Are there any good quality 4x scopes on the market?

[DeoreDX]

I purchased a Benjamin Fortitude for use as a woods gun. I'm looking for an optic appropriate for it's intended usage of walking out into the woods with my son and plinking mostly in the 25-40 yard range. This isn't a benchrest rifle most shots will be unsupported either standing or sitting using a sling to aid in stability. I lean towards a simple fixed power 4X scope. In my short search looking at 4x scopes the market seems pretty thin for ones with parallax adjusted low enough for air rifle use. There are the el-cheapo units that you see bundled and marketed for air guns like on my Ruger Impact by Umarex. It's easily the worst scope I own. The reflections drive me crazy using it. But it holds a zero on the springer and I can generally put a pellet there I want it to go with it.

First at the generic 4x options. Ones like 4X AO branded by Winchester marketed towards air rifles. Beeman or Centerpoint branded or any of the various China-scopes in the $30 range. Don't have too high hopes of the quality of the optics on any of these but maybe I'm wrong.

UTG/Leapers has a 4X fixed parallax set at 35 yards with a mil-dot reticle. $47 on Amazon. Never owned a UTG/Leapers scope so it's not a brand I have experience with or trust. People seem to like the Bug busters. Good reviews on Pyramid Air. Seems to hits all the specs of what I'm looking for with a cheap simple scope. Parallax is set at a good yardage for me not to have to futz with it.



UTG/Leapers also has a 4x32 with AO and mildot. For about the same price I can add a AO and tool free target turrets. I'll go ahead and admit in the middle of writing this post I ordered this one from Amazon for $45 since they only had one in stock. I didn't want it to disappear as an option before I had a chance to finish this post. Yes the AO and tooless target turrets are nice features but probably not features I will ever use. And even though it's about the same price as the 4x scope it comes with weaver rings so I would have to but a set up dovetail rings so it's actually another $10.



I see the Hawk brand mentioned often around here as a quality optic. Coming from powder burners it's not a brand I've ever heard of to be honest. They have a 4X32 AO which might work but it's almost double the price for a brand/model I've never been able to touch/feel in person. The fixed objective version is $10 less but is set at 100 yards so that won't work.

BSA sells a 4x32 AO airgun scope for around $60 on Amazon. Duplex reticle which is a negative compared to the mildots found on the other options. I do own a cheap Sweet 17 4-12x scope on a powder burner and it's probably the cheapest scope I own but I've been very happy with it for the price I paid. Only option so far in a brand I've had experience with.

Maybe you guys know of other options I havent found in my brief search you might point me towards. Is the Hawk brand worth the premium over the BSA/UTG options? I don['t mind paying more if the optical quality is there.

 

[JoeWayneRhea]

A really nice lil scope is the Hawke Vantage 4X with Adjustable Objective. It comes with a mildot reticle and is a super buy at $100. Just my 2c 

 

[fivestar45]

I wanted a light weight fixed 4X scope for my AA 200s. I went with a Leupold .22 rimfire scope. It is light, has longer eye relief than most and I had Leupold reset the parallax for 30yds. Works Great.

 

[DeoreDX]

I wanted a light weight fixed 4X scope for my AA 200s. I went with a Leupold .22 rimfire scope. It is light, has longer eye relief than most and I had Leupold reset the parallax for 30yds. Works Great.

How did that happen? Boxed it up with a note to day change parralax to 30 yards? Require a call?

I know theoretically how to adjust parallax on a non-adjustable scope by screwing the front lens in/out but I would have no idea if I had set the parallax to the correct yardage. Didn't realize Leupold would do it for you.

 

[Mike_Lenardon]

I purchased an Optima 4x32CEAO a little while back. $35.42 to my door from Walmart. Comes with crummy rings & decent lens caps. Solid audible clicks, finger tip adjustable, front AO, tracks well and glass is pretty good. I was truely amazed how well this scope works. I really like it for what it is. Field Supply and others have it for under 50 bucks. If you want an acceptable scope on the cheap you should consider it.

 

[Yo]

DONT BOO DONT BOO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO... Barska #AC10006 2-7x32AO Mildot Airgun $49.57 Amazon FREE SHIPPING AND RETURNS Reminds me of the fantastic TASCO 2-7x32AO 30 years ago...then came the excellent BSA version. Yo!

