Hatsan Optima scope

[doninva]

I bought a Crosman F4 at wally world about 6 months ago. It had an all plastic scope, except for glass and maybe the internals. I thought it was the absolute worst scope l had ever seen but alas, l was greatly mistaken  .  The Optima 3-9x40, that came with my Hatsan 95 is way worse that the no name plastic scope that Crosman puts in their combos. I knew it was bad from reading the reviews  but l was floored that anyone would include something that bad. I pulled it after 10 shots and put a 3-9x40 Hawke on it. Don

[Blowpipe Sam]

I save them for use on my pumpers.  They are really no worse than any other cheap, (non springer rated) Chinese scope.  About the same quality as a Barska or Tasco.

[doninva]

Maybe the one l got is bad. My target was VERY fuzzy at 10 yards and unusable at 30 yards on 3x all the way to 9x. Don

[Blowpipe Sam]

Maybe the one l got is bad. My target was VERY fuzzy at 10 yards and unusable at 30 yards on 3x all the way to 9x. Don

Sounds like the objective is badly out of adjustment.  The objective lens can be adjusted but even so it's a crummy scope you shouldn't trust on anything livelier than a Daisy 880.  Search the archive here.  There are several threads about adjusting the objective lens on a scope.

[H95Kidd]

Maybe the one l got is bad. My target was VERY fuzzy at 10 yards and unusable at 30 yards on 3x all the way to 9x. Don

Sounds like the objective is badly out of adjustment.  The objective lens can be adjusted but even so it's a crummy scope you shouldn't trust on anything livelier than a Daisy 880.  Search the archive here.  There are several threads about adjusting the objective lens on a scope.

Agree that the Optima 3x9 is not a great optic, but the one that was included with my Hatsan 95 Vortex .22 "Combo" is still working OK. Probably 5+ years old, but shot count is fairly low. I did the "backyard" parallax adjustment to make it a bit more usable (set it for about 40yds) and it's still shooting to POA. It is decently clear and I'm going to continue to use it until it breaks, OR I happen on a REALLY good deal on a better scope. Just stubborn I guess. I do have a nice Nikon 3x9 EFR (now discontinued, of course) that I considered mounting up on it, but I would feel pretty bad if THAT particular scope was damaged using it on the Hatsan. Just can't be replaced. Although the Nikon IS rated for air rifle duty, it is SUCH a nice scope that I prefer to use it on one of my .22 RF rifles, rather than take a chance on damaging it on an air rifle. IF these scopes were still being made I would have no problem mounting it up on the Hatsan. For the money, when these scopes were available, I submit there was really no comparable scope to the Nikon. It is a shame they are no longer being made. 

[Toxylon]

Up until recently, a semi-local gun shop still had a Nikon EFR scope for sale, when no-one else did. I hemmed and hawed about shelling the cash for it and then it was gone.

[doninva]

I had one of those Nikons on a 10-22, great scope.  On the Optima, l knew what l was getting, so no big deal. I was just surprised at how bad it was. I agree, would never put a scope on a springer that didn't have a life time warranty and rated for spring guns. Don

[H95Kidd]

Up until recently, a semi-local gun shop still had a Nikon EFR scope for sale, when no-one else did. I hemmed and hawed about shelling the cash for it and then it was gone.

Man, I just HATE IT when that happens!! You'd think we would all have learned by now that if you see it, and the price is not too out of line, you should scarf the item up immediately. Otherwise it WILL be gone if one procrastinates. How many times has this happened to just about all of us? Certainly a BUNCH of times in my case. Do you recall how much was the Nikon selling for? I'm very fortunate that I have two of them, the last one was purchased from Midway for about $150. Should have bought a few more at the time, but who knew?

[Back_Roads]

 I sold mine within days of the announcement of their demise, oh well I wanted my friend to have good glass IIR $150 new, I used work Christmas gift card to buy.

[mikeyb]

I agree these scopes are low quality, but they are also cheap or free as part of a budget combo bundle. Same goes for the mounts.
Refurbs available for $10 and $20...

($9.99)  https://www.fieldsupply.com/hatsan-optima-4x32-air-rifle-scope-refurb.html
($19.99)  https://www.fieldsupply.com/hatsan-optima-3-9x40-scope-refurb.html

IMO that's about the MAXIMUM actual value of these scopes.

Optically my cheap Optima scopes are fairly clear. Seems like you may have received an EXTRA bad one?

Both the scopes and mounts are not really built to handle double recoil springer rifles. I've received many in rifle/scope bundles but almost never install them on the springers they came with.

Installed one Optima 3-9x40 recently on an AT44. Cheap mounts were setting the scope WAY OFF to one side. Without even looking through the scope I could see the scope was pointing about 1' off to the side at 30'. That's pretty bad and I think the worst misalignment I've ever seen on "free" scopes and mounts.

Tried combinations of rotated mounts front to back and screws left and right. Scope still WAY OFF to one side. Tried alternating mounts one screw left the other screw right. Winner! Scope axis almost perfectly aligned to barrel axis. Had to adjust the eye-piece to get a properly focused reticle, but I have to do that on any scope I receive (aging vision :-(  A few clicks on the scope turrets and the AT44 was hitting the crosshairs.



Examine your scope carefully. Any signs of shipping damage?

The one I mounted on my AT44 came with a refurb Mod95 springer I ordered about 2 years ago. Refurb rifles DON'T normally come with scopes but the HatsanUSA sale at the time was "take 15% off refurb rifles, get a free scope and free shipping". Could not pass up that offer (Mod95 refurb = $99.99-15% + scope + freeship ;-) Didn't even unwrap the scope until last month after the AT44 arrived. I'm assuming the scope was ALSO a refurb, but it had another problem.

Because it was thrown into a box with a heavy refurb springer the scope was in 2 pieces from rough shipping. The front optic and tube had been knocked out of the rear optic tube + turret assembly. Simple plastic tube with fine threads and some failed thread locking compound. Used a little clean compressed air to blow out any debris. Threads actually had minimal damage so I cleaned them, added a drop of fresh thread locker, and reassembled the scope. Yes, I know, seal broken, dry nitrogen fill gone, condensation likely in the field. I'll worry about that WHEN it happens. Scope "repair" successful... for now.

I'm not convinced these cheap scopes are even factory sealed after a dry nitrogen purge.

On a general rating scale my Daisy 880 soda-straw scope is at the bottom. Usable... barely. My few Beeman scopes are near bottom also. Usable but not very clear. Crosman next. Better, but still low quality. The Optimas I've used so far I'd rate just a hair better than Crosman. Not yet "high quality" I have a couple SVBONY, CVLIFE, and one Hammers scope (all $40-$70 range) and the optics in those scopes ARE BETTER!

IME you do get what you pay for and "free" scopes are free for good reason :-)

[doninva]

When l bought my gun, l never considered using the Optima scope. I just put it on my gun to see if it was as bad as advertised, on the forums. Never considered the scope as a +/- for the purchase. Don