Anyone familiar with the old "Valor" made in Japan scopes?

[GatorFarmer]

One with a European post came on the old Remington 700 in .222 that I traded for today. It's stamped Japan and mounted in an older Weaver mount of a type that I've never seen before that flips the scope to the side to allow use of the iron sights. It doesn't seem of truly world class quality... but... on the face of it, it seems like a pretty good scope.

By weird coincidence, the guy that I got the rifle from has about the same height and build as I do, including long arms. He put the 700 in a nicer grade Bishop stock configured for himself and it fits me perfectly as well. Neat.

But back to the scope. The rifle is, as best as the prior owner knew, from the 60s or 70s. I'd estimate the age of the scope at about the same. Is this one of those mail order made in Japan optics from years past that actually wasn't half bad?

And about the flip to the side Weaver mounts, I've never seen those before. Are they still made? Did they go out of fashion?

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

The 60s and 70s Japanese optics were almost all good values for the money.
Optical quality good to excellent, mechanically sound and sturdy. I have 2, I use them rarely, the few times I have used them on the rifles they are attached to, they performed well. They have no "cachet", no mystique
But "they'll do ride the river with."

 

[s&wchad]

Weaver and Pachmayr both made pivot mounts. I never trusted them and immediately remove them from any gun so equipped. I sold several mounts on ebay a while back and was pleasantly surprised what they brought, so some people must like them.

Valor scopes may have been serviceable in their day, but they were never a high end product. Now that they're 40 years old, I wouldn't trust them not to fog.

If your just using it to play around at the range, it doesn't matter. Try it out and decide for yourself. If you have time and money invested in a hunt and you really want to use a cheap old scope, a pivot mount may be just the ticket!

I found the photos of the Pachmayr swing mount.

 

[scorvers]

I've been using a Weaver pivot mount for 30+ years with no problems. Never have used the pivot feature. Everything died thru the glass, a 30+ year old Weaver 4x Widefield,

 

[GatorFarmer]

Thanks for the information. I honestly don't even have any particular use for the old Remington in mind. It just somehow "looks" right with that old scope and mount on it, since they've probably been on it since before I was born. I'm not even sure, truth be told, what a .222 is supposed to be used for. Varmints or some such I'd imagine. I got two boxes of ammo with the gun, I figured that I'd shoot them up one day at the range and then either trade the gun or just put it up to sit around. It had dust bunnies on it from the prior owner having taken that course. Still, it is a nice vintage gun and does fit me.

 

[mwtdvm]

I'm not even sure, truth be told, what a .222 is supposed to be used for. Varmints or some such I'd imagine. .

I have my father's .222 Sako Vixen and saw him use it when he was stationed in Germany, (61-64) on the small deer, Reh(Roe), there. Even with the SP bullets of that era, blew a 3-4" hole through the chest cavity.
I have used the Vixen on squirrels. No reason to remove the head from the carcass as the bullet has done that for you.
I would guess it will do everything a .223 would do but not quite as far out. Others here will probably provide more information.

 

[GatorFarmer]

I have my father's .222 Sako Vixen and saw him use it when he was stationed in Germany, (61-64) on the small deer, Reh(Roe), there. Even with the SP bullets of that era, blew a 3-4" hole through the chest cavity.
I have used the Vixen on squirrels. No reason to remove the head from the carcass as the bullet has done that for you.
I would guess it will do everything a .223 would do but not quite as far out. Others here will probably provide more information.

The guy I got it from did mention having used it on deer, and claimed that SC deer did get up to 200 pounds on occaision and weren't all runts like the swamp deer that I've been seeing. He's not from this state originally, so I wasn't sure if clause A and B were related since I don't even know if centerfire .22s are legal for deer here.

The .375 that I got with the 700 in the trade is the one I really wanted initially and I call that my alligator gun. There's just something about that old 700 though that makes me like it. Guess some guns are just like an old pair of boots, comfy for being warm. Even better, one can get guns already worn and comfy be somewhat else, and unlike boots in the same situation, not have to worry about getting athlete's foot....