I've long been a big fan of 1x dot sights. While many still view them as suitable only for low power rifles and pistols that will never be used for anything more than back garden plinking, I've always appreciated their value in the hunting field. Down the years, I've owned a fair few - from 1970's vintage Singlepoints to the latest electronic offerings. A couple of months ago, I acquired a s/h Hawke 1x25 RD (complete with vertical-split ring mounts) and must say that it's probably the best sight of it's kind that I've ever used.

With a 1" tube, the little Hawke is very compact - the majority of it's peers having 30mm or 40mm tubes. Weighing roughly 5 ozs, it's a little over 4 1/4" long, (though this can be extended - by fitting the sunshade - to 5 1/2"). Some would say the small tube is at a disadvantage when compared to it's bigger brethren, but I would disagree - possibly because I always keep both eyes open when using sights of this type - and I actually prefer it in use over my pal's 1x40. It's a tough little thing too, having seen use on various 12 ft/lb springers and a .22LR while with it's former owner.

Why do I think the Hawke is the best? There is no flare or ghosting of the 4 MOA dot whatsoever - providing you set the brightness to a suitable level and with 11 settings, this is easy to do. The highest setting is ample for the sunniest day, while setting 1 is dim enough for shooting in gloomy barns without the dot flaring. The low settings are great for lamping forays - and there's plenty of room on the sunshade to strap on an UltraFire torch.

These days, everybody seems to want high-magnification zooms with huge objective bells, but for pest clearance round the farmyard or chasing squirrels through the woods - where ranges are short to moderate - the Hawke 1x25 RD is a truly unbeatable sighting system.....