Looking at getting a new scope…
Hey guys I’m trying to find a good scope for around 400 dollars. I HATE front focus parallax adjustment! Hate it! So it must be side focus. Also IR would be good as I shoot rabbits at night.
I was planning on getting the MTC Viper 6-24×56 but I can’t find any reviews on what it’s like. All I hear about is biased opinions on how bushnells are about 1000000 times better (which can’t really be true).
Any help is appreciated
Patrick
All Replies
Pat,
I just got a chance to play around with the Hawke Sidewinder 30 8-32×56, this past Sunday. The build quality is excellent, has a glass-etched reticle, locking-resetable turrets, the glass is crystal clear all the way up to full power.
I also saw the 16x version with the SR6 reticle, which was way cool. I don’t think you could go wrong with the Sidewinder 30.
Why do you have to aim low? I often zero in my gun at 50yds and it actually will shoot some over the cross hair until 50 and then below after 50.
You can zero your scope to your most common shooting distance and do not have to aim low unless you have it set up that way
I zero pretty close so my zero is at like 12 yards and at 60, between there I have to aim above the cross hair. So I might as well go with the mildot I guess.
I can’t wait to get my hands on the scope I hope it works out really well.
Which reticle is best for airgunning? I often have to aim low and it looks like the SR6 and SR12 only have markings underneath the center point. I’m looking at straightshooters and it looks like it only has the mildots.
Pat
Pat,
Why do you have to aim low? I often zero in my gun at 50yds and it actually will shoot some over the cross hair until 50 and then below after 50.
You can zero your scope to your most common shooting distance and do not have to aim low unless you have it set up that way
Alright I guess I’ll just go with a Hawke Sidewinder 30. I don’t want the hassle of dealing with international shipping.
Which reticle is best for airgunning? I often have to aim low and it looks like the SR6 and SR12 only have markings underneath the center point. I’m looking at straightshooters and it looks like it only has the mildots.
Pat
AOA service really sucks. I sent email to FX of Sweden about their service. Basically I just asked them to get another FX service station and dealer here in the US. I want an FX rifle but won’t deal with them.
I had a hell of a time getting AOA to talk to me when i needed a magazine for my whisper. I had to call the FX Dealership in Europe of wherever, and tell them that their US dealership is not paying attention to me, AOA called me a few hours later 😀
Vipers are nice but Bushnell Elites are better!
Reviews on AoA are mixed, shading towards “pain in the ass to deal with”.
Didn’t I see someone else say they have a nine month backorder on the Viper scopes? Can’t say it’s true or not, but given their track record, personally and from seeing other comments….yeah, they’ll take your money and tell you to hurry up and wait.
If you want a Viper, just do a Google search. There’s plenty of Brit stores that’ll be happy to sell and ship one to you ASAP. (German stores too, if you can talk the talk.)
The Euro vs. Dollar isn’t oppressive these days, almost even-up… you ain’t gonna get a deal, but you’re gonna get what you want.
Plenty of other good scopes out there Pat.
Nikon nighteaters are good. Lang has got a 6-24 x56 and its very nice. A fair bit cheaper than the Viper too.
Ok guys, so what is the final deal with AoA? If I order from them will the just take my money and not even ship the scope? I’m just trying to find a way to keep my money safe. Is there any other way to get a MTC in the states that would have some kind of warranty?
I was told by the UK rep that they would. So I ordered a couple. One is on a PCP in .177 and it has been holding zero nicely 🙂 Well, mosty. I’ve noticed the zero tends to wander a very slight amount from one shooting session to another, but during any one session it’s always consistent. I have not yet figured out if it’s the scope or the rifle (an Anschutz 2025). We are talking about a TINY amount of shift, though… but this particular rifle is so accurate I can see it. The other is on one of my .308WIN but I have not taken it out to zero it yet. I’ll admit I’m a little afraid of breaking it, but then again, it’s not hunting season yet. I won’t know for a few more months.
aloha,
walt
While we are on the topic of the MTC, does anybody know if they could hold up to a .308?
Bob,
That sure is tempting. It seems from the review that the MTC is a better scope with more features but it was too much money. I don’t care about the extra cost I just want to get a nice scope that I’m going to love for a long time and I think the MTC just barely comes out on top over the sidewinder 30 if you were to disregard money. Right?
Pat
I’m getting very close to buying one of the newly released Hawke Sidewinder 30’s. Depending on the reticle and power range it’s priced in the area you’re considering. I only mention it because it has every feature that a shooter could want for an airgun scope. Supposedly their customer service is one of the better ones for scope mfgs.
Here are a couple of reviews:
http://straightshooters.com/chat/viewtopic.php?t=6076
This one is in the members area of airgunforum.net and posted by the admin.
http://www.airgunforum.net/agf/index.php?showtopic=46218
With a budget of around £200, I spent many a happy hour looking at numerous reviews for a good all-round scope to fit to my newly acquired HW100K .177.
