Scope for HW77 Hawke or Leupold

Jump to latest Follow Reply
S

smgfish

Member
Jan 30, 2022
6
0
Pennsylvania, United States
I’m picking up a HW 77 springer in 22 for target and squirrel control out to about 40 yards. I have a Beeman P1 pistol and really like the German quality.

I’m looking at putting a good scope on the HW 77. I have had great success with Leupold on two rifles one is over 20 years never had issue, plus they are made here. However they are double what the Hawke air max 4 is. Just want to know if the Leupold Freedom EFR is over the top. I really don’t want to deal with a problem.
 
Disagree about that statement concerning Leupold Reticules. I have been using Leupold since 1963 and have never been disappointed. Now most of their reticules are designed with the hunter in mind, deer and larger, excluding the finer reticules in their rimfire models. I know of none that are slanted toward air gun use. They do have some mil dot, MOA and some specialty retiules, which honestly I have not looked at, prefering the standard duplex for most of mine with a couple of others having a fine crosshair and dot reticule.
 
Upvote 0
For sure Leupold scopes are among the best and have a great resale value to prove it.

I am totally surprised by the lack of popularity of Leupold scopes to the air gunners here.

I also think the Hawke Air Max are great air gun scopes....I have the newer models and never had a problem with them,fact have one mounted on my HW97....

To say Leupold scopes have a garbage reticle is strange..why is because Leuplod has just about any reticle you could want.....so I do not get that statement.
 
Upvote 0
Seriously? Go look at every available reticle that Leupold currently offers. I challenge you to find me one good one and share it. The tree reticles are way to busy compared to every other manufacturer on the market. Leupold may have been the best of the best 20+ years ago but these days they barely even keep up with the mid range market.

Leupold makes very nice hunting scopes for rimfire and centerfire. They're lightweight, the glass is clear, and their basic reticles are easy for the eyes to pick up. On an airgun or any type of precision rifle, there are many better options out there though. 

The absolute best bang for your buck under $1000 is going to be an Athlon by far. Just verify you get one with adjustable paralax down to 10yds. The higher magnification ones have a tendency to start at 25.

I have three of them these days. An Ares ETR, an Ares BTR, and the Argos BTR. The turrets track true and the glass is as good as you're going to get in their perspective price range. They've gone from PCPs to springers to lightweight 20ga slug guns over the years and not one has ever given me even the slightest of issues.
 
Upvote 0
Leupold over Hawke and Athlon any day if you want reliability and not have to send it out for warranty.

Athlon over Hawke any day if Leupold is not an option.

Vortex Cross Fire 2 with AO would be my second choice next to Leupold for spring gun reliability.

Gun Broker has 2 listings for new Leupold EFR Freedoms 3-9x33 AO for $328.

Be sure to buy a droop compensating mount atleast the RWS Lock Down mount that can be purchased for $20 to $25 depending where you buy from. Or from. Pyramid Air only if you can still get the $15 off with $50 purchase.

Regardless what ever brand scope mounts you decide to buy be darn sure they are droop compensating or atleast a 20 moa type.

Don't be sorry after the fact.
 
Upvote 0
Not sure when the last time you had Leupold swap over a reticle for you was, but these days they charge over $200 that service....

Athlon and Vortex both come with basically the best of the best included and are just as reliable as any Leupold I've ever had. To top it off, their turrets are better than the VX-3i turrets.
Click to expand...

Actually these days you can’t even get a reticle change. They have been closed for over a year now. I have a vx-3 that I have been wanting to send in and can’t. The last communication I had with their customer service didn’t seem promising for this year either. 
2ECBCEA6-9E47-4A02-BA8C-A4E966D8802F.1643595905.png

 
Upvote 0
Not sure when the last time you had Leupold swap over a reticle for you was, but these days they charge over $200 that service....

Athlon and Vortex both come with basically the best of the best included and are just as reliable as any Leupold I've ever had. To top it off, their turrets are better than the VX-3i turrets.
Click to expand...

Actually these days you can’t even get a reticle change. They have been closed for over a year now. I have a vx-3 that I have been wanting to send in and can’t. The last communication I had with their customer service didn’t seem promising for this year either. 
2ECBCEA6-9E47-4A02-BA8C-A4E966D8802F.1643595905.png
Click to expand...

Thats unfortunate. I had actually been concidering sending my VX3i in for a change at some point. Guess that will be put on the back burner for the foreseeable future. 

This kind of makes my point now though. The only decent airgun reticle that Leupold offers is the PR5 which is only available on the Mark 5 series. Unfortunately, they run $2000 and will only focus down to 50 yards. Not great for most airgun uses imo.

Athlon Argos Gen 2

- Great reticle

- Decent glass

- Focuses down to 10 yards

- Well built with a full lifetime warranty (just in case)

- Turrets feel better than the VX series and track just as well

- 6-24x (overkill but little .17 cal holes can be tough to see at 50+ yards so it doesn't hurt)

- Costs about $400

Its a pretty clear winner for its price point in my books.
 
Upvote 0
For me the Leupold 3-9x33 EFR(VX-II or VX-Freedom) is almost an ideal air rifle hunting scope. It’s clear, light, focuses low, mounts low, and with a quality .177 springer you can hold zero out to 30 yards. The only improvement I’d make is with the turrets…they work just fine I just wish they were more “tactical”. For this reason I like the Leupold Mark AR Mod 1 scopes. For me it ticks all the right boxes…
 
Upvote 0
Thanks for the feedback. Still haven’t pulled trigger on HW77 or scope yet, still digesting all info. I have been told I have issues making decisions.

I have shot pellet guns for years just plinking and taking out squirrels, so not very educated. I do have some experience with other long guns. I was pretty set with keeping it simple and just buying the Leupold, however after my original post and feedback the Mill dot scopes from Vortex Anton, and Hawke have me curious at how affective/useful the dots will be with the majority of shots under 50 yards. I was going to sight in at 30 and adjust accordingly. The HW77 in 22 has good energy just don’t know.

I do know the dots work well on my crossbow. However don’t find super effective on my in-line. 


Thanks, this is a great forum, I hope I don’t slip to far down the rabbit hole like I did with fly fishing.



 
Upvote 0
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back
Home
Forums
Resources
Menu