Rifle Scopes Is the Hawk Sidewinder 30 Tactical My Best Option

[vandal996]

This is my first post although I have been a member here for years so here is a brief introduction before my question.

I have been shooting for 40 years. I'm ex 101st as a medic. I primarily shoot ARs and HK USPs. I believe in having only one gun for each job. Currently I have a LMT Defender 2000 MRP Piston AR with a Geissele SD 3 Gun Trigger and a Battle Comp 1.0 and an Eotech 512, a Benelli M1 Super 90 tactical, a HK USP .40 Tactical that has been to Sam at H&K for some love and a semi auto .22 that I have had since I was a kid. As you can see there is a missing gun in my system. I had a HK SR9TC with a Leupold VX3 Police Tactical with Mildot reticle and a Williams set trigger. I sold the SR9 in 2002 and have been out of long range shooting since.

I am planning to buy a bolt action gun this time around and have decided on a Rem 700 SPR Tactical to start with the intention of building it up as I go. In researching this I came across the Hawk Sidewinder 30 Tactical. I read the reviews here and it seems to be a good scope for the money.

Is this my best option for a scope for this rifle for under $600 or is there something else that I should be looking at.

The range I am a member at is 400 meters plus, but there will be times when I will be at 1000 meter ranges. Ohio does not allow rifle hunting so any hunting will be very rare.

Your opinions please and thanks for the info and entertainment over the years.

Chris

 

[bobtodrick]

Re: Is the Hawk Sidewinder 30 Tactical My Best Option

Okay, you'll get a lot of feedback telling you that spending less than $1500 is pointless.
I disagree.
I've two Hawkes. One is an Airmax 3-9 on a magnum spring powered airgun which are notoriously hard on scopes because of the two way recoil (back and forth because of the spring - most scopes are only built to deal with one way recoil). This gun would easily kill some high priced scopes within 100 shots.
The Hawke scope has performed flawlessly for 3 years (about 5000 rounds).
My other Hawke is the Tactical Sidewinder 6.5-20, which I use on both my Savage .22WMR and Remington 700 (.308)
When I purchased I had the luxury of testing a couple of scopes (Bushnell, Hawke, Leapers, Sightron) against a Swarovski Z5 3.5-18 as the local rep is a friend.
No, the Hawke is not as crisp at the edges. And being 2nd focal plane the mils are useable only at 10x.
But it is better 'feeling' (build construction) than the Bushnell in the same price range (I paid $460) or the Sightron. The turrets are lockable, positive and repeatable.
And the optics...again not quite up to the Swarovski are IMO definitely not $1000 less sharp.
When I purchased I found two good reviews on the Hawkes:
http://opticsthoughts.com/index.php...45-14x42&catid=4:rifle-scope-reviews&Itemid=4
http://www.snipercentral.com/hawke416.htm
Though I do wish I was in the S&B or Swarovski income bracket...truth be told I'm not (9 & 11 year olds ensure that)...for the money I think the Hawke is an excellent scope.

 

[vandal996]

Re: Is the Hawk Sidewinder 30 Tactical My Best Option

Thanks for your input.

Well as far as scopes under $1500 being pointless, I would agree if it were going on a rifle that was being used in real world sniping situations or serious competition or on a serious performance built gun. In my case, I will not be shooting at a target through an open window in the back of a room in a darkened house and I will likely never shoot it at night provided all hell doesn't break loose.

I am looking for a scope that I can use to rebuild the skills I once had while I work on building this stock 700 into a quality rifle worthy of a better optic. When the rifle and my skills outgrow the optic I can always upgrade.

I don't mind spending money on quality iron or glass, I just don't want to drop 6 grand all at once. I would much rather start with the base 700 and a $500-$600 optic and add trigger, stock, smithing and so on as I go and still be able to shoot a couple thousand rounds a month through my other guns. It will give me an education on what makes the 700 tick and how to build one. I have spent a bunch in the last few months upgrading from a Dillon 550 to a 650, adding a MEK 9000 shotshell reloader, trigger and comp on the LMT and building a stockpile of ammo. On top of all that I still intend to buy a TA31F but that is another topic.

I just want to know if this is the best bang for the buck under $600. Pun intended.

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: Is the Hawk Sidewinder 30 Tactical My Best Option

Hawke Sidewinder 30 8x32 56mm review & problem?

this was much better:
Nikko Stirling Targetmaster 6-24xx 56mm review

it's hard to beat a nikon buckmaster, weaver tactical, or a vortex for under 500.00

 

[42769vette]

Re: Is the Hawk Sidewinder 30 Tactical My Best Option

The problem with internet reviews is the person doing the review may know nothing about scopes. Its better to get info from here because bs usually gets called out pretty fast.

I saw a youtube video once where a guy was raving about how amazing his barska was because the turrets were not all jumpy like expensive scopes. They were nice and smooth. Problem is he didnt know enough to understand its called a CLICK for a reason.

On to your point. I owned 1 sidewinder. I ditched it and chalked it up to a lesson learned. In your pricerange a viper will be much better

 

[usmc02xx]

Re: Is the Hawk Sidewinder 30 Tactical My Best Option

ditto on the vortex vipers. the PA's are really nice and sub 500 with good magnification.

 

[bjtiger75]

Re: Is the Hawk Sidewinder 30 Tactical My Best Option

If you want to stay under $600 and don't mind SFP give the Vortex Viper PST 2.5-10x44 a look. Scott at Liberty Optics can get you into one for under $600 and it would be plenty good out to 1000 yards.

 

[huffmanite]

Re: Is the Hawk Sidewinder 30 Tactical My Best Option

FWIW, my Weaver Super Slam 4-20x50 works OK for me up to 600 yds. The Super Slam is Japanese made by LOW, who also makes the high end Bushnell and Sightron scopes if I remember correctly. Never tried it beyond that distance, so don't know about its elevation clicks beyond 600yds in my 7x57 Ruger rifle. Very bright clear optics in it and its pull up windage/elevation adjustmens function well. Its a SFP scope, but can be bought for under $600 depending on its recticle. Nice glass in the Super Slams.

 

[vandal996]

Re: Is the Hawk Sidewinder 30 Tactical My Best Option

This is exactly why I asked the question here. Thanks for all the replies and the heads up on the Vortex Viper. That will most likely be the way I go.

Chris

 

[KnightOfNee]

Re: Is the Hawk Sidewinder 30 Tactical My Best Option

Hawke scopes are GTG, Also,their frontier binocs are awesome for the money.

My 6-20x42 Tactical is still kicking it fine on my 300wm.It has better glass then my Vortex Hs Tactical. Both are good scopes though, both also have good eyebox and eye relief.