Choices, Choices. Selecting a Scope for a Remington 721B

Four scope options to replace the current 1965 Model Weaver K6 60B. 1) Sears (by weaver) 6x. 2) Stith-Kollmorgen 6x double. 3) 1956 Weaver K6 60B. 4) VGS Restored, Re-Glassed Weaver K4 boosted to 8x

The Excuse

Well it was time to do a clean and purge on my own 1965 Model K6 60B that sits on one of my favorite rifles, a 1948 Remington 721B in 30.06 that drives tacks. I really didn’t want to wait to get my own scope through the system (I get no expedited service on my personal scopes around here). So I used that as an excuse to upgrade the scope in hopes of getting a little closer to period build out of it anyway.

The rifle will be used primarily for deer, elk or bear in the west so my personal parameters were that it had to be a 6x or maybe 8x, medium crosshair and should be closer to period than the 1965 that was coming off. That’s it. All of the selections are extremely accurate and durable models and all have been refurbished by us, so reliability was not an issue .

The Choices

I went through our recently refurbished 6x’s and selected four candidates:

1) Sears 6x. This is a very rare scope to find. It was made by Weaver for Sears and is stamped Sears 6x on the tube. In function it is identical to a weaver K6 60 c. 1955. 2.5x and 4x versions are more readily available. The fact that it is a made by weaver 6x, 10 years closer than my 65 model 60B and super rare put it on the hit list.

2) Stith-Kollmorgen 6x Double. This is one of two scopes that I have always said were WAY beyond their time. It’s like aliens came down in 1952 and shared their optical expertise with the folks at Kollmorgen. This is the company that Redfield purchased in 1959 and most of the famous redfield scopes of the 60’s and 70’s were basically an iteration of the Kollmorgen scopes. It’s a 26mm tube. I find the glass to be incredibly bright and sealing ability for our nitrogen purging process to be top shelf. I’ve always wanted to put a Kollmorgen on a build that I use regularly simply because I feel like it performs as well as any modern scope of the same power.

3) Weaver K6 60B c. 1956. This is basically the same scope that is on the rifle but the early version with the smaller objective bell and all aluminum retainer rings. All around, probably my favorite scope on the planet due to its stubborn accuracy and fool proof (set it and forget it) adjustments.

4) Vintage Gun Scopes restored/re-glassed K4 boosted to 8x. This scope had to be in the lineup. A basically better than new restoration with modern glass and 8x. This scope would be period perfect to the year and give me the clarity I would need for everyday use.

The Selection

When folks call or email about what to put on their rifle, we have a series of questions that helps us determine the best options. But at some point it gets boiled down to a few scopes and then becomes a personal decision. For me, it was the Stith-Kollmorgen in this case. I have plenty of builds with the K6, since its a favorite and I already have a .308 that carries one of our 8x boosted modern glass scopes. The Sears would have won for sure if I was putting it on a Sears or J.C. Higgins rifle.

All in all I think this scope will function flawlessly when that giant buck or bull steps out. As far as form, the low flat caps and forward offset adjustment block look stunning with the original redfield patent bases and six screw rings. Consequently those rings and bases were being made by Redfield at the same time Kollmorgen made this scope. Redfield didn’t even know they would one day own the scope company that they made this set of 26mm rings for.