*Lightweight* Scope

[PaulFWI]

My Wildcat .25 with Hawke 4-16x scope is a great shooter but just too heavy for me to lug around for miles through the woods anymore.

I want to build a new squirrel rifle that is a .22 'pup (either Dreamline or Wildcat) and get as LIGHT a scope as I can get away with.  I realize this may mean smaller objective which is fine if it's good enough for 50Y shots.  Prefer fixed mag although I know there are many more variable options.

I do want very high-quality optics.  I lean toward something not "airgun-oriented" like Leupold, maybe, but don't know their lines well.

About my only bias is that I've had UTG and don't care for the optics.

Budget up to $500 or so.

Would love some suggestions.

[Gerard]

I very much liked my Leupold 2-7x 'rimfire' scope, which can be had for around $300 Canadian these days. It's about 12oz and has wonderful glass, a simple reticle, holds zero solidly. I've recently transferred that from my main air rifle (which is now wearing an MTC Viper Pro 5-30x, so it's now a heavy thing) to my new 9mm PCC, a TNW Aero. Suits the carbine nicely, as a lightweight scope effective out to 50 yards or more, and the reticle turns out to work perfectly with my holdovers to 100 yards with 147gr at 1040fps.

I also have a Burris 2-7x rimfire scope of similarly light weight, the Droptine model which costs around the same. Liking that one on a .22lr takedown. 2-7x seems about right for squirrels with an airgun to me. It's what I've used for years. Still trying to get used to the big scope for those guys. It's overkill to be sure, but I really like the higher magnification when I get the odd chance to shoot paper at 100 yards.

[ssbn617]

You might want to look into the Clearidge line. Small, lightweight, great glass, fantastic pricing. These are sold by the maker so no middle man. I use the 3x9 on my Diana 75 and Daystate Royal.
$.02
Mitch

[PaulFWI]

Thanks for replies.  I think I found my new scope -

https://www.chuckhawks.com/leupold_VX-3_2-8x36_wakeman.htm

[nced]

Thanks for replies.  I think I found my new scope -

https://www.chuckhawks.com/leupold_VX-3_2-8x36_wakeman.htm

Hummmm.....fixed focus and no mention of the minimum parallax distance but I'm guessing that the minimum parallax distance is 100 yards or more.
Anywhoo.......I could find no info on the minimum parallax distance for this scope.

[PaulFWI]

Thanks for replies.  I think I found my new scope -

https://www.chuckhawks.com/leupold_VX-3_2-8x36_wakeman.htm

Hummmm.....fixed focus and no mention of the minimum parallax distance but I'm guessing that the minimum parallax distance is 100 yards or more.
Anywhoo.......I could find no info on the minimum parallax distance for this scope.

I'd thought parallax was adjustable but, you're right!  So this is a no-go.

Back to Hawke, maybe.

It seems centerfire-intended scopes all have the parallax issue.

[PaulFWI]

Interesting that this article

https://www.marineapproved.com/best-air-rifle-scopes-review/

recommends the Leupold for short-range airgun work.

I've never used a scope without parallax adjustment on an airgun and have a hard time imagining it.  At least on my Hawke scope the difference between, say, 20 and 50Y is massive.

[PaulFWI]

Also, for those following, found an old thread with good info:

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=108581.0

[PaulFWI]

Hate to go off-topic but did you serve on the USS Alexander Hamilton?

[fivestar45]

My Wildcat .25 with Hawke 4-16x scope is a great shooter but just too heavy for me to lug around for miles through the woods anymore.

I want to build a new squirrel rifle that is a .22 'pup (either Dreamline or Wildcat) and get as LIGHT a scope as I can get away with.  I realize this may mean smaller objective which is fine if it's good enough for 50Y shots.  Prefer fixed mag although I know there are many more variable options.

I do want very high-quality optics.  I lean toward something not "airgun-oriented" like Leupold, maybe, but don't know their lines well.

About my only bias is that I've had UTG and don't care for the optics.

Budget up to $500 or so.

Would love some suggestions.

I looked for a light scope for one of my PCP's and bought this one.
https://www.leupold.com/scopes/rimfire-scopes/fx-i-rimfire-4x28mm
I had Leupold set paralax to 35 yd's..Worked out great

[PaulFWI]

So it's fixed.  What are optics like at 10Y and 60Y?

[Marc In Iowa]

... squirrel rifle, .22 'pup (either Dreamline or Wildcat) and get as LIGHT a scope as I can get ... 50Y shots. 

