If any one is running the new sidewinder 6-24 or the 8-32 SFP, tell me your likes or dislikes about the scope?
Thanks, Joe
Thanks, Joe
Hawke sidewinder
- Thread starter nomojo65
- Start date
I love (8-32) that you get a side focus wheel, illuminated, high and low power
I'm old school and like the SFP
Don't like the chromatic aberration at high power and where quality glass shines
Consider Hawke Frontier scopes, more money less headache
Or do what I did and get the best, Trijicon Tenmile 5-50x56
and never look back
I'm old school and like the SFP
Don't like the chromatic aberration at high power and where quality glass shines
Consider Hawke Frontier scopes, more money less headache
Or do what I did and get the best, Trijicon Tenmile 5-50x56
and never look back Upvote 0
Buy the Athlon Ares ETR 4.5-30x56 34mm with ED glass if you want the best scope China made has to offer with one of the best warranty in the business. They can be found as cheap as $849 on line when you search engine.
Dealers aren't allowed to post prices cheaper than $1199 on line so you need to call to find out their lower selling prices.
You be surprised how much cheaper you can buy Athlon and Element just listing these 2 brand examples there are plenty more brands can negotiate deals if you call over the phone.
Or that ETR for posted prices in the $1000 range from Amazon and $999 for an open box model from Camera Land NY if you don't want to bother to call dealers to shop around for the best prices.
At least the turrets are proven to keep up in the tracking department with more expensive higher tier scopes and the glass is said to be favorable compared to more expensive Japanese high end scope glass even though its Chinese.
I would suggest Tac Vector Continental but I have yet to test them await back orders.
Message me if you want to know the dealers to get half price nornally it normally sell for $990 regular or $899 Aliexpress and to only pay for under $500 supposed to have German Scott glass. From US dealers so you don't need order from China.
I won't recommend Hawke brand scopes due to personal multiple warranty issue bad experiences. They just returned them back saying nothing wrong.
Others have posted similar experiences that aren't as vocal to keep on repeating them selves.
If their price point were alot lower and had much better warranty and caring and competent scope technicians who actually test out the tracking before returning the scopes and way better customer support then it would be a totally different story.
Dealers aren't allowed to post prices cheaper than $1199 on line so you need to call to find out their lower selling prices.
You be surprised how much cheaper you can buy Athlon and Element just listing these 2 brand examples there are plenty more brands can negotiate deals if you call over the phone.
Or that ETR for posted prices in the $1000 range from Amazon and $999 for an open box model from Camera Land NY if you don't want to bother to call dealers to shop around for the best prices.
At least the turrets are proven to keep up in the tracking department with more expensive higher tier scopes and the glass is said to be favorable compared to more expensive Japanese high end scope glass even though its Chinese.
I would suggest Tac Vector Continental but I have yet to test them await back orders.
Message me if you want to know the dealers to get half price nornally it normally sell for $990 regular or $899 Aliexpress and to only pay for under $500 supposed to have German Scott glass. From US dealers so you don't need order from China.
I won't recommend Hawke brand scopes due to personal multiple warranty issue bad experiences. They just returned them back saying nothing wrong.
Others have posted similar experiences that aren't as vocal to keep on repeating them selves.
If their price point were alot lower and had much better warranty and caring and competent scope technicians who actually test out the tracking before returning the scopes and way better customer support then it would be a totally different story.
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I’ve owned several Hawke’s over several years, mostly the Sidewinder series. Last year when they came out with with the Gen 2 I picked one up for shooting HFT. And I love it. I’ve been squaded with other shooters who would complain it was hard to make out the KZ’s on a shot up face plate and though it might have been, the clarity of my Hawke with the H5 grade glass, gave me a clear and defined aim point.
A real sleeper feature is a feature no reviewer or poster seems to talk about on a scope is the eyebox. The eyebox on this scope is exceptional. When you make your cheekweld, your sight picture is the full diameter of the optic. Gone is the black halo that forces you to move your head around to see from edge to edge. And the eye relief is also exceptional. Even though you may not be mounting the scope on a high powered rim fire, the relief is generous. This and the wide view eyebox, parallax error is minimized.
I’ve only used the illumination feature a couple of times but what I noticed about it was, it’s incremental in brightness with off settings in between each brightness with only part of and not the full reticle.
I plan on buying a second one and install it on my XFT gun as well.
A real sleeper feature is a feature no reviewer or poster seems to talk about on a scope is the eyebox. The eyebox on this scope is exceptional. When you make your cheekweld, your sight picture is the full diameter of the optic. Gone is the black halo that forces you to move your head around to see from edge to edge. And the eye relief is also exceptional. Even though you may not be mounting the scope on a high powered rim fire, the relief is generous. This and the wide view eyebox, parallax error is minimized.
