Hawke Airmax 3-9x40 AO Rifle Reviews

very nice clear glass adjustments smooth as butter only issue i had with this scope is dark targets. having black crosshairs seem to disappear with dark targets if it had illumination like the sidewinder i would have kept .

crosshair color for dark targets

good clarity as compared to old scope. The adjustments are easy to make.

No concerns; would not change anything.

Good value for the money.

Very clear glass and reticle. I bought one 2 years ago to replace one that came with Gamo rifle. I now have 4 rifles and 4 of this particular scope.

Nothing.

Build quality, clarity, brightness, metal adjustment covers, awesome lens covers.

See note below.

Love the scope, but I was disappointed that the center crosshairs were not RED in color, like the photo on the website appears to show. This would have helped with visibility on a black bullseye, since this model doesn't have an illuminated reticle. Upon delivery, I discovered that the crosshairs are actually black. Bummer.

I have several Hawke scopes on springers. Like the others, this one has clear and bright optical quality. Adjustments for elevation and windage are easy to make but could have a more distinct click. I chose this Airmax to put on a more powerful springer, since the Airmax line is described as more durable than the Hawke Vantage line.

The AMX reticle on the Hawke Airmax scopes is somewhat cluttered, with the extra aiming points to compensate for changing distances and wind conditions. For my needs, a simple duplex reticle is best since I shoot at a fixed distance on my home range. The extra aiming points for me are unnecessary. However, if someone needed a scope for field use, say hunting at various distances, then the AMX reticle would be very helpful I believe. If this scope came with a duplex reticle it would be perfect for my needs.

All four Hawke scopes I have came in boxes which conveyed a quality impression. The instruction booklet was clear and well thought out too. I realize that what really matters is the scope itself, but other scope brands I have purchased came in a really chintzy box that did not even have the "manufacturers" name on it. The Hawke might cost a few dollars more than the cheapest scopes but you are getting a decent product.

really excellent glass. love the fine crosshairs. clarity is superb. also can install hawke 4 in. long sun shade from hawke. just a little pricey but takes the worry out of scope problems. if your gun starts acting up, it's not the scope. this is just a great scope from the UK

nothing

you must buy 4 screw caps with your mounts and a center screw in one of them. i mounted the hawke on an rws 350 mag and it has held up perfectly. the hawke air max is a little heavier than the cheaper stuff so you need mounts that won't let it slide thru the mounts.

Excellent field of view, clear.

Nothing

My friend is very please with the clarity of this scope and it's something new to him seeing that he's an older gentleman. I was able to zero his R1 with no problem and he was more than impressed with the end results.

Nothing because the scope is will built and was designed to handle the recoil of the Beeman R1.

For the money that it cost, it's well worth the money that was spent and it's an excellent scope.

Like the glass etched retical. Lenses and build appeared to be high quality. Beeman R-9 with this scope shot 5 shot half inch groups at 25 yards. Very impressive.

Make a scope that will hold up under the shock and concussion of a springer. This scope only lasted 300 shots before it broke. Wont hold zero now. Shoots all over the place. 6 inch groups at 20 yards

This scope will not hold up to springers. The Beeman R-9 destroyed this scope in less than 300 shots.
I now own a $200.00 paper weight.

Hawke never let's me down. I've got five Hawke optics. I've replaced all the optics and mounts on my Airforce arsenal with Hawke and Accushot one-piece mounts. They work great for me. I don't know if it is just me, but the foreign made optics from China suck. They really do. I've sent back over $1,000 in optics to another vendor. Now, Hawke or my Old Redfield is all I use. Vintagegunscope.com has some really awesome old scopes. James is really a good contact for all you older guys like me.

Hawke products have never let me down. I would not change anything.

Hawke optics look as good as they operate. Some companies make things that look good, but fail.

Not Hawke. They make a great product. Rather pay a little bit more, and not have to return.

Very nice scope and well worth the price. Clear optics and nice build quality.

Nothing

This was an upgrade from the Mantis scope. I feel the up charge is well worth it. Mantis is nice scope, but the better optics in this one makes the cost increase worthwhile.

Very clear crisp scope. Fine crosshairs for sighting in on small objects. Plenty of milidots in reticle for multiple aiming points

Making the scope more durable for power .25 springers

Inside glass shattered after the 5th shot with it mounted on a .25 Benjamin nitro piston. Going to try another to be sure I did not get a lemon.

My Hatsan Model 95 broke the crosshairs in two Leapers Bug Buster 3-9 scopes each after appr. 800 shots. Since this Hawke has the crosshairs etched in glass there's no chance of that happening. While I really like fine crosshairs in a scope, these are extremely fine. Not a deal breaker by any means. The scope adjustments seem to track extremely well but the clicks are so fine it's more like a friction thing. Not a deal breaker either. Sighting in was extremely easy. Optics quality is much better than the Bug Buster. I love the mil dot/line reticle. I sighted my rifle in at 35 yds. and the extra lines allowed me to be right on at 50 yds. as well. In my opinion this is THE scope to buy after appr. 500 shots through it!

Make the crosshair just a bit heavier.

love this scope! very impressed with its build and function. The manual covers all the necessary information for proper use.

no suggestions for improving this scope

read thru the manual, and follow how the direction on the dials relate to the point of impact

Well made, sharp optics.Super easy dealing with Pyramid Air. Rhonda (sales dept.) was quite helpful and cheerful.

If the adjustment rings were a tad easier to move would be good.

Clear imagery

This is my second one. This one is better than the last one but still moves zero after sitting for awhile.

The Hawke Air Max is an ok scope. I find the reticle to be a little too thin but still good. The optics are ok but have a small window of acceptable eye relief distance. I would suggest when mounting this particular scope on the Diana 48 that you use the medium height rings over the low. The elevation and windage adjustments feel firm as does the objective ring. Have only sent a couple hundred down range so far but this scope holds its setting under the abusive springer. Will have to see how it holds up over time.

Recticle is a little too thin. Optics are just ok. Eye relief distance is fussy.

Nice glass for the money. I didn't have a ton of money to drop on a scope my TX 200 and I feel the Hawke has given me lots of no frills value and a good warranty for what I did have to spend. The fact that the scope is springer rated was a huge plus for me. Another plus was my online research has shown the Hawke warranty should help me should I hit any bumps in the road. My money's on Hawke!

What can I say? Hawke has to make money...thats what they make their products in the first place. To keep the price affordable you need to be realistic and realize you wont have all the features and extras you might get at $700 or $1000 or more!.

This is a nice, clear, bright, well constructed scope. You want or need more? Bring your wallet. For under $200 you get a lot of quality, both in materials used and in construction, with a good warranty to boot.

It works exactly as advertised. a nice scope and adjustment are very intuitive.

Nothing

Nice Scope

The easy focus. Holds zero well.

A firmer more precise set of turrets. Sometimes you can actually here or feel the clicks, other times you can't.

The turrets don't seem to be as mechanically precise as they should be.