SPRINGER RATED SCOPES

This subject has come up many times on the forum. I read much different info than you stated when I researched it here and there several times on the net. Someone said they checked with Vortex and they were told they only had one springer rated scope which sounds more like it. Personally I believe Burris scopes would be the same. I have a Diana 45 that ate six scopes and among them a UTG Accushot, Hawke Airmax and a Falcon Menace. While others touted these scopes as good on springers. I put my Bushnell Trophy on it for a time but removed it before it got thrashed. Magnum springers and others with harsh recoil just tear scopes up. I am with one post I read that stated that there is no such thing as a springer rated scope so buy one from a reputable manufacturer that will replace it when it dies. So, I have my doubts that this will ever really be resolved.

Me, I use the Diana ZR Bullseye mount on my springers now and did this repair to my scopes and no longer have any problems. 

https://www.airgundepot.com/bullseye-zr-1-pc-mount-1-rings-11mm-dovetail-004.html

But reviews rate the mount from great like mine to don't waste your money. I do know that there were some cheap copies around for awhile which may have soured some though.

What I read is all Vortex and Burris scopes are springers rated,some of the Hawkes are...older Bushnell 3200.4200 .

I had some "cheap" air gun scopes that worked....

It would be great to have a list of known scopes that work reliable on all springers.

What are some of the scopes you are using on your heavy recoil springers?.

Click to expand...

My understanding is that for a scope to be "rated" for use with a spring piston rifle, the scope lenses should be equally braced from both sides to handle forward as well as backward recoil. That is why some scopes that work well on high powered PB's, fail when used on a far less powerful springer. If a manufacturer says that a scope is ok to use on a springer, I would inquire as to what features it has that are specifically engineered for springer use and that differentiate it from their other scopes. I have an RWS 350 Magnum and have used 2 very old scopes by BSA and Hawke alternatively for many years without any issue. As I recall, both were approved for springer use at the time I purchased them.

I know the older Burris fixed power scopes hold up well as well the bushnell scopes you mentioned. I also have a bushnell legend that has been on several springers through the years without fail...Nikon efr 3-9×40 AO if you can find one is a good springer scope too. I've also read that athlon scopes are springer rated and have full lifetime warranty. I'm actually going to try an athlon midas on my RM100 gas rammer this weekend. I also have an older hawke airmax 4-12×40 one inch tube that has held up on a HW97 for a couple years....its a toss up and like said above get one with warranty and that's not BSA anymore they suck!!!

Oh and I almost forgot...I have a Clearidge ultra RM 3-9×32 AO on a HW80 in .22 and has been good for at least a year now.

Now that spring time is coming on mine will get some respect!!!! Lol

Another scope that comes to mind is Swift... thay have a couple models that are springer rated and nice glass for the money!

James from Michigan 

I agree with the suggestion for the ZR scope mount. With it you are free to use any scope you like on any springer available. They do benefit from some modification though, unless you are lucky enough to get a good one out of the box. I have used at least 20 of them and so far only one has been good enough to use without some attention. 

This thread shows what I have done with mine.

https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/rifle-scope-on-a-magnum-springer/#post-373497

Boscoebrea

I have 3 Leupold Vari XII 3-9x33 EFR scopes on Beeman R1's and they have held up fine.

I also have a Clearidge Ultra 3-9x40 AO on a Beeman Kodiak and have had no issues, but I don't have more than 5 or 6 tins of pellets through that gun.

I’ve used Simmons 44 Mags (6.5-20x44) AO scopes on anything from R9’s, AA Pro Elites and Theoben Gas Rammers. Decent glass, fine adjustment target style turrets (better than say Bushnell Legend 5-15 turrets, IMO) and overall a great scope for the money.

The Bushnell 4200series 1” AO scopes have also stood the test of time on recoiling springers, but their drawback is the very limited elevation adjustment. Shims or Burris mounts with inserts can help, as can a riser with inbuilt tilt machined into it. 

I have to add the SWFA 10x42 to the list. I’ve had scopes from Optisan, Hawke and MTC on my springers and now have a pair of SWFA 10x42’s that are rock solid

Certainly not a FT scope, but they suit my needs as a bench shooter.

The SWFA 3-15 seems to be a winner as well.

I also agree with using the ZR mounts on springers. I got mine direct from Hector Medina, and had him accurize before sending. Similar modification as the one shown above. Transforms this mount into a much more solid design with better shot to shot repeatability.



Steve

I use SWFA in 3 of my Springers, never an issue. I also recently inquired from the folks at Element Scopes and they replied with: Yes, our scopes are Springer rated. *I’m also running a Hawke 2-7 Airmax on my HW30, it’s been flawless.

I found on Amazon this brand....

https://www.amazon.com/Hammers-3-9x40AO-Magnum-Spring-Rifle/dp/B0099XIJKC

I have had 4 good copies of this scope, with only one failure from my teenager dropping his 10/22 onto cement from the shooting bench. Until that happened, I had 5 good copies. 

Weihrauch recommends using Dampa mounts (in their catalog, for the HW90 Theoben gas ram rifle).

I'm sure the ZR-mount reduces scope felt recoil more but, anyone have good luck with Dampa mounts (from Sportsmatch Rings)?

I currently have a need for a scope for an HW97K....having a hard time finding something that meets my requirements....watching this thread.

I also use a Diana Bullseye Zero-Recoil mount and am so glad that there is finally a mount that allows me to use any scope on my springer. I have the new version, as stated on the box.

I’ve read about some people complaining about the mount not working as advertised, but I tell you this: It does work. It really does. You see, when I set it up on my TX200 I wondered why there was slight play (just only a tiny bit) on it when I twisted the scope just to see if all was tight. But then I noticed that on the rear of the front ring is a steel centering cone against which a corresponding hole on the base rests itself partially following a shot cycle or when just stationary. I tried moving the scope to the left and right to see if POI continued to be true and it did. I even recorded in slowmotion a shot taken with the ZR mount and it showed that only the rifle kicked back—the scope stayed put.

lets bring this back to the top..........good information on this subject........................

Here is a slowmotion video to show the very fast rearward thrust a TX200 produces and how the Bullseye mount isolates the movement from the scope.

The ones I emailed to about that magnum deal was the ones with a no questions asked warranty policy. Don't care.

Discovery will not and honestly said so. + All but one model is just 3 year .

I sent a lot of emails out one some said no some said no prob.we stand behind it all. Some never answered one said there scopes were only ment for " real " firearms ( Vic cough tor optics )

I picked a Athlon Talos s this go round so I'll see if there all they say if things go bad.

I have a older bushnell 4-16 4200 elite AO and its home is my beeman R1 and i absolutely love that optic. Sometimes i'm not the biggest fan of the AO because of having to reach around; but man is it super chrisp.

SWFA fixed power scopes have held well on my RWS and Beeman.