Just ordered a Chinese Discovery scope for hunter class field target.

[Buldawg76]

Thanks for the update.

Mike

[DevilsLuck]

So... For the money... And the wait time... Would you recommend this scope, or suggest spending a little more and going for the hawk that was $80 more?

[nced]

So... For the money... And the wait time... Would you recommend this scope, or suggest spending a little more and going for the hawk that was $80 more?

Well....personally, I would simply order another 5-15x50 Hawke Panorama because I really don't know what kind of customer service I would get with a "scope ordered direct from China". LOL......I personally have needed warranty work on all the scopes I owned after shooting about 10,000 shots per year from my .177 R9s tuned to shoot at about 14.5 fpe. LOL...it's a "springer thing" so it's good that Hawke has a good warranty.

I needed a second scope since I have both a R9 and HW95 so I thought I'd take a risk the "scope from China", especially after seeing these sales pitch...........

However ya can do anything in the movies!

[Back_Roads]

 Hmm I think the tester would have tennis elbow by now 

[nced]

Hmm I think the tester would have tennis elbow by now 

LOL.....there are other "hard to believe test videos" and it remains to be seen if the scope holds up. I found one reply to a post on another forum that claimed his Discover "lost zero" when mounted to a HW97 and this "one star review" that claims customer service is poor............


Anywhoo.....I found that the scope I ordered from China is now offered at Amazon with free shipping............

   

[nced]

So... For the money... And the wait time... Would you recommend this scope, or suggest spending a little more and going for the hawk that was $80 more?

Well....personally, I would simply order another 5-15x50 Hawke Panorama because I really don't know what kind of customer service I would get with a "scope ordered direct from China". LOL......I personally have needed warranty work on all the scopes I owned after shooting about 10,000 shots per year from my .177 R9s tuned to shoot at about 14.5 fpe. LOL...it's a "springer thing" so it's good that Hawke has a good warranty.

I needed a second scope since I have both a R9 and HW95 so I thought I'd take a risk the "scope from China", especially after seeing these sales pitch...........

However ya can do anything in the movies!

Some clarification is in order after re-thinking the Hawke vs Discovery scopes. The 4-16x50 Discovery VT-2SFIR-N is a side focus scope whereas the 5-15x50 Hawke Panorama has a front AO so focusing the Discovery with an added side wheel is more convenient and precise than the front AO Panorama. The 80mm (about 3" diameter) side wheel added to the Discovery focus knob isn't a lot bigger than the approx 65mm (about 2 1/2 diameter) Panorama AO, however to focus the Panorama I need to reach over the scope and twist the AO at the "front" making the positioning and operation of the side wheel more "user friendly".

I own a couple more cheaper side focus scopes and neither are functioning to my satisfaction. The UTG 3-12X44 30mm Compact Scope (Accushot marked on the focus knob) isn't a bad scope for about $100...........

The issue is that it's short length does make positioning for a good eye relief on my HW95 a bit of a challenge. LOL, as this pic shows, a 30mm BKL one piece mount almost completely fills the "available straight real estate of the tube".........

Even with the scope mount slightly overhanging the end of the HW95 receiver it was still a bit of a "neck stretcher" to get a proper eye relief. My biggest gripe however with the UTG is the fact the there is too much "backlash in the focus knob" for me which makes it difficult to scope rangefind.

The other side focus scope I have that doesn't work well for me (again a sub $100 scope but now discontinued) is my 30mm tube 3-12x44 BSA Tactical scope with mil dot reticle. The optics are pretty good and the "mechanicals" function well EXCEPT for the focusing! While I detect no slop in the focus knob, I also have to turn the knob a LOT to see any change in the focus. Definitely not good for scope rangefinding!!!

One of the reasons I bought the $200ish Discovery was the fact that it had a 16x max mag. Previously the field target hunter class rules changed the max allowable scope power when sighting/ranging from 12x to 16x and I didn't have a 16x side focus scope. Of all the scopes I currently own I have to rate the "$280 from Optics planet 5-15x50 Hawke Panorama as "best" if the front AO focusing is ignored due to the wide view and good optics and the customer service.
On the other hand, the $200ish 4-16x50 Discovery optics do rival my Hawke Panorama optics while the Discovery side focus is functioning smoothly without backlash and "so far" the construction is solid without and poi shifting mounted to my HW95. The customer service for a scope "ordered from China" is a bit of concern if it is ever needed so this one issue is why I think the "Hawke at $80 more" would be preferable if a front AO isn't an issue.

If I ignored the Discovery customer service questions, the slightly narrower field of view, considered the nicely functioning side focus (so far) and assuming the scope holds up for the long haul.....I actually prefer the Discovery. If the customer service issues are important and the front AO focusing isn't important, I would consider the Hawke Panorama a better buy. Here are the scops I currently own (plus a 4-16x40 Wally Mart CenterPoint not shown) and I would definitely consider the 3-12x44 BSA Tactical to be the "worst of the group" for my purposes...........


