What is important to know when choosing a pneumatic sight

A weapon that does not require a license, a special storage location, transportation conditions or complex maintenance, pneumatics are excellent for learning shooting skills. Despite the accessibility and apparent simplicity of the air gun, like any weapon, it obliges the owner to accumulate knowledge about its operation and, of course, experience. After mastering shooting with an open sight (standard rear sight and front sight), sooner or later comes the desire to learn how to use an auxiliary sight - to increase accuracy, range and rate of fire. Moreover, the use of a sight on pneumatic guns is practically no different from firearms.

Most sights are produced specifically for firearms. Firearms have operating conditions that are different from pneumatic ones, so not every sight is suitable for pneumatics.

Having heard a lot of questions about cheap Chinese optics that air rifle owners try to use on their rifles, we summarized our answers and prepared this article. This is the most voluminous material that covers all pneumatic sights. Throughout the text we have made references to more specific issues.

Airgun options and sight types

With just under a hundred characteristics of sights, the greatest importance when choosing a sight for pneumatics should be paid to:

Weapon barrel length:

gun
rifle

Operating principle of pneumatic drive:

spring or gas piston
Magnum class pneumatics
with pre-pumping

Short-barreled (less accurate) air sights and double-recoil Magnum-class piston rifles have significant design features, so we have separated them into separate articles. Here we reveal the general theory and differences between sights according to the type of weapon.

Installing the sight plumb using the example of the Hatsan 44-10 rifle

Of course, the reader may have a question: “Why is an article needed at all, what is so difficult about installing a sight, after all, there are instructions for the sight?” But if everything were so simple, this article would not have arisen. Unfortunately, for Hatsan PCP rifles (and maybe not only PCP ones), the so-called “dovetail” on which the optics is mounted is somewhat wider than the standard and problems arise already at the time of installing the mounts for the optics. Let's try to figure out what can be done and how to correctly .

The first thing you need to do is choose the right fastenings. For Hatsan AT44 and BT65 rifles, I would recommend using rings as mounts rather than a bracket. This is due to the fact that the drum-clip for bullets (magazine) sticks out quite high above the bar. The rings allow you to mount the sight above the drum, but the bracket does not. If you do decide to install a bracket, be prepared for the sight to be very far back.

We have decided on the type of fastening - these will be rings installed on the dovetail. Next, you need to select the height of these rings. Rings are: low, medium, high. For Hatsan AT44 and BT65 rifles, I would recommend choosing high rings - optimal in height, taking into account the protruding drum clip. In principle, medium ones will do, but removing the drum will not be as comfortable.

The next parameter that needs to be taken into account is the diameter of the rings. It depends on the scope you plan to install. I recommend choosing a scope for 25.4 or 30mm rings. In my case these are inch rings (25.4mm).

Summarize. Mounts we will need: high dovetail rings with a diameter of 25.4 or 30mm depending on your scope.

But further on lies an ambush, terrible and creepy... On Hatsan, alas, it is very, very difficult to find rings that fit normally. Even rings from well-known brands stand crooked. In order not to be unfounded, I will show the results of my torment and research.

With Gamo rings the situation is even worse....

And surprisingly, the rings from some absolutely incomprehensible, apparently Chinese company fit in normally.

We install the rings on the dovetail (with the clamp screws to the left). Then we tighten the clamp screws with a hexagon. We tighten both screws evenly - tighten one screw slightly, tighten the other one by the same amount, and so on.

I recommend attaching the first ring in front of the clip drum (magazine), and attaching the second depending on your scope. I would like to note that the rings must be installed at such a distance that when installing the sight, there remains some distance to those places where the sight expands (on both sides). Install the sight into the rings, but do not tighten too much, as we will need to adjust the sight in the rings. Below is a photo of an example of correct installation.

And now the fun begins! We installed the rings, installed the sight in the rings but did not tighten it, since the sight needs to be adjusted correctly. The question naturally arises: “How to center the sight in the rings, because it rotates freely and there are NO risks for accurate installation. »

Let's try to solve this seemingly difficult problem! For this we need…..

Yes, yes, an ordinary cord or rope, preferably brighter)))) Take the cord, cut off two meters. We hang one end of the cord on the curtain rod, and tie a dumbbell to the other end of the cord.

And 5-7 meters away, for example, in a doorway, we hang the rifle by the optical sight . When suspended, the rifle will balance itself, so there is no need to help the rifle with your hands; it will stand perpendicular to the ground.

Well, then, you probably already guessed it yourself... We look at the cord through the sight and turn it so that the vertical stripe of the crosshair coincides with the cord without any deviations to the left or right.

I was lucky and the deviation was small but noticeable (see photo, the vertical is tilted to the left)

But after adjusting the tilt (see photo) There is a slight error in the tilt in the photo, since the rifle swayed a little during shooting. In general, filming what is visible through an optical sight is an extremely difficult task...