I’ve only used the illumination feature a couple of times but what I noticed about it was, it’s incremental in brightness with off settings in between each brightness with only part of and not the full reticle.
I plan on buying a second one and install it on my XFT gun as well.
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I'm baffled by how Element Optics is so successful with such low quality glass, I strongly think its a follow the leader thing without taking the time to see what's out there
Shear lazy assumption without investing anytime doing any research homework with a "get it over with mentality" (let the flaming began )
Cyclops Videos Joe W Rhea Says, get something different then the mainstream goes after then Element Optics and stop following the crowd
Shear lazy assumption without investing anytime doing any research homework with a "get it over with mentality" (let the flaming began
)Cyclops Videos Joe W Rhea Says, get something different then the mainstream goes after then Element Optics and stop following the crowd
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DAVECOLE, I must assume it tracks very well and is repeatable if your using it on your FT rifle, that’s one of the concerns I have the new style vertical adjustment seems a little gimmicky?
Thanks for your input.
Thanks for your input.
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Goldwing
You can obviously see all the YouTube videos promoting the paid sponsored reviews on the Element brand of scopes.
Many don't realize they can be bought for much cheaper than retail. Some dealers are willing to discount them but no one even knows to ask.
Or can just wait until DVOR sells all of the Element models on sale again for cheaper.
Missed out on the $299 Helix twice and $999 Nexus couple weeks ago. Titan I didn't pay attention how much cheaper that one was. Just guessing it was in the $500 to $600 range.
If you watch a lot of you tube you can find some reviews that don't favor Element compared to Athlon. Dealer sells both brands so can't possibly be biased.
Got to give them creators credit designing engineering scopes specifically for air gun enthusiasts.
Number one priority is 10 yard focus for air gun use right.
How close does the Titan focus?
The cheaper Athlon Helos was reviewed to be the better scope in that comparison.
Speculation is for sheer profit motivated over actual air gun enthusiast use.
Supposed to be air gun Springer rated but couple broken Helix scopes already reported. These are from people who actually opened their mouth about their broken scopes. Many won't say any thing bad about their broken scopes and just say great warranty service.
Then you see brand new warranty exchanged scopes for sale on the classifieds.
Many people simply won't say any thing bad about the brand because of such an enormous following as you imply blinds them. Have to be in the IN CROWD go with the trend even though they may really suck.
Then you have new users who just received theirs asking why the eye box is that bad after purchasing. Then you hear all the other owner excuses jumping in to justify buying theirs.
Sure wish the you tube 200 yard hunters would change back to the other brand scopes that were much much clearer to watch through their scope cams.
Some one should suggest go through Alibaba and find the factory in China that manufactures the AIMS Alpha 6 and pay them alittle extra for FFP zero stop and better clicks. That would really be home run winner for cheap.
Or at least source where the Chinese lenses are made and use that glass instead. Put them lenses in the Helix and Titan. And while you at it in the Arken 6-24x as well. Their SH4 6-24x glass really sucks.
I have the older Air Max and Side winder 30 scopes couple years and their glass and turrets suck too.
Don't know why bigger brand name optic companies can't do 4.5-27x with 10 yard focus.
You can obviously see all the YouTube videos promoting the paid sponsored reviews on the Element brand of scopes.
Many don't realize they can be bought for much cheaper than retail. Some dealers are willing to discount them but no one even knows to ask.
Or can just wait until DVOR sells all of the Element models on sale again for cheaper.
Missed out on the $299 Helix twice and $999 Nexus couple weeks ago. Titan I didn't pay attention how much cheaper that one was. Just guessing it was in the $500 to $600 range.
If you watch a lot of you tube you can find some reviews that don't favor Element compared to Athlon. Dealer sells both brands so can't possibly be biased.
Got to give them creators credit designing engineering scopes specifically for air gun enthusiasts.
Number one priority is 10 yard focus for air gun use right.
How close does the Titan focus?
The cheaper Athlon Helos was reviewed to be the better scope in that comparison.
Speculation is for sheer profit motivated over actual air gun enthusiast use.
Supposed to be air gun Springer rated but couple broken Helix scopes already reported. These are from people who actually opened their mouth about their broken scopes. Many won't say any thing bad about their broken scopes and just say great warranty service.
Then you see brand new warranty exchanged scopes for sale on the classifieds.
Many people simply won't say any thing bad about the brand because of such an enormous following as you imply blinds them. Have to be in the IN CROWD go with the trend even though they may really suck.
Then you have new users who just received theirs asking why the eye box is that bad after purchasing. Then you hear all the other owner excuses jumping in to justify buying theirs.
