My wife and I shot at a match recently to see if it is something we would enjoy doing together and had a good time. We shared my gun for the match and will be purchasing one for her in the future. After learning more about field target in general. The scope that came with my gun ( centerpoint 6x40 ao) is lacking to say the least. It seems to change little to none no matter what setting it is on. I am by no means an experienced shooter having only started shooting a couple of month's ago, and before that I had a break barrel about 20 years ago without a scope. I would like to upgrade my scope but I'm not sure witch way to go. I am looking at a hawke air max 2-7x32 ao amx. To my way of thinking only shooting out to 55 yds. how much magnification do I really need?
What scope for hft?
- Thread starter Andy_western_ny
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Hi, and welcome to field target. It’s a great sport with some wonderful people!
As I’m sure you have learned, your scope Is the primary means by which you “range”, or determine the distance to the target. The higher the magnification, in general, the more accurate the scope can be in its ranging capability.
I assume you and your wife are shooting in hunter class, which has a 16x scope magnification limit. Most of us who shoot hunter use scopes which either max at 16, or are adjustable down to 16x. Even at 16 power, it’s still difficult to accurately range between 40 and 55 yards, but that’s all part of the fun. Best of luck!
As I’m sure you have learned, your scope Is the primary means by which you “range”, or determine the distance to the target. The higher the magnification, in general, the more accurate the scope can be in its ranging capability.
I assume you and your wife are shooting in hunter class, which has a 16x scope magnification limit. Most of us who shoot hunter use scopes which either max at 16, or are adjustable down to 16x. Even at 16 power, it’s still difficult to accurately range between 40 and 55 yards, but that’s all part of the fun. Best of luck!
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AAFTA rules allow up to 16X for HFT. I use a Hawke Sidewinder 6-24X with a 20X 1/2 mildot reticle. It ranges accurately and has a reticle that works well for hold over. Why 24X you ask when all you can use is 16X? It's because the reticle is 20X instead of 10X. That means that the reticle appears twice as big in the scope so it's easier to estimate the holdover. IMO, this scope is better than the AIrmax.
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Hawke Airmax makes a good scope. So is the Vortex Diamondback. I prefer the Diamondback. Welcome to the sport. Lots of good information here. Most of us shoot 177s since the tram is flatter. Airguns are mostly pellet fussy. So, even if you And your wife have the same rifles. They may shoot different pellets. And, good luck.
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You can spend as much as you want on a scope for HFT. And as stated, 16x is max you can shoot at a match regardless of what the scope max power is.
I’ve used UTG, Hawke Sidewinders, Athlons and now I have Falcons. One with a half mildot reticle is a plus.
IMHO, the most important factor isn’t necessarily all about the scope but how you use it.
install a quality parallax wheel (I suggest a comma style) so you can fine tune ranging your target.
I made three videos on preparing a scope for FT.
Making a range card and fining zero.
https://youtu.be/-sAKNYTpjdc
Range marking your scope wheel
https://youtu.be/YCdiLCvRTAc
Bracketing for targets
https://youtu.be/iwjJNokGAas
I’ve used UTG, Hawke Sidewinders, Athlons and now I have Falcons. One with a half mildot reticle is a plus.
IMHO, the most important factor isn’t necessarily all about the scope but how you use it.
install a quality parallax wheel (I suggest a comma style) so you can fine tune ranging your target.
I made three videos on preparing a scope for FT.
Making a range card and fining zero.
https://youtu.be/-sAKNYTpjdc
Range marking your scope wheel
https://youtu.be/YCdiLCvRTAc
Bracketing for targets
https://youtu.be/iwjJNokGAas
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I would recommend the Sightron S TAC if you need a really clear scope for FT that is under $400.
I'd get bashed for recommending the $200 Aim Sports Alpha6 2.5-15x50 and 4.5-27x50 since those 2 scopes at max power zoom is so critical you have to get the parallax side focus knob PERFECT AS HELL at max zoom in order to get a perfectly clear picture and is a ridiculously impossibly unbelievably clear scope to be this cheap that's at least 1/4 the price of whats OTHERS Chinese comparable scopes that has 10 yard focus and illuminated reticle IMHO.
I'd get bashed for recommending the $200 Aim Sports Alpha6 2.5-15x50 and 4.5-27x50 since those 2 scopes at max power zoom is so critical you have to get the parallax side focus knob PERFECT AS HELL at max zoom in order to get a perfectly clear picture and is a ridiculously impossibly unbelievably clear scope to be this cheap that's at least 1/4 the price of whats OTHERS Chinese comparable scopes that has 10 yard focus and illuminated reticle IMHO.