After we have built the vertical and it coincides with the cord when aiming, it is necessary to tighten the sight mounts. There is a very important point here - the drawing order. We stretch in accordance with the sequence shown in the picture below. Moreover, we do not immediately tighten it all the way, but we tighten each screw a little bit and check whether the setting has gone wrong

After we have tightened the sight mounts in the rings, we once again tighten the mounting screws to the dovetail. Actually, the whole installation remains to be shot, but that’s a completely different topic!

Dmitry Shevchenko (lvsw)

My articles dedicated to Hatsan:

Hatsan PCP high pressure pump (Unpacking)

Maintenance of Hatsan AT44-10. Replacing the valve needle. 04 August 2013

Sighting range

Pistols with a spray can are intended for entertaining “conditionally targeted” shooting.

Sports training pistols allow targeted shooting at distances of up to 25 meters.

Most rifles (IZH, MR) - up to 70 meters.

PCP rifles of 6.35 mm caliber allow hunting gilts and hit targets at distances of up to 400 meters!

Air rifle and pistol barrels have grooves that twist the bullet to stabilize it in flight. This allows us to classify pneumatics as precision weapons, which are suitable both for shooting training and for hunting small game. Therefore, literally all types of sights are used for air guns:

optical - for high-precision sports shooting, at the shooting range and outdoors, for hunting;
diopter - for precise shooting at stationary targets, shooting sports;
collimator - for recreational shooting at short distances, less often for hunting fast-moving game;
laser target designator - for quick offhand shooting no further than 10 m or at large targets. Most often, a laser sight is used on pistols;
night vision scopes - for night hunting (hare, beaver) and shooting nocturnal pests of the national economy (rats, mice).

Of course, you should start mastering the technique of shooting and zeroing pneumatics with a conventional open mechanical sight. After developing the technique, you can compare different types of sights from your own experience by shooting a series of 10 or 20 shots through each sight at your own target, starting with an open one. Such a comparison is made by several participants, and the sum of points is entered into the tournament table.

The most accurate and therefore most common pneumatic sights are, of course, optical sights. The main text of the article is dedicated to them.

Main characteristics of optical sights for pneumatics

Optical sights are perfectly compatible with all models of air rifles: spring-piston and multi-compression rifles, PCP (pre-pumped) and CO2-powered. This is probably the very first thing anyone buys to upgrade a new rifle. There are three main criteria for making the right choice:

type of reticle;
multiplicity;
lens diameter.

Each of them, depending on the type of weapon and its features, has a different effect on shooting accuracy, convenience and reliability of the sight. The limitation, the same for any weapon, is due to the flatness of the bullet’s flight path. For all air rifles, the trajectory determines the effective range, which is short compared to firearms. And for precision optical sights it is important to take it into account. Let's look at this point in a little more detail.

Flatness of trajectory

The mass of the bullet and the initial velocity of pneumatic weapons are small, and the permissible energy of the most common unlicensed guns should not exceed 7.5 J. But even for enhanced pneumatics, a bullet accelerated to 250-270 m/s has a strongly descending trajectory after 50 meters.

Aimed shooting from a license-free air rifle (7.5 J) at a distance of over 50-70 meters is practically impossible.

This is clearly visible on the graph (caliber 4.5 mm, bullet weight 0.67 grams, speed 280 m/s), the aiming line is at a height of 7 cm from the barrel bore. As can be seen from the graph, the vertical deflection of the bullet is not critical, up to a distance of 50 meters. Further, the drop of the bullet is so great that it becomes almost impossible to take into account its drop without a rangefinder.

To build a similar graph for your weapon and ammunition, as well as calculate the influence of side wind on the impact point, you can use the free Hawke ChairGun application. You can download it for free in the apple app store and google play.

At the same time, an optical sight on an air rifle allows you to master methods for correcting the fall of bullets by making ballistic corrections. To do this, you need to know the exact distance to the target and the bullet's drop curve.

If you anticipate shooting where the distance to the target is not known in advance or at distances greater than 50 meters, we recommend purchasing one of the inexpensive laser rangefinders. Even the most budget model Veber 7x25 LR 400 determines a distance of up to 400 meters, which is enough for any air gun.

Best Reticle

Inexpensive reticle of the Combat 3-9×32 E sight for PCP and pneumatics up to 7.5 J

Unlike firearm sights, the reticle for air rifles must be thin. For beginners and shooting at a short, targeted distance, the “cross” type reticle, which is installed on most inexpensive pneumatic sights, will be optimal.

Since most air rifle targets are small in size, the illuminated reticle feature is helpful. The simplest solution that does not overlap the goal is the point at . Thus, choosing a “cross with a dot” grid will be optimal for beginners.

