Shartshooter
Active member
I’ve come to prefer the plain reticule on vintage scopes since having them on my 40 year old springers. Old vs New, what’s your view?
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the Daily hi thread
Scopes, vintage or new?
- Thread starter Shartshooter
- Start date
WobblyHeadShot
Well-known member
Also enjoying vintage scopes, with quality glass. Just acquired a nice vintage bushnell in a gloss finish, looks way better on a nice blued steel springer 
spikey
Super member
Vintage all the way for me. I have several I've bought cheaply over the years, ranging from Tasco 4 x 32s to 4 x Pecar Champions.
This US company refurbishes and sells vintage scopes: https://www.vintagegunscopes.com/
This US company refurbishes and sells vintage scopes: https://www.vintagegunscopes.com/
Martin Bacon
Super member
Yep - love my old scopes. Got quite a few from 1970’s /1980’s . Some have a few marks here and there - but the glass quality is great!
back then too. 
Stu.22
Super member
Fan of Old & New on the right setup 
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32:1
Member Extraordinaire
All my scopes are vintage 
ive a mix of vintage and new, but i prefer the vintage, especially the plain thin crosshairs, the newer scopes i own have much fatter crosshairs and tend to cover a bigger portion of the target at distance, or is that just my perception. my groups look bigger with the newer scopes.
Cinimod
Member Extraordinaire
I think all mine are glossy old scopes as they ‘sit’ better on the older guns. The only one that isn’t is the one on my Fwb300s which is a higher mag and big lens scope for doing the bench rest targets………dom
Shartshooter
Active member
I do prefer the plain reticule and relying on instinct for hold over and windage. I feel that I have actually had more success without the clutter of mill dots.
Shartshooter
Active member
Shartshooter
Active member
Love the look of those scopes especially the Tasco! Is that an Airmasters hw77?
Shartshooter
Active member
I’m a fan of the Whitetail Classic. Would love to get a Theoben at some point. Lovely looking rifles.Fan of Old & New on the right setup
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Cottis
Well-known member
Depends what the rifle is being used for. I don't have any old scopes on centrefires as I am shooting them at distances far exceeding 100-200yds, so I want/need the best possible mechanics, dialling or reticle aiming ability and the most up to date glass and optics.
On day time hunting air rifles though, really I am looking only for robustness, a basic aim point and quality glass. By quality glass, I mean really good glass. I don't really see many airgunners using what I would describe as quality glass. You don't have to spend a fortune to get it but people are seduced by zoom, illumation and unnecessary crap like that. I am shooting out to 40yds, that is very close and for hunting purposes I need to hit a golf ball at these near distances. 4 x mag is plenty for that. I know people who use 6 and 8 x fixed scopes to shoot deer at 200yds. If you are shooting tiny targets and require absolute precision, then that is when more modern scopes are useful.
On my HW95, I use a 4x32 Swarovski scope. It resolves a higher quality picture at close range than I need. I also do leatherwork, so I box stitched some cylinders to fit the objective and ocular bells and attached elastic to ensure the glass remains spotless. The rest of the scope has seen plenty of action over the years and it shows but it has been in use for 40+yrs. Holds zero perfect.
On my S510, I have a Delta Titanium HD 4-24x50 as I need low mag for close range ratting with a Vulpine MkIII add on while also utilising the high zoom for target shooting. Delta make scopes that provide optical clarity that punch well above their price point. Really good mid range/budget scopes. I am surprised not to see more of these scopes being used on airguns. They focus down really close as well. Great all round scopes.
On day time hunting air rifles though, really I am looking only for robustness, a basic aim point and quality glass. By quality glass, I mean really good glass. I don't really see many airgunners using what I would describe as quality glass. You don't have to spend a fortune to get it but people are seduced by zoom, illumation and unnecessary crap like that. I am shooting out to 40yds, that is very close and for hunting purposes I need to hit a golf ball at these near distances. 4 x mag is plenty for that. I know people who use 6 and 8 x fixed scopes to shoot deer at 200yds. If you are shooting tiny targets and require absolute precision, then that is when more modern scopes are useful.
On my HW95, I use a 4x32 Swarovski scope. It resolves a higher quality picture at close range than I need. I also do leatherwork, so I box stitched some cylinders to fit the objective and ocular bells and attached elastic to ensure the glass remains spotless. The rest of the scope has seen plenty of action over the years and it shows but it has been in use for 40+yrs. Holds zero perfect.
