Cross posting from the Optics sub-forum, just to make sure the friends here

[HectorMedina]

do not miss a great review by our own Matt Coulter:


https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=160342.msg155783354#msg155783354


Keep well and shoot straight!






HM

[dtdtdtdt]

Hector & Mark:

I recently bought a crossbow with a similar scope and thought about it for my air rifles.  I haven't done so yet but will give it a "shot" soon.

I did buy one of the little Bug-Busters to see how it might work on my FWB 300 as a "short enough" to not get in the way of the loading port.  The advantage is variable power down to 3 and AO for parallax.  First experience, not so good, I couldn't get it mounted far enough back on the rail to get af full image.  I will give it another try soon but went back to my Clearridge scope as I needed to do some chipmunking. 

Mark's experience with using low rings versus medium and highs fits with the theory that keeping the line of sight and bore as close together as possible is a good thing.  Note the POINT BLANK range he mentioned of 10-30yds from Chairgun Pro with the low rings.  I always try to get my scope as close as possible to the bore...

I learned that a long time ago with a 3/4" diameter 4x scope on a .22LR for rabbit and squirrel hunting. I could regularly hit beer cans (not mine!) at 100yds with a 1 beer-can hold over.  I also was occasionally successful in lighting kitchen matches at 20yds with a sling.. I did cut a lot of matches but occasionally would get a fire.  22 empties were also favorites at various relatively short ranges. 

Fun review!!!

Thanks for sharing it.

[Mossonarock]

Just last week, I bought a couple lightweight scopes for exactly the reasons you point out in your blog. My eyes are old and I need some kind of magnification to shoot beyond 15m. But I found it silly to put a 2 pound scope on top of a light weight airgun and overly cumbersome when attempting to shoot off hand. I also don't need to see a squirrel's pupil at 100m in order to shoot them. So I decided a scope that weighs less than 1 pound with variable magnification from 3-12 and adjustable objective or side wheel is all I need.

When I was younger, it was easy for me to shoot targets out to 50 m with open sights, but no more.

Sure, for bench shooting long ranges, a big heavy scope is useful. However, I don't do that very often. Low powered, light weight scopes fit the bill for me.

[HectorMedina]

Tim;

If you look at DT's rifle list you will note that he has a 4-12X40 AO on his 0.20" cal. D54
Although a LITTLE (1.3 Oz)  OVER the 1 lb you specify, it is a good glass, and not that expensive.

It is a SIGHTRON SIH FT 4-12X40 AO, you can choose from among 4 reticles:

https://sightronusa.com/sihfieldtargetseries/

Surely one will be good for you.

SIGHTMARK does not have a lightweight AO scope in the magnifications you want with the weight you want, so, if you are set on the weight, then SIGHTRON may be a good option.

HTH


DT.- Thanks for reading, if you do decide to test your XBow scope make sure that you look-up the parallax specs before testing.

Keep well and shoot straight!






HM

[dtdtdtdt]

Following on Hector's comment on the scopes on my rifles.  The Clearridge is the shortest and lightest scope I could find of adequate optics and clarity.  As noted above, I am planning a tinker around with the Bug-Buster scope that has similar size to the crossbow scope (actually very close to the same size with some variable mag up to 9x.    The FWB has a very short piston-cylinder relative to the 54s and one of the big scopes that I tried made it impossible to load without at minimum 50% drop rate for pellets. 

Both my 54s have Hector-enhanced ZR-1 mounts that absorb the recoil very effectively.  Both are quite accurate and have given me no problems at all.  The only grump I could have is that they are pretty tall!  Following the concept the was discussed in the post on the Optics page (lower scope mount is better for hunting style shooting.). I wish I had recoil compensating mounts that were very low!  But when understood it isn't a serous problem..

[dtdtdtdt]

Continuing on the short, small, scope idea.  I installed the Bug-Buster on my FWB300 and tested it a bit yesterday.  I'll do more but time constraints kept it short.

UTG/leapers Bug-Buster  3-9x32 with Adustable objective.  They claim down to 3m at 10m it was easy to get it adjusted.  20m was also fine.  Glass isn't a good as a higher end Clearridge but acceptable.  About $85 to buy delivered from Optics Planet.  Several variants available.  This has mil-dot cross-hairs. Looked sharp. 

I used a set of low rings that matched the base grooves on the 300 rail.  Took a bit to get the bases clamped down as the rings I had were very old and a bit beat up.  Once installed the scope sits low enough to satisfy me.  Centerline is a bit over an inch from the bore centerline. 

