Deben Airmax SR 6-18x44 AO

[baz]

I have been out testing this scope today at the range

First thing I noticed is the optical clarity which is excellent, no graining even at maximum mag, bright as a bright thing too :D

The ret has been talked about quite a bit already and some have remarked its gimmiky, not so IMO the etched lines are superbly done, theres even a copyright thingy at the very top righthand side, I mention this because it must be microscopic in size yet is perfect as are all the little circles on the ladder extremities, enough holdover points for any airgunner!

Theres a bracketing system in lower left quarter, it looks interesting and wonder if it can be used to rangefind knockdowns ;)

I am using the SR on a .177 Daystate MK3 which it suits admirably, zeroed in about half a dozen clicks on the crosshair easy peasy, then rain stopped play so I will have to wait until thursday at the club to note all the other aiming marks in relation to ranges

The turrets are low but finger friendly with very positive clicks and have graduation marks all around with single "0" to reset to they are 1/4 MOA, all you need as this isnt a scope to dial in as theres no need

AO is a little stiff at first but is already smoothing out, it certainly works well, closest I could get pinsharp focus was 12yds, eyebell focus is that nice fast click click type found on other Deben scopes

Nice looking scope in the classic sort of way, wish they would do one in shiny gloss though :cool:

Just a little review but I think you will get my drift when I say this scope is worth every penny of the asking price of £189.99 RRP

They are springer rated :) And sunshades are available, I am looking forward to our next comp at the club as this is ideal for my style of shooting

Get to have a look through one of these before condemning them as gimmiky, any DDAGC members are welcome to try mine on Thursday or Sunday

I am going to order one of the smaller versions for my TX

Well done Hawke and Nick Jenkinson

Baz (edited because these scopes are Hawke not Deben, who are UK distributors :) )

[Andy_J]

Baz, I'm looking forward to your next report on this scope. Please tell us how it performs with these new reticules.

cheers

Andy :)

[HarryPotter]

What would you compare the quality of the optics to?

Also whats the DOF like?

TIA.

[Andy_J]

Yeah Baz, would you compare the optical quality to a.....say.....a Bushnell elite or thereabouts, or a Simmons WTE?

The one I looked through was as good as my Bushnell elite 3200.

regards

Andy006

[albrown]

anychance of stating the lentgh and weight of the scope?

cheers
alex

[baz]

I rate the optics as better than any of the SWATs which are in same price range, also better than the WE

Its difficult to compare as we all see differently, but I rate it compareable to the 5-15 Legend which is very good indeed

This is the best value scope I have seen anywhere at anything like this price

I think the German and Austrian scope makers had better watch out over next few years :eek:

Baz

[baz]

6-18x44 is w586g and 390mm long

3-12x44 is w551g and342mm long

baz

[Rustam Bana]

I think the German and Austrian scope makers had better watch out over next few years :eek:

Reminds one of the Japs cornering the world watch market. It's certainly doable.

[baz]

Reminds one of the Japs cornering the world watch market. It's certainly doable.

And motorcycles, oh how the Brit bike makers scoffed at such a suggestion in the early 60s, yet 10 years later they were struggling :rolleyes:

Baz

[Wraith]

Agree with Baz and Andy006. Has to be better value than the 3200 because you get variable magnification and adustable front. My only dislikes is the fact that it's front focus, I'd have prefered a side one.

I am thinking this would have put the cost up though.

[baz]

I am thinking this would have put the cost up though.

I hope they do add this ret system to other scopes, a side focus version with these optics and ret would be well worth extra money IMO

Baz

[baz]

Anyone know if Lloyd has these in stock ?

Baz

[martinbb]

There is a DVD that can be downloaded from www.targetsports web site that gives a full guide on the use of these excellant new scopes.
Target Sports of Bolton have these in stock.

[Rustam Bana]

Anyone know if Lloyd has these in stock ?

Baz


http://www.airgunbuyer.com/webnews.asp?ID=318

[Rustam Bana]

...but would you be thinking of trying it out on a .22" calibre 20ft.lber. using a 14.5 grain pellet (H&N FTT / Lazapell)?

