Hawke Frontier 30 2.5-15x50

We all seem to be rather caught up with Mil-Dot scopes these days and the truth is few of us actually use them for what they were originally intended and that’s rangefinding. But why would you want to with the availability of cost effective laser rangefinders and in truth milling a target requires some calculation and the need to know how tall or wide it is? I’m guilty of it too and yes I know how to Mill a target but like I said, why bother?

Range and windage

Though not the primary envisaged function, we sports shooters today use Mil-Dot as a means of applying range correction (hold over) and also windage adjustment and it works. This is aided if the reticule features ½-Mil subtensions and they are lines (hash marks) as opposed to dots, as it’s more precise. I have a number of my scopes set up in this fashion and once you learn the drop/wind values, you can get precise given you know the range.

Most Mil-Dot scopes are what I would term as tactical-types with big, un-capped dialling turrets, so instead of using the reticule to lay in a correction you just dial it in and yes it works well. Again given you know your click values as to target distance; especially with the more common second focal plane (SFP) scopes we seem to favour these days, it’s easy. However, and unless you have lockable turrets, there’s always the potential of either forgetting to re-set to zero after laying in the correction, or simply the turret moving accidently. Both happen and once the shot is gone you can’t call it back!

Best or worst of both worlds

Hawke Optics’ range includes a model that for some needs offers a good blend of tactical features and simplicity. So let’s look at their Frontier 30 SF (side focus) series, which is an SFP system that offers two model and reticle choices. On test is the 2.5-15x50, with a 5-30x50 also available; so as can be seen, they are more for mid to longer range use. Reticle choice goes for the LR Dot, which is a #4-style with two stadia on the 6 o’clock arm and a free-floating centre dot. I have always found this sort of aim point a bit too large and subtends too much on target to promote accurate shot placement or zeroing if you want to shoot as tight as possible. Saying that, there’s also the Frontier 30, 1-6x24 with L4A DOT reticule, which is a compact, dangerous game or pig scope and here this simplified LR DOT pattern is well suited to close range and fast moving targets!

Better is the TMX, which offers a stylised ½-Mil-Dot (hash) pattern that goes down to a generous 8-Mils on the 6 o’clock arm, along with two wide windage lines. Given you work out your drops as to range, there’s not a lot this reticle cannot do! What however makes the Frontier 30 a bit different is that it does not use tactical-type turrets, just normal weatherproof caps instead, so it’s a case of zero and forget, with all corrections on the reticle. But first!

Well presented

The build is generally well presented with a one-piece 30mm body tube in a semi-matte finish. It’s 13.7” long and weighs 23.4oz. The TMX reticle is glass-etched and all lenses are 21-layer multi-coated for maximum light transmission. Turrets dial easily with positive and audible clicks, there’s a large screw in the centre, so that you can freewheel them to 0 position once zeroed. Click values are ¼ MOA @ 100 yards, with 15 MOA per turn and a pleasing nine full turns in both planes. Elevation is marked from 1-15 MOA, each sub-divided in 4 x ¼-MOA increments. Windage is split 1-7 0 1-7 either way.

On the left of the saddle is a combined rheostat and parallax drum. Thankfully Hawke have resisted the urge to go multicoloured just sticking to red, with the centre post and 5 Mil either side being lit. The parallax is marked from 10 yards to ∞ at 20, 30, 50, 100, 200 and 500 yards. Typically they are only a guide and do not conform to all distances, which is not uncommon!

Six times

The spec of 2.5-15 offers a 6x zoom range so allowing short to mid/long range shooting ability. I have tested a number of Hawke scopes over the last few years and I have found some where the focus was never quite crisp enough. Not so with the Frontier 30, as no matter what the distance, I could get it nice and sharp. Though busy, the all hash-marked TMX reticule is not cluttered, so placing an aiming mark or viewing the target is not compromised. A useful touch is that the full Mil lines are thicker than the halves. Equally, the two lower windage lines at 3 and 6 Mil extend 3 Mil from the centre left & right. Lines 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8 just use dots and the 12 o’clock arm is 5 Mil high.

I fitted the Frontier to my trusty old CZ 527 custom in 6.5 Grendel and used BH Targets 4 and 8” steel gong Double Target Stand to test the Mil-Dot at various ranges. All worked well; for example at 210 yards my 120-grain load is dropping 5.06” which translates to 0.67 Mil, so placing the first ½-hash just a tad below centre got the steel ringing in the right place. Measuring the 8” gong through the scope showed that it was just outside 1 Mil, which at 200 is 7.2”, again just about right! Overall a nice optic, given you want to put the time in using Mil drops!