For long distances, shooting from the air with a light bullet with a flat trajectory requires constant input of corrections. The easiest way to do this is to use a Mil-Dot reticle marked in milliradians, abbreviated as mils (Mrad).

A radian is the angle corresponding to an arc whose length is equal to its radius. The point of marking in mils is to do without a calculator when entering corrections. To calculate, simply multiply the distance to the target in meters by the correction in mils to get the deviation of the impact point in millimeters. For example, at a distance of 25 meters, an adjustment of two Mil-Dot reticle divisions corresponds to an adjustment of 5 cm (25 meters x 2 mils = 50 mm or 5 cm).

For almost any type of shooting and purpose, air rifles of all types are best suited for sights with Mil-Dot reticles and the like. They allow you to shoot with the aiming point “removed” from the center.

Corrections can also be made using a tactical drum. In this case, manufacturers of high-quality sights will have clicks that exactly correspond to the characteristics specified in the passport. The main thing is that its limb is marked in milliradians, and not minutes of arc. Otherwise, you will have to recalculate using the formula 1 Mrad = 3.38 MOA.

It is worth noting that the reticle of cheap Chinese sights (and Chinese fakes of famous brands) often does not correspond to either milliradians or arcminutes. And the clicks of the corrections, even if they correspond to them, are only near the center: when large corrections are entered, the click step increases.

That is why if your budget is limited and you are leaning towards an inexpensive Chinese sight, then we recommend using a regular thin “Cross” type reticle.

Optical magnification

Magnification is one of the main characteristics of a scope. But there is no need to chase the maximum increase. Let's look at why.

Constant multiplicity

For pneumatics, it is better to choose optics with a constant magnification, no stronger than 4-8x in the following cases:

Difficult operating conditions - a constant magnification sight is more reliable and airtight than variable sights.
For piston rifles (and especially the Magnum class), they have recoil in both directions: in the direction of the bullet’s flight and in the opposite direction. Cheap sights with variable magnification, even with low-power air guns, can become unusable after 50-100 shots.
Limited budget - variable magnification sights are more expensive, and sights that can withstand double recoil are several times more expensive.

Sights with small constant magnification have better aperture: they are clearly visible in a deciduous forest or at dusk. Most often they are designed for a wide viewing angle, which allows you to quickly find even moving targets.

Variable magnification sights

Constant power scopes are less versatile, but at long ranges they are better than cheap variable scopes. The fact is that most of them have a reticle in the second focal plane. Its dimensions remain constant when the scale changes. It is impossible to make corrections correctly on such a scale: as the focal length increases, the angle of the reticle increases. Here's what the first and second focal plane reticles look like at different magnifications:

The disadvantage of the second focal plane (SFP) reticle only affects the Mil-Dot reticle and the like. On the contrary, a cross-type grid will become thinner relative to the target and will not overlap it. This is another argument in favor of the cross grid.

You can argue for a long time about which scope is better - constant or variable magnification. We invite you to watch a video in which a target is hit at a distance that is perhaps the maximum for pneumatics - 400 meters. The video uses a sight from the Vologda plant (VOMZ) Pilad 12x50 with an SNR reticle.

Air rifle shooting at 400 meters. Jaeger rifle, caliber 6.35

Lens diameter

The larger the lens size, the higher the lens aperture of the scope. Of course, the image quality of optics with a diameter of 50 mm is better than 20. Such a scope will be relatively lighter, the picture will be brighter and clearer. If the optics are too dark, your eyes will get tired quickly, especially in low light, such as at dusk.

Despite the advantages, for pneumatic riflescopes with large lenses are most often unnecessary. The fact is that they do not weigh more (which is essential for light air guns), but they cost much more. When choosing, you need to consider how often you will need to shoot the rifle in low light and how important comfort is.

Optics for Hunting, Field Target and Precision Shooting

Our recommendations above were more for amateur shooting and novice snipers. Professional athletes and hunters still choose expensive optical sights with large magnification and lens diameter, and specific reticles.

Sports shooting in the Field Target discipline is shooting from powerful pneumatics at falling targets and imitates a real hunt. According to the rules of the competition, they shoot at different distances, and the distance to the target is unknown. In the first place are aiming accuracy and the ability to determine distances by parallax, because other methods are prohibited. An additional difference from hunting here is that the weight of the scope does not play a role.

Experienced shooters buy powerful optics, such as the famous Schmidt & Bender 12.5-50x56 Field Target II, designed with all the requirements of this shooting discipline in mind, costing $2,500 or more.

For novice hunters, Hawke, Nikon or VOMZ models with variable magnification 6-24X, an aiming reticle in the first focal plane and a cost of 10-20 thousand rubles are more suitable.

