Sidewheel scope for hunting?

[FalconFN]

I've mainly used cheap and cheerful Hawke scopes and have been very please with them until recently, my 3-9 x 50 Hawke scope won't stay zeroed so I have to re-zero in the field each time I go hunting, which is a pain. I want to change it for something a bit better and wondered if anyone would recommend sidewheel focusing scopes for air rifle hunting.

 

I like the idea of having a scope that can be used for rangefinding but I've never tried one and can't seem to find much info on how accurate they are and how quick they are to use.

 

I normally shoot between 6-9x mag but assume I would need to use it a higher mag to get any benefits- does anyone use one for hunting?

[Dave-G]

Been there and done all that faffing about stuff whilst watching bunny scarper 'cos I took so long and kept moving my arms and fingers to adjust it. I now have a WTC 4x40 wide angle which is mostly point and shoot for my FAC .22 - it has a similar trajectory as a 12ftlb .177: Bearing in mind that live quarry shooting is done within sensible ranges.

[pabs]

Well yes, they can be used to range find, but its not gonna be that accurate. In the ballpark yes, but you can move the wheel a fair amount and still stay focused, but the difference on the wheel is quite a lot. Secondly, its a Parallax wheel/****, not a focus wheel. Its main purpose is not to range find, but to eliminate parallax. This is the effect of the reticule moving about as you move your eye/head about. Once you make the picture bright and sharp( in other words focus) you should have eliminated parallax. This makes the shot a lot more accurate.

[Dekers]

At airgun ranges whether you use it to rangefind parallax or simply to focus it isn't going to change your life!

[FalconFN]

Thanks for the thoughts, I'll probably stick with a fixed mag scope from a better manufacturer then.

[northeastshooter]

hi got a tipan viper use it with my logun solo 177 and find the sidewheel every handy at the longer shots but when 15-40yards just dont zoom in as far and focus on 25yards and find it works a dream

[psb_74]

How much are you looking at spending on a scope

[FalconFN]

Looking for something secondhand around £50 - £60. I know it's not much but should be an improvement on what I have.

[Dave-G]

I have an unbranded fixed 8x56 with a decent set of twin screw high dovetail mounts you can have for £60 posted RMSD.

 

It's got some dings and scuffs to it but the glass is clean, clear and bright. It has a medium duplex type reticle and low finger adjustable turrets midway along a long fitting length so should fit most rifles and leave room for a scope mounted lamp too. One inch one piece tube in matte black.

[FalconFN]

I have an unbranded fixed 8x56 with a decent set of twin screw high dovetail mounts you can have for £60 posted RMSD.

 

It's got some dings and scuffs to it but the glass is clean, clear and bright. It has a medium duplex type reticle and low finger adjustable turrets midway along a long fitting length so should fit most rifles and leave room for a scope mounted lamp too. One inch one piece tube in matte black.

 

Thanks for the offer but I would prefer to know what make and model I'm buying so I can do some research on them.

[psb_74]

I have just brought an mtc cobra 3-9x42 to put on my s410 .22 as i have took my mamba off my s410 to put it on my tx. The cobra scope is spot on it even work really good with my nv added to it. And it comes right in you budget between £55 and you wont be disappointed

Edited November 11, 2010 by psb_74

[aaron airgunner]

i use a parallax scope and find em great for getting a more detailed pic when scanning (looking through your scope to find quarry) but you do need a big magnification for real range-finding. i can estimate within 5 yrds out either side with my 16x mag which is ok to 35 yrds but after that accurate rangefinsind is a must. i am a high magnification huter. i dont get all the low mag 'staying on 6x' stuff i stay on 14x-16x mag apart from speicalist situations like ferals and rats. saying that i've taken 10yrd woodies which land abover your head on 16x mag with ease.

[Dekers]

i use a parallax scope and find em great for getting a more detailed pic when scanning (looking through your scope to find quarry) but you do need a big magnification for real range-finding. i can estimate within 5 yrds out either side with my 16x mag which is ok to 35 yrds but after that accurate rangefinsind is a must. i am a high magnification huter. i dont get all the low mag 'staying on 6x' stuff i stay on 14x-16x mag apart from speicalist situations like ferals and rats. saying that i've taken 10yrd woodies which land abover your head on 16x mag with ease.

 

 

I tend to use 6x right out to 200 yards without any problem, there is no answer to scope magnification and distance, it's all down to personal preference!