I am not bashing Hawke Scopes, is I said I have a couple of them. I'm just stating the fact that if you buy a hawk scope and decide to part with it the next owner will not be covered by the warranty.
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new scope choice - vortex or hawke
- Thread starter Menttaliist
- Start date
How relevant is a warranty? A warranty is like your seatbelt in your car if you never need it why have it on but the time that you do need it you going to be glad you had it on.
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A warranty is as relevant as the failure rate makes it and the purchaser believes it is. I don't buy used scopes so it's a non-issue for me. Others may well feel differently.
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I have 2 Hawke air max scopes...one of them started to have a wandering POI shift. Sent it in to Hawke and they promptly send a replacement..internally broken. So... I used their warranty. Like I said you ONLY need a warranty...WHEN you need it warrantied. If it never fails...the warranty doesn't matter. Your air rifles only need warranties IF they break also..but the warranty is a selling point.
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As I stated above, the warranty is an advantage to the Vortex. How relevant depends on the individual.
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I ordered a 6-24X50 Airmax Compact from PA on Monday, paid extra to get it in two days, they sent me a used one, BOO HISS Pyramid Air...!!! I initiated an RMA within a half hour, ten minutes later I called Hawke and explained situation, that was Wednesday... Yesterday I opened my front door and almost tripped over the new Hawke scope sitting at my door... Beat that customer service...!!! And I think its the perfect fit for my new Impact X (after I get some lower rings)…
Hawke is A#1... Ken
https://vortexoptics.com/vip-warranty
Ask Hawke if they are gonna replace your scope if an animal chews it into a couple pieces or if you run it over cause you left it on your trucks bed rail. Will hawke replace a scope thats been burned up in a fire? We already know they wont replace anything if you are a second owner but they wont even come close to vortex's warranty even as the original buyer. I am glad some people have good experiences with Hawkes quality cause I dont want to see someone unhappy with gear. I didnt have that experience with hawke. I didnt buy the top of the line Hawke but the $500 I spent on the hawke scope was $100 less than I paid for my 3 viper pst gen1 and gen2's. That hawke isnt close to the same quality in my experience even tho they are almost the exact same price. Not bashing Hawke just talking my experience with two Hawkes and multiple vortex and other brands like leupold, bushnell and burris. I wont mention nightforce cause they dont have anything in the comparable price range but they are top notch scopes as well.
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I ordered a 6-24X50 Airmax Compact from PA on Monday, paid extra to get it in two days, they sent me a used one, BOO HISS Pyramid Air...!!! I initiated an RMA within a half hour, ten minutes later I called Hawke and explained situation, that was Wednesday... Yesterday I opened my front door and almost tripped over the new Hawke scope sitting at my door... Beat that customer service...!!! And I think its the perfect fit for my new Impact X (after I get some lower rings)…
Hawke is A#1... Ken
https://vortexoptics.com/vip-warranty
Ask Hawke if they are gonna replace your scope if an animal chews it into a couple pieces or if you run it over cause you left it on your trucks bed rail. Will hawke replace a scope thats been burned up in a fire? We already know they wont replace anything if you are a second owner but they wont even come close to vortex's warranty even as the original buyer. I am glad some people have good experiences with Hawkes quality cause I dont want to see someone unhappy with gear. I didnt have that experience with hawke. I didnt buy the top of the line Hawke but the $500 I spent on the hawke scope was $100 less than I paid for my 3 viper pst gen1 and gen2's. That hawke isnt close to the same quality in my experience even tho they are almost the exact same price. Not bashing Hawke just talking my experience with two Hawkes and multiple vortex and other brands like leupold, bushnell and burris. I wont mention nightforce cause they dont have anything in the comparable price range but they are top notch scopes as well.
I did note that the Vortex warranty is an advantage, if it is as good as claimed. Don't know, never had one. You like Vortex better and that is certainly valid. However, your view on how a Hawke warranty issue WOULD be handled seems to be an opinion directly contradicted by the actual EXPERIENCE of the person you quoted here. I may try a Vortex in the future but I'm perfectly happy with the Hawke scopes I have.