For high-precision and sports shooting, high magnification scopes are used - up to 50x. Such sights use other reticles (Christmas tree type), parallax adjustment devices and other gadgets. If you already have experience in using pneumatics with an optical sight and you are considering optics to deepen your skills, we recommend considering the Hawke Sidewinder 6-24x56 (FFP Mil) sight, which can be considered junior in a professional environment.

Optical sight Нawke Sidewinder 6-24х56 (FFР Мil)

Criterias of choice

To select a complex type of sights, for example, optical or collimator, it is important to know its criteria. This is the only way to choose the right body kit based on personal wishes.

Multiplicity

The parameter is more relevant for optical aiming than for collimator aiming. It determines the magnifying power of the device. On pneumatic guns it is better to use optical aiming with a magnification of 4x to 8x, no more. There are good reasons for this:

Price tag. The “body kit” will become more expensive if you choose aiming with high magnification.
Firing range. High magnification scopes work better when shooting from long distances - from 300 meters. Air guns are not used at these distances.
Double recoil. Found in spring-piston rifles. Budget devices do not have a complex mechanism, which means that the settings will not be lost as a result of the strong recoil of the twisted wire.
The trajectory of a bullet. One cannot ignore persistence. When firing from pneumatic weapons with a power not exceeding 7.5 J, the projectile inevitably loses altitude along the flight path. When using optical aiming, you still have to take this factor into account and aim above the target.

Shooting from a long distance using a collimator will not work, because with this sight it is impossible to significantly enlarge the image. Even if it is the latest, sophisticated model, the limit of this device is a 2x multiplicity.

Reticle

Optical and collimator aiming are selected according to this criterion. The markings on the eyepiece (brand) have several types:

crosshair – with and without a dot;
triangle;
circle - with and without a dot;
other drawings.

The Mil-Dot reticle performs better in practice. It allows you to shoot with the aiming point “removed” from the center of the object. The position of the mark is changed by spinning two tactical reels. One click moves the grid by 0.1 mm. from the original values. This data will help you calculate the optimal settings when shooting at long and medium distances, and then switch between them when using the weapon.

Collimator sights provide the ability to adjust the brightness of the targeting pattern. This feature will be beneficial to hunters tracking game not only during the daytime, but also during the twilight. Modern “body kits” in the mid-price category have 11 brightness levels, and this is a worthy parameter for professional users.

Lens diameter

Lens sizes have a significant impact on the viewing angle and the quality of the resulting image. Comparing sights with a diameter of 50 mm and 20 mm, the latter’s reticle does not look clear and faded, as does the image, unlike the first option. Despite the difference in price, saving is not recommended in order to avoid rapid eye fatigue.

For pneumatics, it is worth choosing 35 mm lenses. A large body kit will cost more, but significantly increases the weight of the weapon, which will certainly affect the balance of the rifle. The factor is not so important for those shooting in a prone position.

Recommendations for choosing optics depending on the type of weapon

Besides magnification, reticle type, lens diameter, and personal taste, there are a few practical guidelines that you can use when choosing a scope depending on the type of weapon.

Spring-piston air rifles

The peculiarity of spring-piston pneumatics is that the recoil acts in both directions: in the direction of the bullet’s flight and in the opposite direction. The cheapest scopes from Aliexpress often “fly out” after the first shot (in the first photo of the article there is just one).

For Russian-made spring-piston rifles of the MP-512, MP-60 and MP-61 models, it makes sense to choose the most inexpensive sights with a constant magnification of 4-6x. Accuracy and reliability are enough for training and fun, and nothing more is required from an entry-level weapon. Specific models that we can recommend are Veber Black Fox 6×40 AO MD, Combat 4×32.

Of the entry-level variables, we can recommend the Veber 3-7×20 with the caveat that its “native” mounts are installed very low, and others will not fit due to the non-standard tube diameter. For the MP-60 with vertical loading of bullets, reloading with such a sight will become difficult! Therefore, the best option would be Veber 3-9×40 CBR with a more universal pipe with a mounting diameter for rings of 25.5 mm.

Separately, it is worth highlighting the sights of Chinese origin. We suggest considering the brands Sturman and Target Optic, since these sights have a guarantee, unlike “noname” models and orders directly from Aliexpress. These are worthy options for novice shooters, which, at their cost, have more interesting reticles, including in the first focal plane, or minimal sizes with a wide range of rays (the so-called “minis”) for installation on compact PCP rifles.

Don’t forget to buy additional rings for the dovetail sight - these are exactly what are needed for Russian air guns. They are inexpensive, but it is better to do this right away, because most sights do not come with mounts.

Separately, it is worth highlighting two whole series of pneumatic sights Mountmaster and Airking from Nikko Stirling, the peculiarity of which is associated with a wide choice of magnification and the presence of a Dovetail mount in the kit.

