Weaver 330 scope

jordanka16 · Mar 25, 2019

I'm reasonably good with firearms but I'm out of my element identifying old scopes. I got this recently and am trying to figure out something about it. Google says this model of scope was used on springfield sniper rifles, but they dont have the larger objective, it also isnt marked in any military way so I suspect that would be too good to be true. Only markings are the weaver 330 el Paso texas on the data plate, and R.A. Litschert I believe on the objective. It's in good shape optically, it has an extremely fine crosshair. Also has leupold style mounts.

Andy54Hawken · Mar 25, 2019

Any of the issued Weaver 330's that I have seen on 03A4 rifles were not marked US and had Redfield Junior mounts.
Andy

Boboclown · Mar 26, 2019

Springfield Armory Museum - Collection Record,

jordanka16 · Mar 26, 2019

Well it seems I may need an 03A4 to go along with it, or at least a clone. It's clear enough it is definitely shootable. But it definitely makes you appreciate modern optics, it's like looking through a magnified straw.

Moeca · Sep 22, 2020

I know its a old thread but thought is add my input as I just saw it. The rings look correct as most military rings of the period were vertical spilt. And if military in that time period they used what ever they could get ahold of to make a4's. The RA objective is a add on magnifier they made them in 2x to 6x i believe so you could have a 5.5x to a 16.5x. It should be removable from the scope but the original glass and screw mount may not be there. Sure you already found all this info but I was bored!

jordanka16 · Sep 22, 2020

That's all good info, thanks!

I still have this scope in my gun room awaiting a rifle, I was originally going to put it on my model 8 but I found an original setup 330 for that rifle. Someone has suggest to me that a 1940s or 50s varmint rifle would make a perfect host for this scope and that sounded good to me, so I guess that's what I'm waiting for.

03A3Sporter · Sep 22, 2020

The first scopes used on the M1903A4 were commercial 330's , the a more ruggedized version called the C330 M8 was made to correct problems with the commercial 330 , the final version is the M73B1

03A3Sporter · Sep 22, 2020

Here is a M8 compared to your commercial scope

Here is M73B1

As I said earlier a commercial scope can be correct for a very early 03A4 but the scopes did evolve and while they do not say US on them they are marked as such along with having finger adjustments versus needing a screwdriver . The other differences were reticles.

The early 330 commercials had fine cross hairs, later in the M8 they went to a post , then a post and cross wire in the M73 B1

03A3Sporter · Sep 23, 2020

Moeca said:
I know its a old thread but thought is add my input as I just saw it. The rings look correct as most military rings of the period were vertical spilt. And if military in that time period they used what ever they could get ahold of to make a4's. The RA objective is a add on magnifier they made them in 2x to 6x i believe so you could have a 5.5x to a 16.5x. It should be removable from the scope but the original glass and screw mount may not be there. Sure you already found all this info but I was bored!

The rings and bases used on the M1903A4 were the commercially available Redfield Jr rings and mount. They designed a base for the M1903A3 at the request of the Army when they were working on adapting the 03A3 to the sniping role.

Just as an aside the Lyman Alaskan and the ruggedized military version were used in Korea as replacements for the 330 series scopes.