HW97 Scope recommendations

[Argent]

Can any HW97 owners give advice on decent scope options? Ideally photos of setups and any that are too long and should be avoided.

I'm just starting out and fancy something basic to begin with. Mainly for plinking but the local club has a HFT course so it makes sense to get something aimed that way.

I'm looking at something like a Hawke 4-16x40 with mildot. IR looks worth having.

Thanks

[Blackrider]

There are many scopes out there which will fit really well on your 97.
In the past I have had Simmons Pro Airs 4-16x40, 6-18x40 and Bushnell Legend 5-15x40's on mine all used mostly for range work.

At present I shoot a .177 97 with a Bushnell Elite 4200 6-24x40AO which is rather long and overhangs the loading port hence the need for high mounts but the scope was "hanging around redundant" in my cupboard at the time so I thought why not, it is a smashing piece of glass !

The Hawke scope you mention should suit you rather well I think !

[ElmerFudd.177]

I have a hawke sidewinder 10x42 on mine in medium mounts. It does overhang the loading chamber but i can load it quite easily andi have quite big hands.

[Jonas]

Sightron SIII 10x42 in two piece Sport Match mounts.

[rhyslightnin]

Can any HW97 owners give advice on decent scope options? Ideally photos of setups and any that are too long and should be avoided.

I'm just starting out and fancy something basic to begin with. Mainly for plinking but the local club has a HFT course so it makes sense to get something aimed that way.

I'm looking at something like a Hawke 4-16x40 with mildot. IR looks worth having.

Thanks

If you're starting out, plinking & maybe hft I'd advise you buy a cheapish 3-9x40.. its a very versatile size & sits right in the middle range of magnification which covers most things. It won't be too heavy or expensive but will offer good bang per buck. If I was starting again I'd probably look at the nikko pannamax range, a 3-9 with ao (I prefer non ao or "adjustable objective" scopes mostly but for versitility it is really good). It is very easy to get caught up in large mag scopes but the larger mag you have the less field of view, light gathering and depth of focus, more cost more weight & it's much harder to "hold it still" when your aiming.
Just my thoughts

Oh & I wouldn't bother with IR either unless your scanning hedgerows or barns in low light. Your better of just buying better glass

[Thunderball50]

I have the 97KT synthetic in nickel, I'm partially sighted so rely on high mag scopes. Hopefully I've managed to include a picture in this post of my rifle mounted with a Hawke Vantage 6-24x50 IR AO. It's a bit of a pain to load but I've developed a technique which works, being .22 helps too!
Sadly, can't figure out how to add pics

[TonyL]

I'd be considering the smaller Nikko Panamax, the smaller Hawke Panoramas and, most definitely, the Hawke 2-7x32 Airmax.

[Blackrider]

Trien my little Panamax on the 97 Tone and it performed pretty well !
The bigger models would be good I think.
Stretching the budget, a Vortex Diamondback would be tasty !

[reesy]

I love Nikon pro staff 3-9x40efr scopes !

[rhyslightnin]

Trien my little Panamax on the 97 Tone and it performed pretty well !
The bigger models would be good I think.
Stretching the budget, a Vortex Diamondback would be tasty !

I'm surprised you don't have one yet John..

[Blackrider]

I'm surprised you don't have one yet John..

Give it time Rhys, give it time !

[rhyslightnin]

Give it time Rhys, give it time !

Lol! Yeah your right... I feel like that about a .20 97k!

[BALD ERIC]

Sightron SIII 10x42 in two piece Sport Match mounts.

Yes that's a nice cheap entry level scope