Here we remind you once again that despite the low muzzle energy of the bullet, spring-piston rifles have bi-directional recoil, which is non-standard for most sights. Cheap Chinese sights either literally fall apart or do not hold the reticle: after a few shots the weapon will have to be sighted again. Among inexpensive scopes, choose those that explicitly indicate the possibility of use with piston pneumatics. Taking into account the price segment, in our catalog we have selected only models of sights from Chinese manufacturers that are compatible with pneumatics and provide warranties in Russia.

Check the permissible muzzle energy, for example, when installing a more powerful spring, and more on this later.

Magnum class pneumatics

Owners of magnum class rifles, such as Hatsan Striker Edge, Hatsan 125 Magnum, Gamo, Crossman, Diana and the like, can pay attention to inexpensive products that can withstand double recoil. Models with constant magnification 4-6X of the Vologda optical-mechanical (Pilad 4x32 Pnevmo model with various reticles) and sights from Veber from St. Petersburg are the best in this class in terms of price/quality ratio.

However, Magnum pneumatics allow you to develop high-precision shooting skills, and if your budget allows, it makes sense to choose a sight from higher-class manufacturers, such as the Hawke Airmax series.

Pre-pumped (PCP) rifles

PCP rifles have virtually no recoil, which has a destructive effect on the sight, and the accuracy of the shot is much higher than that of other types of pneumatics. For such weapons, optics with variable magnification of 4-12 or even more powerful are best suited.

If you have a limited budget or need a lighter scope, we recommend choosing one with constant magnification. It's not as comfortable, but it's much better than cheap zoom models. The fact is that most of them have a reticle in the second focal plane. Its dimensions remain constant when the scale changes. On such a scale it is more difficult to introduce corrections.

Recommended models of sights: Hawke Sidewinder 6-24x56 (FFР Мil) with a reticle in the first focal plane, Hawke Sidewinder Tactical SF 10x42 constant magnification, Hawke Vantage IR 3-9x40 AO IR with a reticle in the second focal plane, 8x48 Pilade constant magnification.

Rating of sights by type

Making a long TOP list of pneumatic sights by type is the wrong move. All due to differences in criteria: cost, picture quality, magnification, etc.

The best sights for pneumatic rifles:

Optical. According to many gun owners, the Veber 4×20 is the leader among the available options. Suitable for rifles up to 7.5 J, as well as resistant to strong spring recoil. The lens is only 20 mm in diameter, but the pictures look decent. The dovetail bracket is already in the box with the optics - no need to purchase it separately. Another model from the same company, Veber 3-9×40 , which users like. They noted the quality of the lenses, the diameter of which is 40 mm, as well as the protective caps and durable mount. The model should be used on magnum class rifles.
Collimator. The P1×30 “Pilad” model received recognition among pneumatic enthusiasts . Suitable for magnum rifles, as the bracket is durable and designed for heavy recoil. "Dovetail" is included. The guidance system can be used in harsh conditions – at temperatures from -30 to +50 degrees. Another plus is the reasonable price.
Laser. The devices are in high demand not only among pistol owners, but also among airsoft fans. Naturally, the Gletcher W-125 was named the best. Although the sight is suitable for gas pistols, it will also come in handy for the air gun if you install a Weaver rail on the weapon. The advantage is a reliable design, simplicity and low cost.
NVG. Photon RT 4.6×42 is rightfully called the best “night light” , despite the presence of a large number of excellent digital cameras on the market. This is a combination of the perfect balance - quality and cost. There is one drawback - you should not use the visor at temperatures below -15 degrees.

Using the right scope will allow you to maximize the potential of your airgun. If the rifle has double recoil, only optical and collimator aiming devices with high-quality mounts are suitable; in the worst case, the parameters of the guidance system will be lost.

How to zero an optical sight on a pneumatic rifle

Bringing PCP, multi-compression and CO2-powered pneumatics to normal combat is done using a special machine, from a table or from a rest. It is not much different from zeroing a conventional firearm, but taking into account ballistics: short range of a direct shot, low bullet speed and high flatness of the trajectory.

The peculiarity of spring-piston pneumatics, which is often used for entertainment, is that it is better to shoot it by hand, according to the specific shooter and his grip. This is related to the design of the weapon, but is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. Here is a detailed guide for beginners.

We are often asked the question - why doesn’t the scope zero? In this case, they name a model that is either not intended for installation on pneumatic rifles and does not maintain the center zero point (STP), or the name of the sight can only be found on the Chinese Internet. We can only sympathize; it’s a pity that you didn’t come across this article earlier.

Sights for Hatsan

First, I would like to talk about what parameters optical sights have. There are two main ones: magnification and diameter of the lens (the front lens of the sight).

For example, on the Norin 4x32 scope, the first number (4x) is the magnification, that is, how many times the scope magnifies the image relative to how we see it with the naked eye. And the second number (32) is the diameter of the lens in millimeters. What do these numbers affect?