 

[RWSx3]

I own a couple Hawke Vantage 4x AO mildot scopes, like JWR said, great little scope for $100 or less. I've also had decent luck with BSA airgun scopes over some years on "higher" ft lb springers, their only drawback in my opinion, duplex reticle... if that's a drawback?

 

[profsrgary]

I wanted a light weight fixed 4X scope for my AA 200s. I went with a Leupold .22 rimfire scope. It is light, has longer eye relief than most and I had Leupold reset the parallax for 30yds. Works Great.

How did that happen? Boxed it up with a note to day change parralax to 30 yards? Require a call?

I know theoretically how to adjust parallax on a non-adjustable scope by screwing the front lens in/out but I would have no idea if I had set the parallax to the correct yardage. Didn't realize Leupold would do it for you.

Fivestar nailed it here. Lightweight, air gun rated and Leupold lifetime warranty. You can reset the parallax on Loopys. Some you can't but Loopys and Redfields are easy after you get the lock ring broken loose. Once the lock ring is removed you secure the scope/ rifle in a bench rest and with a range finder you set a portable target at desired range. With crosshairs on the bull you rotate the lens carrier, cw to set parallax farther and ccw to set closer. When you can move your head around and the crosshair stays on the bull the parallax is set to that distance. I put a small dot of white paint on the lens carrier so that I can see if it rotated with the locking ring. I have found that it takes about 1 full revolution ccw to go from 60 yards to 15 yards. Something to remember is that parallax error is more when shooting 20 yards past set parallax than when shooting 20 yards short of set parallax which is why most scopes are set for a slightly longer shooting distance.

 

[profsrgary]

Actually one of my favorite 4X scopes is a Konus. Super light and compact and bright and clear. However I have no idea if it is springer rated and the lock ring is attached to the lens carrier so to reset parallax things get a little interesting however it can be done.

 

[profsrgary]

OP I just reread your original post and see you got the UTG with AO and exposed turrets. I have several UTG scopes and I am going to respectfully disagree with your statement that you will probably never use the turrets or AO. Trust me you will. Especially if you shoot close range indoors during the winter. The turrets are super nice and my UTG's track, repeat, and hold zero well. However you should periodically check your fast focus eyepiece for movement. They can loosen up over time and cause poi shift. This is a common issue with cheap scopes. Some guys back the eyepiece out and put a few wraps of tape on the tube and then turn the eyepiece forward to focus and that keeps it centered. I use a small Oring that gets compressed between the eyepiece and tube and two larger ones the lock it in place when I rotate it to my desired setting. Letting you know this ahead of time because it could be an issue later.

 

[DeoreDX]

Not really a fan of the UTG 4x32 AO. Feels nice enough in hand was easy to adjust and looks good when you get your eye lined up correctly. Problem is the eye box is unforgiving. For a field rifle where I might be using anything in the woods to help support the rifle which might put me in unconventional shooting positions I would like a little more eyebox forgiveness. Not lined up correctly and a little too close or too far away? Gets some weird distortions in your field of view.. Someone shooting off a bench or with a consistent rest might like it more. Even added a high comb to help with the cheek weld. It had helped but not enough for me to call the scope a winner.

 

[fivestar45]

Sorry for the delayed reply. Yes I bought the scope on sale ans sent it to Leupold. They charged me $25.00 for the re-calibration.

 

[jmiller]

So what’s the status on the UTG 4x32? I’m also “shopping” for a decent fixed 4x, but for a springer instead of a PCP. The Hawke Vantage 4x32 looks like it would be about ideal for me, except they’re only supposed to be rated for springers of up to 12 ft/lbs. The two UTG 4x32’s are also on my radar because UTG tends to have a good reputation for durability, but maybe the more basic 4x32 with fixed parallax at 35 yards might be the way for me to go?

 

[DeoreDX]

So what’s the status on the UTG 4x32? I’m also “shopping” for a decent fixed 4x, but for a springer instead of a PCP. The Hawke Vantage 4x32 looks like it would be about ideal for me, except they’re only supposed to be rated for springers of up to 12 ft/lbs. The two UTG 4x32’s are also on my radar because UTG tends to have a good reputation for durability, but maybe the more basic 4x32 with fixed parallax at 35 yards might be the way for me to go?

My 4x32 is the AO version and is living an easy life on the PCP Fortitude. Glass is clear, adjustments positive and seem to work well. Only complaint is the eye box isn't as forgiving as higher priced optics I've owned. I've been happy with mine on the PCP but life on a springer is a totally different ballgame.