Ok here's a foolish question.l shot a friends condo SS today he has a hawke side wonder on it really nice scope. Unfortunately I can't afford 500 bucks for one . question Dose anyone make a scope comparable to the hawke
Hawke scope
- Thread starter Yote
- Start date
I like the Side Winders as well, especially the 20X-1/2 mil dot reticle. I've bought two or three used off of a couple different forums for $325-$350. You might check here, the Yellow or GTA. I also have a SWFA 16X and the reticle is similar.
Jimmy
Jimmy
Upvote 0
Yote the SWFA stuff is really nice . And new for 300$ . It's a very hard to beat scope if you are good with a fixed power scope.
Upvote 0
A popular Choice for chineese optics is TacVector. They are said to be One of the best chineese manufacturers when it comes to optics. But remember, they are heavy, a lot heavier than a scope with similar Specs made in Japan
Upvote 0
Try the 6 to 24x. Only 200.00 , mil dot reticle, side focus and just plain wonderful scope for the money. I have one on my Condor as well.
Upvote 0
It's a Hawke Vantage, 6-24x. Great scope for the money. Side focus, Mil Dot reticle and crystal clear optics. Only criticism I have is that you need a small phillips screw driver to reset the turrets to zero. Also, spend a few more dollars and get the aluminum flip up lens covers. Knowing my Condor SS would take harsh weather bordering on abuse, I'm glad I got the lens covers. Has keept all sorts of gunk off of my lenses.
Jamie
Jamie
Upvote 0
Save up and really consider a Hawke scope if possible. The Sidewinder & Frontier proved to be a great scope the entire 2016. Through 100 deg F heat of summer to 2 deg F this winter. I purposely left the Prod with the Frontier on its rail, in my car over night during Thanksgiving. The next morning being 20 deg f, brought it in the warm cozy house and the first thing the scope did was fog up. I took a hair dryer and warmed up the scope, evaporating the condensation. Sealed it was since it only fogged the outside of the lens. I've tried MTC & Athlon this year(wouldn't hold zero) and my airguns would have a Hawke back on its rail.
Upvote 0
Before one recommends a scope, what do you want to do with it? What capabilities do you really need? Hunting doesn't require a $500 scope, maybe if you are target shooting, you might use high magnification. Hawke is a really nice scope, but what capabilities do you really need? Once you determine the list of features, then you will probably have hundreds of choices in scopes, that fit your real needs instead of paying for what you probably won't use.
I spent a couple months trying to figure out what scope I wanted to mount on my PCP. I started with a CenterPoint 4-16 (not manufactured any more), and figured out what I liked and didn't like about it and what features I wanted in a scope. Ended up buying a BSA equivalent to the Primary Arms 4-14 FFP for around $150. It had the features I wanted, was very bright and isn't too heavy. Perfect for my use at plinking under 100 yards.
I've wanted to try a higher magnification scope than the 14X on the BSA, so started looking for something I could afford as an experiment (disposable if you know what I mean.). I bought another BSA this morning, the 6-24x40. It retails for $150 but was on sale at Sportsmans Warehouse for $59, which was cheap enough to take a flier on. I'll get it mounted and see if I like the higher resolution, or go back to the 14X for target shooting.
A friend who is military sniper trained (starts shooting at 300 yards and goes up from there) thinks my gun is completely "over scoped" at 14X, and he might be right. I'll find out with the new scope.
I guess I'm spoiled as well. Earlier this week, I pulled out the Redfield Widefield 1.5 to 4X scope I purchased in the early 1970's and took a look through it. Beautiful glass, very bright and clear. Spent more than a $100 on it way back then. However, even the cheap Chinese scopes are just as bright and clear these days. Standards are so much higher. The cheesy BSA I bought this morning is brighter and clearer as a premium scope from 40 years ago. I guess that's why I'm satisfied with less than a Sidewinder.
Sidewinders are incredible scopes, but there are probably much less equivalents that will probably do the job for you quite nicely, depending on the purpose. What's your purpose?
I spent a couple months trying to figure out what scope I wanted to mount on my PCP. I started with a CenterPoint 4-16 (not manufactured any more), and figured out what I liked and didn't like about it and what features I wanted in a scope. Ended up buying a BSA equivalent to the Primary Arms 4-14 FFP for around $150. It had the features I wanted, was very bright and isn't too heavy. Perfect for my use at plinking under 100 yards.
