And then there is scopes....

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PNWTrekker

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Jun 10, 2025
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PNW Washington
Like my previous post, I believe in buy right / buy once but I also am aware of the law of diminishing returns. What are some good examples of entry level scopes that punch above their weight for value? I will not be competing. I plan on a lot of backyard pinking and a little small game hunting. My goal is to use the air rifle to keep myself and my boys tuned up for big game hunting. I am a believer in maximum point blank range and prefer a simple duplex reticle, no turrets. My target will be set at 25-yards.

Is there any reason I couldn't / shouldn't slap a Leupold M8-4X on it and call it a day? Or any scope for that matter, I have a couple lower end scopes sitting in bins right now. They only drawback I can see is they would not have adjustable parallax so the target may be a little fuzzier at 25-yards.
 
Keep in mind that scopes being mounted on a spring piston air rifle should be rated for “springers”. The unique recoil of spring piston air rifles require special attention when it comes to selecting a scope. If you didn’t already know that then just do a quick Google search and you will find plenty of info. I’m sure you will get plenty of opinions here too.
Kenny
 
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PNWTrekker said:
Like my previous post, I believe in buy right / buy once but I also am aware of the law of diminishing returns. What are some good examples of entry level scopes that punch above their weight for value? I will not be competing. I plan on a lot of backyard pinking and a little small game hunting. My goal is to use the air rifle to keep myself and my boys tuned up for big game hunting. I am a believer in maximum point blank range and prefer a simple duplex reticle, no turrets. My target will be set at 25-yards.

Is there any reason I couldn't / shouldn't slap a Leupold M8-4X on it and call it a day? Or any scope for that matter, I have a couple lower end scopes sitting in bins right now. They only drawback I can see is they would not have adjustable parallax so the target may be a little fuzzier at 25-yards.
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If you’re shooting less than 100y you have a lot of great options…. I put a Bushnell 3-9x50 dawn/dusk scope. It’s like $70 but for the price it looks great and I had no problem shooting squirrels out to 75-80y…. I upgraded to a DNT Zulus later but I still have the Bushnell because it’s so handy.
 
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JEFFPPC said:
Forget the Hawke Airmax, I got rid of mine in a week. Now a Hawke Sidewinder, great. I have several and like them lot.. Sightron Stac another great option.
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That's an interesting opinion. In what ways did your Hawke Airmax disappoint you? I have three of them on spring piston rifles and I really like them. They are also the first scope that I recommend to friends that want a nice scope but don't want to spend a lot. I am interested in why you don't like them.
Kenny
 
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Short eye box, focus and parallex never marched up properly, mushy clicks. First week I had it the parallex froze. Hawke replaced it. I got several comments on here that was a problem with them. New scope came I traded it the same day. Bought a Sidewinder 8-32×56, It's on my TX. Nice scope for the money. I have one on my wife's D75 slso. Not crazy about the Sidewinder reticle but I guess glitz sells.
 
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JEFFPPC said:
Short eye box, focus and parallex never marched up properly, mushy clicks. First week I had it the parallex froze. Hawke replaced it. I got several comments on here that was a problem with them. New scope came I traded it the same day. Bought a Sidewinder 8-32×56, It's on my TX. Nice scope for the money. I have one on my wife's D75 slso. Not crazy about the Sidewinder reticle but I guess glitz sells.
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The Hawke Airmax 2-7x32 ticks a lot of boxes for an airgun scope. Pair it with a BKL droop mount and it makes a nice setup. I have looked and I cannot find a scope with all of the features of the Airmax for the money. I was getting them for $150 on sale and they were a bargain at that price.

Discovery has some nice scopes but they are first focal plane and have a fixed paralax.

Athlon scopes are a lot bigger and their reticles are very thick.

Optisan scopes have very fine reticles and they are hard to see on black back grounds. The CP models are rated for springers and take a lot of abuse. I have four or five 3-12x32 CP model scopes and my only complaint is the super fine reticle.

This scope has some promise. I have not tried one yet but it looks decent.

www.pyramydair.com

JTS 6x32 IR Compact Scope, 1" Tube | Pyramyd AIR

We've got a great price on JTS 6x32 IR Compact Scope, 1" Tube at Pyramyd AIR. Shop where the experts do!
www.pyramydair.com
 
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