Scopes for Magnum-Recoil Springers

[FOsteology]

Ok, revisting airguns as I don't get to shoot my centerfire rifles as much as I'd like. Not to mention the cost of ammo....

I figure a good springer would be a fantastic training tool, and I can get ALOT of trigger time, which will ultimately make me a better shooter when I can pick up the centerfires.

Looking really hard at the Patriot in either .22 or .25 caliber. Going to go with Beeman one piece ring mounts. Just need to choose a scope. I know I need one that can withstand the unique forward and rearward recoil of the springer guns.

What scope (specific brand and models please) have a proven track record? Any experience with either the BSA or Bushnell scopes designed for air guns?

As always, appreciate the assistance.

[Patriot_1776]

I have a BSA Air Rifle 2-7x32mm on my RWS 350 Magnum.  I've shot probably a few hundred pellets out of it with it mounted.  So far, it still has held its zero, and can hit 1" targets out to 24yds. if I do my part.  I have to say that BSA seems to have very good quality AG scopes for the money.  Hope this helps.


-Patriot

[jeager106]

I'm not sure about the BSA holding up on top of a magnum springer.
I took the BSA advice I got here and mounted a 3 X 12 X 50MM BSA to my M52 RWS.
I've shot the stinking thing all week and everyday the point of impact shifts.
The mount and rings are super tight.
I'll get three shots touching at 20 yards then the group will shift left ro right and I'll get 3 more shots touching but an inch away form the 1st group of 3.
Sounds like the scope to me.
I should have dropped the bigger bucks on a Burris.
BSA are very spotty on quality I found out.
An inch at 24 yards?
Well if it suits you.
Half inch would be much, much, better and doable witha quality springer.
My little Benjamin/Shreriden will group 3/8ths inch at 20 yards all day long with six pumps and Premier heavy .177 pellets.
it chrono's an hoset 630 fps and cost a hundred bucks.
The scope is a Simmons .22 mag fixed 4X that cost about 35 bucks.
No spring slap with the pneumatic Benjamin.
You might consider the Benjamin. It's a much more serious airgun than people think and out performs my hi buck RWS and junk BSA scope.

[FOsteology]

I've got a Benjamin/Shreriden as well. Model 392PA .22 cal.

I've decided I need a good springer as the slight recoil/jolt will help simulate to a small degree what one feels with a centerfire. This will also go a long way to help condition my two young boys.

[jeager106]

I've got a Benjamin/Shreriden as well. Model 392PA .22 cal.

I've decided I need a good springer as the slight recoil/jolt will help simulate to a small degree what one feels with a centerfire. This will also go a long way to help condition my two young boys.

By all means buy and shoot what you want.
I'll suggest, and it's only a suggestion, that you get what you pay for.
Seldom is glass a bargain on a mangum airgun.
I have a M48 RWS in .22 with the RWS 4X16 target scope.
It took year but the RWS made in Korea JUNK scope went south and broke.
The whole package is on it's way BACK to RWS for repiars.
I didn't spend 0ver $600 bucks to ship junk back and forth and niether did you.
I HATE THAT. We spend premium hard earned $$$ jut to send junk back for repairs.
What a cosmic joke.
Were I you I'd learn from me and spend the bigger bucks on a Bushnell, Leupold, Burris, etc.
Junk the made in China crap!

[Lawdog]

FOsteology,

I do understand that "jeager106" has had a problem with his RWS 52 and the BSA scope he mounted.  Don't know whether or not it's the scope or what that is causing his troubles.  I do know a number of people that are using BSA air rifle scopes on their "magnum" springer rifles(RWS 48/52, 350M, Beeman Kodiak(Webley Patriot) .22, just to mention a few.  So far not one has reported any problems.  I have mounted them on 2 Tech Force 99M's, a M97 and a M25.  All rifles have over 1,000 pellets fired thru them with no problems.  As far as accuracy goes my rifles with BSA scopes shoot groups you can cover with a dime at 25 yards.  I will e-mail pictures of these targets to any that want to see(I have no luck posting pictures on forums).

Another brand that, while I don't own any(YET but one is going to be ordered very soon), is the Leapers.  Noted authors/shooters like Jim Chapman and Tom Gaylord have had excellent results using them on rifles that are known scope wreckers..  I have had problems with Bushnell’s Customer Service so I can’t, in good conscience, recommend them.  Swift, from what I have heard from others, is another good scope for springer air rifles.  Scope choice is all up to your needs and the size of your wallet.  The main thing to look for is if the manufacture warrants their scope for “magnum” springer air rifles.  BEWARE if it says approved for air rifle use because it doesn’t always mean SPRINGER AIR RIFLES. I went through this with Leupold when one of their scopes broke under the recoil of a Beeman Kodiak .25.  Leupold told me that while their scopes carry a lifetime guarantee, the one I purchased wasn’t approved for “magnum” springer air rifles.  Lawdog

P.S. - Check out the following;

BSA
http://www.bsaoptics.com/productlist.asp?ID=11&Cat_Name=airrifle22.jpg&Cat_Code=AR&Cat_Type=RFAM

Leapers
http://www.tickbitesupply.com/scope.html

[FOsteology]

Thanks for all the advice and input gents.

I was really set on a Patriot, but I'll have to wait as it was a little more $$ than I anticipated.

For the interium, I placed an order with Compassco for the Tech Force 99M .22cal with Beeman 5030M rings and a BSA 2-7x32mm airgun scope. This is 1/2 the price of the Patriot (walnut stock) minus the scope and mounts. Beeman Kodiak is even a little more $$....

I placed an order for the exact same setup late last year, but they were out of stock and so I canceled my order. Hopefully this time all is on hand. If not, guess I'll wait this time!

