The UPS Stork Was Here - New HW95

[gapi]

My words on scopes? Gladly, and I'll try not to ramble. I have been using decent scopes since 1993. I'll state my case and comment on the air rifle scopes I have tried at the end.

Other than good glass the one thing I must have is decent eye box performance. Basically if I have to hold my head locked into a precise position to get a full field of view in the eye piece it takes lots of the pleasure out of the sport for me. I have no patience for it.
To understand what I mean by eye box please see THIS video.

Most glass these days are clear and decent. Some will have a hint of color, or diminish at higher magnifications. Its a long list so I'll stop.

I do keep in mind of what to expect for the cost of the scope in question at the time.
And for an air rifle I do not need a huge objective bell & super high dollar coatings for dusk and dawn light draw either. I just want a decent scope for the cost of under what I paid for the rifle that doesn't work me like a borrowed mule to use it.

I am a Leupold fan because in 1993 I was using Simmons, Redfields, and Tasco's. Then I was invited to a hunt with short notice that had me using a loaner Parker Hale 30.06 fitted with a Leupold 3-9x40. It ruined me when I got back into my glass. That scope was so much more forgiving as to head positioning to get a full field of view in the eye piece it changed my standards forever.

So now I am sorting through air gun scopes and Leupold just doesn't have one suited for my application of a short focus range & mill dot that does not cost three times the rifle does. Believe me I called them an asked. Oh sure, get an EFR 3-9x33 AO and get the custom shop to do a mill dot reticle for nearly the cost of two new HW95's.

If you have never used anything in the range of Leupold or Nikons better lines and above, and want to go to a Cabela's and sample some, keep in mind from the video of how to setup a scope for use in the field that fits your ergonomics. I went to the one here and all of them were mounted so far forward on the demo stocks I needed a neck stretcher. Its a busy place and getting those guys to hand you an Allen wrench for every scope you try isn't going to happen.

They all have better eye box at their lower magnifications.

So........... Air gun wise I own 2 Hawkes right now. And if you search all my posts you will find one of me beating up on a Hawke 3-9x40 HD IR.

First thing - was the illumination was centered a hair to the right side of the cross hairs and was distracting. Yes I had the fast focus set correctly.
Second thing - was the bottom cross hair post was always noticeably brighter than the other three.
Third thing - was the illumination knob almost needed pliers to turn. Forget about reaching up there comfortably and adjusting it. And the layout of the settings is thoughtless. 
Fourth- the eye box was no better than a "$39.99 On Sale" RWS 3x9x44 AO Night Pro I already have.

I have came full circle back to a Hawke 3-9x40 AO HD IR I purchased used because the market has basically beaten me into submission.
When I got my hands on the scope none of the above symptoms were present and the eye box performance at 9x was somewhat tolerable for the money spent. I guess that 1st scope was a bad copy.

So for the money, if you get a good copy of a Hawke 3-9x40 AO HD IR you can adapt to the eye box limits. And please note don't think you are going to save a dime and get the same scope in the non illuminated version because its NOT the same scope & glass just without the illumination. The reticle is of wire and lots thicker, and the glass has a hint of color. But again for $89.99 it does not hurt so much. I have one of those too.

Then enters the Vortex Diamond Back 4-12x40 AO. I just couldn't stand it and forked over the $250.00 sale price thinking for the money I should really see a big difference. Not at all.

The 1st thing I noticed was the build as I pulled it from the box. The Hawkes I have to me look a feel better. The eye box performance was the worst I have seen. Anything over 9x was a miserable experience. The AO ring yardage markings in one session would be close to actual and then next session would be off 50 yards. $250.00? I returned it.

So for now my happy medium is the now out of stock everywhere Hawke 3-9x40 AO HD IR. I'm not trying to scope a $900.00 Browning X-Bolt Medallion Rifle but I want to eat my cake with the best in class eye box.

For now I'll lick my wounds go with the Hawke HD IR lines in 3-9.   

[grauhanen]

The HW95 is a great gun and tuned it's even better.  I'm looking forward to hearing more about how it shoots.

[bReTt]

Looks Great! 

I have my eye out for a HW95 in .177.  I already have the R9 in .22, great rifle.  I want the 95 for the iron sights, the Beeman's don't come with them anymore. 
Enjoy!
Brett

[gapi]

Thanks,

Yes, iron sights and don't forget the raised cheek piece. The R9 keeps the comb but loses the sights and raised cheek and cost more!

[Yak54]

Allen

Thanks for your comment on scopes.  Didn't you also have a Mamba Lite in the mix ?  What did you think of it ?

[gapi]

Yes thanks, I forgot about the Mamba Lite. No wonder because I did not have it long.

Man, I had hopes for it too.
The copy I had the glass seemed to lack contrast. I remember looking at a mound of foliage behind a target at 70 yards I shoot towards regularly and picking up on something being off. I checked the fast focus, rested my eyes and tried again thinking this is not as clean as I'm used to.
I broke out the $40.00 (on sale) 3-9x44 RWS Night Pro and it was much better. Huh? Something was a miss in the glass on that one.
Add to the eye box performance being no better than an $89.00 Hawke, it went back. This was a $300.00 scope! The turret adjustment clicks were almost silent. The scope broke my heart. I really wanted the side turret AO feature too.

I have not shopped for scopes in years. Before recently getting into spring gunning the last scope I purchased was in the late 90's or early 2000's, a Leupold VARI-X III 4.5-14x50 AO. An amazing scope to this day that can hold its own against anything out there. I also have Leupolds in 3-9x40, a 3-9x50, two 2-7x33's, and a 2x20 hand gun scope. All have great glass and are quite eye box friendly.

After all these years and technology advances none of the lower brand scopes have adopted the comfortable eye box feature. There is no competition I guess. and most folks who's budget drives them at lower costs scopes have never experienced better or perhaps they would save up for it. 

I don't know what Leupold does to get a better eye box, and if they had a 4-12x40 AO mill dot that would focus down to 15 yards for under $500.00 it would be on my HW95 fully coming in at $600.00 fully tuned.     

I also hear the higher end Vortex scopes are nicer but have not tried them.
     

       

[gapi]

Back to the HW95,

I have not benched it yet but am shooting very close groups in my usual manner just trying to break her in.

The Chrony Numbers So Far. They are climbing and settling or say tightening.
The JSB Exact Match Diabolo 8.44 gr shoot fantastic just like in the B26.
The Predator Poly Mag 8 gr perform well also. Two guns without too many pellet brand or types is nice. The B26 will be going back to .22 very soon though.

When I spoke with John before sending it in I let him know I understand that tuning for higher fps is not the main thing but did want to know what he commonly sees.
He says the HW95 responds well to tuning and if they are allowed let to get too much fps the get hold pretty sensitive.

I'm really enjoying the tune. I am not even trying to establish a certain hold. I just support the rifle.                   

JSB Exact Match Diabolo 8.44 gr            
            
Lo   874         
Hi   892.7         
Av   882.6         
ES   18.7         
SD   5.65         
            
10   881.3         
9   884.7         
8   874.3         
7   874         
6   882         
5   889.4         
4   879         
3   883.8         
2   884.8         
1   892.7   

Predator Poly Mag 8gr            
            
Lo   898.6         
Hi   924.1         
Av   911.9         
ES   25.4         
SD   8.88         
            
10   899.1         
9   898.6         
8   906.1         
7   924.1         
6   914         
5   910.2         
4   911.7         
3   918         
2   913.7         
1   923.9