I´ve shootingt spring airguns for 35 years. Since I started to use more powerful guns ( and loose some of my vision to hunt )I also started to use scopes.
And then a nightmare started too: to keep the "zero" !. My first scope was a BSA 4x32, in my Diana 350. It worked for a while, but then failed to maintain the zero. I wrote to Straightshooters to find help; they recommended me the Leupold EFR 2-9 x33. Very expensive, but I wanted something sure. The Leupold worked fine for some months, but suddenly the 350 started to shoot in an erratic way. I sent the Leupold to the technical service ( very expensive the shipment from Argentina ). They repair the scope, and SO FAR, it´s now working fine.
My second experince was with my Diana 45 T01 .177. I started with the BSA 4x32: imposible to keep the zero. I TRIED 3 DIFFERENT BSA: none of them worked. I tried a TASCO scope: no way. Then I decided to invest more, and bought a Bushnell Legend 5-15 x 40 mil dot. I´m not completely sure, but I guess that time to time the zero suffers slight movements.
The only wonderful experience was with my Diana 36. This gun has got a particularly smooth shot, with no recoil or vibration.As a miracle, a cheap BSA 4x32 keeps quite well the zero for long periods.
My 45 T01 has the same mechanical parts than the 36, but for some reason its shot is more hard.
Hunting with scope has got obvious advantages, but I have to confess that I´m disappointed; it is very frustrating to set up a perfect zero at 35 yards ( hiting consintently a 2 inch object ), and 2 days after the rifle is shooting 6 or 8 inches upper !!.
I don't suffer the same. I am lucky enough to still have good vision, and for that I am thankfull. I will use peep sights or stock irons for as long as my vision allows.
Both my .22 34 and .177 48 have Anshutz appertures fitted and I have no problems hitting one inch targets from 30yds off hand. I use the stock irons on all my other guns, except for my B22 which I mounted the factory sights from my 48, the factory rear sight was just to flimsy.
I think if my vision ever gets to bad to use these types of sights, I will move over to PCP's since scope damage is not an issue as it is in alot of cases with springers.
If it's possible, go to your eye doctor and explain to him/her your needs visually, they might be able to help.
Mulby, my vision is not as when I was 20, but it is OK. I read without glasses and hunt doves at 30 meters with some of my guns with iron sights without problems. The point is at the end of the day, with a weak light, trying to find the target among the branches at 40 or even 50 meters. The scope has obvious advantages.
Hector, I´m using BKL one piece for the 350 Magnum and C mounts for the 45 T01, and they remain very tight. I believe that the mounts are not the problem, but I hear suggestions.
Marcelo, I would not sacrified potence to have less recoil. I want reliable scopes for springers !
Losec, the U$S 70 Leapers seems to be fine; I´ll watch it !
I would check the scope mounts. The 350 is extremely harsh on scopes. I have a Diana 46 and I installed a lighter spring on it. It reduced some of the power but the rifle shoots very nicely now.
I am from Argentina too. I was born in Lomas de Zamora. I've lived in the US since 1963 but travel down there on business. I'm currently a member of Tiro Federal in Olivos (maybe not Olivos but it's right by the "other guys" soccer stadium.
Had the same problem with my Gamo 220 with a BSA 4x 32mm scope that was included. Switched over to a Simmons, still had a problem consistently hitting the nine zone from 50 feet away. Then I bought a RWS 48 with a Leapers 3-9x 40mm mildot A/O with illuminated reticles and now I can shoot nines and tens all day. I paid about $70.00 through PyramdAir for the Leapers scope and have been happy ever since.
Is it so hard to produce a 24x springer-rated 10-yard scope with appropriate mounts?
September 12 2005, 1:30 AM
I'd love to find a 24x scope for my springers, but it proves to be near impossible.
Most scopes are made to withstand light recoil, or one-directional recoil, like that produced from a Magnum rifle/pistol, from front to back.
Most of the medium and higher power springers produce a wiplash that loosens the internals. Rings and bases fail and soon a new scope is needed.
I have found three scopes, so far, that will not give up under pumishing springer-recoil.
One is the Leupold Vari-X 3-9x33 EFR compact. Superb scope and focuses down to 5 (five) meters/yards! It never complains and works best.
Another is a 1960s Diana 3x15 with external adjustments. It is tough like nails.
Finally, I have another 1960s Anschutz/Savage 4x15, which works without nary a complaint, no matter how hard the recoil.
Why scope companies cannot produce a 24x magnification springer-rated scope, that focuses down to 10 (ten) meters/yards?
Mounting of long 24x scopes on break-barrel airguns may be challenging. True, side-lever and underlever springers have ports that may be blocked by a long scope's objective lens, but then that's what mounts are for; to help us put good glass on air rifles. Why there are no readily-available mounts for such applications? Raisers, maybe...
but they are expensive. You would pay for one scope what you pay for 10 rifles.
The dynamics of a large glass (for 24 X if you want an exit pupil of at least 3 mm's, you need a 72 mm's objective) in a harsh environment are not easy. Not easy on the glass, not easy on the metal, not easy on the mounts nor the turrets.
