Scope upgrades

We upgraded our scopes today! 

Whilst I have been hesitant to do so, getting great results with my BSA essential, it was time to try something different. We both had a go with a variety of scopes at the range before deciding on which one to go for. 

I fitted my Evanix sniper K with a an Optisan 4-12 first focal scope whilst 'sniper gnome' has gone for a Hawke sidewinder. Two very different scopes but both with excellent optics

First focal plane scopes keep the same relationship between the lines or Mildots position and the target position, regardless of zooming between ranges.
However, there is a disadvantage to this: with a variable power scope the reticule will increase in size so that on the highest magnification, the reticule may be too thick and completely cover a smaller target. 

With second focal plane scopes, the reticule is positioned on the eyepiece end of the scope, and remains the same size at any setting. This means you have to learn the compensation for a pellets for each magnification setting, however, the crosshair does not enlarge and cover too much of the target

After zeroing our new toys we headed out to the farm with our Nitesites attached to see what rats could be had. (Or should I say after getting the team to do it for us...lazy as we are) 

We have been hitting the rat population really quite hard recently and tonight was no exception. 

This one was not getting away!

Our new optics made a real difference. The clarity on them is so much better and having side wheel parralax means you can really focus in on the target area. Both of us are very pleased with our choices of scopes. 

Shooting in the grain barns means we try and clear up as much as we can. After dropping several, it was head torches on to retrieve the bodies. A large 'unfriendly' rat came straight at me, and as I was not carrying my pistol tonight was quickly dispatched using a 2x4 wooden plank within arms reach! Unusually this one was not going to run away as they tend to! 

A total of 48 were dealt with tonight using Crosman Pirahna pellets and JSB exact Diablos. This is a new record for us!

It is well worth coming down to the range and testing out different scopes to see which one will suit you best. There's such a variety to choose from these days and in all budgets.