Sure wish the you tube 200 yard hunters would change back to the other brand scopes that were much much clearer to watch through their scope cams.
Some one should suggest go through Alibaba and find the factory in China that manufactures the AIMS Alpha 6 and pay them alittle extra for FFP zero stop and better clicks. That would really be home run winner for cheap.
Or at least source where the Chinese lenses are made and use that glass instead. Put them lenses in the Helix and Titan. And while you at it in the Arken 6-24x as well. Their SH4 6-24x glass really sucks.
I have the older Air Max and Side winder 30 scopes couple years and their glass and turrets suck too.
Don't know why bigger brand name optic companies can't do 4.5-27x with 10 yard focus.
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nomojo65
The MTC Viper Pro scope has a big turret you seek on top engineered and geared specifically for clicking if that is what you seek sold at AoA. It is cheaper than the Hawke and even Ted Bier reviewed and highly praised it on you tube.
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Batman2, do you shoot FT or HFT? Just curious what your experience is with all the scopes you’ve talked about. Are there other SFP scopes you recommend and why.
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I don't shoot FT nor HFT which I had no idea you were seeking a scope for either of the sport based on your initial post.
I do how ever have both SFP Side winder 30 8-32x and 6-24x and Air Max also in both 6-24x and 8-32x. I personally had issues with the tracking on 3 of them. It wasn't just a one off incident but three.
I can state first hand experience that I had issues with 3 of them would not priperly track and warranty was of no use they just sent them right back to me stating nothing wrong.
I also had a Kia van that was supposed to be improved over the earlier brands bad reliability history.
First hand experience nothing but issues one after another.
If I were into HFT and FT then I would personally check the leader boards to see the most top winning shooters scope equipment and if I saw the specific Hawke you seek then that would be assuring.
If there were no Hawke then there must be a reason.
If you see no one using it to win competition then that would really make me wonder.
It is very helpful to do a search under Hawke and read the scope comments from competitive shooters.
It is your money to spend in any way you want and you can be lucky or not too.
I just thought oh no not Hawke brand and any thing but Hawke. There is an actual ratio of Hawke lovers and haters based on first hand experience.
If you choose to buy a Hawke then I really wish you get a good one.
I do how ever have both SFP Side winder 30 8-32x and 6-24x and Air Max also in both 6-24x and 8-32x. I personally had issues with the tracking on 3 of them. It wasn't just a one off incident but three.
I can state first hand experience that I had issues with 3 of them would not priperly track and warranty was of no use they just sent them right back to me stating nothing wrong.
I also had a Kia van that was supposed to be improved over the earlier brands bad reliability history.
First hand experience nothing but issues one after another.
If I were into HFT and FT then I would personally check the leader boards to see the most top winning shooters scope equipment and if I saw the specific Hawke you seek then that would be assuring.
If there were no Hawke then there must be a reason.
If you see no one using it to win competition then that would really make me wonder.
It is very helpful to do a search under Hawke and read the scope comments from competitive shooters.
It is your money to spend in any way you want and you can be lucky or not too.
I just thought oh no not Hawke brand and any thing but Hawke. There is an actual ratio of Hawke lovers and haters based on first hand experience.
If you choose to buy a Hawke then I really wish you get a good one.
Upvote 0
Correct, I didn’t specify the discipline in my original post. I should have specifically noted new H5 Sidwinder 30, which davecole responded to that new model. And because he uses it for HFT I inquired about the vertical adjustment mechanism. I’m sorry you had bad experiences with Hawke scopes and your input is helpful.
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I shoot in HFT which disallows “clicking” during the match. However, when I’m practicing and particularly in the wind, I can make turret adjustments with great precision using the reticle as reference. I don’t believe the “witness window” is gimmicky. I like it better than the normal etched reference marks found on other scopes. Something I failed to mention earlier is, I have not experienced any scope shift during matches where the temperature would change 25 degrees. A guy I shoot with who uses a Sightron can’t say the same. Very important when you cannot make any windage or elevation adjustments.
And BTW, I’ve had to return two of my Sidewinder scopes in about seven years. One because I knocked it off the bench onto the concrete floor breaking the elevation turret off and one because the illumination knob was wonky. I was charged zero for both repairs.
best of luck in your selection.
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Big names similar to Trijicon, mine is the ultimate scope for me, 5 power up to 50 with 56mm objective focusing down to............... 10 yards crazy excellent but retail is $2700 and discounted to $1780, deep swallow on the purchase but now Ill never look back, I will say it dose slightly get a tiny bit of deterioration at 48 power to 50 but I can live with that
I'll get my Crown nats ass perfect at 50 power at 30 yards, shooting tooth picks with ease, love great glass, sold a pair of Zeiss 8x42 Victory SF to get the Trijicon and made it less painful, but I can understand we all have our needs and some would not dare shell out for a scope equal to the price of a FX Crown and more for backyard shooting.
