Nikko Stirling Gold Crown [4x40]

[NTSOG]

Hi Squirrelking,

Thank you for your response. It is gloss black so is likely 1990s vintage; I could not find any listing for the model on the Nikko Sterling website, so figured it to be pretty old.

We don't have power limits on air rifles over here as we have to have a Cat. A firearms licence to own anything that looks like a firearm since the massacre of 35 people in Tasmania in 1996 by a maniac. All my high power rifles, ranging from 14 ft.lbs. up to 29, already have scopes so it will not be going on anything really powerful, though I do have a FWB 127 that destroyed a Bushnell Banner in three shots shooting at about 600fps.

I'll keep it for something really tame.

Thanks again,

Jim.

[landymick]

The 80's version is a decent scope & should be ok on the Sport with decent mounts, as with most scopes of that period they were intended for rimfire & full bore rifles with airguns given a back seat which is why the PA was set at 100 yards.

I have a few of these & are sat happily on HW80 & HW35 all at UK power.

[NTSOG]

That's good to know landymick. I was impressed with the quality and weight of the scope - there is nothing cheap about it. The glass is very clear too. I will find a use for it on my Anschutz 335 or something similar. My aged eyes need all the help they can get!

Thank you,

Jim.

[AC all day]

I fitted a Gold Crown to a SxS 10b for shooting squirel dreys....never had a problem!!....they were sold through Parker Hale so check out there old brouchers for more info...

[NTSOG]

AC all day: thanks for your help. Doing a search under Parker Hale/Nikko Stirling Gold Crown led to lots of information. One article suggested the 'glass' in the gold Crown scopes was superior to many later scopes. Certainly it struck me as very clear and sharp.

For the price it looks like I have done all right.

Jim.

[oliver13]

I remember the magazine ads for these, back in the '80's I think. There were assorted grades, with the Gold Crown being the best & Silver Crown as a budget option.
I've got a Silver Crown 4x32 on my wifes Mercury,
it's a good little scope, waterproof, nice & clear with a Duplex reticle, I can't see anything to justify a 'budget' appellation.

[NTSOG]

Thanks for the further information oliver13. My perception is that the Gold Crown is a well made scope. I can't see it ever being a 'budget' scope given the obvious quality of construction and the clear 'glass'. It was sitting amongst a lot of old and quite 'tired' scopes at a local gun show and the price was just $A30 - I suspect many people ignored it. It has a few scratches as one might expect, but it is a solid piece of kit and the view through it is very sharp compared to many scopes of later manufacture.

Many thinks,

Jim.