pigeonbasher oz Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 Iv acquired a optima 3=9x 40 moonlighter scope . Now 40 yrs ago these were the bees knees are they still desirable?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 Blast from the past, these where the one you dreamt about as a young man (amongst other things) the other was the "Super Moonlighter with if i remember was the 56mm lenses huge by all other standards at the time, "John Darling" was one of the guys that used to advertise these. Huge price tag of around £80 early 80s that was loads of dosh in them days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeonbasher oz Posted February 11, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2022 Yes I remember it well dreams of webley vulcans hw35s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted February 11, 2022 Report Share Posted February 11, 2022 19 hours ago, pigeonbasher oz said: Iv acquired a optima 3=9x 40 moonlighter scope . Now 40 yrs ago these were the bees knees are they still desirable?? I think the “Moonlighter” was a 3-9x45 size. I have the 3-9x40 Optima, bought new in ‘79 or ‘80 with my HW35E, and I think the Moonlighter came out soon after I purchased mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeonbasher oz Posted February 11, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2022 I will check it out cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted February 11, 2022 Report Share Posted February 11, 2022 Hello, why was it named moonlighter ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted February 11, 2022 Report Share Posted February 11, 2022 1 hour ago, oldypigeonpopper said: Hello, why was it named moonlighter ?? It was supposedly bright/clear enough to shoot on a moonlit night. nb. Scopes have come on a little over the last forty years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dessyb Posted February 12, 2022 Report Share Posted February 12, 2022 yes 56 lensyou thought you had a dustbinlid on till you looked through it like a smartey tube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeonbasher oz Posted February 12, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2022 Yes its 3 to 9 by 45 its a moonlighter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimfireboy Posted February 12, 2022 Report Share Posted February 12, 2022 I had one on my Webley Vulcan. Still got the Vulcan but I let the optima go on another rifle I sold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeonbasher oz Posted February 12, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2022 Now then ....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeonbasher oz Posted February 12, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2022 Sorry bit of sales pitch. Dont even know what its worth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Accuspell Posted February 12, 2022 Report Share Posted February 12, 2022 Seen through rose tinted glasses of nostalgia in reality. The similar era Simmonds WTCs were far better scopes, even the Tascos were better. That same nostalgia and the legacy of JD will provide a financial buffer though - £95 ish would be about the mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimfireboy Posted February 13, 2022 Report Share Posted February 13, 2022 11 hours ago, Accuspell said: Seen through rose tinted glasses of nostalgia in reality. The similar era Simmonds WTCs were far better scopes, even the Tascos were better. That same nostalgia and the legacy of JD will provide a financial buffer though - £95 ish would be about the mark. That’s true, I still have two WTC’s and agree, they were better optics, as were the Japanese tasco scopes. The optima’s were ok, but nothing outstanding in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeL Posted April 9 Report Share Posted April 9 I still have an Optima Super Moonlighter (3-9 x 56mm) purchased new in 1981 for £65.00, only thing missing are the end caps. Back in the day I had it matched to a .22 HW80 which cost £80 in the same year. On the end of the mussel was a Galway silencer. Loved this set-up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neillconnor Posted April 14 Report Share Posted April 14 I e got a Optima Gamekeeper scope I bought in the eighties. Miniscule little scope with built in mounts 1- 4 mag with tiny 16mm lens but clear and bright. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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