Over-Scoping Air Rifles

[lensman57]

What is the best size scope for a sub12 ft.lbs Air Rifle?
4X32, 6X42, 8X56, 10X42 or any one of the zooms available from 1.5X6X24 to 10X50X60?
Surely for an Air rifle it is the reticule that is important rather than a large zoom range.
Are we all guilty of overscoping our Air Rifles?


A.G

[Jesim1]

Possibly, but it depends on what your using it for, how your eyes are, and basically what you prefer. I mostly target shoot, so high mags for small targets at long ranges mostly from a bench all make sense, but I would not want a 50 mag that weights over a kilo being trolled round a permission? A 4-16x44 would be my choice for that.

James

[GrahamHenderson]

decent 2-7 x 32 is perfect
big field of view and quick acquisition of your target

[TonyL]

decent 2-7 x 32 is perfect
big field of view and quick acquisition of your target

Is my choice.

As per many posters on here, I value optical quality and sight picture over bells, whistles and size. I've never owned a large objective, "mega-mag" scope, but fully understand why the FT boys value them, though.

When I hunted (sensible ranges and springer), the humble 4x32 served me well.

As and when I can afford / justify, the Hawke Airmax 2-7x32 will be right at the top of my list to examine.

The Nikko Air King Gold Crown of the same spec that I bought last Summer sits atop my TX and I'm over the moon with it. Not sure if still available?

[TORNADOS7]

Is my choice.

As per many posters on here, I value optical quality and sight picture over bells, whistles and size. I've never owned a large objective, "mega-mag" scope, but fully understand why the FT boys value them, though.

When I hunted (sensible ranges and springer), the humble 4x32 served me well.

As and when I can afford / justify, the Hawke Airmax 2-7x32 will be right at the top of my list to examine.

The Nikko Air King Gold Crown of the same spec that I bought last Summer sits atop my TX and I'm over the moon with it. Not sure if still available?

Up until recently I had a 'Simmons 1.5-5x32/8-point' which was a cracking little scope but I made the mistake of mounting it on my 'Xocet' which is renowned for breaking scopes, I once had a 'Nikko Airking GC' and unless things have changed in the last 10yrs then it is a bloody horrendous scope in my humble opinion...

[TonyL]

Which all goes to show that we're all different and like different things.

With scopes, it does seem to be that different glass seems to suit different people's eyes.....

I have one of those Simmons scopes on one of my 30Ss. Okay, but nothing too sparkling, in my opinion.

Whereas I have lots of the old Gold Crown 4x32 scopes and two modern Air King versions, a 4x32 and the 2-7, and find them excellent.

[Bluenose75]

Is my choice.

As per many posters on here, I value optical quality and sight picture over bells, whistles and size. I've never owned a large objective, "mega-mag" scope, but fully understand why the FT boys value them, though.

When I hunted (sensible ranges and springer), the humble 4x32 served me well.

As and when I can afford / justify, the Hawke Airmax 2-7x32 will be right at the top of my list to examine.

The Nikko Air King Gold Crown of the same spec that I bought last Summer sits atop my TX and I'm over the moon with it. Not sure if still available?

I have the Hawke Airmax 2-7x32 on my 97, if its classed as over scopped i dont care i love it, works a treat

[look no hands]

Most of my scopes are 3-9x40 on pretty good quality, I can't really justify buying top notch scopes but if I could afford it then I probably would, I've always been a stickler for good quality lenses and understand that if you start buying cheap big arse scopes with high mag and lots of pointless bits on it then you are normally going to get crappy lenses but if you stick to a scope with either a 3-9 or fixed 6 mag then you can get something half decent for about the same money, I recently obtained a secondhand Nikon 3-9x50 non AO which has excellent lenses and sight picture all for about £85, perfectly acceptable for the sort of shooting I'm doing.

Pete

[rabbitwrecker]

Are we all guilty of overscoping our Air Rifles?

Not me - 1.5x20, 2.5x20 and 1.5-5x32 are all that I use. Makes me laugh when people insist on fitting a mega-scope to an air rifle that likely only ever be used for garden plinking - maybe it's because they're lacking in some other department. The scope manufacturers love it...

[cooper_dan]

Not me - 1.5x20, 2.5x20 and 1.5-5x32 are all that I use. Makes me laugh when people insist on fitting a mega-scope to an air rifle that likely only ever be used for garden plinking - maybe it's because they're lacking in some other department. The scope manufacturers love it...

I don't think it's any different from driving a Porsche or Ferrari in this country, can't use that power or speed but if that's what floats your boat go for it
I've seen people with massive scopes on backyard guns and they're having a great time

[mikewareing]

I mainly hunt and find 6 x mag is sufficient. I shoot up to 40 yards.
At the range, I shoot up to 70 yards at 9 x mag.
Seems to work well enough for me.

[vestlenning]

4x32 and AO for me.

[Rob Edge]

I have 2.5-10x42 Nighteater and a couple of 3-9x50 Panamax which double for NV use.

[phil384]

4x32 and AO for me.

Ditto

[Beretta303]

What is the best size scope for a sub12 ft.lbs Air Rifle?
4X32, 6X42, 8X56, 10X42 or any one of the zooms available from 1.5X6X24 to 10X50X60?
Surely for an Air rifle it is the reticule that is important rather than a large zoom range.
Are we all guilty of overscoping our Air Rifles?


A.G

I would agree totally with this, I use a Falcon 4-14x44FFPSF-MOA, it has an extended lower leg on the ret and with careful zeroing enables shots from 8 yards to 120 yards (dependent on shot elevation). I shoot at 10x zoom regardless.

The reticle was the main consideration when buying the scope (I actually have two) as I wanted a scope that would work with a sub 12ftlb .22 at extended ranges. The tradeoffs are its heavy, quite long and has a bulky saddle with large oversize turrets, but at the end of the day these are minor issues when you consider the luxury of marked aim points all the way out to 120 yards.

So yes, for me, the reticle is the single most important reason for buying any scope, quality glass and other features are then secondary issues that more often than not add serious cost and often go hand in hand with the ret you're after anyway, then it just depends on your bank balance.

As for overscoping, I think most shooters, especially beginners, have at some point gone down the 6.25-24x56 (etc) route and then at a later date having gleaned knowledge and advice then changed to glass that suits their particular need best, whatever that may be.