I’m looking for a light-weight scope for a Short
(sigh) the search goes on. I desire something compact, and light weight so as not to make the Short top-heavy. The gun will mainly be used for target shooting inside of 50 yards. Still, old eyes need to see. I know I don’t want a duplex reticle. AO would be nice. If I can see to place shots inside 1 inch (25mm) at 25 yards, I’d be happy. Back to Amazon.
thanks,
Darryl
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I believe that Chinese glass quality is tied to what the retailer wants to spend on glass quality; the retailer has a choice in that. But I don’t know for fact that the best Chinese glass is comparable to the best Japanese or Philippine glass. Very few scope makers make their own glass in-house anymore. I’ve drank the Kool-aid of this video (and I’ve watched a bunch of his videos before drinking): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRpBxLbxhAo
I think all SWFA scopes are made in Japan. The brand is highly rated in the video I linked too. As an owner of the 16x Classic (with mquad reticle) I agree with everything said about the brand. I’d prefer to stay with the FFP reticle, and in a fixed-magnification form, probably 10x for the Mutant Short. The mil radian system makes the adjustments very simple; just count the clicks from POA to POI and viola’! You’re there. :smilen:
Also, I agree with DanT that many of the Chinese-made scopes look the same. So maybe it is down to what a retailer wants to spend on glass?
Darryl
PS how does one post a direct you tube link so the video shows up in the post? The “youtube” button doesn’t seem to do anything.
The SWFA 5-15 ffp is on sale, made in japan I believe. Not super lightweight though. The Delta can be had for 420 USD in the EU and also madein Japan.
Do you want a FFP or is it a SFP you are looking for? Fixed or variable power?
For a Chinese made scope the Athlon is pretty good for the money. I can’t speak for the others since I’ve never owned them.
All those scopes seem to have the same form factor (china factory)…Primary Arms, BSA, Athlon, Aeon, etc. Other than the reticles do you think the glass is the same?
DT
the smaller reticle is one drawback to an variable-mag ffp scope at it’s lowest magnification, generally speaking. I own the inexpensive BSA FFP tactical 4-14×44 and at 4x the reticle is useful only as a simple cross hair for me. It does focus down to 8.5 yards though. The glass is not HD and my Winchester 2-7×32 has clearer glass (mounted on my Crosman and Airmax pistols).But I do like the simplicity of the mil radian reticle. Easy-peasy to adjust. I’ve seen the BSA now for $180.00 on Ebay. MidwayUSA still has it for $249.00. So my head is still spinning, looking here and there for that Zen-of-scopes feeling. ❓
Darryl
thank you,
Darryl
The LRHS isn’t an ideal airgun scope since the min parallax spec is 50 yds. Since it’s a FFP scope, I can set it at 3x mag and still use it at 15 yds. Reticle is tiny at 3x but usable. Again, not ideal but the glass is pretty good. Personally I would get the Talos BTR for a fraction of the cost for an airgun.
Cricket, thanks for the image. This is the mquad reticle similar to the one on my SWFA Classic 16X42 mounted on my R3M ( bit simpler for my purpose):
Darryl
What about a Delta optical or a clearidge? The deltas have a line with 1″ tubes where the 6-24 weighs 500grams and they are available in 4-16 and 3-12 as well. They also have a 4,5-14×44 FFP with this reticle:
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All made in japan
EF, the price buckled my knees! 😳 Love the reticle, and those low-profile turrets. Glass is said to be as clear as a NightForce scope (I watched a video) I found a price here: http://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Tactical-E3124H-Riflescope-Reticle/dp/B00J4IZ3BK I’ll look for something a bit more inexpensive,
thank you,
Darryl
Bushnell LRHS 3-12×44
It’s the scope pictured on top but I’ve had it on the Mutant as well.
What is the scope on the bottom pic? Thx
DT
well EF, I kind of like the SWFA Classic series with the fixed mag and the Mquad reticle (can’t beat that reticle, imo). It’s still $299.00 plus shipping. I have the 16x version in my .22 R3M. Your advise is well placed. “Buy once and be happy”; a motto to live by.
thank you,
Darryl
Sounds like your paper punching so you want more than 4x mag. You probably want more than 10x mag as well if you want to see the pellet holes at 50 yds. Both scopes you referenced are SFP. You may prefer that as oppose to FFP. It’s user preference. The 1-4×24 is a 100 yds fixed parallax. I’m pretty sure you won’t want that given the distance you plan to use it for. The 3-12×40 is a 1″ tube SFP scope. If you want to see the specs, go to Athlon’s website or here where they sell them. https://sportsgearoptics.com/5-rifle-scopes
For me personally, getting a full featured scope (illumination, SF, etc) with a decent reticle for a couple more ounces is a fair trade-off. I would also spend a little more and buy once and be happy. $300 for a half decent scope ain’t bad especially if you’re putting it on a $1,200+ airgun. If you get a nice ass airgun and handicap it with a $150 scope, it’s going to take away the pleasure of picking it up and putting it to use. At the end of the day it’s your money so spend it wisely but do your research.
mdknapp, thanks for the input. I know I haven’t clearly defined what I mean by”lightweight”. It’s hard to put a finger on. i know the weight doesn’t matter so much if shooting from a rest, though a top-heavy gun can be more unstable if not securely rested. In the case of the Short, and thinking of holding the gun free-style with me being the rest (platform) I think the last thing I want is to try to stabilize a top-heavy gun.I’m not a good free style shooter, but I’d like to challenge myself to be better. Maybe one day I can free-style 10 shots into a 1-inch group at 25 yards? I don’t know, but it’s good to have a goal. Why stack the deck against that goal with a top-heavy gun? Heck, I’m wobbly enough as is. :biggrinn: So I guess that means a smaller scope (not a UTG). So a 10x scope out to be more than enough magnification for the goal. 4x? So it’s a matter of weight.
I do have a question. What do you think of this scope (it’s 4x): http://www.amazon.com/Athlon-215025-Talos-Direct-Riflescope/dp/B01APT0FNM or this one: http://www.amazon.com/Athlon-215004-Talos-Capped-Riflescope/dp/B01APT0H3U/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1460584974&sr=8-13&keywords=athlon+rifle+scopes
Both are listed at one pound, but I’d have to get that from the manufacturer. Amazon often gets it wrong.
Darryl
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A fixed powered scope is a SFP scope