Rifle Scopes Something different; need an airgun optic

[TheGerman]

I know zero about airgun scopes but have heard/read it isnt as easy as just buying a scope for your centerfire gun. Wanted to get my dad one for Christmas.

He has a super accurate air rifle he keeps by the sliding glass door in the kitchen table area for the squirrels that basically rampage the back yard in the spring and summer times. Occasionally also for birds at ELR distance for the air gun, but its gotten quite a few crazy long shots.

Since he lives in the suburbs he can't shoot a 22 or anything out of the door, so the air rifle is what is used. He had one of those cheap scopes on it Leapers or something like that and is on his 2nd or 3rd one. Seems every couple of months something takes a shit like the turret internals go to shit, or like with the last one, the reticle basically exploded on the lens.

Was trying to find a non-garbage scope for him but I've never been into air guns and I know the recoil pulse on them is weird and will actually blow up optics that would work fine ontop of a 308, etc. Have been trying to figure out what scope to get him - anyone know what the S&B of air gun optics is?

 

[supercorndogs]

I have a Hawke 4x and Barakska 2-7 that have held up well on my springer air rifle. The Hawke 4x is way clearer and brighter. On my PCP air rifle I am running an Athlon 4-14.

 

[Terry H]

I've had great service from Hawke as well. Works great on my air guns as well as any center fires.

 

[spife7980]

What sort of air gun? The springers are special because they recoil back as it fires but also recoil forward when the spring slams to a stop so it has two opposite recoil impulses. A pump or nitro only has the one recoil impulse the same as a firearm.

 

[phlegm]

Technically, S&B makes an airgun optic: http://www.schmidtundbender.de/en/products/sport/125-50x56-field-target-ii.html

I've also shot a NF ATACR 7-35x on an airgun. It worked beautifully.

 

[steve123]

A great old reliable standby for AG's has been the Bushnell 4200 series 6-24x44 SFP scope. Half my FT club uses them on springers and PCP's. These have above average glass and are basically rebadged B&L. My good friend used one to win the FT nationals this year.

The scope I use most on my AG's, including the springers, is the Athlon Talos BTR 4-14x44. Next is the Argos BTR 6-24x50.

I've never been able to warm up to Hawke, there are some in our club and there has been various problems throughout the years, personally I never bought one because I wasn't impressed.

 

[plong]

Really liking the Athlon Midas BTR 2.5-15 on my Weihrauch .22 gas ram. Held up well so far. For those that aren't familiar, gas ram air rifles are particularly hard on scopes due to a rather sharp 2-way recoil impulse. FWIW Athlon said they'd warranty the scope if it failed in air-gun use. Feel the same way as steve123 about Hawke.