Zeroed in fine.  Plenty of adjustment available and seems OK.  Noted that the clicks are a bit hard to feel or hear.  Since I was in a range with muffs on - not surprising on the sound.  The clicks didn't feel distinct so counting clicks for adjustment might be a bit hard. 

Once zeroed I kept 20 shots inside a 3/8" ring at 20m.  The 300 is easily better than that with care being taken.  I have to shoot it more to see if that is scope or too much coffee!!! 

For something like the discussion here versus a crossbow scope, I think it would compete well..

More later. 

[HectorMedina]

Continuing on the short, small, scope idea.  I installed the Bug-Buster on my FWB300 and tested it a bit yesterday.  I'll do more but time constraints kept it short.

UTG/leapers Bug-Buster  3-9x32 with Adustable objective.  They claim down to 3m at 10m it was easy to get it adjusted.  20m was also fine.  Glass isn't a good as a higher end Clearridge but acceptable.  About $85 to buy delivered from Optics Planet.  Several variants available.  This has mil-dot cross-hairs. Looked sharp. 

I used a set of low rings that matched the base grooves on the 300 rail.  Took a bit to get the bases clamped down as the rings I had were very old and a bit beat up.  Once installed the scope sits low enough to satisfy me.  Centerline is a bit over an inch from the bore centerline. 

Zeroed in fine.  Plenty of adjustment available and seems OK.  Noted that the clicks are a bit hard to feel or hear.  Since I was in a range with muffs on - not surprising on the sound.  The clicks didn't feel distinct so counting clicks for adjustment might be a bit hard. 

Once zeroed I kept 20 shots inside a 3/8" ring at 20m.  The 300 is easily better than that with care being taken.  I have to shoot it more to see if that is scope or too much coffee!!! 

For something like the discussion here versus a crossbow scope, I think it would compete well..

More later.

Great test Dave;

Just one difference: while you are adjusting the AO of the BB, squirrel has departed.

;-)

Xbow scopes have fixed parallax.

:-)

Keep well and shoot straight!







HM

[dtdtdtdt]

Continuing on the short, small, scope idea.  I installed the Bug-Buster on my FWB300 and tested it a bit yesterday.  I'll do more but time constraints kept it short.

UTG/leapers Bug-Buster  3-9x32 with Adustable objective.  They claim down to 3m at 10m it was easy to get it adjusted.  20m was also fine.  Glass isn't a good as a higher end Clearridge but acceptable.  About $85 to buy delivered from Optics Planet.  Several variants available.  This has mil-dot cross-hairs. Looked sharp. 

I used a set of low rings that matched the base grooves on the 300 rail.  Took a bit to get the bases clamped down as the rings I had were very old and a bit beat up.  Once installed the scope sits low enough to satisfy me.  Centerline is a bit over an inch from the bore centerline. 

Zeroed in fine.  Plenty of adjustment available and seems OK.  Noted that the clicks are a bit hard to feel or hear.  Since I was in a range with muffs on - not surprising on the sound.  The clicks didn't feel distinct so counting clicks for adjustment might be a bit hard. 

Once zeroed I kept 20 shots inside a 3/8" ring at 20m.  The 300 is easily better than that with care being taken.  I have to shoot it more to see if that is scope or too much coffee!!! 

For something like the discussion here versus a crossbow scope, I think it would compete well..

More later.

Great test Dave;

Just one difference: while you are adjusting the AO of the BB, squirrel has departed.

;-)

Xbow scopes have fixed parallax.

:-)

Keep well and shoot straight!



@



HM

I am contemplating a fly and bee hunt with a honey lure using the BUG-Buster,  Haven't had time yet.  As we are beginning a remodel project on our house.  Longest I have lived in the same place in my married life.  Wife is getting itchy about re-doing stuff so lots of planning taking time from guns this summer. 

My point is that the bug buster, with the same size and likely quality as the crossbow scope,  DOES have AO which I adjust to my  near zero of 17-20 yds and does help a lot!  Misses at all ranges are my fault. 

My FWB doesn't like BB or BB-s particularly well.   
cneers. 

Things have been quiet on the chipmunk front.  A Sharp-shinned (Cooper) hawk has taken up residence and the foxes returned for the 4th summer.  Haven't seen any kits though.  I wonder if Mom wasn't successful this year.  She disappeared about 3 weeks ago too.  Hope to see her in the winter.