Do I Need A More Expensive Scope?

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I own a Hawke Vantage 6-24x44 scope. It is SF and seems to be a fine scope in it's price range. All of my shooting is from a bench, in the daylight and under 100 yards - mostly up to 50 yards. I'm not sure I would benefit from FFP or a more expensive scope. If I WOULD benefit please tell me how.
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Are you able to clearly see and consistently hit your targets from the bench using your Hawke Vantage scope?
 
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Yes, I feel like I can clearly see and consistently hit targets from the bench -
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Sounds like you’re good to go. One of my first airgun scopes that I really liked was a Hawke Vantage. It’s a fixed parallax scope and I learned to shoot with it. I still have it, but I replaced it with a couple of inexpensive scopes. I first replaced it with an Aim Sports Alpha 6 4.5-27x50mm SFP and used it for a time. I like it as well and still use it occasionally. I like the glass and the illuminated reticle along with the side parallax adjustment knob. Then I tried a supposedly better scope which didn’t strike me as too different. Overall I can honestly say I can still use any of these scopes. Now that I’m used to adjustable objective scopes, my old Hawke Vantage hasn’t seen a lot of use as of late. I still like the glass and simplistic Mil-dot reticle and I know what to do with it. My thing is this, use what you have and get comfortable with it if it works for you. If you get curious about other scopes I suggest taking your time and buying one or maybe two others and see if they work well enough for you to get comfortable with and keep. I learned to shop for scopes with a specific purpose in mind. I generally take advice from shooters I look up to whether they be competition airgun shooters, hunters, or (ex)military marksmen. People have all sorts of opinions about scopes, this is just mine.


In regards to your question, I say keep what you have since it works well for your purposes and shop for additional glass that you can see use for beyond what you’re able to do with your current scope. 
 
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Do you need a more expensive scope? — No!

Do you want a more expensive scope? — Yes!
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That about sums it up right there. In just two sentences: Profound wisdom, both optically and psychologically. 👍🏼



Case in point:

Just DRT'd a pigeon at 82m. With a $200-gun. Dialing a $200-scope.



And now I'm scanning the classifieds for an FX DreamTac Compact and a scope — easily costing FIVE TIMES as much.

WHAT AM I DOING ?!? 🙄 🙃

Matthias






 
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I have put my 10 year old Hawke scope ( Eclipse 30 SF ) on my new rifle,,,,, but ! i am already eying a new scope even if it is not really needed.

But the feeling are on the back burner at least until the height of summer as i also have a few other things i am saving for, but if all things pan out well, then i might well have a new scope before the summer are over.
 
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The biggest thing that I have ran into is getting scope eye, from shooting for over an hour or more at a time. If you’re not shooting for long periods of time or very often less clear and or less bright scopes will work for most people. Now if you want crisp clear and brighter scopes they will cost more money. Each scope manufacturer has their top end scope generally 1,200.00 dollars on up, for me the better scopes are much easier on my eyes and allow me to shoot well into the evening with their light gathering qualities. I have had the opportunity to compare a few of the high quality scopes and compare them for sometimes long periods of time and you can really tell the difference. I don’t want to recommend any one high end company over another because some are manufactured at the same place. If you do your homework it pays off good luck 
 
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My Hawke Vantage is the 2-7 with front parallax. It is a nice light and inexpensive scope for my Prod. No reason to change it. I shoot about as good a groups with it as my other scopes with 14, 16 and 24X top power. I suspect your Hawke is bigger and heavier but my experience is they are good scopes for the money. Glass is not as clear as my others but the difference is not big and it isn't really affecting results.

If you are happy with it I would buy something other than another scope next.

I have two FFP and two SFP on my air rifles. The advantage of the FFP is the mil dots are the same with a change in power. But if the recticle is fine at high power then it will be very hard to see at low power. The mil dots on a SFP are harder to use for drop/wind compensation (they are only "right" at one power) but the recticle does not change with a power adjustment. I tend to just estimate hold off by the size of the target (half a squirrels head or a full squirrels head, for instance). So I like my SFP scopes just fine. But one of my FFP has a nice recticle that is fine enough at high power and not too fine at low. So it is OK too.
 
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Do you NEED a better scope probably not. Would you like one....Oh Ya! I have a mix. I started as a regular Midwest powderburner guy. When I was younger I couldn't imagine needing anything other than my Simmons 3x9. Teenage eyes, you miss em later on.Then I got older, started shooting some different guns, some in competition. Worked at a sporting goods store (part time for the discount) got a Zeiss Conquest at a ridiculous discount. Dang if it only had paralax focus and something fancier than a Zplex recticle. That glass is amazing! Honestly, I want that glass, the recticle from my Aztec Emerald, FFP, side paralax focus, in 4x18 or something like that. Just my little dream. Single Malt taste, Phillips budget though. 

Jim
 
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If it tracks well, the IQ is acceptable, for the most part does what you expect from it, and has a good warranty, then no need per say to change.

But if you dislike it in any important "to you" way then by all means go another route. Some pricey scopes aren't that good, and some less expensive scopes are really good, so choosing that combo of features you like while getting the best value is key here.
 
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