project outdoor sun rays through the lens and focus them on a white card. Move lens toward and away from card until sun's image is at its Starf-to-finish instrucfions for making smallest and sharpest diam- eter. Then measure distance your own telescopic rifle sight from lens edge (Fig. 2) to the card; this distance is focal length of lens, determined ac- curately enough for our pur- poses. In determining f ocal I F you would like to make a hunting 'scope for lengths, remember that all focal lengths and sep- yo,t" rifle, here is the information you will arations are measured from edge of lens. Be- II need. Optically, a telescopic rifle sight con- ware of the intensely hot image point, which can sists of an objective or front lens, two erecting easily burn you. Also, don't make your test with lenses, a crosshair or reticle, and two lenses that any_ other light source, such as an electric light, combine to make an eyepiece (Fig. 1). For good as this will give divergent light and a false focal performance the sight should have good defini- length measurement. The sun emits parallel tion, reasonably long eye relief and low power. light rays which will give true focal length of You can achieve good definition-a sharp flat lens tested. image-by using a long focus objective. And for best resulk, focal length of objective lens should _ 9i"9" a telescopic hunting sight is literally held in the hands, if it is too powerfui a mag- not be less than 5 times its diameter. Eye relief nifier, it becomes too sensitive to be practical. is the distance between the eye and the back of and the shooter will have a hard time finding the sight when image apparently fills eyepiece. and holding on his target unless he has nerves The magnification or power of a telescope is of steel. For a hunting scope, magnification should equal to focal length of objective divided by F. L, not exceed 4 power (4x). Target rifles shot from (focal length) of eyepiece. For example, an ob- a steady rest use powers as high as 8 or even jective of 6 in. F. L. and an eyepiece of 2 in. F. L. 10x. Figure 1 and the accompanying photos, will give 3 power or 3X. Although a single glass drawings, and instructions gives specificititns for optical lens will introduce color into the image, the optical system of a 3 power hunting 'scope. you can correct this defect by using an achro- All optical parts in this sight were icquired matic or two element lens consisting of a crown through surplus supply outlets. Note in fig. f and a flint lens cemented together. You'll find that eyepiece lenses are fitted to outside diamJter that most surplus lenses are achromats, and all of sight barrel. Since they are supplied in this of the optics specified for this rife sight are diameter the simplest way to mount them is of the achromatic type. against instead of in. the sight barrel. Focal
F.t ERECToR t __l F.L.ERECTOR FL.EYE PIECE OPTICIL SYSTEM AND ASSEMSLY lengths of various lenses were inserted for pur- will be the overall length of mount. Makc thc poses of clarity. Specificatiqns are for maximum separation ring % in. long, regardless of focal and minimum lens diameters and focal lengths length of eye and field lens. Eyepiece in Fig. 2, in order to widen the maker's choice of optical having a 1sla irr. focal length, consists of two iden- parts. Small deviations in lens specification will tical lenses, each with a 3% in. focd lengttr- De- require a longer or shorter tube or a larger or tails of eyepiece mount (Fig. 5) are for eyepiece smaller diameter, and result in slightly greater lenses with same diameter as outside of sight bar- or lesser magnifying power. rel. If you use smaller diameter lenses machine T'he rifle sight illustrated is made completely to dotted lines shown. from brass, gives good perforrnance and has a lvVith sight barrel, objective lens locking rings, high shock resistance. Before constructing it, erector mount" crosshair mount and eyepiece first order proper lenses. Objective or front mount machine, the next step will be to apply a lens should have same diameter as inside of durable, pleasing finish to external surfaces of sight barrel, and focal length should be not less sight barrel and eyepiece mount. First procure than 5 in. or more than 6 in. Two lenses which from your local druggist the following solution: make up the erecting system should each have a 1.1 oz. avoirdupois of basic copper carbonate, and diameter of