I recently came across a very nice Lyman All American scope in great condition. An article I read said these scopes came with a permanently centered reticle after 1961. Now for the dumb question. What exactly does that mean?

The crosshairs moved off center when you adjusted the older scopes. This wasn't good as the crosshairs would be away off in a corner of the field of view if the adjustments were near their limits. Most all modern scopes move the lenses instead of the crosshairs so they stay in the center no matter how they're adjusted.

This can be a bit of a problem if you're setting up a used scope on a different rifle. You can be at the limit of adjustment without knowing it. If the mounts aren't true with the barrel you might not have enough adjustment to sight in without shimming. Cut a couple of vee notches in a cardboard box, set the scope in the notches and take a sight on something. Rotate the scope 180° and see if the crosshairs move off your target. If they do, adjust the scope until they stay centered. Then put it on your rifle. BTW, when you're re-centering a scope, the adjustments are backwards.

Bye
Jack

Thank you very much.:)

The crosshairs moved off center when you adjusted the older scopes. This wasn't good as the crosshairs would be away off in a corner of the field of view if the adjustments were near their limits. Most all modern scopes move the lenses instead of the crosshairs so they stay in the center no matter how they're adjusted.

This can be a bit of a problem if you're setting up a used scope on a different rifle. You can be at the limit of adjustment without knowing it. If the mounts aren't true with the barrel you might not have enough adjustment to sight in without shimming. Cut a couple of vee notches in a cardboard box, set the scope in the notches and take a sight on something. Rotate the scope 180° and see if the crosshairs move off your target. If they do, adjust the scope until they stay centered. Then put it on your rifle. BTW, when you're re-centering a scope, the adjustments are backwards.

Bye
Jack

Thanks for the info on checking the placement of the hairs in the scope and using a notch to find out for sure. I sent a scope in to the manufacturer for a rebuild with range finder reticles if they can do it. I'm assuming they will make sure it is all set properly but that is a good check I'm going to make anyway. You guys in the know sure keep us novices pondering. Good to have you around.