Sportsmatch vs FX adjustable rings

I do not own the rings you are looking at...

I have personally never found the need to adjust the mount horizontally with the rings and considering the overwhelming majority of rings don’t have it, it is safe to say you don’t “need” it.

If somebody wants them because it is an added benefit, they are welcome to them. They do have advantages, and if that is what you want, I am not going to argue. I can see the advantage of keeping the scope in the optical center, and that helps. To me that would be the biggest advantage, but I don’t own any scopes that have been far enough off horizonally that is has ever become an issue.

Many people are also fine with $20 rings too, but I am not one of them. 

I have multiple sets of the Sportsmatch rings (both dovetail and Picatinny) but no experience with the FX rings. The Sportsmatch rings take a bit of effort to set up but are well worth it if you need them. It seems that you hear of enough mentions of error in the windage plane with airguns that many people might benefit from them. And it seems that the vertical plane adjustment ability would benefit most but if not needed for windage adjustment then the added complexity may not be worthwhile and the FX might be better.

I like being able to center the scope (optically or mechanically or whatever method one prefers) and then use the mounts to zero the gun. Usually it can be gotten down to needing just a few clicks to get desired final zero and a person might fiddle enough to get it spot on with no clicks but it is an adjust and check type of process and isn't really precise to the point of not usually needing at least a few clicks for final zero.

Once set they lock to place and have never shifted on any rifles I've used them on including magnum springer.

Bandg,

One thing I heard and like about the Sportsmatch is the allen screw rotation adjust for elevation and windage as opposed to loosening and using your fingers to lift the scope (or lower) when roughing the scope in with FX and other rings. Seems turning an allen would be much more accurate and convenient when roughing the scope in to zero.

Are you finding this the case?

Thanks,

KP/NC

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Yes. There is an allen screw that is turned to raise/lower the elevation of the mount. As noted, I haven't used the FX rings so I can't comment on those but the Sportsmatch rings can be adjusted in relatively fine amounts. I always loosen both the front and rear locking screws so that there is no binding of one mount as the other is moved. And each mount can be raised/lowered independently. Windage is, I assume, self locking as there is a right and left opposed screw on each side of each ring for windage adjustment. For any windage adjustment loosen the windage screws on each ring again to lessen any possible binding. After any adjustment I set the locking screw and then snug the elevation adjuster up against the mechanism and check that the windage adjusters are snug. I've used them on a Diana 460 and a Savage 25-06 centerfire and they have held zero perfectly once locked. Like them a lot myself.

Tomico has a vid on Youtube examining various mounts which is quite good.

I have had the FX No limits, and the Sportsmatch elevation only rings.

The FX has the ability for more adjustment, but more care must be taken installing them. Other than than that, the quality on both are excellent.

I also dont think you need the mounts with windage unless your gun isnt made very well. Using this adjustment will totally mess up your horizontal accuracy at different ranges if your gun has been properly made.

Tomico has a vid on Youtube examining various mounts which is quite goid.

I have had the FX No limits, and the Sportsmatch elevation only rings.

The FX has the ability for more adjustment, but more care must be taken installing them. Other than than that, the quality on both are excellent.

I also dont think you need the mounts with windage unless your gun isnt made very well. Using this adjustment will totally mess up your horizontal accuracy at different ranges if your gun has been properly made.

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Don't agree at all. The Sportsmatch mounts do not HAVE to be adjusted to such a degree that they would "mess up your horizontal accuracy" unless such was needed. They could both be centered or both could be fully to left or right. What you state would only seem to be correct if you adjusted windage oppositely to an extreme degree on each mount. To the contrary, it seems that they could correct a poorly constructed or fitted rail position.

One note in the Sportsmatch rings on my Red Wolf. I mounted a scope this week, and because of the shape of the rail and the angle of the adjustment screw, I could not access the Allen wrench hole on the rear rings. I had to uninstall them to make the adjustment. Something to kee in mind for whichever rifle you are going to use.

Do you mean the locking screw which is on the front/rear of the mount or the elevation adjusting screw which is on the side? Never seen that with anything I've used them on but then again all setups are different. It is close on the Air Force Tri-rail but easily accessible. Could you reverse that ring and put the screw on the other side?