not less than lz in. and not more 3.7 fluid oz. of aqua ammania (0.90 specific than % in., and a focal length of not less than I gravity). These are added to I qt. of water to in. and not more than 1% in. Eye-piece consists of an eye lens and field lens, each of which has a diameter of not less than 7/a in. and not more than 1 in., and a focal length of not less than 3\h in. and not more than 33/+ in. Machining Parts The first step in construction is to machine all metal parts for mounting and aligning the optics in the sight barrel. Sight banel is a brass tube 12 in. long, with a 1in. outside diam- eter and 1%s in. inside diam- eter. Objeetive lens locking rings are }t in. long and must slide smoothly in the sight bar' rel. Crosshair mount (Fig. 3) must be machined to an out- side diameter that will slide smoothly but not loosely in sight barrel. No specific dimen- sions are given here for the erector mount (Fig. 4) since all measurements for its con- rr tt struction will depend on the Explodcd <rlignment ol complcb 'rcopo cnd rupportr. size and type of erecting lenses you happen to use. Erecting lenses are spaced make your finishing solution. Before applying in erector mount a distance equal to r,b the it, first sand sight barrel and eyepiece mount sum of their combined focal length. For ex- with fl grit emery cloth on their outer sur- ample, if lenses are each 1 in. focal length, then faces. After sanding to a satiny finislr" wash spacing will be 1 in. The erector mount will outer surfaces in hot soapy water, rinse them in have same slide 6t outside diameter as the cross- hot water, and then dry them with a clean cloth. hair mount. Make inside diameter /ro in. less Be careful not to touch these surfaces after wash- than diameter of lenses and bore steps to space ing, as the slightest finger print spoils the final lenses from each end to allow proper spacing of finish. Next hang parts on separate wires and lenses. Make overall length of erector mount immerse each piece for 20 minutes in finishing equal to the separation of the lenses, plus their solution (at room temperature) with occasional edge thicknesses, plus Yts in. to allow for a lip agitation. Parts should emerge with a satiny gun to roll over and lock lenses into mount (see de- metal finish. Dry them with an additional clean tail in Fig. a). Do not lock lenses in at this time. cloth. Eyepiece mount (Fig. 5) slips onto sight bar- You are ready now to assemble the eyepiece. rel with a lap of Y2 in. This lap, plus the edge Remember, however, that since an achromatic thickness of both lenses, plus their separation lens consists of a crown and flint lens cemented together, we must know eyepiece. Focal length which way lens must of eyepiece is found by face in telescope. Crown passing the sun's rays side is side having great- through the assembled est curvature. Looking eyepiece from either end at edge of lens, note that and noting distance from crown is invariably the Iens to card. thinnest of the two com- To clarify the separa- ponents. To assemble tions, let's assume a 6 in. eyepiece, first paint in- F. L..objective, 1 in. F. side surfaces of mount L. erectors and a 2 in. F. and separation ring with L. eyepiece. It would a dead (no gloss) biack then be 6 in. from back lacquer. Then clean eye edge of objective to and field lenses with al- crosshairs, 1in. from cohol and insert them in crosshairs to front of mount uith their crolrrn erector, and 1 plus 2 or sides lacing each other 3 in. from back of erec- (Figs. 1 and 2), and tor to field lens of eye- spaced by the )'2 in. sep- piece. All aligning and aration ring. Lacquer locatin g of separations erector mount dead must be done on a target black inside and then placed at least 50 yards assemble it by inserting from the observer. Once two erector lenses with optics are aligned to their crown sides facing show a sharp target each other (Figs. 1 and image, cover them with 2);then spin f eather a folded cardboard edge over lens edges by shield to exclude any whirling rapidly in the stray light. The target lathe while pressing should be sharply dis- against lip with a round-ended brass rod. Be tinct and fill the eyepiece when observerts eye is very sure lenses and inside of mount are clean placed about 4 in. behind eye lens, if all measure- before rolling feather edge over. ments are correct. Now you will need to adjust Now lacquer the crosshair mount dead black