I've wanted to try a higher magnification scope than the 14X on the BSA, so started looking for something I could afford as an experiment (disposable if you know what I mean.). I bought another BSA this morning, the 6-24x40. It retails for $150 but was on sale at Sportsmans Warehouse for $59, which was cheap enough to take a flier on. I'll get it mounted and see if I like the higher resolution, or go back to the 14X for target shooting.
A friend who is military sniper trained (starts shooting at 300 yards and goes up from there) thinks my gun is completely "over scoped" at 14X, and he might be right. I'll find out with the new scope.
I guess I'm spoiled as well. Earlier this week, I pulled out the Redfield Widefield 1.5 to 4X scope I purchased in the early 1970's and took a look through it. Beautiful glass, very bright and clear. Spent more than a $100 on it way back then. However, even the cheap Chinese scopes are just as bright and clear these days. Standards are so much higher. The cheesy BSA I bought this morning is brighter and clearer as a premium scope from 40 years ago. I guess that's why I'm satisfied with less than a Sidewinder.
Sidewinders are incredible scopes, but there are probably much less equivalents that will probably do the job for you quite nicely, depending on the purpose. What's your purpose?
Upvote 0
Saltlake58 I have a 4x16 center point on my disco that's ok for that gun .I just bought a 22 condorSS I know I'm going to get 100 yard shots what I would like is at least a 4by12 fine cross hairs half and full mill dots side focus would be nice It (has to stand up to abuse) truck gun.so I guess when all is done and said I'm looking for a off brand hawk side winder .
Upvote 0
In that case, try the Primary Arms 4-14x44. It's around $230 on Amazon or Optics Planet, or Primary Arms web site. I have the BSA version. I found it through a series of YouTube videos about building a sub-$1000, 1000 yard gun. The authors used it on (I believe) a .308 for quite a while and it was tough enough to hold up, very bright, and very accurate.
I have the BSA version, same body and same glass as far as I can tell. It's also a First Focal Plane, which I like. The BSA doesn't seem available any more, and it was less expensive, $180 or so if I remember correctly. Really like the scope. Accurate, bright, FFP, and durable. You might think the crosshairs a bit heavy, but I haven't had any problems with it yet. Since the Condor is a PCP. there's no recoil to worry about. There may be one on eBay, but that varies daily.
Side focus Parallax goes down to 10 yards, Mil Dot reticle, Mil Dot turrets (rare, but yes, it's a Mil, Mil system). Also comes with a sun shade (though I have yet to mount mine).
I am not aware of a large focus wheel for the scope, though I don't consider one required.
Let's be real, it isn't a Hawke, but it is less than half the price, and would be one for you to consider, among many available.
Here's a link to the YouTube where they discuss the Primary Arms. They start off with a Bushnell, and move to the Primary Arms, at the 6:50 mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGroqvya_isf
I've been pleasantly surprised.
I have the BSA version, same body and same glass as far as I can tell. It's also a First Focal Plane, which I like. The BSA doesn't seem available any more, and it was less expensive, $180 or so if I remember correctly. Really like the scope. Accurate, bright, FFP, and durable. You might think the crosshairs a bit heavy, but I haven't had any problems with it yet. Since the Condor is a PCP. there's no recoil to worry about. There may be one on eBay, but that varies daily.
Side focus Parallax goes down to 10 yards, Mil Dot reticle, Mil Dot turrets (rare, but yes, it's a Mil, Mil system). Also comes with a sun shade (though I have yet to mount mine).
I am not aware of a large focus wheel for the scope, though I don't consider one required.
Let's be real, it isn't a Hawke, but it is less than half the price, and would be one for you to consider, among many available.
Here's a link to the YouTube where they discuss the Primary Arms. They start off with a Bushnell, and move to the Primary Arms, at the 6:50 mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGroqvya_isf
I've been pleasantly surprised.
Upvote 0
Thank you saltlake58 I will be doing a lot of research this time before I purchase another scope. Ron
Upvote 0
The PA is not the same as the BSA. Different glass, different reticle, different quality.
I will x2 on the recommendation though. I find them a major step over comparably priced Hawke scopes. I don't particularly rate Hawke though. The ones I've owned were all disappointing.
Check out Clearidge brand scopes too and Athlon Argos / Athlon Talos FFP scopes. They are also good lower priced options that are superior to Hawke products.
Upvote 0