I've been out of the hobby for 3 or 4 years and am no longer up-to-date on optics and such. I'm wondering if the Hawke Sidewinder 6.5-20x42 is still considered to be an adequate scope for a PCP - or is it old technology?
Hawke Sidewinder TAC 30 6.5-20X42
- Thread starter Airwolf
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Thanks for your replies!
(mister12ax7 - I may be putting mine on the classifieds in a couple days.)
(mister12ax7 - I may be putting mine on the classifieds in a couple days.)
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I have the sidewinder Tactical 6.5-20x42 and 8.5-25x42 and I don’t know why but I like the 6.5-20x42 more, but both performs great.
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@raptor660, I have those two and an 8-32x56. I agree that I too like the 6.5-20 better than the 8.5-25. Seems like the 6.5-20 is clear all the way to 20x, whereas the 8.5x25 is really only very clear to 20x. My two cents.
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I apologize to rain on y'alls hawk parade. When I first was introduced into airgunning, I bought 4-5 hawk sidewinders tac 30 6.5-20×42 new & used (newer & older versions). I thought they were really good scopes @ 1st & I really liked the illuminated reticles, but then over some time each one had issues: elevation turret did not return to "zero", reticle slanted, parallax not matching up to correct lasered yards, windage turret not turning correctly, mushy or non clicking turrets, & illumination stopped working. So I bought me some cheaper swfa & more expensive sightron scopes, & never looked back. Not sure if the issue was me or the hawk scopes (most likely the later). I don't beat on any of my scopes too much, but 1 by 1 those hawk scopes hated my guts & broke on me. One aspect about scopes that is very important to me is consistent tracking w/ the elevation turret to diaI to shoot. Its very fustrating when a scope can not return to zero or consistently not dial out to 50, 75, 100 yards. I returned them all (if possible) under warranty & or sold them. If any hawk scope works for you then great, keep 'em...if they disappoint you...well, you know what to do. Just my 2 cents...
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I too was curious about the clarity and contrast compared to other scopes. So about a year ago, I set three scopes side by side, and focused across the canyon at the back of my house at some other houses, probably 500 yards away. In addition to the Hawke 6.5-20x42, I used a Sightron Big Sky 4-16x42 and a Vortex Razor HD LH 3-15x42, both more expensive than the Hawke, and the Vortex twice as much. I put the Hawke at 15 or 16x to compare apples to apples.
Looking through all three, they were all very good. After a few minutes I eliminated the Sightron. It just wasn’t as clear as the other two around the edges. Then I looked between the two for quite a while. Both the Hawke and Vortex had equivalent clarity. Only when I focused on homes with varying colors did I notice the Vortex had slightly better contrast than the Hawke.
I also have used the Hawke with a large elevation turret marked in yardage on my .30 FX Bobcat for 1 1/2 years now. I use the dial-a-yardage for hunting from 20 to 150 yards. The turrets are always spot on and return to zero perfectly every time. My two cents on this scope.
Looking through all three, they were all very good. After a few minutes I eliminated the Sightron. It just wasn’t as clear as the other two around the edges. Then I looked between the two for quite a while. Both the Hawke and Vortex had equivalent clarity. Only when I focused on homes with varying colors did I notice the Vortex had slightly better contrast than the Hawke.
I also have used the Hawke with a large elevation turret marked in yardage on my .30 FX Bobcat for 1 1/2 years now. I use the dial-a-yardage for hunting from 20 to 150 yards. The turrets are always spot on and return to zero perfectly every time. My two cents on this scope.
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I own 6 of this Hawke model (I'm a fundamentally lazy guy and didn't like the necessity of removing a scope and re-zeroing). I have to say I was always 100% satisfied with their performance. Never had a mechanical problem on any of them. Turrets were very accurate and kept their settings. Optics were very good - not the absolute best, but they didn't cost anyway near the $3000 bracket, where the really good stuff hangs out.
My health has finally forced me to admit that I need to sell all my equipment and my post was intended to help me get a handle on what my scopes might be worth.
My health has finally forced me to admit that I need to sell all my equipment and my post was intended to help me get a handle on what my scopes might be worth.
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Centercut
you are absolutely right I to find the 6.5-20 more pleasing to look through
Only thing I don’t like about Hawke scopes is that they don’t gather much light all though they have 30mm tubes. They suck wenn darkness comes..
how do you like the sidewinder 8-32x56? I have been close to buying it a few times now..
you are absolutely right I to find the 6.5-20 more pleasing to look through
Only thing I don’t like about Hawke scopes is that they don’t gather much light all though they have 30mm tubes. They suck wenn darkness comes..how do you like the sidewinder 8-32x56? I have been close to buying it a few times now..
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The 8-32x56 is much brighter and bigger picture. Not sure about the SR Pro reticle yet. I think I’d stick with the 1/2 mil dot. Also not sure yet about the turrets. My plan is to set it up like my 6.5-20 in my .30 Bobcat. I have the 8-32 in my (new) used Crown in .22. It was bought used but never shot. So far it thinks it’s a shot gun. Can’t hokd dime groups at 13 yards with 18.1s. Need to see what the problem is. My plan is to get the B liner anyway when available and shoot the 25.4 grain RD Monsters. So I’m not that concerned about the crap A liner that came with the gun.
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That 8-32x56 does sound nice, anything wrong with the turrets? I will definitely go for mildot reticle that my favorite reticle. I would rather have the TMX reticle that’s really nice!
I do hope you get that crown sorted out, it sucks big time wenn they don’t shoot right, but inch group at 13 yards that’s just crazy
I do hope you get that crown sorted out, it sucks big time wenn they don’t shoot right, but inch group at 13 yards that’s just crazy
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I compared the hawke sidewinder to a athlon midas and I still think the hawke was the clearer but that's just me.
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I have the 4x12x40 airmax.asome scope.light wieght.glass is great.next is the panorama.it has a lighted reticle. That's my 2 cents alex
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I too have a couple Hawke scopes. The 3x16-50 with the SR pro reticle, and the Sidewinder 6,5x20-42 half mil.
Both decent scopes but not on par with the Leupold 6.5x20-40 EFR.
The Illuminated Sidewinder reticle will blind you at dusk, even on its lowest reostat, so it's pretty much useless. Well, maybe not useless , but less than practical. When its turned off its pinpoint.
The SR Pro is much nicer as only the center cross hair lights up without the blinding effects of the entire reticle lighting up and turning the scope into a flare. I've not had any tracking issues with either scope. They hold zero mark nicely, even on powder burners. Lifetime warranty, so if one breaks just gimme another one. Optical quality is pretty good at this price point. So I kinda like them both.
Both decent scopes but not on par with the Leupold 6.5x20-40 EFR.
The Illuminated Sidewinder reticle will blind you at dusk, even on its lowest reostat, so it's pretty much useless. Well, maybe not useless , but less than practical. When its turned off its pinpoint.
The SR Pro is much nicer as only the center cross hair lights up without the blinding effects of the entire reticle lighting up and turning the scope into a flare. I've not had any tracking issues with either scope. They hold zero mark nicely, even on powder burners. Lifetime warranty, so if one breaks just gimme another one. Optical quality is pretty good at this price point. So I kinda like them both.
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