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In 1965, the U.S. Marine Corps began its search for a new rifle and scope combo to serve as their official combat sniper rifle. The goal was to have USMC armorers customize and accurize a readily available production rifle. The Corps settled on the Remington Model 40x, a premium grade of the Model 700, chambered for the .308 Winchester (a.k.a. 7.62 NATO) cartridge, and topped it with a commercially available 3-9x40mm variable power hunting scope that featured a simple and easy to learn ranging system. The rifle was designated the M40.
Hi-Lux Optics is now recreating this 1960’s era scope for all of those “old school” sharpshooters among us, those who take the time to know the trajectory of the loads they shoot. However, Hi-Lux Optics has made some major internal improvements. The optics are far superior to that of the original, with precision ground lenses that are fully multi-coated for maximum light transmission. Hi-Lux Optics has also added positive 1/4″ click adjustments to the windage and elevation turrets.
The Auto-Ranging system incorporated in this scope features two parallel horizontal crosshairs near the top of the reticle. Showing at the bottom of the rear lens is a yardage scale. The shooter simply zooms in on a known target of 18 inches, until it fits perfectly between the two crosshairs, then reads the range at the bottom. The reticle accurately ranges from 200 to 600 yards. The yardage scale used in the original Marine Corps scope was made of plastic, and often melted in the heat of Vietnam. The Hi-Lux M40 USMC 3-9x40mm Sniper model is built with an etched glass yardage scale.
This scope comes in choice of anodized finish – deep black or olive drab green, and is backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty. The finishing touches are now being made to this recreation of a vintage scope from the past, and should be on display at the SHOT Show. The anticipated retail price is $319. If you are attending the show at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, January 15 thru 18, be sure to stop by the Hi-Lux Optics booth (No. 1017) and take a look at the M40 USMC 3-9x40mm Sniper model.
For more information on the delivery date of this scope and other models in the Hi-Lux Optics line, call 310 257-8142 or send an e-mail to info@hi-luxoptics.com.
(Accompanying photo shows the USMC M40 rifle and auto-ranging scope used by Marine Corps sniper Chuck Mawhinney in Vietnam. He was the Corps’ top sharpshooter during that conflict. The rifle is in the Marine Corps Museum.)