rbstern
03-16-2006, 05:06 PM
A while back, I had picked up a Foremost 6400, aka Savage 340, in 30-30. Foremost was JC Penney's house brand. I had read good things about the accuracy and durability of this ugly utility rifle, Figured I would try it and see if it provided an outlet for my 30-30 casting and handloading adventures. There aren't a lot of 30-30 bolt guns around; this one was inexpensive and in very good condition.
The previous owner had parkerized it; no harm on an already ugly gun. He did a neat job. Honey colored/checked stock, similar to Glenfield branded 30-30 leverguns.
This rifle begged a low power scope. The only scope I had handy was a Whitetail Classic 3-9x, and it just looked wrong on the gun. Too modern. I set about looking at shops, shows and online auctions for a 2.5x, 3x, or 4x scope, preferrably an old Weaver or Redfield, for a period authentic match to the rifle.
Lost out on a bunch of auctions for Weavers and Redfields, which seem to go at a bit of a premium. Finally happened across an older Sears scope on eBay. Looked like a Weaver in the pictures. Seller had bought it for a Winchester lever gun 30 years ago, never mounted it, didn't have the original instructions, couldn't remember what power it was, but still had the orignal box with the Sears model number. I searched high and low for the specs, but it was just too long out of production to find any info. Figured I would take a chance. Got it for a whopping $27 plus shipping.
When the scope arrived, it was in the included mount. I took the rings off and found it was marked "Sears 3X" and had a patent number. Looked up the patent, and sure enough, it was Weaver's patent. The scope is a Sears branded K3 in brand new condition. A perfect find for this gun.
Mounted it on the gun. It's so ugly it's beautiful, like a picture of a 50 year old model kitchen with gleaming formica and chrome. Everything about the look of the setup says "I was made in the 1960s!" Like a slice of American Graffiti.
Anyway, off to the range with this puppy in the next few days. Shooting report and ugly photos to follow.
The previous owner had parkerized it; no harm on an already ugly gun. He did a neat job. Honey colored/checked stock, similar to Glenfield branded 30-30 leverguns.
This rifle begged a low power scope. The only scope I had handy was a Whitetail Classic 3-9x, and it just looked wrong on the gun. Too modern. I set about looking at shops, shows and online auctions for a 2.5x, 3x, or 4x scope, preferrably an old Weaver or Redfield, for a period authentic match to the rifle.
Lost out on a bunch of auctions for Weavers and Redfields, which seem to go at a bit of a premium. Finally happened across an older Sears scope on eBay. Looked like a Weaver in the pictures. Seller had bought it for a Winchester lever gun 30 years ago, never mounted it, didn't have the original instructions, couldn't remember what power it was, but still had the orignal box with the Sears model number. I searched high and low for the specs, but it was just too long out of production to find any info. Figured I would take a chance. Got it for a whopping $27 plus shipping.
When the scope arrived, it was in the included mount. I took the rings off and found it was marked "Sears 3X" and had a patent number. Looked up the patent, and sure enough, it was Weaver's patent. The scope is a Sears branded K3 in brand new condition. A perfect find for this gun.
Mounted it on the gun. It's so ugly it's beautiful, like a picture of a 50 year old model kitchen with gleaming formica and chrome. Everything about the look of the setup says "I was made in the 1960s!" Like a slice of American Graffiti.
Anyway, off to the range with this puppy in the next few days. Shooting report and ugly photos to follow.