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The Alpha6 4.5-27 has no 16x marking, it goes from 13 to 17 and I think the rules dictate that you would have to shoot it on 13x.
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I'd use the 2.5-15x50 Alpha6 then. It IS REAL CRITICAL at 15x perfect parallax wheel alignment to get perfect picture. I'd say 4x better than a UTG Mini SWAT 4-16x at 16x for sure.
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While the ideal scope ever found for hunter class Ft is No longer made ( Optisan / MTC 4-16x50 VIPER )
Have been using on my other HFT gun a HAWKE Airmax 6-24x50 at 16x doing pretty well with it this season. * 3rd place finish at the Nevada State FT championship and a Second place finish at the Oregon state FT championship.
Like nearly ALL scopes when at 16X the parrilax when used to range find gets sketchy beyond 40 yards .. some better than others, tho all challenged.
Scott S
Have been using on my other HFT gun a HAWKE Airmax 6-24x50 at 16x doing pretty well with it this season. * 3rd place finish at the Nevada State FT championship and a Second place finish at the Oregon state FT championship.
Like nearly ALL scopes when at 16X the parrilax when used to range find gets sketchy beyond 40 yards .. some better than others, tho all challenged.
Scott S
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The sightron s-tac that has been suggested, while coming from a quality brand of scopes, may not have the ideal reticle. If in fact it does have a center dot in the center of the reticle as illustrated on their product page, it may (the dot) obscure your KZ.
Also, Keep in mind most of, if not all of your shots, will require less than 2 mildots of holdover when set at 16x. 55 yards for me is 1-1/2 mildots on my Falcon set at 15x (no 16 mark) So don’t get caught up in a fancy smancy Christmas Tree reticle. Stick to one that has a basic 1/2 mildot with an etched reticle to achieve the thinnest possible.
And don’t worry if your scope is mil or moa. You can’t click in HFT nor adjust the magnification during the match, only adjust the parallax.
Also, Keep in mind most of, if not all of your shots, will require less than 2 mildots of holdover when set at 16x. 55 yards for me is 1-1/2 mildots on my Falcon set at 15x (no 16 mark) So don’t get caught up in a fancy smancy Christmas Tree reticle. Stick to one that has a basic 1/2 mildot with an etched reticle to achieve the thinnest possible.
And don’t worry if your scope is mil or moa. You can’t click in HFT nor adjust the magnification during the match, only adjust the parallax.
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@ Chuck-in-Ohio
I have two. The 5-30 non illuminated and the 3-18i illuminated. I cannot tell any difference between the two and I spent hours going back and forth. My plan was to keep the one that had the best resolution and I still have both. If you do a Falcon I’d recommend the 3-18 as you may want/need illumination. Note they do not have a 16x mark on the magnification ring. Not to worry, that extra 1x you cannot discern.
I have two. The 5-30 non illuminated and the 3-18i illuminated. I cannot tell any difference between the two and I spent hours going back and forth. My plan was to keep the one that had the best resolution and I still have both. If you do a Falcon I’d recommend the 3-18 as you may want/need illumination. Note they do not have a 16x mark on the magnification ring. Not to worry, that extra 1x you cannot discern.
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After my investment into the OPTISAN EVX series looking for a VIPER replacement and NOT finding it with these EVX's I went to other scope manufacturers.
Have zero experience with the above models. Tho will make a WAG ... parrilax rotation in degrees was NOT sufficient with the EVX's being much less than 180* 10-55 yards
along with lacking the very shallow DOF we want in a Field Target optic. Likely the above scopes will be similar ?
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I've been using a Hawke Sidewinder 6-24 with the 20X 1/2 mildot reticle for years. I've found that it ranges accurately which is a paramount requirment. Holdover using this reticle works well too.
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I was about to ask kinda the same overall question for a Hunter FT scope. I'll skip the story as to why....
The Hawke reticle on the Sidewinder 6-24 seems to fit my wants but is it a better scope (at 2x the price) than the Aztec?
I really like the Aztec reticle but have no way to compare the the 2 scopes at present.
The Hawke reticle on the Sidewinder 6-24 seems to fit my wants but is it a better scope (at 2x the price) than the Aztec?
I really like the Aztec reticle but have no way to compare the the 2 scopes at present.
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I like the design of that Aztec reticle For HFT as well but found it a bit too fine. Dark lane dark day dark target and it would be hard to find. An IR would have made it very usable. Uj
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One thing that may be helpful that I don't think has been mentioned in the thread is to use a scope that has a higher max magnification than 16x so that the scope would be in the middle of it's range and therefore, have a clearer, brighter picture than if it was maxed out in magnification. So a 6-24 or an 8-32 would be preferable to a 4-16 for that reason.
Chas
Chas
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