I have the .22 FX DreamPup and had the same goal ... very light rig w/light scope.

My best scope previously was my MTC Mamba Lite 4-16x 42mm. It has no illumination for the hold over part of the reticle (cross hairs only).

After much research, I went for the UTC (not on your consider list) fixed mag 10x 44mm. I'm happy enough with it that I bought a second one.

After all the research, I think I'd go with the new Hawke line of compact scopes if I wanted something better.

So many rimfire scopes have no AO and the reticles aren't set up for mil dot holdover.

Update: I notice that 2 of the 40mm Clearidge scopes have the mil dot reticles but the weight is at 20 oz.

Let us know what you decide on. I'm still interested. 🙂

[Gerard]

For what it's worth, the Leupold and Burris scopes branded for 'rimfire' use have parallax set at 50 yards. Their 'slug gun' scopes with the same zoom ranges are set at 100 yards. I've not had any parallax related issues using these two 2-7x rimfire scopes on airguns. I'm fairly fussy generally about setting things up such that I get my eye into the 'box' quite naturally, where parallax doesn't really matter, so perhaps I get away with it.

But on the other hand, constantly adjusting parallax on my new MTC 5-30x is kind of obnoxious. At least on live quarry. With zoom, parallax (focus being really fussy at anything about 5x) and the custom range turret all to be adjusted before taking the shot I've often missed opportunities for squirrels while messing with scope adjustments. That never happened with a simple rimfire scope, where I'd generally just keep it at 4x and have a range card in my pocket, guessing the holdover in centimetres, knowing the size of a squirrel.

I'm leaning towards keeping things simpler. Considering a fixed magnification scope to standardize on for everything. Maybe 6x is a good compromise - a bit too much for close up work but still usable if I keep both eyes open for locating the target quickly, while being enough zoom for reasonably accurate shot placement to at least 50 yards. A 30mm or even 35mm tube on a 6x magnification scope seems sort of obvious, with so much more light getting to the eye. Maybe one of these new 10x prismatic scopes MTC is offering? They're really small, with HUGE field of vision for such high magnification.

[PaulFWI]

Very close to pulling the trigger on the Clearridge.  Did not know Hawke had a new compact line...

[Marc In Iowa]

7 minutes into this video he talks about using the new Hawke compact scope on a bullpup and how it changes the whole "feel" for the better.

[Marc In Iowa]

Maybe one of these new 10x prismatic scopes MTC is offering? They're really small, with HUGE field of vision for such high magnification.

Hmmm!

I've not been aware of these.

Interesting. 11 oz with adjustable parallax, illuminated reticle and mil dots.

http://mtcoptics.com/swat-prismatic-10x30-atom/

[fivestar45]

So it's fixed.  What are optics like at 10Y and 60Y?

Super clear..And the scope is under 8oz and has 4.5in eye relief. If you want light weight you'll be hard pressed to get ahead of this one.

[Gerard]

I've not been aware of these.

Interesting. 11 oz with adjustable parallax, illuminated reticle and mil dots.

http://mtcoptics.com/swat-prismatic-10x30-atom/

Interesting indeed. Been checking around but can't find any for sale yet. Seems they've been supplying them to elite level shooters at competitions and industry shows but not quite hitting the market maybe. With the review they share at the bottom of the page it seems the retail suggested price is something over $600 Canadian, or likely $400 USD, which seems attractive for such an advanced optic. I was trying to track down a Dedal Stalker 6x but besides that one not being available in Canada, apparently, it's well over $1,000, making this MTC option even more attractive. Could be the one scope to rule them all, something I'd want on my main airgun and maybe a couple of firearms. The weight and price and all the great features, along with what I know of MTC quality, add up to something worth waiting for.

[KDX]

I have a Leupold EFR on my Sako Quad and it's a nice light scope. The new version is the VX-Freedom EFR 3-9x33 and it will focus down to 10 meters. They have really nice glass and you can get the reticles changed for a fee. The Rimfire MOA reticle is nice.

[Marc In Iowa]

... squirrel rifle ... .22 'pup (either Dreamline or Wildcat) and get as LIGHT a scope as I can get away with.  I realize this may mean smaller objective which is fine if it's good enough for 50Y shots. 
... lean toward ... Leupold

Budget up to $500 or so.

I think your original impulse about Leupold might turn out to be the right thing; very light, very clear, airgun reticles, adjustable parallax and lifetime warranty.

Part of the decision might turn on whether you want to wait to see the MTC scope.