Roughly speaking, how far we see depends on the multiplicity. Also, the viewing angle depends on this parameter. Sights with low and medium magnification (from 1.5 to 10) have a large viewing angle.

They are convenient for targeting moving objects. For example, during a driven hunt. Sights with high magnification (more than 10x) have a small viewing angle. But if the object is motionless, then this is not important. But we see it in all details and it becomes much easier to get there.

The diameter of the lens determines how much light enters the scope, which affects image quality. Sights with a large lens diameter (for example, 40 or more) have excellent images, while scopes with a small lens have a slightly worse image. But they are more durable, since the small lens is lightweight and it better withstands impacts and recoil.

Other types of sights

In addition to optical sights, as mentioned above, other types of sights are also used with pneumatics. Let us consider in more detail the scope of application of each of them and give examples of several, the most optimal models.

Diopter sight

A diopter sight is a ring or regular front sight and a rear sight in the form of a disk with a hole, which is called a diopter or aperture. It is more accurate than an open sight and easier to use: the eye intuitively finds the position where the ring front sight is in the center of the aperture. Diopter sights include GAMO Diopter and DVT Dioptric Veber

A diopter sight can be created by installing a diopter rear sight. This is the Leapers MNT-951 rear sight

The main application is sports bullet shooting. For example, in the Olympic events at a distance of 10 meters with an air rifle or 50 meters with a small-caliber rifle, diopter sights are used, and optics are not allowed.

Collimator sights

Collimators are rarely installed on pneumatics. This is due to the inconvenience of entering horizontal and vertical corrections. It is impossible to take into account distance and wind when there is no sighting reticle, and the drums are designed only for zeroing. At the same time, the collimator has undeniable advantages: high aiming speed and relatively low cost.

The most important characteristic when choosing a collimator sight for pneumatics is the size of the aiming mark. Most often, collimators are used for smooth-bore weapons and shot shooting at small, fast-moving game (hare, bird). On such collimators, either large marks (3..5 MOA) or ring aiming marks (a cross with a circle) are used to indicate the sector of shot spread.

For air rifles, you need to make sure the red dot sight is no larger than 1 MOA.

It should also be borne in mind that on cheap scopes the brightness of the mark is not adjustable, which is why in the twilight it may appear larger and overlap a small target.

For entry-level Russian aerial vehicles, such as MP-512, IZH-60 and 61, inexpensive models Black Fox 123 RD DVT11 and similar ones with a dovetail mount are excellent. If the weapon is more powerful, for example the Hatsan 125 Magnum, you will have to choose from more serious ones: Veber 1x22x33 DT or Pilad 1x30 dovetail. They are a little more expensive, but they hold recoil better and are suitable for installation on such weapons.

If aiming speed is the determining factor, and the power of the rifle (PCP, or Magnum) will allow you to shoot accurately over long distances (more than 50 meters), then we recommend choosing a collimator from Hawke or Holosan.

To make it clearer, a video about how to use the collimator on the IZH-61 rifle.

Due to their small size, collimator sights are also often mounted on an air pistol. In this case, pay attention to the length of the sight so that it does not exceed the dimensions of the pistol’s mounting rail. In addition to the size of the rail, estimate the size of the “window” of the red dot sight - the sight should be compact so as not to upset the balance of the pistol.

Laser sight for pneumatics

You can install a laser target designator on the airborne vehicle. It allows you to quickly take aim, shoot almost offhand and improves tactics. This term is derived from the words tactic + cool and means a visual semblance of tactical power. Unfortunately, pneumatics with a laser center are difficult, and often completely impossible, to use at distances greater than 10 meters. This is due, as stated above, to the need to introduce ballistic corrections for a light pneumatic bullet.

The use of laser sights for air rifles is limited to CO2 pistols and inexpensive spring-piston guns. Lasers are best suited for plinking - recreational shooting at banks from a short distance. Based on this, there is no point in choosing too expensive models.

Night sight for pneumatics

Without a doubt, the best night sight for an air rifle is a digital night vision scope. Despite its not the cheapest cost (a first-generation sight can be purchased for half the price of a digital one), the digital has undeniable advantages specifically for use with pneumatics, here are the main ones:

The digital sight is not afraid of the recoil of both powerful calibers and piston rifles.
The Mil-Dot reticle mentioned above is only available on digital sights and thermal imagers (essentially also digital). Moreover, the type of grid can be changed.
Possibility of creating sighting profiles, for example, at different distances.
Digital zoom. Moreover, as the scale changes, the grid also increases.
Frame-in-frame mode - for fast and very accurate aiming.
High image quality at IR illumination operating distances (100 meters) comparable to sights with image intensifier tubes of generation 2+ and higher.

An important advantage is also the ability to use a digital night sight during the day .

This is especially convenient for zeroing, as well as joint use with a rangefinder: adjustments can be made literally “on the fly”!