crosshair mount to eliminate parallax. Move eye inside, being careful not to close up 4 cross holes. from side to side. If crosshairs appear to move Crosshairs are .003 in. wire, designated as #41 off target in same direction as the eye then cross- enameled wire. Pass a 1 ft. long strand of this hair mount must be moved toward eyepiece. If wire through the 2 vertical holes. Wrap both crosshairs appear to move opposite to diriction of ends of wire 3 full times around the mount in the eye movement then mount must be moved groove and fasten with a thin dab of tire patch- toward objective. When crosshairs remain im- ing cement. Repeat this procedure with the hori- mobile on target, regardless of eye movement, zontal wire. For both wires to be square, all parallax has been eliminated. wrappings should be in one direction only, either _ Next place sight tube close alongside the op- right or ieft. When cement dabs on both wires tics, being careful not to disturb them. One end are dry, apply an additional heavy coat of cement of tube must be parallel with its position in the in the groove and lay aside for 24 hours; then eyepiece mount. Now transfer lock screw loea- clean excess away from outside diameter of tion marks for the erector and crosshair mounts mount. After this, take care not to touch cross- across to the barrel. Also make a slight mark on hairs in any way. barrel to locate back edge position of objective. With all sight parts machined and erector and Note that hole for crosshair locking screw is crosshairs assembled, we are ready to set up elongated (see photo). This allows for further optical parts temporarily in order to ascertain elimination of any slight parallax introduced by correct separations between objective, crosshairs, inaccuracy of hole location. (Holes and location erector and eyepiece. Set up the objective with mark were temporarily edged with white for its crown side lacing out or forward. Distance photographic clarity.) Before dismantling the from back edge of objective to center of groove separation set up, note all measurements on a in crosshair mount is equal to focal length of rough sketch as per Fig. 1. Extra length of tube objective. Distance from crosshair groove to projecting beyond front lens forms a sun shade front of erector is equal to focal length of one and also acts as a protection against any damag- of the erecting lenses; tJrat is, if erecting lenses ing contact with twigs, brush, etc. each have a 1 in. focal length, the distance will To assemble sight, drill hole in sight barrel for be 1 in. Distance from back of erector to front erector lock screw with a #44 drill. Next drill a or field lens of eyepiece is equal to focal length of # 44 hole for crosshair lock screw on the location one of the erecting lenses plus focal length of mark. Elongate this hole by drilling two addi- tional holes on each side and connecting to form than 1A in. lor thig typc support. 1he mugh a slo! using a small round ffle. Cover this bloch should be 1A in.n.wider than greatest bar- slot with an oblong plate shap€d and drilled as rel diarnetcr and Y+ longer than combined shown in Fig. 3. Paint barel dead black inside, barel diameters plus the space between. Bore peint thinly and evenly, and dlow it to the sight barrel hole (Rr in Fig. 6) and then file applying a*.- Uext scnew eyepiece moturt to sight barrel or turn it to a double taper tobarrel allow for verticol when target- wittr three 040 machine screws spaced 120' and horizontal swing of sight apar! which should be tapped through both ing in the scope. Bore rifle barel hole (Rr in mount and sight barrel, because of the thinness Fig. 6) to calipered measurement of rife barrel of the walls. Slide erector mount into barrel and and then roughly taper it to conform to taper of lock in place with a 2-56 Filister-head machine gun barrel. Ttren drill, countersink, and tap screw. Now slide crosshair mount into barrel block crosswise between holes to take the clamp and lock with a 2-56 Filister-head screw through bolt. Finish block to shape by hacksawing oft the slot cover plate. Be sure crosshair mount dotted line corners and rounding to shape faces in the same direction as it did in the temporary aligning set uP. A..tO.OF SIGHT BARRI I. Paint objective lock rings dead black s -oo.oF EREcrrr{G *taF A'9?TsrGHT 6ARRET and allow to dry. Then slide one ob- C.