LOL....bet y'all iz really konfuzed now! Scopes are definitely a "personal thing"!
Since a really good (so I've read) 4-16x50 Hawke Sidewinder costs about $480 from Optics Planet, my "retirement pockets"  aren't deep enough even consider to trying 'em out..........
https://www.opticsplanet.com/hawke-sport-optics-sidewinder-30-4-16x50mm-side-focus-rifle-scope.html
 
   

[DevilsLuck]

Thank you for your continuing update of your experiences with this scope. While I myself am not a machinist; and have only basic hand tools (you modified other parts for a side wheel to work to your preferences?) Out of the box, for a non-tuner, looking to test the waters... Which would you recommend?

[Artie]

I'm not that well versed on side focus, how micro-adjustable they should or should not be. 3, 5, 7 yards?  I have some of the same BSA's you mention Ed and I do notice 5 yard shifts can be tough to discern looking through the glass. My only other sf is a Burris Black Diamond and it doesn't dial down to 10 yards, center fire only, so I can't compare.
I usually "dial back" the BSA's assuming backlash exits and walk it in to parallax free. I've read a scope can be parallax free and not perfectly focused, and vice versa.
I'm only a hobbiest and am still learning to range with ao/sf. The Discovery sounds like it could be an acceptable scope for non-competition use.

[nced]

Thank you for your continuing update of your experiences with this scope. While I myself am not a machinist; and have only basic hand tools (you modified other parts for a side wheel to work to your preferences?) Out of the box, for a non-tuner, looking to test the waters... Which would you recommend?

"Out of the box, for a non-tuner"
Go with a scope that has reported good customer service and the features you like. 

I'm not a "scope guru" so perhaps there are some folks here on the GTA that are knowledgeable of good "springer rated" scopes that they have used and can help out.
My personal requirements are (others have considerably stricter standards).........
* Focus sharply down to 10 yards at 16x
* Optical quality to see a .177 pellet hole in a paper target at 50 yards.
* Must "snap in and out" of focus sharply when scope rangefinding.
* Prefer a lighted reticle for this dark faced knock down field targets that get placed on darkly shaded lanes. LOL...there seems to be quite a few black faced targets placed in dark lanes that actually hide an unlighted reticle. I have a 4-12x50 Hawke AirMax AO that I actually like for hunter class field target shooting except for the fact that the reticle is unlighted and it is hard to aim at a shot out killzone of a black faced target in a dark shady lane!

[Orion]

Joe reviewed one of the Discovery scopes yesterday and he gave ")&^%*^" rate.



On the video he mentioned that now EdgunWest is selling this scope

[DevilsLuck]

Joe reviewed one of the Discovery scopes yesterday and he gave ")&^%*^" rate.



On the video he mentioned that now EdgunWest is selling this scope

The 34mm, double picatiny rails sound like an airgunners nightmare to find alternative for, to mount this scope.

[gendoc]

yall talk'n about the 3-12x44 BSA Tactical, i have 4 of them and have never noticed a problem in operation. i adjust side focus all the time and always goes back to set point.
maybe itsa altitude thing....I'm @ sea level in Bama. 

[nced]

yall talk'n about the 3-12x44 BSA Tactical, i have 4 of them and have never noticed a problem in operation. i adjust side focus all the time and always goes back to set point.
maybe itsa altitude thing....I'm @ sea level in Bama. 

"always goes back to set point" & "I'm @ sea level in Bama"
Hummm....my particular "BSA TMD312x44-30SP Tactical Weapon Mil-Dot" has such "mushy focusing" (lot of side focus turning to change actual focus) that it's practically useless for hunter class field target shooting where "scope rangefinding" is of importance, and my Rougemont, NC Elevation is 545 feet so I don't think elevation is playing a part. I do realize that it's possible "I simply got a lemon"!

[gendoc]

yall talk'n about the 3-12x44 BSA Tactical, i have 4 of them and have never noticed a problem in operation. i adjust side focus all the time and always goes back to set point.
maybe itsa altitude thing....I'm @ sea level in Bama. 

"always goes back to set point" & "I'm @ sea level in Bama"
Hummm....my particular "BSA TMD312x44-30SP Tactical Weapon Mil-Dot" has such "mushy focusing" (lot of side focus turning to change actual focus) that it's practically useless for hunter class field target shooting where "scope rangefinding" is of importance, and my Rougemont, NC Elevation is 545 feet so I don't think elevation is playing a part. I do realize that it's possible "I simply got a lemon"!

it does sound like you got a lemon. the side focus on all of the ones i got work very well and quick to range a clear picture.
i use them to hunt, but not targets so i have about 1" to play with sometimes

[BillinNM]

Thanks for your reporting on this scope, Ed. Eager to see how it holds up.

[Bengunnin]

I have a bsa tactical 4-16x50 and for the most part is fine. There are problemsn but usable. If the lendses were glass and not made from a milk jug it would be a nice scope.

[Csexton]

I have a Discovery VT-T 6-24x50 on my FX Wildcat. The Glass is clear Edge to Edge at 24x. Go a Super Deal at Airgunopticsplus.com.
They have many Discovery Scopes in stock.