What's going on with this AO on this scope?

[Fusion]

So I acquired an older Simmons 6.5-20 model 1074 that is one of the older Japanese ones. It's got really clear glass, but the AO is a bit weird on it. It seems really tight and if you try to turn it, you can see that it turns the outer lock ring with it. It's like this ring locks the AO from turning. If you loosen this ring, then you can adjust the AO freely and then lock it back down. I've never seen an AO like this. Is it supposed to be designed like this, or is something going on with it? Here are a couple of pictures of what I'm talking about.

Here is what it looks like,

Here is how I'm talking about taking that ring off. However, you don't have to take it all of the way off, I just did to use for an example. You can just loosen it.

I'm wondering if on this older scope if it's designed as a lock ring and functioning properly, or if it's not supposed to be all the way tight, and just glued there and the glue has just worn? How is this supposed to work?

 

[sc928porsche]

I have an old simmons like that and it was very difficult to turn the AO until I loosened the ring you are talking about. It seems to act like a jam nut and helps control the tension on the AO adjuster.

 

[Fusion]

Yes, that is how this one acts. I'm wondering if it was designed that way. I've never had one of the Simmons like this before, and none of the other AO scopes I have are like this, although they are all much newer. I can't find much info on these scopes.

 

[Rimfire5]

On several of my newer AO scopes (Weaver T-36s) they have a locking ring that allows you to tighten down on the AO ring on the front barrel so the adjustment won't be displaced.
If you want to readjust the setting, you simply loosen the ring and readjust.

If you don't care for the setting protection, then you can shoot with the ring loosened.

It could be you might actually have a useful feature instead of a problem.