Some scope recommendations for an HW97k please

I had a Bushnell Legend multi power on mine and it worked out fine,that said I do not know what the newer Bushnell is called.

Many consider one piece mounts to be better than two piece mounts. I currently use Sportsmatch with a recoil arresting pin in it.

My scope has a 40mm objective and covers the loading port, but I have my scope in a high mount and have plenty of room to get my fingers in there to load.

I found the comb on my 97 to be almost (but not quite) perfect for high mounts. I wouldn't say I have to lift my head off the stock to see, I just use very little cheek pressure and the less pressure on any point of a springer stock the better.

Get a scope with mil dots or hash marks on the reticle.

Lots of guys don't mind 3-9 power scopes and I have a few myself. They are sweet. But my .177 HW97 is very accurate and I enjoy shooting at tiny targets at distances that can actually be difficult to see at 9x. I only target shoot and compete in silhouette and field target so my scope is set at either 16x or 20x all the time.

Good luck and enjoy the journey

What are you looking to do with the gun?

Whyzee,

Check my post again.....I replaced the other pic with a pic of the current scope mount I have on the gun.

I think at the the time I took the other pic I didn't have a high one piece mount made for HW's. I was using a mount for FWB/Webley that had a horizontal arresting pin which I had removed, so I needed the scope stop.

The scope is a Leupold VX-3 6.5-20 EFR and focuses from 10 yds. to infinity. Leupold replaced it with the VX-3i which functions similarly. The VX-3 could be bought for anywhere between $650 and $750 at the time I bought mine (retail was around $900) and can still be found used from time to time. Nice thing about Leupold is if you buy a used one the lifetime warranty extends to you.

The scope originally came with a dot or fine cross hair. I don't like to turn dials so had a TS29X-1 reticle installed by their custom shop at a cost of around $175.

You can buy other scopes that are very good with mil dot reticles and maybe zero-stop turrets for lots less than I have into this scope. I am sure those who have them will be happy to tell you about them.

The level is very important to all target shooters. Your pellet travels in an arc. To hit distant targets you need your pellet's trajectory to be as vertical as possible; up to the apex and right back down along the line of the verticle "cross hair". If your gun is canted to one side or the other, your pellets trajectory will off to that side as well and you'll miss. PM me and I'll go into more detail about how I "level" my gun and send you a link that demonstrates the effect of a canted gun.

If you want to test the distance limits of your .22 on targets, a soda can at 100 yds. or a bit more is very doable. I once shot a 5.5 oz juice drink can (2 inches wide, 4 inches high) a laser measured 150 yds. away with my 97. You can see my truck and camper where I was shooting from in the background (it was a dead end road and I checked nobody was at the end I was shooting towards). I could hit it a little more than half the time, which kept it interesting. Your trajectory will make that more difficult but maybe not impossible.

 

When selecting a scope, don't just select one that satisfies your intended purpose. Shooting interests tend to evolve the more you shoot and you don't want to decide one day you want to try Hunter Field Target but, doggone, you only bought a 3-9 or 4-12 scope when for a few dollars more you could have bought a scope that goes to 16x (for Hunter Field Target) or beyond.

My hw97k is in .177 and is my most accurate and favorite springer. You and your friend are going to be very pleased with your choice.

I’ve had an Airmax 4-12x40AO scope on mine and it has served me well for more than 15,000 shots. I use the RWS lock down 1” one piece scope mount.

On a few other spring guns I’ve used the Nikon Prostaff EFR 3-9x12AO with similarly good results. The Nikon has excellent glass.

Good luck choosing.

R

Which shoots further could depend on a number of factors.

When comparing .177 and .22 pellets of similar shapes and SD's fired from the same springer power plant the .177 will travel faster, flatter and further. I tried extending my .177 range from 150 to 175 yds. but the pellet was dropping so fast at that distance that finding the right holdover and hitting the can repeatedly was almost impossible. You'd probably enjoy enough success with your gun out to 125 yds. to keep it fun.

Sorry for the thread revival.

whyzee....did you and your buddy get the 97k's? What did you end up buying for a scope?

My favorite scope is on the my HW97, the Leupold 6.5-20efr. Mine has been sent back to the custom shop for a mil dot reticle. Since that scope is no more, I know many people are content with the UTG 4-16x scopes for the price or you can jump up to the Hawke 4-16 with side focus. I like my 3 SWFA SS 20x scopes, but a lot of folks are turned off by fixed power scopes. I think they are solid repeatable scopes, and I find the rear focus more convenient than adjustable objective and side focus scopes.

I want a bit more magnification than the 3-9 x 40 Nikon I am currently using. (14x or 16x I think will suit me well....or 20x...or more, just in case.)

The issue I'm running into is that most of the scopes I think I want to spend the $$$ on are ~14+" long, and have ~4" of eye relief....which puts the bell over the loading port. Not good for my fat fingers. My current scope is ~12.5" long. Loading port is fully accessible/exposed.

My ignorance tells me to not mount the scope on super tall riser/rings....keep it as close to the barrel as possible. So I'm trying to find something less than 13" long, less than 4" eye relief, FFP, good glass, springer rated.

I haven't really looked at the UTG's. The quick look I did do, they were all SFP. Thanks for the info.

I like the RWS one piece drooper mounts like this one in either 1 inch or 30MM.

https://www.pyramydair.com/s/a/RWS_Lock_Down_1_Pc_Mount_w_1_Rings_11mm_Dovetail_Barrel_Droop_Compensation/2406

Scopes? There are a lot of them that will work well. It's a matter of choice as to what magnification, reticle and parallax adjustment they have, and of course, your budget.

I want a bit more magnification than the 3-9 x 40 Nikon I am currently using. (14x or 16x I think will suit me well....or 20x...or more, just in case.)

The issue I'm running into is that most of the scopes I think I want to spend the $$$ on are ~14+" long, and have ~4" of eye relief....which puts the bell over the loading port. Not good for my fat fingers. My current scope is ~12.5" long. Loading port is fully accessible/exposed.

My ignorance tells me to not mount the scope on super tall riser/rings....keep it as close to the barrel as possible. So I'm trying to find something less than 13" long, less than 4" eye relief, FFP, good glass, springer rated.

I haven't really looked at the UTG's. The quick look I did do, they were all SFP. Thanks for the info.

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Check & see if the Discovery 4-16x44 FFP is springer rated. I think it meets your other criteria. 

Thanks for the follow up.