If you are interested, I have a Lyman STS in 12X for $650 plus shipping and insurance. Also, it is always hit and miss whether and when Ken will be making more mounts. IIRC, Ken is at Someone will correct me if I have this wrong. The Viani costs about $100 while the EGW is maybe $40 or so. The EGW just hangs over the receiver, and some people say this works fine for them, while others say it allows vibration shot after shot. The Viani mount is preferred in my opinion, as it also ties in to the screw holes on the left rear of the receiver that otherwise are used to mount the open sight. They then cantilever back over the receiver, and have Weaver style slots to mount the scope. Ken Viani and Evolution Gun Works (EGW) both sell a base for the 52C/D that mounts in the two holes that are in the barrel, just in front of the receiver. There is a way to mount modern glass on the 52. Bench or position, how much you want to see the target "jump" in the scope, etc.Īfter using the 52 with a vintage scope, you will know better whether to put vintage or modern glass on the 40X. Magnification power is always a matter of personal preference, and a couple have already commented on their preferences. Mismatch them and you will screw up the clamping mechanism in the scope rings and get inconsistent hold or loose mounts. You can probably google/bing search and see illustrations of the differences. Typically, you will find standard rings on the Lyman Posa on the Unertl. One thing I did not see mentioned is that there are two types of bases and rings - Standard and Posa - on vintage scopes. Actually, the 52 uses two bases out on the barrel - one just in front of the receiver and one about 7 inches forward of the receiver the 40X uses one base 6 or so inches forward of the receiver, and the rear holes in the receiver for mounting vintage scopes. Don't think I have ever seen a factory barrel on either a 52 or a 40X/XB that was not D&T'd for scope bases. Others have commented on the blocks needed on the barrel for vintage scopes. I highly recommend you do not D&T a 52 receiver! The 40X already has the receiver D&T'd, so you can use either a vintage (Unertl, Lyman STS, Fecker) scope, or a modern scope with 700 style bases on it.
Personally this type scope is my favorite for the classic target rifles. Unertl/Lyman/Fecker are probably better investments but because of that it's hard to want to knock them around with hard use. No, it's not finished to 1950 America standards but it is very good optically and the screws mentioned are easily replaced. It compares very well to my Unertls and Lyman. I have the HiLux USMC Sniper 8X and I'm very satisfied. However they will still be less costly than proper German glass. As mentioned the higher power scopes will cost more and any make/model is highly collectable ($$$$). There is great demand for the 8X powers scopes due to the CMP Vintage Sniper Games, expect prices to reflect that. They pretty much act like any modern scope. There's nothing special to know about these scopes as far as actual use goes.
Which rifle? Which one do you shoot the best? The scope blocks are not expensive, both rifles are probably drilled and tapped for the blocks, so why not set up both rifles? The blocks are available from Champion's Choice, Champion Shooters and Numrich with many different heights to choose from. This will give you an idea of what prices to expect.