THE NEW Hawke Airmax 30 on a Daystate Huntsman Regal XL w/pics

[Sandspike]

Day one with the Hawke Airmax 30. I finally got the rifle paid off so now the wife has most graciously allowed me and PayPal to buy a better scope. Some say that they like to spend nearly as much on the scope as they did on the rifle....well I don't subscribe to that notion. So here was my choice.

It's the 3-12x because I never need magnification higher than that when hunting. I like low power because it's quick to find that squirrel in a tree full of branches and leaves. This scope is CLEAR. It has a great image and it is a large image. I just wish that it was first focal plane. But then it would probably cost twice as much. I bought it on eBay for $349 shipped. The glass reticle is very sharp, fine and clear. When illuminated it is still just as sharp. The illuminator is not stepped so you can get it just right brightness for the situation. No buttons to press, its easy and fast just turn the knob to the brightness you need. It is only one color...red.

The included side wheel is the best I have used (but not the prettiest). It is not installed by being pressed over the focus knob which allows them to be wobbly, but rather "bolted" on to the face of the knob and is indexed to fit on just when it is fully aligned with the knob so that the numbers on each are perfectly aligned. This wheel does not rock laterally like most other wheels do.

Oh...I think it important to note that this scope is "all Metal" with the exception of the glass and the rubber on the magnification ring. Therefore it is rock solid. Even the scope caps are aluminum and I like the way that they fold back all the way and don't stick out like a sore thumb to grab onto everything like the bill of your cap. Notice the rear cap is folded under the scope

The reticle adjustment knobs are clearly printed and have a nice tactile feel and sound to them. Their is a locking "hat" on top that is easy to use. I read someone say that you can change even if locked but I couldn't. But then I didn't use pliers.

Did I say it is VERY CLEAR? And at dusk it is brighter than any other scope I have seen. (but I am not an expert)
 
It only took 5 shots to get it dead on at 40 yards. Then it drilled this 5 shot group.

It includes 4 tools. One to attach the focus ring, two to adjust the scope caps so that they are just where you want, and an allen to loosen the set screws to zero the reticle adjustment knobs. That zero adjustment is the only thing on the scope that I think could have been designed better, You loosen 3 set screws to allow for zero adjustment of each knob then retighten them. Crude but effective. Also it came with a spare battery and a lens cleaning cloth. PLUS mine came with an official Hawke beer coozze.

I think that I'm going to like this scope. My only complaint is that since I took a Simmons 44Mag off the Regal to install this scope, the difference in weight is noticeable. I gotta pump more iron I guess. But I'm looking forward to hunting with this setup.
Any questions?

[Sfttailrdr46]

  My question is do you really like your Daystate Huntsman ? 

[robertr]

 That's a nice setup Kyle, I like the reticle on the scope.

[Sandspike]

My question is do you really like your Daystate Huntsman ? 

Surely you jest!

For those of you that do wonder about the DHR_XL, search for my posts/reviews.

[clgraham82]

Gorgeous gun...can't wait to get one someday!

[Sandspike]

Gorgeous gun...can't wait to get one someday!

I hope you do brother.

[Sfttailrdr46]

  Poor attempt at a joke I love my Regal XL .25

[SpiralGroove]

Nice gun , Beautiful stock and Fancy scope --> ........ That scope does look heavy.
The Hawke (varmint) 4x16x44 SF 1/2 mil dot would be perfect and 17.8 oz - w/black reticle.

I'm sure you'll be happy with what you have , the 5 shot group speaks for itself. 

[Pappy]

I don't mean to burst your bubble, but I just returned the same Airmax scope to PA, for a full refund.  I too loved the scope, and everything that you mentioned about it, but it broke my heart when I began to have inexplicable shifts in my POI.  I owned it for about 3 weeks.  I would shoot a bench target, get a 10, another 10, a 10x, then a 7, then maybe miss the whole darn target ... then back to a 10.  I blamed everything, bad pellets, rifle power loss, loose stock screws, my hold .... I could not put my finger on the issue.  Then, I got a post from a GTA member, then another, stating they had crazy shifts in their POI.  I took the Airmax off, mounted my Sidewinder 30, and ... issues solved.  Scope is holding, good groups, and no more extreme fliers.  It was a shame, I really loved that scope, and the glass ... so clear.  I hope you have a good one, but just in case those groups start to spread out and do weird things, wanted to let you know.

Pappy

[Sandspike]

Wow Pappy, I'm so sorry to hear you had trouble with your scope. Thanks for the heads up. I will be running a lot of pellets through it this weekend so maybe I won't see your problem at least that's what I hope. Well I guess your predicament proves that even a Hawke can make a lemon. And I just hope that mine is a cherry.

[Pappy]

Wow Pappy, I'm so sorry to hear you had trouble with your scope. Thanks for the heads up. I will be running a lot of pellets through it this weekend so maybe I won't see your problem at least that's what I hope. Well I guess your predicament proves that even a Hawke can make a lemon. And I just hope that mine is a cherry.

I hope you have the "cherry" also, mine acted up after about 1000 pellets.  I have a tuned TX, not much recoil .... so it didn't blow up because of that.  My Sidewinder 30 is fine, but I sure liked the clarity and other features of that Airmax.  I would like to see them use the same glass on the Sidewinder.  Maybe I'll try a Sightron, Nikko Sterling Diamond, or Zeiss ..... on my next rifle.

Pappy

[robertr]

 Sandspike, hope you have good luck with that scope, I sent my Airmax ev 40mm in for repair, they upgraded me to the 50mm . Sent it back, scope was checked, they found a defect in that one too so they upgraded me to a Varmint model no extra cost. They did say that if I had a problem with the Varmint scope I could return it but I would then have to upgrade to a Airmax 30 and pay the difference. They were very helpful, I mentioned that I preferred mil dot over the map6 reticle, that is when they upgraded me to the Varmint scope. Excellent customer service.

[WonderBloke]

I have been looking at both the Airmax and the Sidewinder but I cannot see the differences? I am torn between the models and

3-12x50 or
4-16x50 ?

Both have the SR Pro reticle layout...

Oh and I am v new to this.. Looking at hunt, HFT and FT and cannot afford many scopes.. I am running an AA S400F and she is beautifully accurate but my Nikko Mountmaster 3-9x50AO scope really struggles in low light (rabbits now v sketchy since I bagged half of them)

[Sandspike]

So far so good. I still have very tight groups after a couple hundred shots. The scope is very good in low light and I like the illuminated reticle. My first time to say that, I usually leave the battery out because it makes the reticle look thick or blinds me with its glare. The Airmax reticle illumination is sharp and clear. It is also easy to turn on and adjust without lowering the weapon to look at the controls. Unfortunately, I still have to remember to turn it off.

[LeadBreakfast]

So far so good. I still have very tight groups after a couple hundred shots. The scope is very good in low light and I like the illuminated reticle. My first time to say that, I usually leave the battery out because it makes the reticle look thick or blinds me with its glare. The Airmax reticle illumination is sharp and clear. It is also easy to turn on and adjust without lowering the weapon to look at the controls. Unfortunately, I still have to remember to turn it off.

You said it all right there...illumination is typically a gimmick more than anything, but Hawke has it right. Glad you like the new scope, beautiful rig you've got there!

[Sandspike]

Does anyone know at what magnification this scope is true mil-dot? I suspect that it is at 10X.