Is there an ideal scope for up to 200m range?

[acorngraham]

I would appreciate any advice/guidance.
I will be starting to use a .17HMR, .22LR or .22 FAC air rifle having been used to only using 12ft/lb rifles.

I currently use a Hawke 3-12x50 Nite-eye or a BSA Essencia 3-9x40?

Is there any reason why these would not be appropriate for distances up to 200 metres?

I can see why the need for scopes costing hundreds if not thousands for ultra long range centre-fire work but is there a 'bench-mark' scope for 100-200m ranges?

Thanks for any help!
Regards, Graham

[Rapidnick]

It does depend on your eyesight. I like plenty of mag so I use a Simmons 6.5-20x44MAG on FAC air and rimfire rifles and I have one all ready for the 17HMR I am picking up tomorrow.
Scopes today are very good and the market is very competitive. The ones I have used on rimfire rifles in the past are the Simmons as above, the Simmons Aetec 3.8-12x44 and the Simmons 3.5-10x50 WTC. There are many others but buy something decent-don't economise.

[air-tech]

Apart from the obvious, which applies irrespective of the range, i.e. at least use something passably decent, the question is what will you be shooting at, and hence how much magnification will you be needing. IMHO (and only IMHO) 12x is fine for a bunny head sized target maybe up to 100 yds in the open but I would want more for shots taken at up to 200 yds, which is not a problem seeing how many reasonable quality and price 24x scopes are available nowadays.

Needless to say such a scope would have adjustable objective (does your BSA? - if not then that makes it somewhat less than ideal).

[air-tech]

As an aside I note that you also mention FAC air rifle, and also 22LR. None of these options is really so hot beyond 75, maybe 100 yds for the LR, trajectory is a bit too loopy. 17HMR is usable however, a good zero point for the HMR is 120 - 140 yds!

So whether you need to up the mag does depend on what you will be shooting with.

[acorngraham]

Many thanks Rapidnick and air-tech.

You are quite correct, I intend to use the .22 FAC air up to approx. 80 metres, the .22LR up to around the 100m mark and the .17HMR up to 160-180m

I will look to use, per Nick's suggestion the Simmons for the .17 but can probably use the Hawke 3-12x50 for the other 2.

Many thanks again!
Regards, Graham