Author Topic: Scopes (Read 5755 times))

nytebyte · « **on:** March 03, 2015, 01:48:50 PM »

I have went threw 5 scopes of the same brand now that are supposed to hold up. They have been on tuned rifles that shoot pretty calm but I do shoot about 2 tins or so a week so there have been a lot of shots threw the rifles. Should mention that the company has been good about replacing them but I am tired of mailing them in waiting for the replacement. Is there one out there that can stand up to a air rifle that wont break the bank? I don't want to mention the name of the scope because they have been good but just want to try a better scope. What are some of the ones that people have had the best luck with? Thanks, Jim

Gertrude · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2015, 02:01:47 PM »

It is OK to mention the brand and model of the scope. You would not be bashing the company. You are only telling of your experience, and you hae already stated that they have been good to deal with. No foul there at all.
Besides, it might help another member from having to go through the same thing.

Also, What gun are you mounting it on? (Some guns are just known "scope killers") and you are putting a |)= of shots thru it each week.
I'm assuming you are talking about some sort of "Magnum class" springer?

Is it a mechanical or gas springer ? What level of tune have you put on it?

What mount/rings are you using?

What weight pellets are you shooting?

These are all things that can effect the amount of recoil your scope is experiencing.

Bullit · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2015, 02:09:40 PM »

Hello. Perhaps more detail on the specific rifle? Some are tougher on scopes than others.
I'll tell you that mounting, and Optical Centering, is huge, for the lifespan of any scope.
I don't think you'll break any hearts by telling us your specific scope model, and specific mounting system. These may be the root of your problems. We're here to help

Sfttailrdr46 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 03, 2015, 02:14:42 PM »

What Bullit and Ron said rifle ,mount and scope will help us to help you sort things out

nytebyte · « **Reply #4 on:** March 03, 2015, 02:35:25 PM »

Hawke Airmax 4x12 scopes and 1 2x7 HD. They have been mounted on HW 95 in 177 and 22 also on a Hw 97. Vortex kit in all of them but the first couple of scopes were on factory rifles. Pellets are the 8.44 and 14.35 JSB. I have had great customer service with them-no complaints there and maybe I just am having a unlucky streak. The first airmax I sent in was because of the second one I bought and it was a lot more clear-the rest would not hold adjustment. Again, nothing at all against the company because ive had great service with them!! 1 piece mounts.

Bullit · « **Reply #5 on:** March 03, 2015, 03:15:32 PM »

By chance did you have to adjust the scopes much, to get them to zero?
And what distance did you try to zero your rifle at? This is a big question.

nytebyte · « **Reply #6 on:** March 03, 2015, 03:47:45 PM »

Not that much. And they were holding up for up to 3000 to 4000 shots which is better than a lot of scopes I have read about. I am just wondering if there is something out there that will go a lot longer. Side to side is right on center but I am shooting at 48 feet so they are turned up till I can get outdoors. Seems the springs are holding up ok but the lenses for the parallax is coming loose. Most are very happy with them so like I said I might have just run into a bad luck streak. Not sure if burris or bushnell or any other brand would be better or not-seems like they all have problems but wondering if there are any that don't without going to a $400.00 plus scope.

nytebyte · « **Reply #7 on:** March 03, 2015, 05:20:02 PM »

I may have jumped the gun (Pun Intended) on this one. I am so used to trying all the usual suspects of loose screws on the gun or scope then cleaning the barrel and as a last resort trying another scope. This time the scope started acting like the others so I hadn't even tried anything before I got excited. Just went threw everything and found all the screws tight but then before trying another scope I did the usual of cleaning the barrel first and that seems to be the case because all is good now. Back to pellet hole groups after sighting it in. Put 50 pellets threw it and everything is holding where it should be. I new that I couldn't have had that bad of luck with scopes. So far Hawke has stood up better than anything else that Ive tried.

grauhanen · « **Reply #8 on:** March 03, 2015, 06:39:33 PM »

Hawke scopes and airguns are usually a good mix. I've had nothing but good experiences with Hawkes on my springers.

OldFlyRod · « **Reply #9 on:** March 03, 2015, 09:03:26 PM »

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. I'm having intermittent issues with a Leapers UTG 3-12 x 4- on my NP2. I was beginning to think it was me. After taking the advice of fellow members and replacing it with a known good scope on my NP2, I realized my scope was not holding center. I spoke with Paul from Leapers and it's sounded like they are going to replace it, but after getting home and reading my e-mail, it's looking like they are wanting me to do more test before giving me shipping instructions. I'm wondering if an etched glass scope would be stronger. This scope has been on my NP2 for over 5k shots. I like this scope but can not afford to take a chance on a second one and have the same thing happen. Please keep us in the Loop.

Nikoman · « **Reply #10 on:** March 03, 2015, 09:40:22 PM »

I really like my Clearidge scope, it's been through thousands of shots since I bought it 12 months ago. The price was very right, it has great glass, build quality and light weight (which is a huge plus in the field).

Booger · « **Reply #11 on:** March 03, 2015, 10:31:26 PM »

Are you using a torque wrench? Tightening too much is a bad thing, and too little is bad as well. I tighten the base at 35# PI and 15# PI on the rings. That is just me though.

nytebyte · « **Reply #12 on:** March 03, 2015, 11:52:15 PM »

Yes on the torque. Been at 35 on the base and 15 on the caps. Haven't damaged a scope yet. I have this one working now. Seems it was just in need of a cleaning. The others lasted a lot longer so I couldn't believe this one would go with just a few thousand round threw it. I have always taken the tape that comes with most rings nowdays and replaced with the old style clothe tape so it covers the compleat inside of the rings and can honestly say that I don't have any problems with a scope moving. also its a good idea to clean the mounting area and screw holes with rubbing alcohol but I don't use any locktight on the rings.

