Often after buying our first air rifle and having already shot more than one box of shotgun shells, we begin to ask ourselves: what kind of scope to buy for an air rifle? We would like to shoot more accurately and at farther distances, but this is not feasible with a standard bow tie and pinniped. With mechanical instruments we shoot at approximately ten-fifteen meters. In the following text we will try to suggest what parameters to pay attention to when facing a similar choice. To begin with, let's zoom in on what a spotting scope is in general. It is an optical instrument that replaces our mechanical bow tie and scimitar. The ability to zoom in on the targets we are shooting at makes us able to fire more accurate shots at further distances - up to 100 meters in the case of the best PCP airguns. Scopes mounted on such carbines are characterized by the best image.
It does not matter whether it is a CO2 or PCA windshield - scopes for these windshields specify similar parameters. First - the type of crosshairs that will be displayed on the lens. Here we have Mil-Dot, 30/30 or ballistic crosshairs available. Depending on what discipline related to shooting you practice, you may need different types of crosshairs. The next step in selecting the best scope for a windshield such as CO2 is the range of zoom offered. If you have little space or a windshield powered by a single 12g CO2 cartridge, an ordinary scope with a fixed quadruple magnification will suffice. If you are interested in a spotting scope for a PCP air rifle, we advise you to look towards scopes with variable magnification, such as 3-9x. This will increase the chance of taking an accurate shot at the longer distance that air-powered riflescopes are designed for. In addition, the type of mount you need to match the optic is important. The scopes mounted to PCA air rifles are often slightly smaller in size, since these air rifles usually come in pistol form. We then have less space to mount additional equipment. Also important is the weight of the scope, which should not be greater than the weight of the gun. Finally, consider what kind of mount you need. Scopes for CO2 windguns, as a rule, benefit from a medium height, while if the bow tie is very pronounced, you will need a high mount. In the case of the above windcheaters, you don't need to bother with the scope's shock resistance. CO2, PCA and PCP windcheaters are practically recoil-free, which means that there are no forces acting on the scope that can mechanically damage it due to firing.
Note: Remember that telescope tubes are manufactured in two sizes - inch and 30 mm. Make sure that the mount will be suitable for the scope, as few scopes have a dedicated one included. Definitely more often it is the mount that is matched to the type of windshield, and only then attention is paid to the scope. This, of course, is not the end of important parameters to pay attention to when picking a scope for our rifle, but definitely some of the most important. If you are looking for additional information, take a look at the definition of parallax and the range of scopes with illuminated crosshairs. How about a running scope? Take a look at the range of scopes we present, and you will surely find something for you. Have a successful shooting experience!
