Airgun Scopes

[storiale]

Hey everyone,

I'm new to this forum, but a veteran of another hunting forum since 2003.

I have a question about airgun scopes... Is it true that while using an airgun, a "special" scope needs to be used? Something about dual kickback or something.

I ruined a $200 riflescope on an airgun 3 years ago and haven't purchased another one cause it seemed like a decent riflescope could handle an airgun, but apparently not.

 

[jcwit]

Spring and gas piston air guns have a dual recoil which puts strain on lenes and other internal parts if not made to handle the dual recoil.

This may help.

http://www.airgundepot.com/air-rifle-scopes-overview.html

 

[readyeddy]

http://www.straightshooters.com/heavy-recoil-scopes.html

This link will take you to scopes rated for heavy recoiling air rifles. There's also a selection of medium recoil rated scope.

 

[ZVP]

go to pyramid air also.
Inexpensive scopes!
HTH
ZVP

 

[Evil-Twin]

No one at my gun club uses a special scope... and we host national events... one of our members uses a 3500 dollar Schmidt and Bender scope.. an other use 150 dollar Burris, some use BSA and other use Leopold, some use Mueller.
two of my air guns




typical day at my air gun range

 

[JohnKSa]

No one at my gun club uses a special scope... and we host national events...

1. In the pics you posted I see only one gun that might be a springer. The rest appear to be PCPs which do not have the spring-piston recoil issue since they aren't spring-piston guns.

2. Just because a scope doesn't appear to be a "special scope" doesn't mean it's not. Schmidt & Bender makes at least some scopes that are braced for airgun recoil, all BSA scopes are airgun-rated and Leupold claims that all of their scopes are double-braced. That's not an exhaustive list, just the ones I know about offhand.

 

[fpgt72]

1. In the pics you posted I see only one gun that might be a springer. The rest appear to be PCPs which do not have the spring-piston recoil issue since they aren't spring-piston guns.

2. Just because a scope doesn't appear to be a "special scope" doesn't mean it's not. Schmidt & Bender makes at least some scopes that are braced for airgun recoil, all BSA scopes are airgun-rated and Leupold claims that all of their scopes are double-braced. That's not an exhaustive list, just the ones I know about offhand.

Very true the only guns that need a "special" scope are springers of any kind....shocked that someone that goes to a club does not know this most basic FACT.

Most spring guns you see now a-days are pretty darn powerful. And by most I am talking of your Bass Pro/Cabelas/Wally world type spring airguns. MOST LIKELY with a gun shooting around 500 or so fps you MIGHT GET LUCKY and have a "regular" rifle scope live on that spring gun, but I would not make book on it.

If you are shooting a spring gun that tells you it is going to shoot at 1000fps or better get a scope made for a "magnum" spring air rifle, you might also have to look at some special mounts as the scope might want to walk on you.

 

[Evil-Twin]

I know the urban legend as it exists today... and that was true 10 years ago.... but today unless you are buying a cheap Chinese scope.. there is no need to be concerned... this is 2015.. I've been shooting air guns for 20 years... I moved away from any concern for step up scopes... many of our members use very high end springer's, for their nostalgia...IM too old and in poor health to use a springer now... but I used them for years... most of the members of my club are not buying cheap Chinese scopes... BTW we have 5,000 active members at my club... we have at least 150 active men woman and children who actively participate in air gun shooting.. we also teach air gun safety and maintenance to boy scouts and girt scouts and also introduction to shooting both pistol and rifle... so they can receive several merit badges that we support.

 

[jmorris]

I can tell you that my RWS 34 "springer" can destroy scopes not built to withstand its recoil.

The mount for scopes on it is even built so it won't move under the recoil.

Scopes that live fine on my PCP and multi pump air rifles would not hold up on spring powered guns.

 

[readyeddy]

My Hatsan 135 springer takes about 70 pounds of effort to load and delivers about 30 fpe. It destroyed a Leupold Rimfire 3-9x EFR in less than 10 shots. I replaced it with a Chinesse made Hawke that cost about 1/4 the price of the Leupold and it is still holding zero after 500 shots. The Hawke may likely give out in the next 1000 shots, but it's lasting much longer than the Leupold.

Look for scopes that are rated for the springer you are shooting. As noted above, even the moderately recoiling RWS 34 will destroy non-springer airgun scopes. Once you reach springers like the RWS 350, Walther Talon and Hatsan 135, you need to make sure you buy scopes from retailers with excellent return policies or that offer unconditional lifetime guarantees.

 

[JohnKSa]

It destroyed a Leupold Rimfire 3-9x EFR in less than 10 shots.

Interesting. Maybe Leupold does not brace their rimfire scopes. Anyway, so much for springers destroying scopes being an urban legend unless you buy cheap Chinese scopes...

I replaced it with a Chinesse made Hawke that cost about 1/4 the price of the Leupold and it is still holding zero after 500 shots. The Hawke may likely give out in the next 1000 shots, but it's lasting much longer than the Leupold.

I'm seeing the Hawke scopes sold by some reputable airgun vendors for use on springers. It would appear that they've done their homework.

 

[diyj98]

I've used Leupolds on an RWS 350 and RWS 48 with zero problems. Leupolds are rated for magnum spring guns. But's it's no urban myth about airgun rated scopes. Magnum springs will destroy many cheap "airgun rated" scopes as well as some not so cheap rifle scopes. I've personally destroyed an old Redfield as well as a two Burris scopes on an RWS 450. That was after Burris assured me that their scopes would hold up. The second Burris was the warranty replacement.

 

[readyeddy]

That's correct. In fact, the Leupold scope that my springer broke was rated at heavy recoil for airguns. I think the take away is that it is hard to predict how individual scopes will perform on springers. When it comes to spingers, you really want to keep track of return policies and warranties for scopes.