Would also like to read what range those reticle markings equate to with a 12 or 14 ft.lbser in .177".

[Wraith]

...but would you be thinking of trying it out on a .22" calibre 20ft.lber. using a 14.5 grain pellet (H&N FTT / Lazapell)?

Would also like to read what range those reticle markings equate to with a 12 or 14 ft.lbser in .177".

Mr Bana

I think the reticule relies on the parabola followed by any airgun projectile being of similar proportionality. (I just made that up and am rather proud of it). Therefore you can calibrate it by using the magnification ring. In theory it should be workable for most rifles within reason.

As I don't have most rifles I can't tell.

[baz]

I bet they aint got them for long

baz

[Rustam Bana]

Therefore you can calibrate it by using the magnification ring. In theory it should be workable for most rifles within reason.

Sounds plausible to me.

[Rustam Bana]

I bet they aint got them for long

One for each gun then? :eek:

;) :D

[baz]

One for each gun then? :eek:

;) :D

Aint got enough dosh mate :D

[baz]

I spent some time using the scope at club, there was quite a bit of wind so need a still day to really note down aiming points for .177 12ftlb

Scope coped with the dark overcast conditions (plus lanes are in woodland) well

I zeroed the centre x-hair at 25yds @ 8x to try it, this gave me aiming points for holdover way out to the furthest golf balls which I think are 80yds on this lane, I noticed that the pellets were hitting the ground at the hundred yd mark which was in line with the bottom post that holds the bracketing system, mind you the wind had carried them several feet to the right!

I hope to try again on Sunday, this time decide on mag then try all the way to 80yds but this time noting down the holdover points as theres lots of them :D

Baz

[BigDuncs]

Baz
A really informative and helpful review. Thanks.

[Maverick]

How about when shooting a high targets, when using the mildot I can use the dots above the X but these scopes only have one mark higher that the X and the DVD does not so any high targets. :confused:

[Gary C]

How about when shooting a high targets, when using the mildot I can use the dots above the X but these scopes only have one mark higher that the X and the DVD does not so any high targets. :confused:

How high are the targets and what calibre rifle?

[Maverick]

How high are the targets and what calibre rifle?

Hmmmm for shooting pigeons in trees so the height could be anything so lets say at height angles of 10-70 degrees and at 20-40 yrds with my X2 .22 or my MFR .177

[madmez]

i got one yesterday and am also well impressed.

[Bowyer]

[QUOTE=baz]I hope they do add this ret system to other scopes, a side focus version with these optics and ret would be well worth extra money IMO

Quite so - indeed, on a hunting orientated scope, whatever possessed them to design it with an outdated parellax adjustment system that requires you to wave your hand in front where the bunnies etc can see it?

I'd have bought one instantly if it'd had a side wheel parellax. As it is, the advantage of the range finding grid is more than offset by the disadvantage of the parellax adjustment being at the front, so I'll stick with my Swat until they wake up to the 21st century!

[Andy_J]

I'm confused :o Perhaps Baz will be able to answer this one. It's not a problem,But on the SR12 specs I have put my zero at 30 yards right, But where the pellet should be hitting at 35 & 40 it's not mines hitting at 40 & 50. Now who can answer why that is? It's on 12 mag and .177. Hope that makes sense?

Maybe because it was designed for a .22 and its trajectory? :o :cool:

[baz]

Maybe because it was designed for a .22 and its trajectory? :o :cool:

Yep :)

baz

[Nealsey]

I got one of these a couple of weeks ago. SR12 6-18

Got it mounted on a Daystate Xs Sport and the scope is a good quality unit.

Nealsey

[Nealsey]

The literature and DVD do imply that the SR6 is better suited to the .177, but I needed the extra mag as I am getting old the sight is fading :)

[madmez]

So really all I have to do is take notice of what I'm getting rather than what I should be getting ;) It's on the markers,so it does work for .177 :)
it says zero at 40 yards for the sr6 with 1.77 ...
sr6 1.77/ 2.2
sr12 2.2

[corb.177]

I thought it had to be on 6x for the mildots to be true? :confused:

[corb.177]

Sorry I meant on the SR6. The Sr12 being true at 12x.