The specs I wanted included great optical quality, a good zoom capability (minimum of x 12) with SF parallax for 10yds, a 30mm body and 44-50mm objective lens to suck in as much light as possible, target style turrets and a mil-dot based IR capable reticle. I finally narrowed my choice to either the highly praised MTC Viper 3-12 x 44 or the new Hawke Sidewinder 30 4-16×50, both of which retail in the region of £210-£220 at my local gun shop. Whilst these are not direct comparisons, the MTC Viper 4-16x 50 was out of my budget range.
Thankfully my local shop had both in stock so I spent some time reviewing them in the flesh before making a final decision.
DESIGN
Apart from the obvious difference in the size of the objective lenses, these are very similarly designed scopes of similar weight and length (just over 14 inches). Both have all the specs I wanted and include the following design features:
Target Turrets – Both have locking target type turrets for wind/elevation. Pull up to unlock, turn to the desired position and then push down to re-lock. The only real difference is that the MTC is a 1/8 MOA where the Hawke is 1/4 MOA. Both allow the shooter to re-align the turret markings once zero has been achieved.
SF Parallax – Both are from 10 yards to ∞ with range markings on the focus ring. Both include an additional range-marked side wheel, with the MTC being about 60mm in diameter and the Hawke 100mm. The MTC SF/IR turret and windage turrets are in alignment across the body of the scope, whereas the Hawke SF/IR turret is offset forward of the wind turret by about ½ inch. This looks a little weird at first but works fine.
Reticle – The Hawke uses the standard mil-dot reticule which is true and 10 x mag. The MTC SCB reticule is based on the mil-dot spacing (also true at 10 x mag) but has a number of additional aim points specific for small bore (incl. air rifle) calibres and windage adjustment. The MTC instructions provide examples of hold over/under aim points for .177 & .22 (12ft lbs) and .22 FAC.
IR – Both incorporate the IR controls on the same turret as the SF with the IR knob on the outer ring with the SF knob inside it. Both have 5 steps each of red and green illumination. On both scopes it is sometimes a little easy to turn the IR knob rather than the SF when using without the larger side wheel. This would be especially true if wearing gloves.
ACCESSORIES
Both scopes come well boxed with a number of accessories. Both include flip-up covers, with the MTC being alloy screw in types and the Hawke the cheaper looking but just as effective rubber and plastic. Both include a 3 inch sun-shade and SF side wheel. The MTC includes mounts; however, although they may work well, they look cheap and I would replace them with a decent looking set of double screwed mounts. Both have the usual set of allen keys and cleaning cloth. The Hawke comes with 2 batteries for the IR (one fitted, one spare in the box).
That’s the facts dealt with, so how did they compare in my hands?
OPTICS QUALITY
To be honest, there was very little to choose between the two. Both were crystal clear and easy to focus. With a slightly larger objective lens the image seemed a little brighter in the Hawke but I am happy to concede that this could have been due to changing light conditions outside the shop. I did not have the opportunity to test them in a dawn/dusk situation so will not comment on this aspect.
MAGNIFICATION
For the same money, the Hawke had the edge, IMO, with a 16 x mag.; plus the mag. ring was also noticeably smoother and less stiff than the MTC. I also liked the fact that the Hawke’s fast focus ring had a locking ring to ensure it would not budge when messing around with the flip-up lens cover.
TURRETS
The Hawke’s windage/elevation turrets had a crisper feel to them in locking/unlocking and the clicks were more positive on turning. Although the MTC turrets worked fine, they felt a little “mushy” compared with the Hawke.
RETICLE
Both reticles were beautifully crisp and clear. I thought the MTC reticle was fantastic and an improvement on the standard mil-dot in the Hawke. The only issue I had is that when using a high IR setting, the illumination of the addition horizontal lines in the MTC reticle make it look a little “busy”. The simpler lay-out of the Hawke’s mil-dot reticle was easier to use with a high IR setting.
BUILD QUALITY/FINISH
The Hawke’s finish was brilliant. The black was matte and very even all over with no marks. The etching/printing on all he turrets was crisp and clear. The MTC finish was also very good, with an even matte black; however, there were signs of the black coming off on the very edges of the turret knobs and the etching/printing on the turrets was not as crisp. The painting of the numbers on the illumination dial was a little uneven.
DECISION
It was a close call but in the end I opted for the Hawke Sidewinder 4-16×50. Given the similarities in both optics quality and design, it was the build quality/finish that swung it in the Hawke’s favour. I did prefer the MTC’s reticle, SF/IR turret alignment, lens covers and smaller side-wheel, but not enough to convince me to part with my cash. The difference in finish/build quality may have been a one off as far as the MTC was concerned; unfortunately first impressions do make a difference.
Having parted with my cash yesterday, I can’t wait to get it fitted and zeroed!
© sloveridge
January 2009
Good luck – Bob
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
I just got a chance to play around with the Hawke Sidewinder 30 8-32×56, this past Sunday. The build quality is excellent, has a glass-etched reticle, locking-resetable turrets, the glass is crystal clear all the way up to full power.
I also saw the 16x version with the SR6 reticle, which was way cool. I don’t think you could go wrong with the Sidewinder 30.
Thanks zombie it’s very reassuring to hear that.
Any recommendations on mounts? Anybody have 30mm mounts they aren’t using? 🙂