Best general purpose scope for close up & distance?

[GruffaloGriff 1,859]

Problem i have is my scope is fine for distance work but not close up.

 

What is a good all round scope without breaking the bank?

[secretagentmole 1,701]

What do you call bank breaking? I would recommend a Hawke...

[davyt63 1,845]

how close do you want to shoot,and what range do you want to shoot out to?

[GruffaloGriff 1,859]

Rabbits 45-50 yards in the open. And pidgens in a barn on the rafters say 5 yards?

[robwelsh 354]

My panorama scope is fine for abit of everything, clear optic ,couldn't recommend it enough. An mine is 110-130 to buy its a 3-9*40 ao map6a ret. Best scope iv used so far an iv had about 4-5 including niko striling, an hawkers with bigger front lense an the 40mm is enough for me an my shooting

[secretagentmole 1,701]

I use a Hawke Nite Eye, either the SR6 or SR12, plenty of adjustment for those 2 distances!

[pianoman 3,587]

This is not a question about which makes and models are best. "Hawke this", "Simmons that" Nope! They are all good. But that is an irrelevance to this problem.

 

 

The true answer is about knowing how to use just the right amount of mag with the scope you already use that has the least false-trajectory focal distance error to correct. And that means a low mag setting. The higher you go up the Magnification scale the more artificial focal distance error you have to know to correct for at short ranges. In other words, the distance it takes for your pellet to rise in trajectory till it meets the point of zero on the reticle. That is why more misses occur at close range targets than long range ones where the effect of focal distance error is causing us to over-compensate inaccurately. It's when we shoot to longer distances that the level of error reduces.

 

For a spring rifle, the perfect scope I'd say, if there is one, is a quality 3-9x40. set around a zero on 6 to 8 magnification with a thorough understanding of your rifle and pellet trajectory and velocity where the pellet in flight meets the point of optical zero on your reticle. This keeps the reticle as close to the bore-centre as possible and has very useful mag. power which will not lead you up the garden path with long-range focus errors at short-range distances. That makes it unbeatable as a hunting sight aspect optic for all-range shooting. It may not be as swank or look as impressive as a mega 8-32X50mm but, in my experience you are far more likely to miss a close-range vermin target with all that power than you will with a more modest, lower-powered scope you can actually see something with!!.

 

Honestly this is still the best hunting scope format for an air rifle I've found after years of using mega-mags and 4-14s and 6-18 magnification formats.

 

Wind the mag down to 6 on the scope you already have and re-learn to shoot with that. You'll be amazed at what a little practice will show you.

 

Marksmanship is not all about how vast the distance you can shoot to. It's about knowing where your ammo is going the instant it leaves the muzzle!

 

Best wishes.

 

Pianoman

Edited September 10, 2012 by pianoman

[robwelsh 354]

I like shooting on 6 mag lol I only ever shot on 3 mag before I started going to a club to shoot. I hate big mag scopes. I might even look into getting a fixed 6x mag..any suggestions pianoman?

[pianoman 3,587]

Depends on the rifle and calibre you have Rob and what its trajectory characteristics are; plus your personal preference for type of reticle and of course what you have for budget. If it was my money for a fixed mag 6x scope, I'd be looking for a 6x40 or 6x42mm Objective. No bigger really. Nice and compact and everything as close to the bore as possible. I cannot say what you should be looking at or make any firm recommendations to particular makes. But, a fixed mag scope is not ideal for my type of shooting preferences. That said, check out Bushnell, Simmons or Leupold. They make some fine quality fixed-mag optics suitable for air rifles.

 

It may be worth noting that having a zoom scope enables you to make use of the magnification length or range as a spotting optic? Then wind down to six when you are back on the target. I'm sure you know this anyway!

 

All the best for your searches Rob,

 

Simon

[Skot Ruthless Teale 1,701]

At 45/50 yds 9 times mag is fine! Nice to have 12x or 16x when you want to see your holes on paper targets. but 9 is definately enough 3-9x40 really is all you NEED

[ghillies 209]

varminter 2.5-10x44... a good ones good, a iffy one needs to go back.

[GruffaloGriff 1,859]

The one on my springer is a 3-9 x 50, not sure what make,no name but has a stags head logo on the side. A mate gave it to me. Fine for 15 yards +

Maybe i just need to experiment a bit more.

 

I just bought an aas410 and wasn't sure whether to swap the scope or look for something else.

 

Thanks for the tips, you seem to know your stuff pianorma.

[deano26 16]

if its got the stags head id say its a simmons.

Ive got a fixed 4x40(i think) simmons on my hw77k and its a good all round scope, clise range out to as far as u want to shoot.ace little scope and pianoman approved

 

Ive got a huuggee zoom BSA deerhunter scope (8-32 x40 iirc) on my pcp and if im honest i stick it on 8x and leave it as its pretty usless at bigger zooms other thsn for looking were you hit the targets when plinking and cant be bothered to walk to the target.

 

Regards

 

Dean

 

 

 

Edited the scope mags as I was on my phone and now I am on the pc it tells me what they are in my sig

Edited September 13, 2012 by deano26

[pianoman 3,587]

Could be Simmons Dean.

 

Or Bushnell Silver Antler or Bushnell Trophy?

 

You are welcome GruffaloGriff. Thank you!

Edited September 12, 2012 by pianoman

[deano26 16]

I am unfamiliar with those scopes if I am honest, I just know that both my Simmons have stags heads on them

 

Regards

 

Dean