Airgun Hunting Optics | Grand View Outdoors

To get the most out of today’s amazing air rifles, they need to be matched with equally outstanding optics.

When choosing the best optics for my hunting rifles, I consider the characteristics of the rifle and the field conditions in which it will be used. However, there are some key attributes that my favorite scopes share: optical quality must be clear and sharp across the field of view, it must function well in low-light and changing-light conditions, the reticle must be uncluttered yet still provide adequate aiming points, it has to be easily adjusted and hold zero and it needs to be rugged to stand up to the harsh conditions of heavy field use. I generally require an adjustable AO and prefer a side wheel over an objective ring control.

There are other features that are important, but not necessarily deal breakers for me: I prefer a compact scope with low-profile turrets. A 30mm tube is a good option overall, allowing latitude for elevation adjustments without increasing scope dimensions noticeably. An illuminated reticle can be useful, especially for hunting in low-light conditions, or nighttime pest control with lights.

I like magnification in the 4-12X range for most hunting applications, but may go down to a fixed 4X or 6X model for a close-range big-game gun or go up to a variable with a top end of 25X on a long-range prairie dog gun.

There is some debate regarding a second focal plane (SFP) scope vs. a first focal plane (FFP) scope design for airguns. Without going too deep into the weeds, a SFP scope reticle does not change size when magnification is increased, and with FFP scopes the reticle changes size as you change the magnification. As you increase the power, the reticle’s size also increases. Many firearm shooters believe that an FFP scope is only advantageous when shooting extremely long ranges, though with the pronounced trajectory of airguns at less extreme ranges, coupled with the need for very precise shot placement on smaller targets, I do like FFP scopes for longer range airgun shooting (100 yards or more).

While I believe optical quality, low-light performance and ergonomics are usually more important, with all things equal, I gravitate toward FFP scopes these days. The downside(s) for me are that they tend to be more expensive, the reticles can be hard to see at lower magnifications, and the scopes are often (but not always) larger.

Let’s take a look at a few of the current scopes sitting on top of my hunting air rifles and I’ll tell you about them and why I like them.

MTC Copperhead

The MTC Copperhead 3-12x44mm AMD2 is a compact scope with excellent optical clarity across the entire field of view. This FFP scope is built on a 30mm tube that is 9.8 inches long and weighs 20 ounces, with an excellent multicoated 44mm objective lens.

The Copperhead has implemented MTC’s new AMD2 multi-aimpoint reticle, providing several aiming points to adjust trajectory and windage without being cluttered. The reticle has a central crosshair that can be illuminated to one of six brightness levels. The scope is zeroed using click-stop adjustments of the lockable, finger-adjustable elevation and windage turrets. Parallax error correction is adjustable from 10 yards to infinity using a side-mount control. This is a scope that compliments my compact small- and medium-game guns, both in terms of the physical dimensions and outstanding performance in low-light scenarios. However, the Copperhead also performs well for longer-range shooting, making it a good all-around optics option.

The Copperhead and, in fact, several of the MTC scopes, cluster around the mid-price point and hit a broad sweet spot. The quality of glass is top tier, the quality of design and build are top tier, but these products are priced below what I would expect. I use the MTC Copperhead, Mamba and Viper scope models on many of my hunting guns and believe they are among the best all-around options on the market.

Hawke Optics Airmax 30 SF Compact

The Hawke Optics Airmax 30 SF Compact 4-16x44mm AMX IR is a purpose designed airgun scope equipped to manage the ballistic traits unique to airguns. The AMX IR glass etched reticle utilizes 10X Mil-Dot spacing and offers multiple aim points. This supports precise shot placement in the setting of the significant parabolic trajectories associated with airguns. Half Mil-Dot spacings on the lower post provide more aim points for long-range shots and the horizontal calibrations are set at 0.5, 1.5-, 2.5-, 3.5- and 4.5-mil spacing.

Hollow posts are segmented into mil spacing and may be used for bracketing the target. This SFP scope is fairly compact at 11.7 inches long and weighs 21.9 ounces. It is based on a 30mm tube with windage and elevation adjustments made via accessible and easy-to-manipulate turrets, with a side-focus parallax correction that is adjustable from 10 yards to infinity.

The image quality is sharp and clear, there is a wide field of view and the reticle is clean, uncluttered and easy to use, allowing for fast target acquisition. There are several airgun specific models in the Airmax lineup that cover a range of applications and price points, and I think they are well worth a look.