[Haywire Haywood]

Have a gander here... These are rated for heavy recoil airguns.  http://www.straightshooters.com/genmenus/mheavyscopes.html

Ian

[jeager106]

I'm dealing wiht TWO variable so it's really hard to judge the BSA and maybe I should keep an open mind.
My RWS M52 is new. I've read that one should do a 'prper' break in which could be upwards of 1500 pellets.
WOW!
That seems incredible but i've read it several places included AirGun Express and straighshooters as well as advice from seasoned airgun vets.
I have a fixed BSA 4X on my Gamo break neck Shadow and it's held up very well.
I haven't near 1500 pellets through the Gamo but it shoots half the group size of the RWS.
The Gamo, however has a junk trigger and it takes all the concentration you have to shoot well from the bench.
Offhand is almost impossible.
I also have read good feedback on Leapers.
One can't try 'em all so we go by advice from others and what we read and take our chances.
I took the BSA and mount off the M52 and made sur everything was good'n tight so I'll keep track of the shots. So far only 250.
1500 seems a loooooong way off, but plnking is fun.
At 20 yards I'm getting 1 to 1.25" groups which really suck for a quality springer.
It should to half inch without a problem.
Maybe after a proper breakin?

[mjfa]

I've read that one should do a 'prper' break in which could be upwards of 1500 pellets.
WOW!
That seems incredible

Not so for everybody, I use to shoot some 500 pellets a week, regularly.  This is probably, the main advantage of airguns, that one may shoot'em almost anywhere anytime, and the ammo is not really expensive, giving us the oportunity to develop our shooting ability to its maximum on the shortest period of time.

[jeager106]

My BSA 3X12X50MM is (was) 10 days old.
It WAS mounted on my new RWS M 52.
Today the crosshairs broke loose and fell to one side!
10 days old with about 300 shots thru it!
How do you spell JUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hate spending hard earned $$$ just to send products back for refunds, credits, etc.
I don't care how nice the dealer is, I hate the hassle.
Since buying the BSA I've learned from long time airgun shooters that BSA quality is spotty at best. The BSA WILL break on a magnum recoil springer, it's simply a matter of when.
Lesson learned here.
Word of advice based on experience, spend the $$$ on a GOOD arigun scope.

[mjfa]

Sorry for your misfortune, but something I've learned a few years back is that with magnum springers the main expense is on scopes and mounts.  You can't go well with an inexpensive scope and mount, even on an inexpensive magnum springer.  And even the hardy, expensive scopes sometimes fail on a springer.

[Lawdog]

Before I took Straight Shooters word for what scopes to use I would call the factory first.  The following are Straight Shooters picks of Bushnell scopes and following each is what is said by Bushnell about them on their web site.  Bushnell states which scopes are approved for “magnum springer air rifle” use.  Please keep in mind that Straight Shooters says on their page that “The superb optics of these scopes make excellent choices for any PCP rifle.” which is fine for PCP rifles which have very little to no recoil and none of the double recoil that springer rifles have.


Bushnell 4-12x40 Elite 3200 #32-4124A - not factory warranted for air rifles only for the following; A great choice for long-range varmint and big-game hunting.
Bushnell 5-15x40 Elite 3200 #32-5154M - not factory warranted for air rifles only for the following; An excellent long-range hunting scope for big-game, varmint and target shooting.
Bushnell Elite 4200 4-16x40 #42-4164M - not factory warranted for air rifles only for the following; Ideal for long-range hunting and target shooting.
Bushnell Elite 4200 4-16x50 #42-4165M - not factory warranted for air rifles only for the following; An outstanding long-range low-light hunting scope for varmints and target shooting.
Bushnell 6-24x40 Elite 4200 #42-6244M & #42-6242M (Mil Dot) - not factory warranted for air rifles only for the following; Extra-high-powered for long-range varmint and benchrest shooting.
Bushnell Elite 4200 8-32x40 #42-8324M - not factory warranted for air rifles only for the following; Extra-high-powered for long-range varmint and benchrest shooting.
Bushnell 5-15x40 Legend #75-5154M - discontinued

Weaver V-16, 4-16x42 #849408 - Nothing on the package or warrantee states approved for springer air rifle use.

Weaver Warranty
The majority of our products carry a Limited Lifetime Warranty, pursuant to which Weaver guarantees your product to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for the lifetime of the original purchaser. The exceptions to this Limited Lifetime Warranty are as follows: Weaver ETX Spotting Scopes carry a one-year warranty.

If covered by an applicable warranty, we will either repair or replace your product, at our option. The warranty is not valid in cases where the product has been abused or mishandled, where unauthorized repairs have been attempted or performed, or where depreciation of the product is due to normal wear-and-tear. Weavers products purchased outside North America are not included in this warranty, but are covered under separate warranties issued by Weaver's International Distributors. Please call your local International Distributor for details. We specifically disclaim special, indirect, or consequential damages or lost profits, which may result from a breach of this warranty. Any implied warranties which cannot be disclaimed are hereby limited to a term of one year from the date of original retail purchase. This warranty gives you specific rights. You may have other rights which vary from state to state. Weaver reserves the right to change product specifications or to discontinue products without prior notice.

Straight Shooters is a good outlet to purchase different items(Lord knows I have bought enough from them) but a lot of their recommendations don’t live up to what the factory warrants.

jeager106,

Have you contacted BSA about your scope yet?  Your RWS 52 won't be broke in until at least 500 pellets have been shot thru it.  More likely 1,000 and that isn't very much.  The accuracy will keep improving until it is broke in.  Don't get impatient.  Lawdog
 :toast:

[John C-S]

Almost 500 .20 cal Crossman Premiers through the barrel. The scope works fine. Had to retighten the rings once after 50 or so initial rounds. The gun does have the Dampa mount which may be easier on any given scope.