Quality Compact Scopes

I've got a number of PCP and spring piston air rifles and have some (what I think) are nice scopes like Athlon, Sightron, Arken and Hawke scopes that at a quality level enough for my shooting activites. I've had cheap scopes before and have no desire to buy any more of them. I do have a couple of break barrel rifles, especially my TX200, that needed a compact scope to get out of the way of the loading port. Anything longer than 11 or 12 inches is too much. I saw the introduction of the GPO Centuri Super Compact scope and my heart skipped a beat. At 9.9 inches long, it's perfect for these applications and the quality is as good as the stuff I currently use. Trouble is, at the time, they were unavailable. A lot of you had good remarks about the Vector Optics Veyron Ultra Compact available in either SFP or FFP. I thought: hmm another cheap scope, and was reluctant to buy one, but I needed one at the moment so I bought the SFP (my preference)model on Amazon for $229. It's 10.5 inches long and is lightweight at 19.5 oz. and has all the features I'm looking for. Much to my surprise, it's a decent scope. It's bright, has a good FOV, good build quality, a useful reticle and it works. My only criticism is that I just can't focus the reticle for my eyesight. It's ok, but just a wee bit fuzzy.

Then the GPOs came in so I bought one of those. It's FFP, and I can live with that since I shoot mostly at the upper end of the magnification scale. Cost for this is $629. I feel that the FOV seems a little less as it looks like I'm looking down a tunnel despite what the specs say. The reticle is the perfect thickness for me. Optics? I would have to give the clarity to the Veyron. I can focus on my 10M air rifle target a tad sharper with it. Is it worth twice the price?? I think if I need another compact scope, I would buy the Veyron and save the money. The Chinese have been making inroads into the lower cost optics. Would I use any of these for competition like FT or BR? No, but that's another story.

TX200 with GPO scope.jpg
 
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Yes, they list a 3-12 in SFP, but no 4-16 in Super Compact. There is a 4-16, but it's 14.5 inches long unless I missed something.
The one I have is neither of those.

 
I picked up the Veyron Compact right before Christmas from Amazon. It must have been shipped from China because it took about 2 weeks before I got it. And after I unboxed it, I turned the tracking knobs--guess what?? No click-clicky! Turrets just unscrewed. Totally defective scope, so refund was easy enough, I guess.

Yesterday I bought the GPO Centuri Compact 4-16 from CameralandNY--$522. Free shipping. I will be comparing this to my Arken EPL 4-16
 
Recommend visiting Krale's (Netherlands) Optic Department before purchasing a Vector Veyron. Best I could find elsewhere "to-my-door pricing" for 6-24x44 was in $270s, last three from Krale, $211. WM
I would prefer to buy locally, even Amazon. If the product is defective, just send it back either for credit or replacement.
 
I've got a number of PCP and spring piston air rifles and have some (what I think) are nice scopes like Athlon, Sightron, Arken and Hawke scopes that at a quality level enough for my shooting activites. I've had cheap scopes before and have no desire to buy any more of them. I do have a couple of break barrel rifles, especially my TX200, that needed a compact scope to get out of the way of the loading port. Anything longer than 11 or 12 inches is too much. I saw the introduction of the GPO Centuri Super Compact scope and my heart skipped a beat. At 9.9 inches long, it's perfect for these applications and the quality is as good as the stuff I currently use. Trouble is, at the time, they were unavailable. A lot of you had good remarks about the Vector Optics Veyron Ultra Compact available in either SFP or FFP. I thought: hmm another cheap scope, and was reluctant to buy one, but I needed one at the moment so I bought the SFP (my preference)model on Amazon for $229. It's 10.5 inches long and is lightweight at 19.5 oz. and has all the features I'm looking for. Much to my surprise, it's a decent scope. It's bright, has a good FOV, good build quality, a useful reticle and it works. My only criticism is that I just can't focus the reticle for my eyesight. It's ok, but just a wee bit fuzzy.

Then the GPOs came in so I bought one of those. It's FFP, and I can live with that since I shoot mostly at the upper end of the magnification scale. Cost for this is $629. I feel that the FOV seems a little less as it looks like I'm looking down a tunnel despite what the specs say. The reticle is the perfect thickness for me. Optics? I would have to give the clarity to the Veyron. I can focus on my 10M air rifle target a tad sharper with it. Is it worth twice the price?? I think if I need another compact scope, I would buy the Veyron and save the money. The Chinese have been making inroads into the lower cost optics. Would I use any of these for competition like FT or BR? No, but that's another story.

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The compact GPO scopes are nice. I bought both the SF & FFP. I really like my SF, but had to send the FFP back, the ret was just too difficult for me to see. But that is the case with most FFP scopes I have tried. Like you say, if you use mostly higher powers, they would be fine. I am surprised we are not seeing more folks posting them. I got mine from Cameraland,
 
Hawke compact scopes.

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I've owned several Hawke scopes. Derrick got 2 of them. The Sidewinder was on a FX.30 Boss. The other was on a FX Wildcat.
Since that time Hawke has become hugely over priced.
Both scopes paled in comparison to the Vector that I have on my AGT. Of the scopes mentioned here the Hawke would be last on the list if I were a buyer.
Nothing personal. They have a great warranty. The sidewinder fogged out at higher magnifications. Held zero mark nicely from day to day with minor input for that day. The glass just wasn't that good. Or the elements. As it were.
 
There is also the Athlon Heras 2-12 with 1" tube and optically the image is nice since it's not super compact. It's interesting in that the mil version has a simpler reticle with .2 mil hashes and is SFP. It's the same length as my old Nikon 3-9 but way more versatile.

Yep Helos G2 2-12 is awesome!
 
Well then how does the Discovery 2-12 compare to those mentioned thus far?
With a little work , when I have time I can show a photo of a brand new 5-25 discovery that has never been mounted in rings or put on a gun.
It displays an un-centered reticle and is useless. That guy Charlie at airgun optics plus won't even answer his phone anymore. Probably due to the number of scopes that were sent back. They are pieces of junk in my opinion. I have one if anybody wants it. It would make a good ash tray , or a handy weapon to beat an intruder with.
 
Just ordered the Discovery HD 2-12 myself. Hasn’t come in yet but the specs are very hard to beat, especially at $189 shipped with rings. Very compact at 8.5” and just over 16oz. Seems like a great airgun optic.