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Anyone out there tried one of the Hawke Optics sights? We like the ballistic reticle on offer and they seem to be reasonable money for a rifle that only shoots milsurp ammo. Any comments from users? We're thinking of the 6-24x50 offering.

I have one of the 3-9x40 type but not tried it yet be a few weeks before I can, optics look very clear for the cheaper side of scopes.

I've got a 6-24x50 AO Hawke. I'm happy with it but I've nothing expensive to compare it with

I'm afraid optics is one area where you really do get what you pay for. I have a couple of Hawke on air rifles and they are brilliant for that 30 to 40 yards that I use them. My mate has a Hawke in his Savage .223. Again, out to around 300, you can't really complain, as long as the weather is clear and bright. Get a little hazy, or low winter light, and I'm afraid they don't come close to a better quality optic. And as the scope is supposed to assist you in seeing the target, if you can't see it, you won't hit it....

I have a 3-9x40 with the 22hv ret, bought it for curiosity. With the calibrated ammo, 36grain mini mag, its spot on with the holdover, no complaints for what it is.

Sim G wrote:I'm afraid optics is one area where you really do get what you pay for. I have a couple of Hawke on air rifles and they are brilliant for that 30 to 40 yards that I use them. My mate has a Hawke in his Savage .223. Again, out to around 300, you can't really complain, as long as the weather is clear and bright. Get a little hazy, or low winter light, and I'm afraid they don't come close to a better quality optic. And as the scope is supposed to assist you in seeing the target, if you can't see it, you won't hit it....

Yep, this pretty much nails it. Have a very cheap Hawke (Sport HD) on the 10/22 and it's just about adequate for 25 yards work. Have a more expensive one (Nighteye IIRC) on another rimfire and that's OK up to 100 yards. Pretty good for £50 secondhand though!

I've used my Hawke to 100mards, what's the problem with it?

I have a hawk 8-32 on the boys winchester stealth, to be honest I haven't taken a great deal of notice of it because he is happy with the set up, so last Sunday I had a cabbie on it as he is the only one with a rifle at the moment at 300 it was very bright and with strong winds the reticule was very useful SR12, I have looked through it at longer ranges and on full mag 32x it does start to get a bit white round the edges but turn it down a bit around 20x it's fine, not your high end glass but for £200 it does the biz and is perfectly usable.
Nice lockable turrets too.

I have the 3-9x40 AO on an air rifle. Excellent scope for the money and great for 10 - 30 yards. Havn't used it in anger past that, but it seems clear at several hundred. Can't comment on dawn/dusk but imagine it would not be stellar as the optics are not coated.

Hmmm, it seems that the Hawke potentially offers great value for money then for our purposes: target shooting in fine weather at 300 and maybe 600 mards. It'll be replacing iron sights on our milsurp rifles as our eyes are no longer as able to accommodate two focal planes as well as they once did...