Gertrude · « **Reply #13 on:** March 04, 2015, 12:58:32 AM »

glad you got it shootin' at where it's lookin"

you put a LOT of rounds down the tube each week !

I't might be a good idea to just run a patch down the bore every week or two.
Not a real hard cleaning job, but just a wet one followed by a couple of dry ones, just to say you did

nytebyte · « **Reply #14 on:** March 04, 2015, 08:57:06 AM »

Retired and a indoor area to shoot helps. Cant let them air rifles sit around LOL. Most years get out and do a little ice fishing and coyote hunting but the older I get the less I want to go out in the cold-and the ice fishing hasn't been very good this year.

nced · « **Reply #15 on:** March 04, 2015, 09:29:11 AM »

Quote from: nytebyte on March 03, 2015, 05:20:02 PM

I may have jumped the gun (Pun Intended) on this one. I am so used to trying all the usual suspects of loose screws on the gun or scope then cleaning the barrel and as a last resort trying another scope. This time the scope started acting like the others so I hadn't even tried anything before I got excited. Just went threw everything and found all the screws tight but then before trying another scope I did the usual of cleaning the barrel first and that seems to be the case because all is good now. Back to pellet hole groups after sighting it in. Put 50 pellets threw it and everything is holding where it should be. I new that I couldn't have had that bad of luck with scopes. So far Hawke has stood up better than anything else that Ive tried.

LOL....not too long ago I tuned a HW97 for a fellow who said the gun wouldn't shoot straight. Sure enough it wouldn't and after the tune it still wouldn't group well which was surprising because I was with my brother when he zero'd the "97" for his friend and it was shooting under 3/8" ctc at 30 yards when new. Then I decided to clean the bore even though the owner of the gun claimed that the bore was clean. Here are a couple pics.......

Uploaded at Snapagogo.com

Uploaded at Snapagogo.com

By the way...since the owner of the "97" had a Hawke Airmax scope mounted I did a little "focus related poi shifting test" since I had owned two Airmax and both shifted the poi simply by focusing. The groups were taken when sitting at 18 yards, however for the 2 shot group I moved up to 10 yards, focused, and shot a couple pellets aiming at the same bull. As expected the 10 yard shots were lower than the 18 yard shots when aiming at the same bull, however the horizontal poi shift was about 1/4". Actually, this was pretty good considering that with my Airmax I had a 1 1/2" lateral poi shift at the same distances simply by focusing!

Anywhoo......here is an instance with my R9 when the barrel got fouled (yep, I was blaming the scope too) and a bore clean solved the problem......

Uploaded at Snapagogo.com

ezman604 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 04, 2015, 10:00:20 AM »

One piece mounts work best on springers.
Also, Leapers and Center Point make reasonably priced airgun rated scopes.
I'm a little concerned with your statement of cleaning. An airgun really benefits from a seasoned barrel. Most, and I, recommend an initial cleaning and then don't clean again until somewhere around 10,000 rounds. When/if accuracy falls off. But once you clean it, as you did when changing scopes, the bore should be out of the inaccuracy equation.

Yep, Hawke makes an excellent airgun rated scope!!!

nced · « **Reply #17 on:** March 04, 2015, 01:53:57 PM »

Quote from: ezman604 on March 04, 2015, 10:00:20 AM

One piece mounts work best on springers.
Also, Leapers and Center Point make reasonably priced airgun rated scopes.
I'm a little concerned with your statement of cleaning. An airgun really benefits from a seasoned barrel. Most, and I, recommend an initial cleaning and then don't clean again until somewhere around 10,000 rounds. When/if accuracy falls off. But once you clean it, as you did when changing scopes, the bore should be out of the inaccuracy equation.

Yep, Hawke makes an excellent airgun rated scope!!!

Good point about a cleaned bore needing a few dozen fouling shots to restore the poi.

I haven't found that I can shoot 10,000 shots from my R9 without a bore clean! LOL....with a factory spring I never even got 10,000 shots before the spring broke (Maccari springs last a lot longer)! The HW97 that I used for shooting the posted pics was bought new and shot for only 3 months before the owner complained about poor accuracy...........I verified it with the 18 yard groups and I do know that it shot 3/8" ctc groups at 30 yards after initial bore clean and a few "fouling shots" when new.

It's always puzzled me how some folk claim that they "get by" with very minimal bore cleaning, especially since that hasn't been my experience with a dozen R9s and a HW77k, but whatever trips the shooter's trigger is just fine for me. LOL...I'll simply keep doing what works for me and pull a few patches ever box or tin of pellets shot!

I used to clean my R9 bore whenever the accuracy fell off. When shooting lubed CPLs that was usually at the 2,500 shot mark (two 1250 count boxes), but if the CPs were shot dry the accuracy drop off interval was about one 1250 count box. When waiting till I got "accuracy drop off" I'd occasionally get the "accuracy drop off" during a FT match so for the last few years I've been pulling through a few patches every box of lubed CPLs, and every 500 count tin of unlubed JSB Exacts since I switched to that pellet.

Bullit · « **Reply #18 on:** March 04, 2015, 03:27:37 PM »

Dez and Ed you are both dead on to me. I pull a few dry patches after a couple JSB tins, or a box of CPLs. And that seems to be plenty. That imbedded lead in the barrel imperfections is beneficial IMO.

palonej · « **Reply #19 on:** March 04, 2015, 04:29:49 PM »

I clean all barrels every 1,000 rounds or so.
I won't wait till accuracy drops off.
When I do....it looks like this every time!!
Few patches on a Crown Saver with a spritz of Ballistol then a couple dry.
This example is with my 98, but each rifle I have is the same!!

Thank you to our advertisers!

Scopes

Author Topic: Scopes (Read 5755 times))