Element Optics Titan 5-25x56mm FFP

The Titan from Element Optics offers several features, such as precision-engineered stainless-steel turret mechanisms and ED glass that you would expect from a high-end optic. The scope is built on a 34mm tube that allows latitude in windage and elevation adjustments for longer shots. I frequently mount this scope on long-range rigs used to snipe prairie dogs: the FFP reticle allows the magnification to be changed without affecting the reticle subtensions, which is very handy when shooting quarter-sized groups with a .25-caliber pellet at 150 yards.

Extra low dispersion (ED) glass with a 56mm objective lens provides an ultra-clear sight picture even in low-light conditions. Long-range varminting is one of the applications in which a high magnification is a requisite, and the 5-25X magnification combined with the MRAD reticle is about as good as it gets for long-range shooting in my opinion. The Titan reticle is illuminated on the center crosshair to allow visibility when there is low ambient light.

The Titan has larger dimensions than I typically prefer on the lightweight small-game guns I use for squirrel or rabbit hunting. But it is just about perfectly scaled for the full-size air rifles I use when shooting long range, typically off a rest. The Titan is an investment, but besides the outstanding optical quality, bullet proof build quality and rich feature set, the Element Optics warranty covers the scope for life.

UTG Accushot Swat 4-16x44mm

The Leapers UTG Accushot Swat 4-16x44mm is a perennial favorite of mine. It is a spring piston rated scope that will stand up to even the brutal bidirectional recoil generated by a magnum .25-caliber springer. But it is equally at home atop a standard caliber PCP or big-bore rifle. This is the scope I frequently use on my .457- and .50-caliber hog guns, because it is compact, the glass quality is good and the low-light characteristics coupled with the illuminated reticle works well for the conditions I hunt. This scope is built on a 30mm tube that is 11.14 inches long, with a 44mm objective lens and a side mounted AO adjustment for parallax correction.

Even though this is not a new scope design, it stays on my short list because it is rugged, reliable and springer rated. I’ve carried rifles with the Accushot Swat in freezing rain, driven snow, mud and across scorching hot desert sands. I have dropped and banged them around, yet they have always survived and have proven to be reliable. Additionally, this scope provides excellent value; with rings, batteries, hex wrenches and an integrated sunshade included. I think this scope continues to punch above the price point in both build quality and performance.

Umarex Axeon 4-16x44mm SF

Most of the scopes I’ve discussed up to this point have been in the mid to higher price range, but I am often asked about a budget scope for the entry level airgun, something closer to the $100 mark. These scopes are often used on spring piston rifles so must be rated to handle the bidirectional recoil these guns can generate. To be honest, most of my small-game hunting these days is done with precision PCP rifles, and I tend to use scopes that allow me to optimize the rig and achieve the best accuracy. However, many shooters want a no-frills scope with good optical quality, reliability and the ability to hold zero, without breaking the bank. The problem is that there are truckloads of this type of scope available that are sub-standard, often from unknown manufacturers with questionable QA. A more budget friendly scope I have been using when testing springers, from a company that I know stands behind its products, is the Umarex Axeon 4-16x44mm.

The Axeon 4-16x44mm Mil-Dot scope is built on a 1-inch tube with covered low-profile turrets and a side-adjustable parallax correction. This scope offers good image quality at most settings. And while its low-light capabilities are fair, I will say the multistep red/green illuminated reticle does enhance performance under these conditions. I believe this scope is a good all-around performer, and I’ve had positive experience with it. The build quality is solid if basic, and after using it extensively on a few magnum spring piston rifles, I have found it rugged, reliable and capable of holding zero in the face of strong recoil.

I believe that any of the scopes discussed could be the solution if you’re looking for new glass to mount on your favorite hunting air rifle. As mentioned at the start of this article, there are key attributes I consider deal breakers when evaluating a scope for hunting. But after this bar is cleared it is balancing the type of rifle being used, individual preferences on controls and ergonomics, the intended applications and how much you want to spend that will help you determine the right choice. I’ll wrap this up by paraphrasing the old saying, “When it comes to your scope, don’t cheap out!” Don’t overspend, but if you can afford to shell out a bit more, and the gun being used would benefit from better optical, design and/or build quality, consider it a long-term investment.