Leatherwood USMC sniper scope release date

[Jim S.]

Here's a picture of my 03-A1 build. The donor gun was a 1.4 M Greek return, the wood is from CMP, the barrel is a Krieger match barrel, and, of course, the scope is a new Hi-Lux USMC Sniper. To date I've only had a chance to break in the barrel and fire a few rounds. However, those were enough to know that I have to adjust the bedding.

With respect to the scope, the optics seem just fine, no complaints at all. The mounts, however, leave a bit to be desired. While the windage adjustment seems to give a positive click when it's moved, the elevation adjustment is very mushy and you really can't count the clicks. However, so far the settings seem to hold when the rifle is fired. Using a large screw driver I was able to get the mounts to tighten so as not to become loose during firing (at least as of now); however, a number of the guys have found that they have to lock tight the mounts after tightening.

I hope to make some adjustments to the bedding and take it out to the range again soon. Regardless of the complaints, I'm looking forward to some enjoyable days at the range.

[Jim in Salt Lake]

I just shot mine this past Saturday. Rifle is a Springfield high number that came with a side mounted Weaver 330. With that scope, the rifle shot MOA with Sierra 169 MKs. With the Leatherwood, I started out the same but it quickly went to a 3 inch group at 100 yards. Both scope blocks had loosened up. When I tightened the first screw, it stripped. Examining the barrel threading showed that was still good. All the thread slipping was on the screw. I tossed all the screws, for both blocks, and replaced them with American made screws. I would recommend that you don't even use the screws provided and get good screws. My replacements tightened right up and the scope seems solid now. I also used Loc-tite. My windage and elevation adjustments seemed positive and I got good clicks from both. We've got a highpower practice match this Saturday, I'm going to shoot this rifle for the 600 yard stage and see how it goes. I'd shoot the whole course with it but I can't use the clip feed, the scope is in the way, for the rapids. Other than the cheap a$$ screws, I'm happy so far. Optics are good, just need some more experience with the elevation and windage knobs to pass judgement on them.

[4F4Nam]

Well, you have a damned fine looking rifle anyway! Hope you get the bugs worked out!

Ed

[GillaFunk]

Here's a picture of my 03-A1 build.

THAT is BEAUTIFUL! I would love to get something exactly like that. WOW!

[pelago]

been hearing some stories that the mounts are "mushy" (if that is correct description) and that it is hard to determine clicks??

are the mount identical to unertl, i have several unertl scopes and was thinking that i could simply change out the mounts, if they are in fact identical,

or another off the wall, several unertl repair places, work on mounts?? thinking out loud, i have ordered a rifle from creedmore

[Jim S.]

A friend has several original Marine sniper scopes, and I think extra mounts. At any rate, he put the original mounts on the Hi-Lux scope and they work fine.

[pelago]

that is good information, and now another item to keep an eye out for

[Gunny.b]

Jim S. congrats, you did a really nice job!

Let us know how it shoot.

[Floyd1977]

http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu19/floyd1977/?action=view&current=002.jpg

Took Hi-Lux #250 to the range today. Shot 30 rounds of M2 Ball and it held together just fine - nothing shifted or felt loose. Group was OK - will try Match ammo next trip. Optics are VERY clear compared to a real Unertl. So far, I like it! Oh - a high number 1918 drill receiver that came with a USMC Sedgley bbl dated 1941 so it might have Marine Corps provonance. The receiver cleaned up nicely and I had a straight, nice-shooting 1944 USMC Sedgley barrel put on it.

[Brazos]

Jim in Salt lake,

What sort of screws did you buy as replacements and where did you get them?

[Jim in Salt Lake]

I bought 3/8" #6X40 screws for the front block and 1/2" for the rear block. They had allen heads and the heads were the same size as the Chinese screws. The big boxes (Lowe's and Home Depot) only had #6X32s, you should call some hardware stores out of your yellow pages and ask if they have them. That's what I did and found a store that had them. I didn't want to wait for an internet order after waiting 2 years for the scope. I also Loc-tited them.

We had a Xcross practice match yesterday and I shot the rifle during the 600 yard stage. I put just shy of 30 rounds through it. Like Floyd1977, I thought the optics were pretty darn good. I could see the 3" spotter with ease. You can also read the mirage, I stopped using my spotting scope for that. I've never used genuine Unertl mounts so I can't tell you how the Hi-Lux mounts compare but I thought the clicks were OK. I could count them and I felt like I was getting the results I wanted when I dialed in wind changes. I'll play around with it more, we have a mid range practice in a couple of weeks. Yesterday, I was just trying to get on paper and shoot a bunch to stress the mounts. Everything held just fine.

In fact, the whole scope seemed to loosen up in a good way, parts that were very tight at first have gotten smoother. The scope slides more smoothly through the rings when you shoot or pull it back into battery. My parallax adjustment and sun shade also got smoother. By the way, I don't have a clue how to adjust this and it didn't seem to have much effect. I'd appreciate some comments or suggestions on that. Spend some time with the eyepiece focus, that really helps. Again, the optics are pretty good. One part that is still stiff is the front recoil stop, this is the ring that stops the scope when you pull it back after a shot. It's also how you adjust your eye relief. I couldn't get mine to move and the eyepiece was a little too close, I didn't try to force anything out there and just lived with it. I'll play with it tonight here at home with the right tools.

So far, I'm pretty happy. It ain't perfect but the scope has potential and I have confidence that Leatherwood will get the shortcomings sorted out. I'm going to take it to Camp Perry but there are three of us going so I won't be shooting it there. I've got two junior shooters, my 20 year old son and another 17 year old boy, going with me and the game is teams of two. So I figured why not have two steely eyed, hard holding juniors see how they can do against all those fat old men?

[Brazos]

Thanks for the info on the screws. Mine are borderline stripped out (the bolts) and are slightly bent from tightening the thumb screw with a screwdriver. Will pick some up in the morning at the local Bolt & Screw.

I found the best way to adjust the forward stop is to use a Phillips head on the screw. I couldnt get the thumb screw to loosen by hand, but using the screw driver on the opposite side loosened it right up and snugged it back down when I got it adjusted.

[Jim in Salt Lake]

Brazos, are you talking about the stops for recoil scope movement? I played with mine last night and also found that those thumb knobs are just lock nuts. The stops are tightened up with the Phillips screw and then locked with the thumb knobs. That's why I couldn't get the front stop adjusted at the range by just loosening the thumb knob. Fixed all that last night. Be careful with these screws, they felt pretty soft to me like the scope block screws.

[Brazos]

#6's were too small. The bolts on mine are thicker...back to the screw store.

[wolley]

Jim was talking about the screws to hold the mounting blocks to the rifle.
I have no idea what size the screws in the mount clamps are. Mine are so boogered up it is doubtful that they can be removed and if removed there won't be enough thread left to determine what size they were.