Best scope 3/9x40 or 6x42 on a springer

[jerry1 0]

Hi all which of the above do you think would be better for in the field after feather & fur with a decent springer in .177 .Both scopes are made by hawke . Thanks ATB

[andyfr1968 772]

Personally I'd go for the 6x42. It's a really good all round spec, IMO. Also less to break. I've known a good few Hawke scopes to have problems on springers so the less to go wrong is a bonus.

 

Decent enough quality optics for the money but they're not as robust as they might be.

[pianoman 3,587]

Andy has a very good point here. Look for Simmons, Bushnell, Nikko Stirling but be wary about Hawke for a spring rifle. Particularly if yours has a pretty sharp recoil characteristic.

 

Have to say, I have found Hawke scopes to be really very good. Superb in fact....for a while. Then they start to fail on a sub-12 ft/lb spring rifle after just a year of hard use. I've had a few and not a single one of them have lasted as long or as well as my old Simmons and Bushnell scopes. Some are well over 10 years old and used on my heavy recoiling FAC HW80 and are still beautifully reliable and accurate.

 

I wouldn't let a Hawke scope near this rifle, it would smash it in a morning's shooting. That's happened too!

 

I'm definitely losing faith in them, despite their claim to be rated for spring recoil. I have a Hawke Panorama 4-12x50 EV on my HW97KT. Very nice scope, very accurate but how long it will last with it is anybody's guess??!!

 

Pianoman

[Mawders 595]

That's interesting to know about hawke scopes as I have one for my springer but didn't know they were not that good durability wise.

Will have to keep an eye on mine, or that's 150 quid down the pan!

[secretagentmole 1,701]

Remember Mawders, if you bought it new they have a 10 year warranty! Might have to send it back to Deben, but the warranty is there!

[gurtwurz 792]

The pricier (£150+)hawke scopes don't seem to be so bad though, I've had an sr12 on the pro sport from new and it seems fine and dandy, although it must be said that the recoil on the pro sport is minimal.

 

Cheers, wurz

[porkycrook 466]

I'm in the same boat as Mawders spent £150ish on a Panorama scope so i will have to keep an eye out for any problems. Mind you i can use this problem along with a load more excuses for me missing

[pianoman 3,587]

They seem fine enough on low-recoil spring rifles like TX200, Prosport and tuned and smoothed Weihrauch. But, I've had several Hawke scopes on untuned HW rifles and they have all been replaced after going tech. Maybe I've had a bit of bad luck?

 

I have Simmons Whitetail Classic and Bushnell Scopechief model scopes, all 30/30 reticles; all with over ten years hard shooting behind them and these are still reliably superb for hunting with FAC and sub-12 ft/lb spring rifles

 

I'm going to have my HW97KT tuned so, I expect the Panorama should be fine there too.

 

Simon

[Acuspell 329]

£150 On a hawke? For that money you can get a MUCH better Nikon.

 

the 3-9x40 Prostaff or if you want more compact, then the 2-7 x32 is a FABULOUS little scope, built better than the hawke and with MUCH better lenses.

 

3-9x40 is more verstaile, but the 6x42 is a standard stalking scope. If you don't shoot rats or squirrels then you might not need the ability to shoot closer than about 10 yards. The 3-9x40 will give you the ability to open up andsee to shoot closer when needed. That is an arbitrary point, if you are shootinn at greater ranges than that all the time, you don't need the ability - set on 6x the two are virtually identical in light transmission and twilight factor - opening up to 5 or 4 the zoom will be brighter as the light fades

Edited January 11, 2013 by Acuspell

[Mr P 2]

I'd go with the 6x42 for its simplicity as your more than likely to be hunting fur and feathers from 25 yards out.

Make sure you keep the receipt in case of any warranty claims though...