Spring Gun Scopes

[freestoneangler]

The Gamo Swarm thread got me to thinking again about setting up my Ruger Airhawk with a scope. The scope that came with the gun is of low quality, but worse the mounts are complete bubblegum. They simply will not stay in place. I don't want to spend a ton on a scope and mounts, but do want something that works. Someone told me break barrels are a PITA for scopes, but I see a ton of them with scopes, so that doesn't seem to hold water. Any suggestions?

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[Shawn the Locksmith]

The Gamo Swarm thread got me to thinking again about setting up my Ruger Airhawk with a scope. The scope that came with the gun is of low quality, but worse the mounts are complete bubblegum. They simply will not stay in place. I don't want to spend a ton on a scope and mounts, but do want something that works. Someone told me break barrels are a PITA for scopes, but I see a ton of them with scopes, so that doesn't seem to hold water. Any suggestions?

does your rings have a set screw in the bottom of one or both? This is a "scope stop". If not, find some inexpensive rings with a scope stop screw in the bottom. hope this helps, shawn

 

[Capn Jack]

From what I've read on it, the Ruger Airhawk is a, "Spring Piston" system and as such requires a scope that is rated for the double pulse of a spring type system.

 

[tac]

All springers recoil in TWO directions, hence the need for a light hold. This double recoil action plays merry hell with any cheaper scope not meant for such an air rifle. You'll need to find a brand that has a scope intended for springer use, and says so on the box, or get one of the usual specialised resilient mounts made expressly for the purpose. They are call 'Dampa' mounts, and can be got from Air Rifle Headquarters. Failing that, give me details and I'll get one over here where there are trillions of 'em. Remember that you'll need 11mm/3/8th" fit for your made-in-Spain Gamo, like most airguns.

 

[eightyeight mag]

I put an old vx2 leupy on my springer and it has held up just fine.
Blue loctite on the scope mount screws and so for no problems.
Have over 500 rounds through it

 

[daved20319]

One piece mount with stop pin is your best bet, Leapers are good for the price, I like Hawke mounts better but more money. BKL doesn't use a stop pin, cause they don't need it, but they're also the most expensive. I can't remember the name right now, but someone makes (made?) a mount for the Diana rifles that had an extension that hung over the front of the dovetail. As the Airhawk is a near clone of the Diana 34, that would work if they're still available. All thst said, I've got a bunch of 2 piece airgun mount sets kicking around, let me know what height you need and I'll send them your way.

As stated, make sure you use a springer rated scope. For cheap scopes, Center Pointe and Leapers aren't bad, Hawke is a step up, depending on line, beyond that, it's a crap shoot. Leupold and Burris both claim all their scopes are springer rated, as does Bushnell I believe, but it's best to contact CS and ask, especially on a higher dollar scope. And yes, people spend big bucks on air rifle scopes, too. Precision is the name of the game in most air rifle competition shooting games, and accurate ranging can be critical. Personally, I like a 3-12 or 4-16 x 40 or so for general use, and if that seems excessive, you try putting a .17 caliber pellet through a 1/4" hole at 40 yards . Later.

Dave

 

[Certaindeaf]

I've had a few scopes on my rigs but never really chased that dragon. Was never happy with any scope I had.. but a good aperture sight is well worth the money every single time and will never fail you.

 

[etrain16]

I've had a few scopes on my rigs but never really chased that dragon. Was never happy with any scope I had.. but a good aperture sight is well worth the money every single time and will never fail you.

For my eyes, without investing in a special scope, the aperture ring with a front fiber optic sight have worked very well. I'm not trying to nail a target at 100 yards, and I'm not trying to do a competition of any type, but for what I do, it's been great.

 

[Certaindeaf]

For my eyes, without investing in a special scope, the aperture ring with a front fiber optic sight have worked very well. I'm not trying to nail a target at 100 yards, and I'm not trying to do a competition of any type, but for what I do, it's been great.

I can see how a lot of guys, me included, will scoff or balk at spending $50-$70 or whatever for an aperture sight when the rig they'll be putting it on likely cost $80-$120 new.. but a good Beeman is worth it and maybe a less expensive Williams peep will fit also.
I love my Feinwerkbau 124 with the peep I put on it!. and have for many decades.

 

[daved20319]

I've tried peeps on air rifles, in fact, there's a Williams in one of my parts boxes. They're fine for plinking at tin cans, or for 10 meter shooting in my shop in the winter, but they're just not precise enough to make head shots on small critters at 40-50 yards, at least, not with my eyes. But for those that they work for, good on ya !

I figure if I'm going to give up that much power compared to a firearm, I owe it to the critters to make sure my shot placement is as perfect as possible, and for me, that means more scope than most gun guys would consider necessary. Later.

Dave

 

[Certaindeaf]

One gets pretty much the same groups in the field with an aperture sight as with a scope.. given normal eyesight.
Look at all the records set and being set with iron sights for since forever.
If you need a scope, that's great (or not.. as I've said, I never had any luck with scopes on springers) but a scope is by no means magic or always better.

 

[freestoneangler]

For my eyes, without investing in a special scope, the aperture ring with a front fiber optic sight have worked very well. I'm not trying to nail a target at 100 yards, and I'm not trying to do a competition of any type, but for what I do, it's been great.

This is an option I hadn't considered. Do you have any pictures of this set-up you can share? I've not used an front aperture on any of my rifles. One drawback to the scope may be slower time to get on target. Perhaps the aperture might be a good compromise?

 

[Capn Jack]

I had one of those, front aperture sights on an old Mossberg .22 target rifle.
It was great for a 1" black at 50'
But for field shooting, it always seemed the critters were larger than the aperture.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

The Gamo Swarm thread got me to thinking again about setting up my Ruger Airhawk with a scope. The scope that came with the gun is of low quality, but worse the mounts are complete bubblegum. They simply will not stay in place. I don't want to spend a ton on a scope and mounts, but do want something that works. Someone told me break barrels are a PITA for scopes, but I see a ton of them with scopes, so that doesn't seem to hold water. Any suggestions?

I've had leapers 3-9 bug buster and 4-16 on springer rifles and had no issue. The 4-16 is a bit darker and less crisp than the 3-9. The optics on the 3-9 are really good for an inexpensive scope.

 

[Capn Jack]

There is some excellent stuff on YouTube about scopes for air rifles.