Expensive models of digital sights (for example, Pulsar Digisight Ultra N455 LRF) already have a built-in laser rangefinder, which shows the distance to the target directly on the screen. This is especially convenient for making amendments. But if you don’t plan to shoot at long distances and at temperatures less than -15°C, then you can get by with the simplest digital camera like the Yukon Sightline N455 or the more sophisticated Veber DigitalHunt R50X3.9 HD with the ability to record video and WiFi. You can read more about digital sights in this article.

As the most budget option for a night sight for an air rifle, you should consider the Yukon NV 5 Spartan (3×42). This is a night device that has a Weaver rail mount and a built-in laser target for shooting.

Optical night vision sights

Sights with bright illumination and designed for shooting at night. With such a sight, you can target an animal even in complete darkness.

BESTSIGHT3-10×42 – affordable

Inexpensive wide-angle scope for bird watching and hunting. It uses a standard 42mm lens, a laser and a non-obscuring lens. The sight supports 3x and 10x magnification and is suitable for shooting at medium distances. As expected, the sight is sealed and protected from moisture. The aiming mark is green or red.

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Pros:

compactness;
sealed housing;
10x magnification;
ease of setup.

Minuses:

not found.

Fire Wolf FW54-YSY016 – for lovers of night hunting

This scope, although relatively inexpensive, is solidly built and suitable for professionals. A 4.3-inch screen, charged from one battery, is responsible for transmitting images. The image is well focused in the center and at the edges, which increases shooting efficiency. The scope performs well both in night and day hunting.

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Pros:

versatility;
availability;
screen with good resolution.

Minuses:

not found.

Fire Wolf FW54-YSY023 – large screen

A relatively inexpensive optical sight from Fire Wolf, equipped with a large 5-inch display and a tactical flashlight that can illuminate an area for several tens of meters. The image on the screen is updated with excellent frequency, so you will immediately react to the appearance of an animal in the frame.

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A 3-megapixel lens is responsible for transmitting the image, which does not blur or darken the picture.

Pros:

availability;
large screen;
picture quality at night;
Fast shipping.

Minuses:

complaints about marriage;
The image around the edges is poorly focused.

Fire Wolf FW54-YSY013 – large screen

Fire Wolf is a reliable manufacturer that has proven itself in the optical sight market. This model boasts an IR night vision camera 0130, as well as a large 4.3-inch display. It does not look bulky on the weapon and still guarantees good visibility.

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The body is made of durable aluminum alloy and can withstand temperatures from -30 to +60 degrees.

Pros:

camera quality;
large screen;
aluminium case;
wear resistance;
price.

Minuses:

There is no IR mount for the camera.

Fire Wolf FW1-YSY001 – for night hunting

Optical sight from Fire Wolf. The model differs from its competitors by the presence of a built-in backlight, which is adjustable in brightness. FW1-YSY001 is well suited for night hunting. It has a 60Hz display and a 3W infrared flashlight.

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The only drawback of the sight is its short working distance, 100-150 m.

Pros:

suitable for night hunting;
The backlight is adjustable in brightness.

Minuses:

No batteries included;
not suitable for shooting at long distances.

BESTSIGHTCCD – accurate

The rating continues with a hunting optical sight that guarantees excellent visibility even in complete darkness. The model is equipped with a built-in 5-inch display that transmits images in a resolution of 1024x600, as well as a flashlight. The screen is quite large, so as many elements as possible fit into the lens. A 3-megapixel sensor with a diameter of 16 mm is used for shooting.

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Bestsight CCD is good for shooting both close and at long distances of 200-250 meters. But at a distance of 300 m the image is already blurry.

Pros:

large screen;
built-in flashlight;
lens quality.

Minuses:

not the best option for shooting at a distance of 300 m.

BESTSIGHT – premium model

Expensive but reliable night vision optical sight. Made in an ergonomic form factor, it is easily mounted to a weapon using a sight.

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The product comes with an IR flashlight, a handset with a 3-megapixel camera, and a 5-inch display that displays the image. The working range is 300 meters, which is quite good.

Pros:

range;
built-in camera;
high quality display.

Minuses:

There are not enough instructions for assembly;
massive body.

Canis Latrans HS27-0008 – multi-purpose monocular

The selection continues with a reliable night vision device with thoughtful ergonomics. Equipped with a 1/4 CMOS sensor, it transmits images in a resolution of 330x224. The sight itself is quite compact and does not look massive on the weapon. The product comes with a soft carrying case.

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Pros:

compactness;
lens quality;
equipment.

Minuses:

not found.

Megaorei 3-2 – balance of price and quality

A powerful night vision optical sight that allows shooting at a distance of up to 300 meters in complete darkness. The device has a built-in camera and display that transmits images in HD resolution. The screen itself is built in such a way as not to create discomfort to your vision.

