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Thread: Over-Scoping Air Rifles

  1. #16
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    My air rifles have Mamba-lite's on them 3-12 for sub 12, 4-16 for FAC, I'll happily admit the only time they go anywhere near max mag is for zeroing or when scanning a field to plan a route to any rabbits out.

  2. #17
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    I do seem to be going "backwards" with my scope choices, while indulging in my preference for simply quality mechanics and less gadgetry.

    My current favourite scope is the Hawke Vantage 4x32. I cannot rate this scope highly enough. Very clear. Nice wide field of view and not at all fussy.

    4x is plenty for most of my shooting, while 6x maybe if I'm doing HFT or something. But as Lensman said, if you stick to a fixed mag you do eventually begin to rangefind with what you've got through familiarity of sizes and shapes.

    I've done big scopes and have come to the conclusion that I get better balance and feel from smaller lenses. As for light gathering ... I'll match virtually any 50/56mm with the Bushnell, Simmons and Tasco 40mms I have fitted.

  3. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rolls1392 View Post
    However to progress serious money has to be spent. Not for me!
    Not really true. For a couple of £100 you can have a high mag scope capable of placing deep inside the top 10 at world championship level. Tasco custom shops and debens are often overlooked because people often just take short cuts and follow someone else. I've won Swefta FT season title with both a 10-40x56 walther custom shop and a March. I also won the csfta Ft league title with the 10-40x56 walther custom shop.

    The high mag is needed to rangefind. As for zoom range, I mostly leave mine on 60. My fixed mag 40 has no zoom range.

  4. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by lensman57 View Post
    As far as hunting goes, although I don't hunt, I should imagine the best way is to stick to a fixed power scope as in time the eye/brain combination will learn to range the targets without needing to use a rangefinder
    I bought a Swarovski Habicht Nova 4x32 back in 1985 which I still have, currently on my Spartan. I do have more scopes, but that is the one I've really used since buying it. I rarely hunt these days but have taken down the odd magpie when they've been a nuisance
    Custom BSA S10 .22 PAX Phoenix Mk 2 .22 Custom Titan Manitou .22 (JB BP) HW77 .22 FWB Sport Mk1 .22 Sharp Ace .22 Crossman 600 .22 Berretta 92 .20 Desert Eagle .177

  5. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by lensman57 View Post
    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.

  6. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by Beretta303 View Post
    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.
    A good measured reply that recognises 'what's right for one won't be right for all'.

    A plinker shooting a can at 10yds, perhaps open sights is good enough. A person shooting rabbits / pigeons or similar at, maybe 30yds, should be achieving 1/2" group, so some sort of magnification would seem appropriate to ensure a humane kill. A Benchrester needs a higher magnification to see the 2mm 'bull'.
    Last edited by zephyr; 22-06-2017 at 12:16 PM.

  7. #22
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    Im no expert but i use 9x40 and 9x50,i think thats all i need,dont need no monster scope for permission i go to,its 150 yard stretch of wood and 3 or 4 big fields.

  8. #23
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    phil384 is offline Likes to eat trifle wearing scuba gear
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    Quote Originally Posted by vestlenning View Post
    4x32 and AO for me.
    Ditto
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  9. #24
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    Grumps over scope a gun !!!! Never
    well apart from the 4.5/30 x 50 bushnell elite scopes i have on my PCPs

  10. #25
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    scope

    For hunting - 3-9x40 non AO. always left on 4x mag. K.I.S.S. principle. Same scope on all my rifles
    B.A.S.C. member

  11. #26
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    I'm with 'Rabbitwrecker' on this one, had some absolutely ridiculous scopes (for an airgun) over the years 6-24x mags and 50/56mm objectives to name a few, now using a 'Hawke Vantage 3-9x40 AO/MD' which if I'm honest is more than I realistically need but it was the right price/availability at the time...

    Only ever sits on 5-6x and stays set on 30yds but the option is there for a little more if I ever needed it, say long range rabbiting...
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  12. #27
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    As a need, no more than 7..., For a want, maybe more.. it's nice to plonk out to 70/80 yards with 10-12 mag. So yes., I think unless range finding even 12mag is a bit much. I had a 2-8 vortex, side focus scope for a while.. such a crying sad shame the fov was narrow as this scope was absolutely perfect for an airgun., But it was too narrow to use in the field.
    "corners should be round" Theo Evo .22/.177 - Meopta 6x42, DS huntsman classic .20 vortex razor LH 3-15x42 under supervised boingrati tuning by Tony L & Tinbum, HW77 forest green - Nikon prostaff 2-7x32 plex.

  13. #28
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rapidnick View Post
    Sadly not possible to explain because it is just plain wrong. To think in terms of 'operating below maximum capability' they are drawing a false analogy to a car engine where if it is capable of say 120 MPH driving it at 70 MPH is well within its limits. This is NOT the case with optics. As a reasonably serious photographer I know just how much money needs to be spent to achieve incremental performance. The same consideration applies to sports optics. If anyone needs a lesson in this I suggest they look through a modest pair of binoculars and then look through something like a Leica or Swarowski pair with similar spec. The difference is between night and day. If you buy a cheapo scope with 20x magnification it WILL be rubbish-it cannot be anything else as too many compromises have been made in its design and manufacture. Spending the same money on a 12x scope will give you more chance of getting a satisfactory image at 12x.
    Thank you, that makes a whole lot of sense now

  14. #29
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    Quote Originally Posted by robs5230 View Post
    For hunting - 3-9x40 non AO. always left on 4x mag. K.I.S.S. principle. Same scope on all my rifles
    Coincidentaly, I'm drawn towards non AO lately. What is the K.I.S.S. principle if I may ask please.

  15. #30
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    Quote Originally Posted by Portzy View Post
    Coincidentaly, I'm drawn towards non AO lately. What is the K.I.S.S. principle if I may ask please.
    Keep It Simple Stupid
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