RETRO 4X CARRY HANDLE SCOPE Reviews & Ratings

These were relatively rare during The Vietnam War, but the idea was good. Zero was repeatable but... with the slightest provocation, they would fog forcing the user to revert to iron sights. I personally compared the original with the "reproduction" and I'm pleased to report that the one major flaw has been corrected. On the outside, I can't see the slightest difference. However, the optics have been drastically improved! The clarity is outstanding regardless of temperature changes or humidity! Removal & installation is quick & easy and DOES maintain zero. Other than nostalgia, my original is pretty useless. This however is a keeper! I highly recommend it! The only "flaw" which isn't a deal breaker is that it doesn't come with the original pouch.

Good scope, very clear glass, repeatable and reliable [so far] but I have one question. Can anyone provide the information as to how many MOA are between the yardage marking(s)on the elevation turret? For example, how many MOA are between: 1-2 and 3 3 and 4 4 and 5 Knowing this information will facilitate replicating the exterior ballistics of my handloads to match those of the scope elevation adjustments. M

I purchased this Retro Scope for a build I was doing. I saw in some of the reviews that some said that the scope had left-right movement in the carry handle and they had to shim their scope in the carry handle. I did not have this problem, fit nice and tight. My upper is a DPMS A1 Upper, I'm thinking that all carry handles are not created the same and that may be the problem. Glass is very clear and the overall quality looks good. Below is a picture of my completed build.

I have and A1 and an A2 clone that were just dying for something to set them apart. This Retro Scope does the job. Much better than the Carry Handle mount with a Romeo MSR red dot attached. And it looks great! I was amazed that I only had to adjust the windage. At 100 yards, it was about 12 inches to the left, but the elevation was right on. I also greatly appreciate that I am still able to use the iron sights when this scope is mounted on the rifle. Just bringing my cheek back down to normal sighting for the iron sights and still had a clear picture. In fact, I think it actually made it a little easier as it provided some protection from the sunlight. The glass was very clear, and the reticle is nice and crisp Pros: Light weight, clear glass, clean reticle, exceptionally easy to mount, easy to use iron sights when wanted. Cons: for longer distances (400 - 500 yds) I could use great magnification. But that's what happens with old people. Would I recommend it to a friend? You bet!

Yes; I have the Original Version of this scope made by the same Company out of Japan. I put it on a Retro Build upper. Like the original, it it wiggles just a smidge. The grove in the carry handle sight channel needs a shim. A clean all aluminum drink can is perfect. Cut the can open with scissors and size the aluminum material to just short of the scope mount. Leave enough can material to protrude upward out of the carry handle sight channel and up the side of the scope mount when inserted in the handle. Use a hole punch or v cut where the mount screw comes through aluminum for the carry handle. Press the scope down over the aluminum can sheet into the carry handle sight channel. Attach the scope nut and tighten. (This will press fit everything together. Use a sharp knife and score the excess aluminum can material carefully. This will cause a clean tear line using tweezers or needle nose players. The aluminum can has a plastic material so one can quickly take everything apart but eliminates the wiggle. If done correctly, it looks professional. I sighted in my scope at 100 yards and effectively was shooting less than one half inch groups, after the 25 yard initial sight in. The scope allows the open sights to be used with the scope on. Have fun. I hope to do a video tutorial on this scope.

Purchased the Retro scope as I was curious to see how it would compare with the original Colt scope my dad bought for my birthday in July, 1966 and sent to me. He wrote to Colt asking for a scope that would fit the M-16, as dealers didnt have anything. A VP wrote back saying they were developing one that was not yet available retail and that they were currently trying to get a contract to sell it to the Army. He wrote my dad that since his son was in Viet Nam he would sell him one for cost, $89 at the time. I used it for a couple of months, starting in July 1966, while in B Co, 2nd Bn 28th Inf. 1st Inf. Div. Good to see that the Retro has a Forever Guarantee as my original did not hold up to the rigors of infantry combat, and the extreme heat and humidity, in that the nitrogen leaked out after a couple of months, with moisture staining the front lens and eventually the cross hairs broke. The Starlight night scope my CO assigned to me, after learning I had obtained my own daytime scope, held up much better. The Retro Scope fits the carrying handle on my Colt AR-15 SP1 (purchased new in 1981) perfectly without the need for alterations as mentioned by other reviewers. I checked the width of the mount against my original scope mount with a micrometer and it was within a few thousands of an inch. The rest of the measurements are approximate replications as the Retro scope body is slightly longer, the original was 3 power, and other items such as the windage adjustment caps are not interchangeable. Even so, both weigh the exact same 12 oz on my old RCBS scale. Indent mark on the scope body for the range selection knob on the original scope is on the left side, while on the Retro it is 90 degrees counter clockwise on the rear. Of course, this isnt a Retro to the original Made in USA scope but to the made in Japan scope that Colt actually sold to the military and commercially. So I give it 5 stars. Overall I am very pleased with this replica so far and Im looking forward to getting to a range and trying it out.

It looks great! Goes well with the A-1 Retro build I put together. I just have to build the muscle memory to pull rifle into the correct shoulder mount now. Didn't realize my shoulder mount was so far off. Oh well. This reproduction is the Bee's Knees, so to speak. It's only drawback is you absolutely have to mount the rifle to your shoulder perfectly to be able to see through it clearly.

Got it sooner than estimated. Havent used it yet so Ill post again after that. Giving it 3 stars on the blind just because Brownells is offering a guality (I assume) , carry handle scope with a forever warranty. It would have got 5 but there are no click adjustments. For the $299 there should have been click adjustments. Especially that they claim the new design has internal changes.I had a Eurolux ($65)originally that would not hold zero after 4000 rounds. If that happens with the retro, there is at least a lifetime warranty. The white Retro on top doesnt bother me as it does some people. You can always use a black marker to darken it if it does. The glass and reticle are fine and it sits in my A2-MT 6530 lightweight carry handle perfectly . No shimming with tape(or whatever). Honestly, I am thrilled with the scope and will do a follow up after shooting and zeroing it. If all works out well I likely would have given it a 5 star at that point. But as I said, taking two points off the top just for lack of click adjustments that would have helped it to hold adjustments in place better. Otherwise I am stoked and really satisfied with Brownells products and service.

Got it sooner than estimated. Havent used it yet so Ill post again after that. Giving it 3 stars on the blind just because Brownells is offering a guality (I assume) , carry handle scope with a forever warranty. It would have got 5 but there are no click adjustments. For the $299 there should have been click adjustments. Especially that they claim the new design has internal changes.I had a Eurolux ($65)originally that would not hold zero after 4000 rounds. If that happens with the retro, there is at least a lifetime warranty. The white Retro on top doesnt bother me as it does some people. You can always use a black marker to darken it if it does. The glass and reticle are fine and it sits in my A2-MT 6530 lightweight carry handle perfectly . No shimming with tape(or whatever). Honestly, I am thrilled with the scope and will do a follow up after shooting and zeroing it. If all works out well I likely would have given it a 5 star at that point. But as I said, taking two points off the top just for lack of click adjustments that would have helped it to hold adjustments in place better. Otherwise I am stoked and really satisfied with Brownells products and service.

I installed scope on a pre1994 Sporter Match HBAR A2. I couldn't be happier. I wanted a compact no frills scope. This is it. I did shim the scope during install to eliminate a minuscule amount of side play. Three strips of aluminum foil were laid across mounting channel forward of and to rear of mounting hole. The scope was then press fit into the channel....seating the foil at the same time. Perfect! A razor blade was then used to carefully trim what foil was exposed along top of mounting channel.