On my S510, I have a Delta Titanium HD 4-24x50 as I need low mag for close range ratting with a Vulpine MkIII add on while also utilising the high zoom for target shooting. Delta make scopes that provide optical clarity that punch well above their price point. Really good mid range/budget scopes. I am surprised not to see more of these scopes being used on airguns. They focus down really close as well. Great all round scopes.
Shartshooter
Active member
Yes quality scopes indeed!Depends what the rifle is being used for. I don't have any old scopes on centrefires as I am shooting them at distances far exceeding 100-200yds, so I want/need the best possible mechanics, dialling or reticle aiming ability and the most up to date glass and optics.
On day time hunting air rifles though, really I am looking only for robustness, a basic aim point and quality glass. By quality glass, I mean really good glass. I don't really see many airgunners using what I would describe as quality glass. You don't have to spend a fortune to get it but people are seduced by zoom, illumation and unnecessary crap like that. I am shooting out to 40yds, that is very close and for hunting purposes I need to hit a golf ball at these near distances. 4 x mag is plenty for that. I know people who use 6 and 8 x fixed scopes to shoot deer at 200yds. If you are shooting tiny targets and require absolute precision, then that is when more modern scopes are useful.
On my HW95, I use a 4x32 Swarovski scope. It resolves a higher quality picture at close range than I need. I also do leatherwork, so I box stitched some cylinders to fit the objective and ocular bells and attached elastic to ensure the glass remains spotless. The rest of the scope has seen plenty of action over the years and it shows but it has been in use for 40+yrs. Holds zero perfect.
On my S510, I have a Delta Titanium HD 4-24x50 as I need low mag for close range ratting with a Vulpine MkIII add on while also utilising the high zoom for target shooting. Delta make scopes that provide optical clarity that punch well above their price point. Really good mid range/budget scopes. I am surprised not to see more of these scopes being used on airguns. They focus down really close as well. Great all round scopes.
Aside from the scopes I was going to say I love the scope covers. Do you make to order?
Shartshooter
Active member
Cottis
Well-known member
It is a hobby more than a job. I have sold a good amount of shooting and non shooting leather goods over the years but it always has to be a balance between something quality using decent veg tanned leather, time taken to produce and at a price that isn't prohibitive to potential buyers. People love bespoke fitted items but they don't always value it inline with the amount of time it takes to make. Which I understand in a day and age where items are often available very cheaply via mass produced processes. These things are not unique and tend not to last but most people are driven by price rather than quality.
These particular scope covers are not something I have ever sold as I wasn't sure there would be a demand for it. Lot of people use bikin covers supplied with scopes or plastic flip ups or other after market products. The bikini covers are not terrible but the rubber straps tend to snap and the way in which they are made means it is difficult to utilise them again once those straps deteriorate and snap. I designed mine so that when/if the elastic breaks, you can simply put some new elastic through the punched holes. The stretch can also be cut to size for the individuals wants. Just enough to keep the caps in situ without putting undue pressure on the elastic. They last for ages and I am yet to break a set but used in anger in the field, there is potential to catch it on barbed wire, brambles etc.
I always liked flip ups but the reality is that they are difficult to operate in complete silence and they click noisily in operation which is no good. I have more than once spooked a deer when out hunting. The low profile plastic caps can snap and the more robust ones are too wieldly and large for my tastes.
So i made my own. Maybe I will consider making them but not 100% sure. It is a hobby and not a job. What tends to happen when I advertise these things, is that suddenly an order list grows rapidly and it starts taking over my life. It then starts to become a chore rather than a pleasure. I will give it some thought. Here are the tan covers on my Leica scope which sits on my little S&L .222rem.
crissdee
Super member
I have old gloss scopes on my older rifles, and modern scopes on the newer guns, it just looks better imho. I do, however, tend to agree regarding the reticules. In an ideal world, ALL my scopes would have a simple duplex rather than the forest of lines and dots you get these days.
Shartshooter
Active member
I completely agree with people’s attitudes towards price. This is the main reason we live in such a throwaway society, one thing that needs to change.
I think they look very smart on vintage setup.
I think they look very smart on vintage setup.