Air Rifle 'Scopes...

[BCB]

What's the difference between air rifle 'scopes and regular 'scopes? I have heard that regular 'scopes can't be used on air rifles...BCB

[SharpsShooter]

Air rifles recoil forward due to the spring tension release. Typical rifle scopes are designed to handle rearward thrust recoil and will be destroyed internally by the stresses they were not designed to accomodate.

[redneckdan]

i have a BSA air rifle 4x34 on my .22 rimfire. I paid 30 bucks for the scope and I'm quite impressed with it. It claims 1/4 MOA adjustment but it doesn do it. How ever, when you get it adjusted, it stays there. Optics are actually pretty good, good enough for squirrel sniping.

[carpetman]

There are several types of air rifles. C02,pump ups etc. Most will not harm a scope. What is called spring air is a different story. A heavy spring is released when you shoot it and it gives a double recoil sorta like popping a whip. Using a scope not designed for this will be ruined in fairly short order---same scope might last forever on even a magnum center fire---but not on a spring air gun. The cheaper air gun scopes are not intended for spring air.

[felix]

Yes, a spring creates negative recoil upon release. Recoil in reverse. Some air gun scopes will fall apart with postive recoil, so the best air gun scopes have a support in both recoil directions. Some of the german brands, like a Beeman. ... felix

[carpetman]

felix---Beeman doesnt make scopes--in fact dont make guns. (I know it says Beeman on them ). Leupold stands behind theirs so if it fails on an air-rifle--it's their baby.