Thread: Hawke scopes any good?

This is the one we are looking at because it suites the price, but are they any good?

Hawke Varmint SF 4-16x44mm AO Matte Black Riflescope - Hunting and Outdoor Supplies.

They used to be in the air-rifle market when I was in the UK 10 years ago. I haven't had much to do with them, but dirt cheap scopes are usually a false economy.

Weaver Superslam, Nikon Monarch, Leupold VX3...etc...these are all proven to do what they say they will and are about the lowset price range I'd buy into for dial-up scopes, sure they will cost double the Hawke's price but IMO worth the little bit extra. You're better off having one rifle set up really well, than having 6 rifles but of dubious quality (especially in regards to scopes).

kj

ok, cheap scopes cant be all bad I mean it has a nikko stirling on atm and at 100m the bullets on the wsm still all touched.

it's when you start dialling etc that the issues show themselves Toby. the cheaper scores can still function but clarity and reliability (especially regarding adjustments) are what typically suffer

Originally Posted by Toby

ok, cheap scopes cant be all bad I mean it has a nikko stirling on atm and at 100m the bullets on the wsm still all touched.

Yip, for ''set and forget'' you don't need an expensive scope to shoot 100m groups. But your WSM is a 1000y capable calibre, so you’re only using 10% of its capability...but to get the other 90% out of it you'll need something better than a Nikko Stirling sitting on top of that rifle.

There are many old sayings about scopes - ''you can't hit it if you can't see it'' or ''buy the most expensive scope you can afford, then fit a rifle to it'' both spring to mind.

kj

Ok, so whats the cheapest scope that you think is still good enough for it?

As above (Weaver, Nikon, Leupold) these scopes would be the lowest priced ones I'd consider. If you have a little more coin, then some are enjoying great success with Sightrons and then you jump up quite a lot for Nightforce and S&B etc...

We've all been through this, every shooter I know has brought a cheap scope at some stage in their life hoping that their one will not suffer from any issues...but these cheap scopes all shit themselves eventually. Then you end up buying a $1000 one in the end, but it really cost you $300 for the cheap one + $1000 for the better one (total $1300). Save yourself $300 right now and buy the more expensive scope right from the start.

I'm a fan of the Weavers (Superslam's) for the money they are hard to beat.

kj

Is this any good?

Nikon Monarch Rifle Scope 4 - 16x42 - THE BASEMENT - Better deals Online | Hunting, Snow Sports, Paintball, Airsoft and more!

I've had two faulty Hawke scopes, so I won't go there again. But to be fair one of them lasted about 5 years of real rough use on my 22 before it started losing zero. So I think it had a real decent run considering it was on a semi auto and getting bashed around.

Buying a cheap scope and putting it on a nice rifle is like buying a V8 commodore and putting $80 Malaysian tyres on it... it's not going to perform anywhere near what it should.

Look at it this way. What's another few hundred bucks over the ten or more years it'll last? My Leupolds and Weavers have a lifetime warranty. A Hawke probably wont.

The problem is that its a commodore

Originally Posted by kimjon

As above (Weaver, Nikon, Leupold) these scopes would be the lowest priced ones I'd consider. If you have a little more coin, then some are enjoying great success with Sightrons and then you jump up quite a lot for Nightforce and S&B etc...

We've all been through this, every shooter I know has brought a cheap scope at some stage in their life hoping that their one will not suffer from any issues...but these cheap scopes all shit themselves eventually. Then you end up buying a $1000 one in the end, but it really cost you $300 for the cheap one + $1000 for the better one (total $1300). Save yourself $300 right now and buy the more expensive scope right from the start.

I'm a fan of the Weavers (Superslam's) for the money they are hard to beat.

kj

This pretty much sums it up Toby.
You might be better to sell one of the other guns to fund good optics for your best one.

Is that nikon monarch 4-16x42 any good?

sure I was getting these cheaper than this last year but mAybe I'm mistaken
Weaver 3-15X50 Super Slam Riflescope Side Focus Dual-X Reticle Matte - Natchez Shooters Supplies

Some real good advise there Toby!

I know it's hard to part with what seems like a lot of money at the time or have to wait longer because you need to save more, but it will be worth it...and save you money in the long run.

Just take a look at what's around second hand on here and other sites that people put up for sale, you'll soon notice a lot of good second hand rifles but not a lot of good second hand scopes.
When you buy good scopes, they will last and you will probably keep hold of them even longer than some of your favourite rifles.

Yup, all of the above

Sell a rifle to get a decent lr scope.

Look at Internet, optic zone etc, even with customs fees, GST and the rest it works out cheaper than local

I've said it before, and once you get your head and heart around it, it is quite simple... Spend as much money on the scope as you've just spent on the rifle. The are fixes like bedding, crowning etc for poor performing rifle, I'm not aware of fixes for poor quality optics.....