Colt Firearms Collector
Preserving our American history

Marked “”M8-2X EXTENDED E.R” at the objective and with patent dates and “Made In U.S.A.” at the eyepiece.  The scope has a bronze medallion on the left side marked “Colt / Leupold” and with the Rampant Colt logo.

The Leupold-Colt M8 2x shown above with a Colt Python 'Hunter' .357 made only in 1981.  This scope was normally sold with a Colt Python 'Hunter' and to find one that is not with a Python is highly unusual as they are rare. 

Colt partnered with Leupold & Stevens, Inc. Beaverton, Oregon, U.S.A. to produce this scope for their Python 'Hunter' revolver.

EER stands for "Extended Eye Relief." The fixed magnification M8 2x20mm EER scope (stock #28592) was available in gloss black or silver finishes.  It was built on a 1" (25mm) diameter main tube made of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy. The coin-slot windage and elevation adjustments are of the friction type and allow unlimited adjustment increments. The reticle always remains centered.

The 2x20 EER is sealed against moisture and nitrogen filled; it is guaranteed to be waterproof and fog free.  Eyepiece focus is by multiple turns of the ocular bell on fine threads and is secured with a locking ring.

The 2x20mm EER comes with Leupold's famous Duplex reticle. This type of reticle, with heavy a crosshair that becomes a fine crosshair near the center of the field, was invented by Leupold and has since been copied by virtually all other scope manufacturers.

The recoil velocity of powerful handguns is very high, putting great stress on handgun scopes. The 2x20mm EER Leupold handgun scope is extremely rugged and up to the challenge of any handgun or rifle cartridge. Gun makers have elected to package it with several famous hunting handguns over the years, including the illustrious Colt Python Hunter.

With an overall length of 8.0 inches it weighs 6.0 ounces. The field of view is  21.2' at 100 yards; this makes shots at running game relatively easy.

Friction windage and elevation adjustments are accurate and easy to use.  A wide adjustment range of 86 MOA is available in both windage and elevation. A coin or something similar is necessary to change the settings. The outer index ring can be reset after the gun is zeroed-in.

This a premium scope of proven durability, built to last. Leupold EER handgun scopes are among the best available. A Leupold M8 2x20mm EER scope is a good choice for practically any big game hunting handgun.   2005, Chuck Hawks

 I981 Colt catalog introduction of the Python 'Hunter'