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Hey folks! Just wanted to add my experience with both brands if it will help in making the OP come to a decision. I have neither of the scopes the OP is interested in, but I have two Hawke 4-16X50 Sidewinders and a Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-24X50 FFP. Both are great scopes for the price they are sold. Personally, it is not my intention to shoot my airguns even up to 200 yards, so I felt there was no reason for me to pay over twelve hundred dollars for a scope with mid- to top-tier glass (even with having the available funds), which I believe is designed mainly to keep tracking performance accurate and resolution as crisp as possible at non-airgun distances. This is why I cannot believe why some people will spend such amount of money on a scope intended primarily for powder-burners that can really reach out there for their airguns. But hey, it's their money and desires, so all is good.
HAWKE SIDEWINDER 4-16X50 (PERFORMANCE)
Besides the Vortex, there is no other scope I can think of in the same class--because I haven't tried any else--that can beat it. Tracking is precise for the distances I shoot and image clarity is very good. Of course, at maximum magnification the brightness drops and the resolution becomes a bit fuzzy, and that's because the glass imperfections are only being amplified. However, I shoot at 10X, and this is enough for me. Plus, it keeps the image quality bright and clear, enough to allow me to discern between the target and surroundings and everything else in between. Turret repeatability and return-to-zero are excellent.
VORTEX DIAMONDBACK TACTICAL 6-24X50 FFP (PERFORMANCE)
This is the only front focal plane (FFP) scope I own. I think an FFP scope has its advantages, but not any more than a secondary focal plane one. I think each type has its own specific purpose. The glass on this scope seems to be marginally better than that on the Hawke in that image clarity is a level above and resolution is slightly crisper. But like the Hawke, at maximum magnification, the image degrades just slightly but still brighter than the Hawke. That said, this does not necessarily mean that the Hawke is inferior. To me what matters is if you can see it you can hit it, and that's what you get with both the Hawke and Vortex, just cutting to the short and sweet of it. The biggest disadvantage of the Vortex, or its FFP design, specifically, is that the reticle is almost invisible at the lower end of the magnification range. If shooting at dark targets it is almost impossible to see the reticle. Of course, the solution is to increase magnification, but doing so will accordingly magnify, and coincidentally exaggerate, the tiny movements your body produces.
FUNCTIONALITY (BOTH)
The Sidewinder and the Diamondback (it's funny how both are named after snakes) do what they are built for. But to be fair, what I like about the Sidewinder is that it has a turret-locking feature while the Diamondback doesn't. It also has an illuminated reticle, which in my opinion, can come in very handy when shooting at black or dark targets. I wish the Diamondback also has this feature because I often like to shoot at low magnification powers, and since the Diamondback is an FFP, illuminating the reticle would help in this regard given it's almost invisibile at those mag levels (or it's just my aging eyes). The Sidewinder also comes with a large sidewheel rotor to make focusing easier. The Diamondback does not come with one; I don't think there even is one available for it. Both scopes provide an adjustable ocular lens to allow you to focus the reticle to your vision; however, the Hawke goes one step further by enabling you to lock its position once you've found the correct setting. Finally, both scopes have a minimum focus distance of 10 yards, which is suitable for airguns.
PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION
As is evident from the above, I would say that you can't go wrong with either. Both brands have their own solid reputation. And although Vortex's warranty is superior to Hawke's, I'd say it shouldn't even be a deal-breaker. Hawke's warranty is quite respectable. Lastly, I think both companies manufacture solid scopes that can perform much more than your abilities as a (airgun) shooter.
Good luck in your decision. Cheers!
HAWKE SIDEWINDER 4-16X50 (PERFORMANCE)
Besides the Vortex, there is no other scope I can think of in the same class--because I haven't tried any else--that can beat it. Tracking is precise for the distances I shoot and image clarity is very good. Of course, at maximum magnification the brightness drops and the resolution becomes a bit fuzzy, and that's because the glass imperfections are only being amplified. However, I shoot at 10X, and this is enough for me. Plus, it keeps the image quality bright and clear, enough to allow me to discern between the target and surroundings and everything else in between. Turret repeatability and return-to-zero are excellent.
