95 Vortex .22 pellet test - we have a winner!

[bebanovich]

I decided I wanted the 95 Vortex .22 a couple of months ago, but my fate is in Santa's hands now.

[Old Corps]

I decided I wanted the 95 Vortex .22 a couple of months ago, but my fate is in Santa's hands now.

Here's hoping you've been a good boy...........

Ed

[bebanovich]

I decided I wanted the 95 Vortex .22 a couple of months ago, but my fate is in Santa's hands now.

Here's hoping you've been a good boy...........

Ed

Too late for that. I'm down to the hope that he's understaffed in the Checking it Twice Department.

[Gut2Fish]

Of the two Optima 3-9x32's I have, I've already pledged one to a friend. Maybe I'll keep the other one and adjust like Rick does in the video to 10 yards and make a short range scope for another gun to be had down the road.

I'd set it for 50 or 75ft. Honestly, it's not often your shooting as close as 30ft and setting for zero parallax at 50ft will still not vary enough to split hairs over from 25 through 75ft. The further distance shooting your are from the zero parallax setting the more potential for shift do to your head not always being in the same spot every shot. Setting for zero parallax at your common shooting range would be prudent. Whatever that distance you choose you'll still have 20 or so feet of distance on either side that parallax effect will be small- increasing effect the further from zero parallax your shooting.

[Old Corps]

Of the two Optima 3-9x32's I have, I've already pledged one to a friend. Maybe I'll keep the other one and adjust like Rick does in the video to 10 yards and make a short range scope for another gun to be had down the road.

I'd set it for 50 or 75ft. Honestly, it's not often your shooting as close as 30ft and setting for zero parallax at 50ft will still not vary enough to split hairs over from 25 through 75ft. The further distance shooting your are from the zero parallax setting the more potential for shift do to your head not always being in the same spot every shot. Setting for zero parallax at your common shooting range would be prudent. Whatever that distance you choose you'll still have 20 or so feet of distance on either side that parallax effect will be small- increasing effect the further from zero parallax your shooting.

That's where I set the parallax on my cheapo Optima, 50'. It works fine on my Vantage NP .22. 1" groups. Of course, I've only shot 50 to 75 times with it. How long it holds up remains to be seen. Plan on using it on tree rats at close range.

Ed

[Gut2Fish]

I just put my Optima back on, it now has around 500 shots and still holding up. What surprised me is how huge the cross hairs look now. Was spoiled using Hawke scopes and fine reticle for so long it was odd to be shooting with Optima cross hairs covering bulls eye of target.

Scopes on 95's may hold up but can say if you've a 125, 135 or Walther Talon side focus scopes wont last. First went in little over 1000 shots and replacement started going in first 10 shots. Getting an adjustable objective for replacement scope this time around (Airmax 3-12X40 AO). Love Hawke warranty and service but done with having to keep returning them. Side focus is a really nice option but there's no way I'm dropping $400 for a side focus (Airmax 30mm tube with side focus) that will hold up to the stress. The Varmint and Vantage 3-12X44 side focus certainly don't. Something for you guys to think about when and if you upgrade, AO scopes by design will last longer than side focus. Well, unless you want to have a scope that cost more than twice your gun.

Yeah, I know I bought more scope than the gun needed. 3-9 would have been plenty and certainly can get by with 2-7 if you don't shoot much past 50 yards. Hadn't used a gun with scope in decades so had no basis of purchase and didn't want to under guess it.

[Methuselah]

I just put my Optima back on, it now has around 500 shots and still holding up. What surprised me is how huge the cross hairs look now. Was spoiled using Hawke scopes and fine reticle for so long it was odd to be shooting with Optima cross hairs covering bulls eye of target.

Scopes on 95's may hold up but can say if you've a 125, 135 or Walther Talon side focus scopes wont last. First went in little over 1000 shots and replacement started going in first 10 shots. Getting an adjustable objective for replacement scope this time around (Airmax 3-12X40 AO). Love Hawke warranty and service but done with having to keep returning them. Side focus is a really nice option but there's no way I'm dropping $400 for a side focus (Airmax 30mm tube with side focus) that will hold up to the stress. The Varmint and Vantage 3-12X44 side focus certainly don't. Something for you guys to think about when and if you upgrade, AO scopes by design will last longer than side focus. Well, unless you want to have a scope that cost more than twice your gun.

Yeah, I know I bought more scope than the gun needed. 3-9 would have been plenty and certainly can get by with 2-7 if you don't shoot much past 50 yards. Hadn't used a gun with scope in decades so had no basis of purchase and didn't want to under guess it.

SWFA at $300 ($400 for side focus and 1/10 miliradian turrets) is a seldom mentioned option that would likely hold up to any springer.  Amazon carries them - I can't afford one but I like to drool over them...

[Old Corps]

I've been wanting to pick up a side adjustable AO scope eventually. Setting the parallax at the front is a real pain with a heavy rifle like the 95 and especially my XL100. After reading this maybe not such a good idea.

Ed

[Methuselah]

I've been wanting to pick up a side adjustable AO scope eventually. Setting the parallax at the front is a real pain with a heavy rifle like the 95 and especially my XL100. After reading this maybe not such a good idea.

Ed

Ed,

Playing with eye bell focus will change the range (depth of field) where parallax error is minimized.  One of my Optima's had very little error +/- 5 yards of a setting for zero parallax at 20 yards, the other did not have any setting combination inside 35 yards that would both zero out parallax and still focus the crosshairs.

They do warranty (replace) it if defective first year, and allowed me to upgrade to an AO 3-9 for $20, which I put on my Daisy 880, then got a Leapers for the Hatsan (125).  The Leapers is lifetime warranted...

My Daisy is getting a Simmons side-focus (long story especially on a tablet) when the factory fixes the close focus on it.  Too much $$$ for an 880 but got a good deal on it.

Maybe you can fine tune the adjustment on the Optima?  Mostly, I just think it is adequate for single range, like to verify the accuracy of the gun during the first 30 days.

HTH   

[Old Corps]

Steve-I just took the front ring off and adjusted the Optima cheapo to be clear out to 50' and put it on my Vantage for grins. For the little bit of shooting I've done with it it's been fine where it is. I was meaning I wanted to eventually pick up a side wheel adjustable scope for my 95 or XL1100 because it's a pain to have reach forward and look down the scope at the same time to set parallex.  I've been looking at Hawkes & Leapers/UTG but I didn't know that SWA feature made the scope more fragile as "Gut2Fish" seems to indicate. I know the 95 isn't a 125 or 135 but I think the XL1100 would be comparable. I've got CP 4-16X40 AOs on those now and they work great but they make a heavy rifle heavier & no SWA.

Ed