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July 16, 2025
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Hi!
I just received a Winchester 72 with a Weaver J2.5x scope.
I’m having a LOT of fun shooting it, but would like to use a more modern optic.
I bought a Vortex Crossfire II 2-7x, but not the rimfire version (how bad is that?)(what SHOULD I get?)
When I took a closer look at the rifle I realized that the scope mounts are about 6-1/2″ apart, while the skinny part of the Vortex is only 4-1/2″ long.
I’d like to avoid irreversible changes if I can…
I thought I saw somewhere Weaver rails for sale that had holes already drilled for older guns. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
Thanks!
January 20, 2023
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JWA, Our Man on All Things Rimfire, will be along shortly to lay it out for you.
In the interim, I can tell you un-drilled lengths of rail are available to solve your problem, particularly if you have the tools and skills to lay out and drill the correctly spaced holes in the rail. Otherwise, a gunsmith can do it for you not too expensively. Not an elegant solution but it will.work.
The usual difference between “rimfire” scopes and others with non-focusing objectives is the former are adjusted to eliminate parallax at 50 yards instead of 100 yards.
The problem with installing a big game scope on a slender Model.72 is aesthetic. Many popular game scopes these days are bulky and the effect looks like a Great Dane trying to impregnate a Chihuahua.
Several manufacturers, notably Leupold, make a line of 1″ compact.rimfire scopes that dont overwhelm the rifle. But, as always when buying any scope, have the mounting limitations in hand and look up the scope specs first.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Thanks for all of the replies!
I’m new to rifles and doing the ‘learning by collision’ dance…
I’m attaching (I think) photos of what I have and what I’d like to mount.
I don’t think it’s TOO hideous, but I know what you mean with the ‘telescope on a derringer’ syndrome.
Any ideas?
If it helps, here are some photos of the scope that is on it now.
Thanks!
July 17, 2012
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While I wholeheartedly approve of your desire to not modify the rifle, that one is going to be a real challenge without further modification. As you are probably already aware, the front mount utilizes the existing dovetail for the former rear open sight and the rear mount uses 2 screws angled into the receiver. While Zebulon’s idea of using a blank picatinny or Weaver rail is normally the easiest answer, that is not the case with your rifle as the rear angled holes are not in the right position to be able to drill the rail to match.
In your unique situation I can only offer one suggestion that has proven effective. Remove the current scope and mounts and purchase your desired scope and the correct mounts for it. Attach (basically “glue”) the mounts to the receiver in the appropriate locations using Black Loctite 480 Instant Adhesive. This process has worked for other people although I have not tried it personally. If you desire to remove the mounts a heat gun will soften and release the adhesive so it can be cleaned from the bluing. It sounds like a weird solution but a number of people on the Rimfire Central forum have successfully done it. Just make sure you completely clean and degrease the area where the mounts are to be affixed and do not get any excess on the stock or other areas.
Good luck with your project!
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
August 14, 2021
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Buy a scope that fits, or get a refurbished vintage Weaver that fits if the optics on there now are not clear. If you’re new to rifles, I am not sure you want to do the glue thing.
November 7, 2015
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Is there an issue with the Weaver other than lack of magnification? I think there are folks who repair/refurbish these old optics.
Mike
January 20, 2023
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I hadn’t seen.your photos when I spoke about making up a rail — I wrongly assumed somebody had drilled and tapped the receiver and,possibly, the barrel. It’s really good that’s not the case.and the rifle is unmarked.
Smith, of San Antonio, marketed the “streamline” scope mounts that utilized the holes in the receiver wall intended for a receiver sight, plus the rear sight dovetail, as mounting points for the streamline bases and rings.
I think Mike has the right idea. I myself would stay with the small diameter scope or another, brighter one of the same diameter. There are companies that specialize in bringing vintage scopes up to modern specs amd if a nice Weaver J4 won’t work, consider an improved J4.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
February 8, 2022
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There are these 3/4″ tube fully modern current production scopes:
https://www.grubee.net/collections/riflescope/products/4x-wolfpup-duples-dot
So you could maintain the visual balance with a slender scope.
Another near-period similar possibility are the “Baby Redfields” and “Baby Browning” 3/4″ tube scopes. They are expensive but several are listed on eBay. They have coated lenses, come as 2 3/4x and 4x and should be a bright scope especially in the 2 3/4X.
Vintage Gun Scopes as mentioned sells refurbed and upgraded vintage scopes.
To use your current rings you’d have to stick with a J2.5 because they are single split or “solid” rings. Drilling a Weaver blank base is a possibility as mentioned but I’ve found most gunsmiths don’t care to take on such work. Glueing a base on sound interesting yet you may find the empty holes from the old mount an eyesore. Iron Site or Vintage Gun scopes could likely install your rings on one of the “baby” scopes.
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