 

[fpgt72]

I've used Leupolds on an RWS 350 and RWS 48 with zero problems. Leupolds are rated for magnum spring guns. But's it's no urban myth about airgun rated scopes. Magnum springs will destroy many cheap "airgun rated" scopes as well as some not so cheap rifle scopes. I've personally destroyed an old Redfield as well as a two Burris scopes on an RWS 450. That was after Burris assured me that their scopes would hold up. The second Burris was the warranty replacement.

Yup no myth....I just feel sad after bad information is put out there.

I can't see how anyone that has been around this sport for that many years had not had a scope explode on a springer on them. It happens to scopes rated for spring guns as well.

Total misinformation. But then again there is a shift to PCP. Shooting a spring gun well takes a great deal of skill.....shooting a high powered spring gun is the hardest thing I have ever tried to shoot. Everything has to be the same time after time after time. Or you will just not be accurate. So people are moving to guns like the Disco for a first gun and not doing the spring gun as much.....as this happens more the scope issue will be less and less. Shame, I like spring guns, it makes you be perfect....makes you take your time and do everything just right or you don't get the reward. That does not fit in with the way people think anymore.

 

[jmorris]

.....shooting a high powered spring gun is the hardest thing I have ever tried to shoot. Everything has to be the same time after time after time. Or you will just not be accurate.... Shame, I like spring guns, it makes you be perfect...

I agree that they are not as forgiving as a multi pump or PCP but unless you are only using them on a bench, life is not perfect. After getting a few PCP's I am pretty sure I have bought my last springer.

 

[Bigdog57]

A couple "fixes" for this problem.....

1) Avoid springers and Nitro Piston guns. CO2, PCP and even single & multipump pneumatics don't have this trouble.

2) Use a good aperture sight. With practice they can be as accurate as a scope at up to 50 yards. Of course age related eyesight may negate this. With my cataract surgery I can again use aperture sights. For years I was relegated to scopes, but not any more. I appreciate the greater challenge versus scopes too.

 

[fpgt72]

I agree that they are not as forgiving as a multi pump or PCP but unless you are only using them on a bench, life is not perfect. After getting a few PCP's I am pretty sure I have bought my last springer.

Yes many just do not want to take the time to shoot a springer well. PCP shoots very easy next to them and our culture is an I want it easy and I don't want to have to work to be good at anything.....this is why you see so many this springer is junk threads out there. Joe noob goes out and buys that 1600fps gamo then can't hit water if he was standing in a boat. Joe then hops on the internet to bad mouth a given brand and spring guns in general...then he goes and buys a Disco....bingo it shoots like his daddys deer rifle and he is happy and thinks that all spring guns and that specific brand is junk. When the real problem is that Joe is unskilled and uninformed.

I can shoot my old Gamo Hunter 440 as well as my Mrod, not as fast, not as long but 10 for 10 shots all the same. And I am worn out after the springer from all the thought that goes into shooting a spring gun that well.....many people don't want to have to think about anything they just want the reward.

 

[JohnKSa]

Yes many just do not want to take the time to shoot a springer well... thinks that all spring guns and that specific brand is junk. When the real problem is that Joe is unskilled and uninformed.

While this is a good point, it's also true that some people shoot for the sake of shooting while others shoot purely as a means to an end.

For the latter, there's really no payoff, or point to choosing a gun that's hard to shoot. It just makes achieving their goal(s) harder.

 

[fpgt72]

While this is a good point, it's also true that some people shoot for the sake of shooting while others shoot purely as a means to an end.

For the latter, there's really no payoff, or point to choosing a gun that's hard to shoot. It just makes achieving their goal(s) harder.

You are right there are many reasons to take up shooting in general as a hobby. 1 is to rid yourself of starlings, rats, mice or some other pest, or to take some game critter. 2 is for the feeling you get from hitting the target, there are others but I would bet that 90% of shooters fall into one of these two very wide areas.

For me I get much more out of shooting a spring gun well then shooting a PCP well....why because not everyone can do it. There is a reason most put the PCP and spring guns in different groups if you compete with them. It takes such a higher level of skill.

For me personally....it really depends on what I want to do at that given moment.

 

[jmorris]

I can shoot my old Gamo Hunter 440 as well as my Mrod, not as fast, not as long but 10 for 10 shots all the same. And I am worn out after the springer from all the thought that goes into shooting a spring gun that well.....many people don't want to have to think about anything they just want the reward.

Off the bench I don't feel a springer is any more difficult to shoot well than any other rifle as I use the same technique.

I also understand about knowledge and skill being a factor in results but I don't mind using a microwave to make popcorn vs building a fire and using a cast iron skillet.

Good to know how to do something but nice when you don't have to go through the trouble by using better methods.

 

[fpgt72]

Not better just different.

 

[PrivateerGWX]

Due to the forwards backwards recoil of airguns?
If you don't have a scope rated for Air Guns?
You probably are going to trash a good scope.
I should say you ARE going to trash one.
Rule of thumb. Not AG Rated?
Don't put it on an AG unless you have lots of money.

 

[fpgt72]

Due to the forwards backwards recoil of airguns?
If you don't have a scope rated for Air Guns?
You probably are going to trash a good scope.
I should say you ARE going to trash one.
Rule of thumb. Not AG Rated?
Don't put it on an AG unless you have lots of money.

Only thing wrong with your post is you are saying air guns.....really it is springers (of any type-gas or metal spring) that will kill the scope.

On a PCP or MSP you can hang whatever scope you want to put on there. I have a 2200 that has had the same scope on it for close to 30 years, no issue.