Hawke Sidewinder 30IR 4 - 16 X 50 SR6 IR

As Deben Group Industries Ltd has advanced their Hawke Scope Optics brand I was glad to see the Sidewinder series is still on the roster. However, they now bear little resemblance to the originals as they have been upgraded to include what that the modern airgunner requires. In the range there are 3 – 12 X 50, 4 – 16 X 50, 6 – 24 X 56 and 8 – 32 X 56IR’s with choice on reticule types.

The test scope was right up my street being the Sidewinder® 30IR 4 – 16 X 50 SR6 IR, as the magnification range and features are ideal for most of my hunting needs. The package is comprehensive and includes a 4” sunshade, flip up lens covers, 100mm side-wheel, lens cloth, spare battery and 30mm locking ring collar.

Depending on spec all models come with the SR6 or SR12 reticules and Mil-Dot all set in the 1st focal plane. The 30mm body tube is a one-piece build and all lenses are multi-coated. This produces sharp, bright and high resolution viewing in low light conditions, yet doesn’t easily ‘over sharpen’ or ‘haze’ in bright sunlight. The eyepiece is quite large and offers a fast-focus system but with the addition of a lock ring so once set it stays there; clever…

Saddle Up

The saddle features the now popular pull up/push down lockable turrets. On the left is the side focus (parallax) drum that also incorporates the rheostat for the illuminated reticule. Click values are ¼” MOA @ 100 yards, with 60-clicks per turn for both planes (15”). Elevation offers 5 ½ full revolutions (82.5”) and windage 4 ¾ (71.25”).

The rheostat offers red and green illumination with each colour giving five levels. When in the unlit position the word ‘OFF’ is visible with the markings in red and green accordingly. As I said the parallax drum is split with the rheostat being in the outer section. Inboard of this is the focus, which is numbered 10, 25, 50,100, 200, 500 yards and ∞. These are packed together with little room for the ranges (that a 12 ft/lb air rifle can be used at) to be written in. However, with the extension wheel fitted this problem is solved.

The big wheel slips over the rheostat but only when you turn it so the word ‘OFF’ faces upwards. Then turn the inner parallax away from you so the raised lugs on that dial matches up alongside. You can then slip the wheel over the drum so it engages in its proper position, however the yardage corresponds from outer edge of wheel to the inner dial which will be the 25-yards setting.

The wheel has an inner portion of semi-rigid rubber that securely hold it in place but turning the rheostat back to any position ensures a rock solid hold as the lugs on the outer dial further retain it. Clever or what? But here’s the best part. Remember the ‘collar?’ Well this is certainly useful as it is actually a range marker.  It has a spade-shaped pointer on the outer edge so when fitted rear of the saddle - wherever suits you – it can be set to point to the range setting on the outer wheel that suits your particular eyesight. If anything - and I hate to say this as I really do like the scope - but it would be so much more useful if the pointer extended out a bit more!

The outer edge of the ‘wheel’ is marked the same as the parallax drum, but being a bigger circumference there’s plenty of room to put your own range settings, even between the 50 to 100 yard marks. As for the SR6 reticle, that’s been looked at in detail many times before, needless to say it gives you a multitude of aim points and the ability for fast range estimation.

To say all this works a treat with the new sidewinder 30IR is an understatement. The ‘Christmas tree’ design reticle will light up red or green and can be calibrated now for your particular chosen zero, ammo and calibre thanks to the free downloadable ballistic software Deben have set up on-line.

As a hunting scope this is quite frankly one of the best out there for the price and I’m sure the FT boys will go a bundle on the higher magnification SR12 version.

PRICE: £269