Nikon offer excellent optics as you say and this is to be expected based on the quality of their camera optics over decades. The debate about top Japanese v top German rumbles on but to me as a Nikon camera user for a long time now, I would say that the Germans-Zeiss, Leitz etc- offer better photo optics but at massively higher prices. Is it worth it? Probably yes provided you can afford it. Anyway, moving to rifle scopes the debate here is pretty similar. Very few airgun shooters would stick a Zeiss or Schmidt and Bender scope on top of an air rifle so the top middle ground usually represents the top of air rifle requirements. This to me means Bushnell Elite or the Simmons Aetec range if mildot or other more involved reticles are not required. I use Simmons Aetec 3.8-12x44 scopes on my rimfires and the cheaper but still excellent Bushnell Legend 5-15x40 mildot scopes on my air rifles. These cost very much less than the Nikon you review BUT-and this to me is a big 'but' -they focus down to a few yards so are much more useful for air rifle use. Quite honestly a scope which only goes down to 45 metres wouldn't suit me for airgun use-even FAC airgun use.
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