- FocAL LENGTH 0t"itr" Ot{E tS I jective lock ring in to coincide with EREcrrNG LENS -T- l.."rl ,t-,/F location marh on barrel, and fastert q NU it in place with four 0-80 screws. DETATLoF Lrp A Next insert objective lens with crown side facing out. Finally, in- t sert remaining lock ring and fasten it with four 0-80 screws. An accompanying photo shows an ERECTOR exploded view of the complete scope and its supports; these MOUilT complete the telescopic sight, which is mounted OETAIL x' to on your gun with a rigid with a ffle. Finally, spllt support by mounting in front support and a ring type rear support which @ a vise and hacksawing NOTa OOUSU has an adjustment for TAPER through the center line. atigntng sight and target. Width of hacksaw cut Position of sight is ob- will allow the support to tained by holding gun to OPILL A}IO CYsK. firmly squeeze sight and shoulder apd moving FOn |o-3e ALLEII rifle barrels, so holes sight to apd away from c PSCREW lr need not be t,o exact I the eye until image fills a micrometer measure- L ments. eyepiece with t,Le head held in a natural and FROl,lT SUPPORT lihe rear suplrcrt is comf ortable shooting made from brass, with a position. Make a tem- ring of stated thickness F)rary marking of this o o (fig. ?). As in the case sight position on the of the front support" all rifle barrel (note spac- 16l o other measurements are ing of supports in ac- o o determined by the make t0.32 TAP companying photos of of gun. Rear portion of complete sight mounted rifle barrel, being a lar- on a Marlin .22 caliber ger diameter, will, of bolt action rifle). Front course, riduce spacing support (Fig. 6) is made between barrel holes" from brass to stated Center to center meas- thickness; all other di- urements of two barrel mensions depend on holes must coincide with make of gun. Rifle front support measure- barrel must be calipered ments. Before making at front support position either support, make a and measurement noted; rough sketch of each and outside diameter of sight check center to center barrel is already known. distance of barrel holes Mount sight as closely REAR SUPPOPT on each support for as possible to the rifle parallel alignment. Rear barrel, but no closer support is made in two pieces, the ring and the base. Inside diameter (R' in Fig. 7) of ring should be YE in. larger than sight barrel. Drill and tap holes for three ad- justment screws (3,4 in. long Allen cap screws) as shown. 'llhe base will mount on the receiver or rear of gun and must be a saddle fit. This is best accom- plished by making a ring to necessary inside diameter and wall thickness and then sawing a section from it (dotted lines in Fig. 7). Then drill base for four mounting screws and braze it to the ring. The wall thickness of base will control center to center measurement of barrel holes and care must be taken to position ring with vertical and horizontal holes correctly aligned before brazing. Both supports are now dipped in the bluing solution, after cleaning and sanding all surfaces. Mouniing ihe Sight To mount sight on gun, you may have to notch forearm of rifle in order to inlet the front sup- port (Fig. 6). The four mounting bolts for rear support base are &32 Allen cap screws, and if possible they should be drilled and tapped into section of receiver that firing mechanism slides in (Fig. 6). Do not drill into barrel at or ahead of bullet chamber. T?re holes should be drilled oversize. For example, in the case of 6-32 bolts calling for a #36 tap drill, a #32 drill should be used. Take care and time in drilling so that you do not break oft the tap. These bolts should be turned in snugly but not too tightly in order to avoid stripping the threads, r rffhen mounted on rifle adjust the sight barrel until it is apparently level and centered with the gun barrel; then tighten clamp and adjustment screws. To align the target, gun and sight, clamp the gun in a portable vise fastened to a suitable support. Place target (a 3 in. black dot) at 100 feet distance. Remove bolt or breach mechanism for gun. Now adjust gtrn position until target can be s6en centered in bore of rifle. Without moving gun, raise your eye and look through the telescope. If crosshairs are oft the target then adjust vertical or horizontal screws to bring tar- get and crosshairs into alignment. Once aligned, lock adjustment screws by a locknut on each screw. Finally, remove gun from vise, fire it from a steady rest and check the results to elirni- nate small errors.