I hope to do some competitive shooting in the next few year to extend my joy of shooting in these last years on this rock
https://youtu.be/CbH29La1Uhg
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I just put a Hawke sidewinder 30 6-24 x 56 ffp on my FX last week, mounted it on thursday night, sighted it in Friday night indoors
and shot again saturday indoors to 50 yards, so far so good, seems like a nice scope, eye box is full, no problem getting on the scope
at any power, glass looks good, easy adjustments on the turrets, illumination is easy and clear, I think I am going to be pleased with it.
replacing a 1 x6 Kahles that I had on the gun, needed some more magnification. and the ability to focus at low yardage seems
like it should be good in the woods.
i'll get it out next saturday for some squirrel hunting,
and shot again saturday indoors to 50 yards, so far so good, seems like a nice scope, eye box is full, no problem getting on the scope
at any power, glass looks good, easy adjustments on the turrets, illumination is easy and clear, I think I am going to be pleased with it.
replacing a 1 x6 Kahles that I had on the gun, needed some more magnification. and the ability to focus at low yardage seems
like it should be good in the woods.
i'll get it out next saturday for some squirrel hunting,
Upvote 0
Interesting find. Still relatively new Current Hawke model being whole saled at DVOR.
The new model Hawke Side winder 30 SF 6-24x56 SFP 20x half MIL with the H5 optics is on sale right now at DVOR for $394.
As of right now you got 4 days left.
Model 17260.
Retails for $719.
Typical reseller price $599 based on current listings when doing an on line search.
Hawke web site.
https://us.hawkeoptics.com/sidewinder-30-sf-6-24x56-20x-half-mil.html
I am by no means encouraging you to buy Hawke brand optics.
If you so choose to then why not save an extra $200 in doing so.
Buy them for as cheap as possible.
This way you won't likely be as pissed.
The new model Hawke Side winder 30 SF 6-24x56 SFP 20x half MIL with the H5 optics is on sale right now at DVOR for $394.
As of right now you got 4 days left.
Model 17260.
Retails for $719.
Typical reseller price $599 based on current listings when doing an on line search.
Hawke web site.
https://us.hawkeoptics.com/sidewinder-30-sf-6-24x56-20x-half-mil.html
I am by no means encouraging you to buy Hawke brand optics.
If you so choose to then why not save an extra $200 in doing so.
Buy them for as cheap as possible.
This way you won't likely be as pissed.
Upvote 0
Thanks for the tip Batman2. I'm planning to get into HFT this year and have been looking at the Sidewinder you just mentioned. I can't believe I just purchased one for only $394! 
Can't go wrong for that price.
Can't go wrong for that price.
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Hawke H5 Side winder 30s on sale again right now at DVOR. The FFP 4-16x50 for S470 regular $899 and SFP 6-24x56 $397 regular $719 4 days left.
Not promoting Hawke brand it is probably best to save money by paying less when on sale.
The window in the elevation turrent is for checking how many revolutions up you are at and not for yardage markings besides I personally wouldn't trust their tracking any ways.
I would be really bummed if I saw it for way cheaper right after I paid regular price for them.
Always keep a mental note what models go on sale at what prices.
The Frontiers are over due there but sooner or later just watch.
Element brand among others too.
Not promoting Hawke brand it is probably best to save money by paying less when on sale.
The window in the elevation turrent is for checking how many revolutions up you are at and not for yardage markings besides I personally wouldn't trust their tracking any ways.
I would be really bummed if I saw it for way cheaper right after I paid regular price for them.
Always keep a mental note what models go on sale at what prices.
The Frontiers are over due there but sooner or later just watch.
Element brand among others too.
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Thanks for the tip. I joined Dvor and scored the Hawke at the wire. I am new to airgun fun but in a month have figured out my 4 to 12 Hawke is not enough scope for what I am doing. So when the new one comes I will sell the 6 week old Hawke which has been flawless. Again, thanks. Jeff
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Jeff
Post a review when you get the new Hawke and mention what it cost and your opinion if you would pay retail for it for others who rather pay full price and not wait for the next sale.
Others subject to paying couple hundred dollars more wanting this scope may be important to know if its worth paying the higher price for.
Post a review when you get the new Hawke and mention what it cost and your opinion if you would pay retail for it for others who rather pay full price and not wait for the next sale.
Others subject to paying couple hundred dollars more wanting this scope may be important to know if its worth paying the higher price for.
Upvote 0