If you look down the receiver when the rifle is sideways and can’t notice obvious barrel droop then you won’t need a mount with droop compensation. My 95 didn’t need one. I have used this mount for years on all my HW’s. Doesn’t damage the gun or scope. Fits perfectly and so does the the stop screw. Why spend more?
I like the Diana Bullseye mount. It has 20MOA and suspension to keep your scope from being damaged by springer recoil. I trashed at least six scopes, including my Hawke Airmax, on my springers but none after I installed the Bullseye.
Looks like you know what to expect and not wanting to possibly max out or run out of your elevation turret while zeroing which is typical more oftenn not for all different types of air gun power plant type rifles. Believe it or not alot of air gunners are ignorant about this fact odds are not good so droop compensating mounts are a necessity unless you want to bend your barrel pointing up. Even with fixed barrel under lever springers can and often do exhibit barrel droop.
Why you think smarter air gun manufacturers offer 20 moa rails all ready built in? For the typical air gun barrel droop phenomenon not necessarily to shoot at farther ranges.
Why you think Element Optics trouble shoot tech support says use adjustable mounts with their brand of scopes? Either scope brand really crappy run out of elevation too quickly or they know typical air gun barrel droop problems commonly found when not using adjustable or droop compensating mounts.
Worst is thinking of adding shims to the rear ring you most definitely never ever want to buy a used scope from that person ever. nor ever buy a scope from any one using Jerry rigged make shift improper adjustable mounts that damage the scope tubes even though they can't even realize they just potentially ruined their scopes.
Diana bullseye mounts as biohazardman stated but you mentioned not wanting to break the bank. AoA probably cheapest for it if you dont order on line and just call to order and ask for a price deal for it USPS shipping in flat rate box.
30 mm cheaper if buying in quantity. Buy the 30 mm to 1 inch reducer inserts shop around for cheap like $1 or less a set don't buy the Hawke version too expensive.
I'd buy the $30 deal comes to less than $1.25 a set shipped and for reference HAWKE sells them for $15 a set. You can share with other members to give them better deals compared to having to buy for $5 shipped for a set on eBay. Perhaps $3 shipped per set in a padded emvelope or charge $1.25 a set plus actual shipping.
Find other uses for them too.
Can try the UTG 11 mm to picatinny with built in droop compensation. Won't protect your HAWKE BRAND scope from breaking.
Spin the wheel for $20 off or use their discount code spend certain amount for free shipping too.
There is another UTG 11 mm to picatinny adapter with 20 moa droop built in for air guns it's a long adapter cost in the $10 price range can use on springers can't find that one at the moment.
Thanks Batman for the very thorough info. All this info should be a sticky especially with the amount of research and time you put into helping me out.
As was mentioned if you don't see noticeable droop you should be gtg with a static mount.
Another vote for UK SportMatch style mounts. I like the Leapers version as the arrestor pin is threaded vs a roll pin in the original SportMatch mounts, makes it much easier to get the correct hight for the hole in the receiver. Could imagine all the Chinese knockoffs are similar to the Leapers though and are threaded for the pin.
Hawke Airmax 4-12x40 scope in BKL double strap rings on my HW95 .22. I've also got a Beeman R9 .20 caliber which is the same rifles and has the same scope mounted on it only I used a set of reversed Hawke Reach Forward Match Mounts. The Airmax should easily take the recoil from a 15-16fpe rifle, it's what they were designed and built for...lol. Neither has given me any problems and while others mileage may well vary, neither of mine had barrel droop to speak of let alone needing droop compensating mounts.