Hawke Sidewinder 30 10X42, And Mounts - Mixed Feelings.

[WoodsmanJim 160]

Although I put this on the end of my other thread about this scope, I figured it actually became more of a technical review. So I thought I'd stick it in here. Hope this is ok mods?

Anyway, yesterday I got to fit and set up the scope.

 

My first impressions are a bit mixed, it does feel good and have a lovely clear reticle, and I love the half-mil ties and the fully floating posts. The fixed mag is perfect for everything I'm ever going to need it for. So far so good!

 

However a couple of issues have arisen. Firstly the illumination for the reticle seems to flicker a bit, especially on the lower settings. Almost like theres a loose connection on the switch. This seems to be getting less the more I turn it on and off, maybe there's some dirt in there that's clearing with use? Still, not a fantastic first impression of actually using it.

Secondly, HOW FAFFY IS THAT SIDE WHEEL TO FIX ON!!!! bloody hell, it's like they've deliberately tried to make is as complicated and fiddly as possible with getting it exactly right almost down to chance! I'm a technical kind of guy, I did engineering at college, I'm an ex-joiner who fixes my own cars and build things all the time but this thing had me almost at the end of my tether! I got there in the end but I can't help thinking there must be an easier design out there. Also one of the grub screws inside the sidewheel had a malformed allen key hole, meaning it was difficult to get it to tighten. Being VERY careful not to destroy what little purchase the allen key had I was able to tighten it, but on a scope of this reputation and price that was not OK in my book.

 

Anyway, now it's done and on the rifle it looks flipping brilliant and I managed to get outside for a bit of zeroing. It was too windy for total accuracy, but I got to within an inch or so in only a few minutes. Final set up will be done indoors later in the week. Here it is:

 

 

 

 

Compared to my old one:

 

 

 

Using it was lovely, really clear view, and plenty of FOV at 30 yards. The side wheel is a joy and sooooo much easier than a front AO. I'll never go back now I think! Focus comes in and out quickly and cleanly. Range finding is much easier with this compared to my outgoing MountMaster.

 

The turrets are nice to use, they only 'click' back down if they are in exactly the right place, which is nice to know you cant set it inbeween MOA's. The do have a little bit of wobble to them when pulled out to the turning position. I'm a stickler for tight engineering and this was a little disappointing, but for the price they are good. Once clicked down again they are tight.

The eye relief is good, it has quite a narrow window for eye alignment. You have to be almost perfectly lined up to get a full sight picture, but this is actually a good thing, less margin for error through inconsistent head placement and less chance of parallax error. All in all a lovely bit of kit, a few teething niggles which were disappointing but wont affect things long term.

 

The only other problem I had with this new set up was the mounts, also a Hawke product. The mounts come with reversible clamp sections that are supposed to be able to be flipped round for airgun rails (9-11mm) or rimfires (3/8"). To this end they have a slightly different chamfer on each edge, one being a clear angle and one having a slight 'shelf' on it. See pic below:

 

Shelf at the bottom:

 

 

Shelf at the top:

 

The problem I have is that one of my mounts has the 'shelf' side at the bottom so it fits my rail perfectly and is all square when fitted. Like this:

 

 

The other mount came with the shelf edge at the top, but when it took it off to flip it round the screw holes no longer line up and it can't be re-attached the other way up. So my mounts don't match!! Here it is as supplied:

 

 

Now flip it over to put the shelf edge at the bottom and they look like this:

 

Not good!! Clearly the screw hole in the clamp section a far closer to one side than the other, meaning it's not reversible! not happy! as when fitted and tightened up it goes a bit crooked. Like this:

 

You can clearly see that the angle of the clamp doesn't go all the way into the groove of the rail. This must give less clamping pressure and be prone to movement surely?

Anyone got any help on this or should I just send them back for replacement mounts? Doesn't seem very good to me. Couple with the inaccuracies in the scope grub screws it seems Hawke have a QC issue in their fittings department.

 

Any thoughts or advice gratefully received.

 

Jim

 

[Skot Ruthless Teale 1,701]

try sportsmatch mounts.. apparently there better than hawke. (or stop being a perfectionist and just get on with it how they are... LOL )

 

although i have both brands, one piece, and havent had a problem with either.

 

as for the scope grub screw bit, is it BRAND NEW? if so thats dissapointing quality control.

same with the flickering IR aswell.

 

so anyway, are you getting the camo tape out onto it?

[Lewis Ste 245]

I'd be taking the scope back and getting them to change the grub screw. The screw on my hawke endurance came loose so I tighten them up but this could an issue with your screws

[Bossmugler 14]

As already said mate , I would use either Sportsmatch or BKL mounts. A bit pricey but you get what you pay for