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Pros:

value for money;
detailed image in the dark.

Minuses:

not found.

Night-vision Scope – convenient buttons

The rating is completed with a premium hunting night vision kit, which was created for professionals. The optics are so powerful that they allow shooting at a distance of more than 300 meters in complete darkness.

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The model is attractive primarily because of its ability to synchronize with a smartphone via Wi-Fi, as well as a slot for a memory card on which the hunt itself can be recorded. There is a built-in gyroscope that calculates the angle of inclination, wind speed and other parameters for effective shooting.

Pros:

synchronization with smartphone;
drive slot;
built-in gyroscope;
withstands temperatures down to -20.

Minuses:

price.

The best sights for air rifles

If you've jumped to conclusions, we still highly recommend reading the article before choosing a scope from our ratings below. A mismatch between the scope and the type of rifle you have can lead to the results shown in the first picture in the article...

Manufacturers of optical sights for pneumatics

Almost all manufacturers of sights have lines for the most common air guns. But, for example, Hawke, initially specialized in pneumatics.

Currently, the market is flooded with Chinese counterfeits of famous brands. The most commonly counterfeit scopes are Leupold, Nikon and Zeiss. Moreover, not only sellers from Avito or Aliexpress, but also well-known domestic stores do not hesitate to pass off fakes as originals. In general, the quality of the optics of the fakes is not bad, but you should not expect the accuracy of the mechanical elements: uniform pitch of clicks and clicks for entering corrections, smooth rotation of the eyepiece and changes in focus, tightness; as well as Mil-Dot marking pitch.

At the same time, inexpensive Chinese sights are sufficient for most entertainment and training purposes. In this case, pay attention to sights that have warranty and service centers in Russia. Below are models of some of these brands (Veber, Combat, Sturman, Target Optic). However, pay attention to the compatibility of the airgun's recoil energy with the recommendations for the scope.

Pneumatic sight: which one is better to choose, types of sighting reticles, review of models

Various versions of pneumatic weapons have enjoyed a certain degree of demand for more than two centuries. Suffice it to recall the famous “blow gun”, with which Professor Moriarty’s evil associate - Colonel Moran from the unforgettable work of Arthur Conan Doyle - tried to settle scores with Sherlock Holmes himself!

In addition to pneumatic sporting weapons and pistols intended for self-defense, rifles, often called “air guns,” are very popular.

The combat qualities of weapons of this type are significantly enhanced by modern optical sights for pneumatics. What types of air rifle sights are there, what are their features, advantages and disadvantages?

Advantages and disadvantages

The main function that absolutely any pneumatic sight is designed to perform is to increase shooting accuracy by increasing the visual image of the target/target using optical lenses. In addition, most modern pneumatic weapon optical devices have the following features and benefits:

Both the target and the sight reticle are located at an equal distance from the shooter’s eye, which significantly reduces vision strain.
Easy to adjust diopter characteristics, which allows you to aim without glasses.
Increasing the target firing range, which can be up to 500 meters, depending on the capabilities of the sight itself and the characteristics of the weapon.

At the same time, the optical sight for airborne aircraft also has a number of disadvantages. These include, in particular, the following nuances:

Fine-tuning an optical sight for pneumatics is quite complex, requiring certain knowledge and skills.
Powerful spring-piston rifles require the installation of a specially designed sight, since a conventional device loses its settings when fired and can fail and even be destroyed.

Of course, a lot depends on the characteristics of the weapon, the tasks that the optics for pneumatics are designed to solve, the distance to the target and many other aspects. However, there are several criteria that are common for selection. Below we will talk about how to choose the best optical sight for pneumatics and what you need to pay priority attention to.

Criterias of choice

There are several important characteristics and requirements that an ideal pneumatic optic must meet.

Magnification ratio

From the point of view of magnification, the types of optical sights can be divided into three large groups:

Devices with constant 3 or 4 times magnification, designed for shooting at a distance of up to 100 meters and having a wide viewing angle, allowing you to take the necessary lead when shooting at a moving target.
Sights with variable magnification, the range of which can be in the range of 4...12, allowing shooting at distances of 300 meters or even more.
Devices with higher magnification and lenses of increased diameter, designed for sports shooting.

Lens diameter

Another important parameter when answering the question of which scope is better for pneumatics is the diameter of the lens or the size of the objective. Here, a lot depends on what kind of animal you intend to hunt, the firing range and the power of the weapon.

In general cases, it is recommended not to go to extremes, but to adhere to the “golden mean” rule. It should be remembered that increasing the diameter increases the aperture ratio of the device and parallax (a value calculated by dividing the diameter of the optics by the magnification factor).

Price

The price of optics largely depends on the quality of materials, technical characteristics and capabilities. For working with small targets from short distances, an inexpensive pneumatic sight, the cost of which is around 1,000 rubles, is quite suitable.