17 HMR Scope

[shawn9914]

Ive been offered a Hawke airmax 30 sf 8-32 in very good condition for £250 from a friend of a friend. 

Is this a decent price?? 

Is this over kill for a 17 HMR rifle and should I spend less on something else

 

[wymberley]

Just a heads up as I'm not sure if there has been a change or whether it was always thus. It might just depend on age so if it matters to you see whether it's MoA or mRad. Currently they're the latter but I seem to think that this is a recent-ish change from MoA.

[Ultrastu]

I actually really like the airmax scopes they tend to be excellent optically .32x  will be a big scope could make the gun a bit top heavy. Depends on your gun really  and how you shoot?  if off a bi pod probably not an issue  personally I think 16 x would be enough mag for a 17.  Or 24x if you fancy pushing out beyond  150 yds .the 32 x will certainly  give you some useful  aim points for bullet drop out to 300 yds if thats your thing .? 

My 24x  airmax  is mrad  I find it good for dialing in the shot for long range seems to work well .  

[Weihrauch17]

3 hours ago, shawn9914 said:

Ive been offered a Hawke airmax 30 sf 8-32 in very good condition for £250 from a friend of a friend. 

Is this a decent price?? 

Is this over kill for a 17 HMR rifle and should I spend less on something else

 

Yes way too much.

[London Best]

Surely an 8x is plenty for a rifle that’s had it at 150 yards?

[Lloyd90]

The base mag at 8 will be too high if shooting stuff that is in close, which is common/the aim with a rimfire. 
 

Id rather a 3-12 or 4-12 

[ShootingEgg]

As @Lloyd90 says, you'd want 3-* and it would work better. 

[Ultrastu]

I'm not sure many 17 hmr s are used sub 20 yds . That's where I see 4x mag as useful.  3x for around 10 - 15 yds .

6 x for around 30 yds  9x up to around 50 yds max  and 12x for up to maybe 80 yds  I like 16 x for 100 yds  and more mag maybe 24 x for anything above 130 yds .

That's me and my opinion  I know some people feel 4x if perfect for shooting out to 500 yds .and it probably is if your shooting at the side of barns but for rabbits /crows  rats etc(hmr quarry) a bit more precision  is required  I feel .and the above will serve you well .

[oowee]

34 minutes ago, Ultrastu said:

 

I like 16 x for 100 yds  and more mag maybe 24 x for anything above 130 yds .

 

Crikey that's some mag are you shooting bench rest rabbits? 😁

[Dave-G]

6-12 max mag is more than enough for HMR. Remember higher mag is more focus fussy and reduces light passage... important if you might use an add on night vision with it.

[wymberley]

This is one of those threads where everyone is right. This because scope mag' is a personal preference/setting. Set a target up of the size that you will be shooting at what you figure will be your maximum range and scrounge a gun mounted scope which has plenty of mag and have a peep adjusting the mag to the lowest level at which you would feel confident in pulling the trigger.

Sorted.

But Dave-G has a point above.

[London Best]

All my rifles have fixed mag scopes, except one HW 35e air rifle which has a 3-9x, but it has been set on 6x for 44 years.

[Gerry78]

I Agree with LB my 22lr and 222 both have Schmitt@Bender 6x42 fixed magnification on them Too much faffing about for me with  zooming in or out so just bought two off the same and learned to shoot both rifles with the same scopes 

[London Best]

37 minutes ago, Gerry78 said:

Too much faffing about for me with  zooming in or out so just bought two off the same and learned to shoot both rifles with the same scopes 

Yup! A quick point and squirt fills the bag whilst others are faffing on.

[Gerry78]

1 hour ago, London Best said:

Yup! A quick point and squirt fills the bag whilst others are faffing on.

😀👍