[MJ1]

Still cleaning that brass. It's about half done, no hurry.

[Johnny in Texas]

Your cracking me up!!

[MJ1]

Your cracking me up!!

I'm trying. LOL

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/montereyjack/ce0415ee.jpg

[Johnny in Texas]

Wow!!!!

[Col. Colt]

I have an M48 I acquired from an arms collector who told me that the M48 was the pre-WWII Bausch & Lomb commercial spotting scope and was pressed into military service "off the shelf" because it was immediately available after Pearl Harbor. (Like a lot of other things). He told me that the M48 was pretty rare, as it was quickly displaced with the M49 once production got going. Both are listed in the same Technical Manual TM - 9 - 1556, which is available online.

Mine came with a slightly off color OD green crackle finish, with a WWII GI OD fiberboard carying case with fabric strap, and a tripod with a leather attaching strap. In the case with it was a B&L marked metal eyepiece case with a 26X eyepiece inside, also B&L marked but OD painted. The Serial Number Plate appears to be the commercial one, as it does not show model number or US military standard nomenclature. I will have to dig it out and look, but I recall just the Serial Number on the commercial style brass plate (over 200,000) and only B&L markings - no US or Inspector stamps I could discern. Has anyone out there ever used an M48 while in the Service? Any info would be appreciated. CC

[MJ1]

M48? A photo would help.

[Johnny in Texas]

I think they are rare compared to WWII M49 spotting scopes

[cwbuff]

Is the SN stamped into the name plate?

[Johnny in Texas]

I think it is s/n 1744 the M4 designation was finalized after '42 and many scopes have a hand stamped 8, there are '42 production M49s marked M4 and some were later stamped with a 9

[rayg]

Nice Scout Regt scopes guys. I have a TEL. SIG. (Mk IV) General Service scope by R&J. BECK Ltd LONDON in 1918 in one of my "T" chest sets and I just picked up another "T" with a transit chest and will try to find a Scout scope for that one, Ray

[PhrogPilot]

I think they are rare compared to WWII M49 spotting scopes

Johnny, nice set up. Is the M1941 an original gun???

[Johnny in Texas]

Yes it is I bought the rifle first and located a scope and case in Tulsa, Thanks

[PhrogPilot]

Very nice, mine is ser # 1497205 and came complete. Is your close???

[MJ1]

Sct.Reg 20X
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/montereyjack/88f858dd.jpg

[Col. Colt]

Back to the thread topic - talk about hijacking, guys! What about US MILITARY Spotting Scopes, the M48, the M49 and some say the little Mossberg was also issued for use by USMC and Training units? What about the Bausch and Lomb M48 Spotting Scopes, anyone? I am also curious about their period in service. As far as I have been able to find out, they were "bought off the shelf" and then became an issue item of necessity when WWII started, and were correct for early war use with snipers and artillery spotters. The M49 started replacing them as it came available, but how long was the M48 in the military supply system? CC

[Badgerord]

There where 2 scopes used prior to the M48, The B&L M48 60 mm and the Argus 55 mm. They were very similar and both used.

Marty
Badger Ordnance

[Gus Fisher]

M49 scopes were still the TE item for sniper teams when I retired from the Corps in 1997.

[Badgerord]

I saw M49's in use at Quantico and Rocket mountain 4 years ago.

Marty
Badger Ordnance

[Johnny in Texas]

Col. Colt the B&L scope you mention before was referred to as the NRA model and some were supplied in a leather case with a place for 2 extra eyepieces. they are commercial pre WW2 . The M48 scopes I have are dated 1942 I have never seen a later date on an "M48" all commercial scopes are undated that I have seen. There are 2 different commercial name plates one is a triangle and the later one is the rectangle. I have a NAVY marked version that has the triangle plate with the markings on the sunshade. So I believe the triangle plate was pre WW2 and the Rectangle plate is post WW2. FWIW Real M48's have a half moon shaped data plate.

[Johnny in Texas]

M48 plate pic

[ropewalker1]

Hello MJ1 , I'm ropewalker1 . I'm new to the Board . I recently purchased an Enfield , identcal to the one pictured , minus the cheek piece and scope . It came with the " pig sticker " , don't think I'll ever need that . I am interested in scope mounting . If You don't mind My asking , how is this accomplished ? I still need to slug bore , chamber cast and check head space . The trigger is floppy until cocked .
The bolt handle is same . I read that the trigger is mounted to bottom metal rather than receiver . Where can I get good info on mounting a scope . I'm 62 and open sights are getting harder to deal with . Any help will be greatly appreciated . Be Well and Thanks