My vote is for the FX the adjustment range is greater and it’s easier to use. I have never found a need for the windage adjustment on the sports match. I probably have FX no limits on at least 6 rifles.

Do you mean the locking screw which is on the front/rear of the mount or the elevation adjusting screw which is on the side? Never seen that with anything I've used them on but then again all setups are different. It is close on the Air Force Tri-rail but easily accessible. Could you reverse that ring and put the screw on the other side?

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It is the elevation one on the side. The shape of the action prevents it. Where the front ring is, the action has a different shape, rounded off more vertically, so it was accessible until like the rear ones.

so for those of you who used adjustable rings on springers, you are saying that the recoil of the springer never compromised the adjustments? just asking, not doubting. also when your rifle is shooting to the left and you DON'T have adjustable rings, and you decided to shim the base, what side do you shim? 

sorry OP, don't mean to hijack the thread

Save your money. I have a set of rings adjustable for windage and elevation. Still in the package. I do have the elevation only rings. Those are all you need. The elevation helps at long range, but never found a need for the windage adjustable rings.

In my case the windage adjustment consists of two grub screws that hold a center pivot in place. It's a nightmare to adjust side to side. Elevation only rings are easy and my scope is nearly perfectly optically centered at 75 yards.

eBay has the nc star adjustable height ones. They work great  

Save your money. I have a set of rings adjustable for windage and elevation. Still in the package. I do have the elevation only rings. Those are all you need. The elevation helps at long range, but never found a need for the windage adjustable rings.

In my case the windage adjustment consists of two grub screws that hold a center pivot in place. It's a nightmare to adjust side to side. Elevation only rings are easy and my scope is nearly perfectly optically centered at 75 yards.

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I am a fan of sportsmatch fully adjustable mounts. 

I sold out my fx no limits mounts and purchased sportsmatch. 

In fact on my RAW I could not keep the Vortex scope optically centered and sighted in at the same time due to non matching windage.

Sportsmatch fixed this issue. Now my scopes are sighted in as well as optically centered. 

Regards, 

Umair Bhaur 

Save your money. I have a set of rings adjustable for windage and elevation. Still in the package. I do have the elevation only rings. Those are all you need. The elevation helps at long range, but never found a need for the windage adjustable rings.

In my case the windage adjustment consists of two grub screws that hold a center pivot in place. It's a nightmare to adjust side to side. Elevation only rings are easy and my scope is nearly perfectly optically centered at 75 yards.

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Agree with mubhaur. I have more and more often bought the Sportsmatch rings as a first choice before even knowing if they are needed for windage adjustment. They work as intended.

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so for those of you who used adjustable rings on springers, you are saying that the recoil of the springer never compromised the adjustments? just asking, not doubting. also when your rifle is shooting to the left and you DON'T have adjustable rings, and you decided to shim the base, what side do you shim? 

sorry OP, don't mean to hijack the thread

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See my post above-Diana 460.

Hmmmm I guess the question is would the elevation only Sportsmatch rings get me out to say 150-200 yds keeping the scope optically centered?

The FX are looking better with more adjustment at half the price. 

But I like the fine adjust of the sportsmatch 

Decisions, decisions

Thanks for the input

KP/NC

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I can’t imagine you would have trouble getting to 100 at all, but 200 brings in more factors. This is going to depend as much on your rifle and scope as it is the rings. Scopes can have vastly different amounts of adjustment and the power of the rifle and weight of the ammo will matter.

I watched the video comparing them before I picked up the Sportsmatch due to the fine tuning (that I can’t use on this rifle). I was worried about the less adjustment available in the video, but it ended up being much more than I expected. With high rings, I barely fit my Cronus (56mm bell) and scope covers on it. I then proceeded to adjust my scope and took out all three rotations of elevation that I had dialed prior to mounting. It wasn’t set up for my air rifle last time, so I can’t remember how low I had my zero set, and I will confirm that when I actually set the zero. I didn’t get that far the other night when installing them.