If you really want that type of glass have it made by US Optics. Use the sniper scope designed for braked 0.50" BMG's and external adjustment mounts. You are going to have a custom setup for about US$3,000.00
Alternately, wait for Leapers' 8-24X56 and give it a try.
I have a Tasco Custom Shop 8-40x56mm, which I use with my rimfires. I just wished I could use it on my springers, without breaking it.
I know that NightForce has some nice NXS scopes in the US$1,200 range, and I am considering one of them, but since Leaper's is around the corner, I will continue window shopping.
In my opinion this is a good scope for the money and works well on a PCP rifle but not rated for medium to high recoil spring rifles. I just had this conversation with Leapers. I'm using this scope on a Talon SS.
The new series of 6-24X50mm 1" tube scopes will be upgraded for springer applications. This is what I'm told.
I'm ordering a couple of their 30mm tube scopes, most or all of these are "TS" rated for spring rifles. Good bang for the buck. Shop around, retail prices are all over the place on the Leapers.
I don't think I'd put any of the Leapers on an untuned Diana 48, 52, 54 or 350.
Two totally different products. Both good, one of them better, one of them best.
Apart from those companies, HorusVision makes a very very good scope 4-16X50 for about US$800-900 that, at least in my D52 lived over a year with amazing results. If you live in the US, you should buy a HorusVision scope if for no other reason that it is classified as "registered technology" by DoD; we can no longer get them to sell to outside the US. Horus Vision is here:
Now, HorusVision is a very good reticule, but even good things CAN be improved upon, especially for airgunners.
On the Leapers, my bad, it is not an 8-24, it is an 8-32 the one that is coming out later towards the end of the year.
I have just sent a pair of bases to Tim MacMurray to be drooped, I'll mount the 4-16X56 Leapers in my D52 and report as results come out. Since it is a TS rated scope, it should survive.
I will start another thread about making a special Leapers scope. See if you would be interested.
I have a 48 in .22 caliber that uses a Leapers 3-9x-40mm illuminated recticle scope. It is mounted with the RWS "C" one-piece adjustable scope mount. I have shot several hundred pellets using this scope and haven't had a problem so far. Make sure to obtain a one-piece adjustable scope mount. The 48 like all RWS airguns have barrel droop and need to be compensated with the adjustable scope mount. Warranty with the Leapers is lifetime. Just make sure to order their "True Strength", or TS series of scopes to handle the recoil of the 48.
I use the Leaper Accushot 4-12x44 compact on my 48 and on my 54. They hold zero fairly well, but you know that each time you take the gun out there can be slight variations and you'll have to take a few shots to get zero again. I find that I can usually re-set my accuracy with 4 or 5 shots and perhaps just one or two "clicks" of the scope adjuster knobs.
I tend to believe that temperature changes, etc., can have at least that much effect.
But... I've never had my shots go off 6 to 8 inches! When that happens it almost has to be a loose screw in the stock, or on the scope mount.
I supposed you can also damage a scope, but the Leapers have been near indestructible on my Diana guns thus far.
Should also mention that I do not use one piece adjustable mounts. Just regular two piece mounts and can easily zero my scope at 150 feet or more. I've not had the first bit of trouble with anything related to barrel droop. The scope on medium rings can compensate internally without coming close to running out of adjustment or even to the point where you can't hold zero.
I have a Diana 54 and a Sportsmatch AOP55 (aka Beeman 5039) mount and a Hawke Nite Eye 4-16x50 which is a very nice combo and which holds its zero very good. The adjustable mount is a bit high but very solid.Have tried a BSA 6-24x50 on it as well but found that above 16 mag clarity is not so good and it is impossible to hold steady (at 24 mag) in the field. I mostly use 16 mag to help me rangefind and then shoot at 8-10 mag. Works very nice.
If you shoot from a bench give 24 mag or higer a try,but for general use(hunting/target) out to 80 yards 16 mag will be more than enough.Trust me I thought 24+ mag would be great but it is not.Rather buy lower mag and a scope with better lenses.
I use the rifle mainly for bencrest targets. Andrem is exactly right a 24 x is too much scope for a field gun. Optics probably aren't equivalent to a $700 scope but then it didn't cost $700.
Indoors @ 10m I usually use about 12x.
I had a good deal of difficulty getting any scope to mount on the Mod 40 (my first air gun, not including my boyhood Daisy Red Ryder)which I think is the same as a Mod 34. I've seen it classfied as heavy recoil.
The scope is a BSA Contender 6-24x50. $70 from Sportsmansguide. The lens is AO and focuses to 10 yds. A must for me since I want to be able to use it indoors. I called BSA before I made the purchase and they said it was rated for a Springer Air Rifle.
It's mounted on RWS 2 piece C mounts. Had to do a lot of work to get the mount to stay put. Shims, Locite etc. This mount was just high enough for the 50mm objective. Most of my mounting problems were from the adjustability features which were a necessity to make up for barrel droop.
Just got it mounted and probably have maybe 150 pellets through it. So far so good. I'll have to see how it holds up.
