Gibbs M73 G2 Scope: Need Idiot Proof operators instructions.

Take the rifle to a range and place it in a stable rest.
Remove the bolt.
Sight down the barrel at a target say 50 yards away.
Adjust the crosshairs in the scope until the view through the scope is aligned with the view through the barrel.
When it looks like its close reinstall the bolt and fire a few sighters.
Adjust windage and elevation as needed until you are getting center impacts with a 6 o'clock hold.
Then move your target out to 100 yards and adjust the scope as needed.
Keep moving the target and adjusting the scope as necessary for longer ranges.

FYI the original Weaver 330C (M73B1) had 2.75X Magnification and 1/4" click adjustments. The Lyman Alaskan which was approved but never issued was 2.5X and used 1" Clicks.

The first run of Gibbs A4 Clones used a so-called M73G1 (the "G" is for Gibbs.) They were Made by FM optics and are so marked. They were a major problem so Gibbs kicked them to the curb and took the business to Leatherwood/HiLux/Malcolm. The 2nd Generation scopes were marked M73G2. They have recently been superceded by a new model the M73G4. The replica (M73G4) scopes are advertised as having 2.5X magnification, 1/2 minute clicks
and 50MOA of elevation adjustment.

Regards,
Jim

milprileb said:

The Lyman ALASKAN` was never issued and used ? I just ran this rabbit down the hole here at Quantico
and for Korean War, the Marines used them. Can you please give me your source that negates this ?
No use buying a scope if its not correct, I am all ears.

Click to expand...

First lets make sure what we are talking about. I was referring to the general issue of the M73 (Lyman Alaskan) scope on the m1903A4 snipers rifle in WW2. Personally I believe thsi was the scope that ordnance actually wanted for the A4. Certain design features of the A4 such as the bevel at the rear of the scope base are needed with the Lyman scope but serve no purpose with the Weaver. Likewiae with a properly mounted Alaskan the A4 Safety can be used. With the Weaver the tab bumps into the tube.

In any case Ordnance ordered some 36,000 M73's to be installed on A4's beginning in Mid-43. (Hansen, Remington Collectors Journal Fall 2004). Also Tm 9-270 Sept 43 whsich describes the A4 and its scopes goes into detail about the Weaver but states "a Lyman Alaaskan will also be issued but no details are currently available". A scant five months later Ordnance published the updated manual TM 9-1270 and all mention of the Lyman Alaskan has been omitted (at least as far as the M1903A4 is concerned.)
Unlike Weaver Lyman subcontracted its lenses as matched sets from Bausch and Lomb. B&L was busy with a lot of higher priority war work (binoculars, periscopes, rangefinders etc so the planned M73 order never got off the ground. Ordnance who had actually cancelled the Weaver contract had to go back to them and un-cancel the cancellation. The Weaver M73B1 was then the only scope except for a few experimental models and commercial equivalents used on the A4.
By 1945 Lyman was able to deliver a few M73's which were used on M1E7's (predessessor of the M1C). Very quickly Ordnance added a sunshade and rubber eyeshade creating the M81 Scope. A short time after that the reticle was changed to a tapered post creating the M82. The M73, M81 and M82 were all versions of the Lyman Alaskan however some M82's were made by Wollensak. (Waite, American Rifleman June 1965).

In 1951 Ordnance purchased 3000 Lyman Alaskans (the "B" prefix serial numbers). At about the same time Springfield Armory was given and order to manufacture slightly more than 3000 M1C's. (Seijas and Bell, Garand Collectors Journal Fall 2004). Around 1950 the USMC was looking hard at the M1C as a replacement for the aging M1903A1 w/Unertl platform. At least one combat photograph shows a USMC sniper using an M1C with an Alaskan.

So is it possible that somehow, by hook or by crook, an Alaskan found its way on to an A4? Sure! Was it standard issue? No evidence of that.

Regards,
Jim