AO scope that can focus less than 10 yards?

[countrydoc]

I have an issue shooting house sparrows that are nesting in our barn at night. The only angle that I can use to shoot at them is < 10 yards and my Leapers scope will not focus that close.
Does anyone have a suggestion?
Thanks for the help.
Doc

[Roadworthy]

You never mentioned a budget for your scope.  At that range and at night some sort of laser designator may work better than a scope.

[nolimit2217]

I often shoot at 10M or less.. My Hammers scope can focus down to 5m, is cheap and has been reliable. I have a FD Rex scope from Mike that also does a great job.

[Night_Raider_]

Tasco 2.5-10x42 will focus down less than 6 yards at 10x, so it should go less than that at low power.  About $57 from Amazon and has great optics for the price.  I'm putting one on my Disco this weekend, hopefully.
ETA: Just checked at 2.5x and it will focus down to under 8 feet!  The crosshair gets a little fuzzy at that short a range, but there's still no issue making it out.

[Motorhead]

Both my HAWKE Panorama EV AO 3-12x50s do ... @ 7-8 yards

[robertr]

I agree with Roadworthy on the laser, but I would add a nice pistol to the laser for short range.

[Night_Raider_]

I agree with Roadworthy on the laser, but I would add a nice pistol to the laser for short range.

2240 and a laser or red dot maybe?

[SSG Grampo]

UTG Bug Buster 3-9x32 AO illuminated focus down to 3yds. $97.97 under $90 with 10% coupon @ PA. I have one and would buy another. UTG has a few other scopes that focus down to 5yds.

[JimL911]

My Hawke 2-7X32 will focus under 15 feet at 2X.

[farrlarr]

At the range you are shooting, I would suggest that you simply use the iron sights.  Either that or get a cheap red dot.  Whatever sights you use, keep in mind that shooting upward at an angle is going to result in your pellet hitting at a different point than would be indicated by zeroing horizontal to the ground.  It would be best to zero at the angle you usually shoot; or to zero horizontally and then determine the offset to use for shooting upward so you have a reasonable chance of hitting the sparrows.

[gloob]

UTG Bug Buster 3-9x32 AO illuminated focus down to 3yds. $97.97 under $90 with 10% coupon @ PA. I have one and would buy another. UTG has a few other scopes that focus down to 5yds.

I have this scope, and I love it. Mine actually focuses down to about 5 feet.

Edit: I just remembered. First time I took it out of the box, sitting at the kitchen table, I turned the ring down to 3 yards and looked at a wall about 7 feet away. Of course, I was not surprised it was a little blurry; the surprise was that as I turned the ring out, it came into focus! Crystal clear at 5 feet, target and hairs. My scope might be "defective."

This scope is too short to fit in a standard 1-pc mount. And the eyepiece has a pretty good eye relief, but it is SHORT from the body to the end. So it might not work with your rifle/mount, depending on your hold and where your scope stop is located.

[gloob]

You could buy a functional red dot for $11.00, delivered, these days. I use the Crosman red dot on my 1322. It's a PITA to sight in. It needed some repair right out of the box. But it does the job.

You could also buy a pretty large variety of air rifles/pistols with open sights that would cost less than a new scope and would take care of a HOSP at 10 yards. 

[DavidS]

A $35 TruGlo red dot will do the job well.   It has adjustable brightness, and an enclosed tube, is light weight, 5MOA dot size.    Set the brightness down so that you can see through the dot glow while still seeing the dot, then place the point of aim in the middle of the dot glow and you will be able to hit dimes out to 30 yards all day long.

Otherwise the CenterPoint 4-16x40 AO scope does what you need, just go to less than 6 power at very close range (and adjust the objective all the way in).

[nced]

Both my HAWKE Panorama EV AO 3-12x50s do ... @ 7-8 yards

Hummm....I sold a 3-12 Panorama simply because it wouldn't focus sharply closer than 12 yards at 12x even though there was a 10 yard etching on the AO! I was able to get an "acceptably fuzzy" focus at 11 yards but that really wouldn't work well for the close targets shooting hunter class field target. Anywhoo.....unlike the two 3-12 Hawke Airmax I owned the Panorama was a good scope that didn't shift the poi laterally when focusing and the optics were good.

[countrydoc]

Thanks for all the advise. I have a red dot to try. I also ordered the UTG 3-9x32 Compact. These are going to be mounted on a new Maurader pistol or on the Talon SS.

[Geoff]

hammers 3-9x32 and 3-9x40 are both down to 5 yards.  I own one of each and they are springer rated.

~50$ and ~60$ respectively