[corb.177]

I'll take your word on that mate as you have one.
There seems to be some confusion depending on what you read on different sites. :(

[Baldy]

Been ill for a while but glad to see that discussion on the bbs is still alive and well.

SR12 at 12x to be correct for zero at 30 yds with 11.5 ftlbs with 16 -16.5 gr .22 .
SR6 at 6x to be correct for zero at 30 yds with 11.5 ftlbs with 16-16.5 gr .22

SR6 at 12x and 40 yd zero for .177 7.9- 8.5 gr

Both scopes with variable magnification can be set for various power and pellet combo by varying the mag and using the reticule with your own range chart.

Baldy

[corb.177]

That clears it up nicely. thankyou. :)

[Davestate]

I had a look through one today; although the ret could be useful I didn't buy it as the optics were pretty average and the ret was very hard to see in the woods.

[baz]

I had a look through one today; although the ret could be useful I didn't buy it as the optics were pretty average and the ret was very hard to see in the woods.

What are you comparing optics to? They are better than anything I can think of anywhere near that price

Baz

[Davestate]

Nothing really, just nothing special. The ret disappearing was a real let down.

[baz]

The std SR ret isnt good in woodland low light, mind you the IR version is rather good, maybe thats why they did an IR ;)

The optics are excellent IMO in fact theres nothing for sale at this time and in this price range that is better, my Leupold has the edge but that aint surprising, and it aint three times the price better!

Baz

[Lash13]

Hi Baz..this is very interesting, but in the video, Nick doesn't dwell all that much on using the scopes on 177. Presumably the reticle isn't as effective with this calibre. I was wondering if you think the scope would be good for HFT? I couldn't determine from the vid. if it would.
Cheers Lee

[BEESA]

A bump for more info :D
Don

[Meerkat]

I asked Hawke what aim points are recommended for HFT....

"Hi Steve,

Assuming you will be using the recommended setup - pellet weight, rifle power, magnification,
Please see below for the closer aim points of the SR6 reticle when using .177


Within top circle 16 to 35yds - FLAT
1/2 way 14 and 38
main cross 13 and 40 - ZERO
1st hash 11 and 45
1st line 10 and 50
2nd hash 9 and 55
2nd line 8 and 60
3rd hash 7.5 and 65
3rd line 7 and 70
top of post 6yds

I hope this helps.

If you have a more specific question regarding your personal set-up, I'd be happy to help.

Thanks and best regards

Stephen Walker
Hawke Optics"

This is for the SR6 at 12 mag using .177 JSB Exacts (8.5g)

I had a Legend 5-15x40 on my S10 and I think the optics are comparable. I was surprised when I looked through one at the shop as I always thought Hawke were not that good, but this thing has proved my belief wrong.

At my very first competition, (ever), last Sunday with the SR6 and the Harrier X I recently got second hand from this BBS I managed to hit knock downs out to 60 yards using the ret as suggested.

I am well pleased, excellent repsonse from the Hawke support side of things too.

Steve

[Parabuteo]

I rate the optics as better than any of the SWATs which are in same price range, also better than the WE

Its difficult to compare as we all see differently, but I rate it compareable to the 5-15 Legend which is very good indeed

This is the best value scope I have seen anywhere at anything like this price

I think the German and Austrian scope makers had better watch out over next few years :eek:

Baz

I dont think anyone should knock a SR untill they have tried one. I have the SR6 nighteye on both of my springers, and they do exactly what it says on the tin. The only downside is if you want to shoot on a lower mag than what is required to make the ret work for your combo.

The only reason I no longer have one on my 410k is that I am using a Connect 01 on it ATM. The light gathering on it is surreal.

That said, I have a Nikon buckmaster, and I feel that the low light performance and clarity of the Hawke is every bit as good, and the bracketing does work.