VORTEX DIAMONDBACK TACTICAL 6-24X50 FFP (PERFORMANCE)
This is the only front focal plane (FFP) scope I own. I think an FFP scope has its advantages, but not any more than a secondary focal plane one. I think each type has its own specific purpose. The glass on this scope seems to be marginally better than that on the Hawke in that image clarity is a level above and resolution is slightly crisper. But like the Hawke, at maximum magnification, the image degrades just slightly but still brighter than the Hawke. That said, this does not necessarily mean that the Hawke is inferior. To me what matters is if you can see it you can hit it, and that's what you get with both the Hawke and Vortex, just cutting to the short and sweet of it. The biggest disadvantage of the Vortex, or its FFP design, specifically, is that the reticle is almost invisible at the lower end of the magnification range. If shooting at dark targets it is almost impossible to see the reticle. Of course, the solution is to increase magnification, but doing so will accordingly magnify, and coincidentally exaggerate, the tiny movements your body produces.
FUNCTIONALITY (BOTH)
The Sidewinder and the Diamondback (it's funny how both are named after snakes) do what they are built for. But to be fair, what I like about the Sidewinder is that it has a turret-locking feature while the Diamondback doesn't. It also has an illuminated reticle, which in my opinion, can come in very handy when shooting at black or dark targets. I wish the Diamondback also has this feature because I often like to shoot at low magnification powers, and since the Diamondback is an FFP, illuminating the reticle would help in this regard given it's almost invisibile at those mag levels (or it's just my aging eyes). The Sidewinder also comes with a large sidewheel rotor to make focusing easier. The Diamondback does not come with one; I don't think there even is one available for it. Both scopes provide an adjustable ocular lens to allow you to focus the reticle to your vision; however, the Hawke goes one step further by enabling you to lock its position once you've found the correct setting. Finally, both scopes have a minimum focus distance of 10 yards, which is suitable for airguns.
PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION
As is evident from the above, I would say that you can't go wrong with either. Both brands have their own solid reputation. And although Vortex's warranty is superior to Hawke's, I'd say it shouldn't even be a deal-breaker. Hawke's warranty is quite respectable. Lastly, I think both companies manufacture solid scopes that can perform much more than your abilities as a (airgun) shooter.
Good luck in your decision. Cheers!
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From the little knowledge I have on scope brands, as a whole on the better models from both brands, Vortex offers better quality
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As Confucius once said," opinions are like butt holes, some stink and some don't"...NOT that there are any stinkers here..
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I know the OP has made the purchase. And everyone is talking about warranty honoring, cost and build quality. Am I one of the few that have actually bought a high tier Discovery? I bought the Discovery HS 4-14x44 FFP ....I have to say, the quality is damn hard to beat. ESPECIALLY at the price range. $240 HS or HI series with grant you Glass, turrets and build of a $600-$800 optic. Bump up your price range to $300-$400 for the TOP tier ED series....yeah....good luck finding glass like that at that price. As a matter of fact, quite a few big name guys at UA’s grand opening tried it out. All said the same thing, “there is no way that optic was only $240”.
Now, don’t get me wrong, to each their own and the OP DID ask about info between two set manufacturers. We are all on the same team here. We need to see through a scope to shoot poop at distance. Regardless if it’s a $20 or $2000 optic, if you can see clearly, tracks true, holds zero, good construction....etc...it’s perfect.
its just an aluminum tube we look through.
Now, don’t get me wrong, to each their own and the OP DID ask about info between two set manufacturers. We are all on the same team here. We need to see through a scope to shoot poop at distance. Regardless if it’s a $20 or $2000 optic, if you can see clearly, tracks true, holds zero, good construction....etc...it’s perfect.
its just an aluminum tube we look through.
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Its just an aluminum tube we look through. ..Yours has an aluminum tube? MINE is made out of unobtanium, a very expensive rare earth mineral and very hard to get.
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I looked through and shot a couple rifles equipped with vortex scopes, neither myself nor my GF liked them... These things are all a matter of personal preference...
And we're all entitled to our opinions...
;-)
And we're all entitled to our opinions...
;-)
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As far as everything goes now, this scope seems like the right purchase. Since i haven't had too much time with it I still need to make some traking test but very confident with the overall build quality. I made another thread with the review in case you'd like to check a more depth comments
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Exactly right. Many seem to think only their opinion is valid but for lots of things, and optics are high on that list, individual preference is paramount.
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Hope it is exactly what you need and want. Scopes are substantial investments for most of us. Enjoy it.
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