Scope choices?

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mochajoe

mochajoe

Member
Jul 13, 2020
275
4
Pennsylvania, United States
KUgh can’t decide on a scope for a (pre order) FX dream tact compact! It’s like trying to pick out a breakfast cereal so many choices, prices ratings.

Will use gun mostly for critter control. You see 100$ scopes with 5 stars and 600$ ones with 3-4 stars. Also do you think about the cost of the gun when looking at scopes? I mean if the rifle cost 1000++ are you going to look at scopes in the say under 100$ to 150$ range? In other words do you base what you are willing to shell out for a scope having in mind what you paid for the gun? Thanks
 
I don't buy that old chestnut saying that you need to spend as much on your scope as on your gun. None of the scopes in my collection was more than 120 bucks. My FX Royale has an 80 bucks scope from Aliexpress, never misses a beat at 90 m.

I recommend you look into the Marcool 8*44 fixed mag (SF) scope, around 80 at Aliexpress. Fixed mag offers great target acquisition for hunting.

IMG_3523.1613049580.jpg


Another good one is the 4-16*44 BSA TMD FFP SF (90 bucks).

I believe in SF for hunting. Conversely, front bell adjustment is fine for me in benchrest. In all cases I like to slap on a bubble level for a few smackers -- my property does not offer too many level landscape elements to use as reference points.

🐦
 
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I mean if the rifle cost 1000++ are you going to look at scopes in the say under 100$ to 150$ range? In other words do you base what you are willing to shell out for a scope having in mind what you paid for the gun?
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I think this approach is wrong headed. Price is always a consideration, but it shouldn't be the main thing. The scope and rifle should be able to perform what you plan to use them for -- in unison.

Decide what you plan to use it for, what you expect out of it, etc and then look for scopes with features that meet those requirements. Then pick the one that has the least compromises at the best price.
 
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 Gasalt here,Price is a consideration for many,that said it should not be the only consideration.I consider the weight,the length and the glass.

Many brands to choose from and each brand has it's price points.PCP scopes are much easier to pick than springer scopes...dealing with your PCP...I like the better Hawke,Burris,Pentax,Nikon,Sightron...etc....search for sales,buy known quality used scope,you can get a better scope for less that way....I am old school so I am not up to date with the 47987 new brand scopes out there...oh ,old school Tasco scopes can be great.

Some Chinese scopes are too heavy,that said the better ones can be great for your needs;;;;the older Bushnells,like Elite models or the older Japanese made scopes.....the Philippine made scopes,,Simmons is also good for the money..

My favorite scopes are Leupold..the old used ones I can afford,,with AO....Get a scope with AO...

The market is flooded....think this ,most brands are made in the same Few factories....the glass is made somewhere else,hint....reseach,and consider this....when it comes to scopes that are good and affordable....there are a lot of different opinions,Thus=research is your friend.
 
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I just had this conversation with a good friend and here's a few questions that should help you narrow things down:

  • What size/kind of targets do you plan on shooting - target shooting, pesting, plinking?
  • What type of positions do you plan on shooting - bench/table, bags, tripod, sticks, off-hand? Length & weight may play a factor.
  • At what distance - long-range, short-range, variable ranges?
  • Magnification power - high, medium, low, variable, fixed?
  • Turret type - do you plan on using holdover, or dialing the reticle into position?
  • Reticle type - simple mil-dot, complex windage points?
  • What time of day do you typically shoot? Shooting at dawn or dusk (or in heavy wooded areas) could benefit from an illuminated reticle.
  • FFP or SFP - broadly speaking serious target shooters typically prefer SFP scopes and dialing turrets, while hunters tend to like FFP scopes and holdover (or dialing turrets if time permits). Note that if you plan on using variable magnification and holdover points on a SFP scope then you will have to do some math. In contrast the reticle on a FFP scope changes size with magnification, so there is no math required when using holdover points.
  • How is your vision?

The reason I ask about your vision is because I had nearly prefect vision my entire life. Then once I hit my 40's my vision slowly started to decline. Spending any period of time behind a scope always makes my vision blurry and can cause headaches. A few things to combat this are:

  • Choosing a scope with better than average glass & construction.
  • Staying away from the highest magnification setting on your scope. The higher you go the more precise your position/cheek weld and concentration must be. Example 4-20x50 scope = magnification over 15x might cause tunnel vision, a more challenging eye box/eye relief, blurriness around the outside of the reticle, poor light transmission, etc. Some of these examples can be overcome with a good scope.
  • Always try to shoot with both eyes open.



I like to compliment my airguns with equally capable and pleasing to use scopes. After all... If you can't see your target clearly, it's hard to have fun.

There's my 2 cents

🍻 

-Michael


 
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Just to be perfectly clear here I do not get paid nor sponsored nor receive free scopes nor have any financial benefit from any dealer or manufacturer nor from YouTube to share the best deals for optical greatness BTW... I pay for all of my scopes just like everyone else does here. I simply return the ones that my eyes don't like after directly comparing their glass and eye friendliness to the Alpha6. I usually keep the ones that are very eye friendly at max power. 

if you have the cash to blow and insist on buying high dollar Chinese optics and don't want to try the Alpha6 because it's priced too cheap then the new HAWKE FRONTIERS are the clearest and brightest high dollar Chinese scopes I have ever looked through. Just don't buy nor ever look through an alpha6 after that.
 
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The forum talked me into an alpha6. I'm usually buy the 57$ centrepoint as a great value for the money and I'm hoping the alpha 6 will blow me away with greatness. I'm poor so anything more then the centerpoint has to pass the wife's budget. Luckily the alpha doesnt perform I feel I can sell it at a minimal loss.
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After you get it Go compare that Alpha6 to one of your buddies who owns a $649 MTC VIPER pro or any pre 2019 Hawke Sidewinder 30s or any AirMax or any Chinese (NON CRONUS) Athlon or Vortex Diamondback Tactical or Strike Eagle or VIPER PST Gen2 or Element Helix or Titan or Aztec or Optisan or Sightron S-TAC or Bushnell Forge or (OH CRAP JUST TOO MANY MORE TO LIST SO I'LL JUST STOP RIGHT HERE) just don't tell him how much your scope cost.
 
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