Hawke Sidewinder 30 4.5-14 x 44 SF

Hawke Optics has been a significant player in the market for some time now, and when they upgraded their Sidewinder range, they wanted it on the record that this was no cosmetic refresh, but a product revision from the ground up. On test is the lowest magnification model in the range, the Sidewinder 30 4.5-14x44 SF. This second focal plane scope, on paper at least, has great versatility, primarily as a hunting optic.

Presentation & preparation

Open up the box and inside there are all the basics to maximize performance (elasticated lens covers, lens cloth, 2.5” side-wheel, 4” sunshade, battery for illumination and even a throw lever for the magnification). Everything comes neatly stowed, and with comprehensive instructions covering the reticle, scope alignment and functionality, it’s a confidence-boosting package from the off. These scopes feature a 30mm mono-tube chassis, formed from aircraft grade 6061-T6 aluminium, and certainly feel well made.

Before mounting up, there’s some basic assembly to attend to. The 4” sunshade is an easy fix, as it just screws straight onto the objective bell, and once in place, the elasticated lens caps are still an easy fit. Next comes the side-wheel, and this is irritatingly fiddly to get in position, requiring three small screws to be loosened and the side plate removed. The wheel is then pushed over the left turret and needs to be held in position whilst the screws and side plate are replaced. It’s not as easy as it sounds and a push-on, friction-fit design would be preferable. To be honest though, given the magnification is 4.5x up to 14x, the wheel doesn’t have the same significance as it would with a super high mag FT scope, so to be honest, I simply wouldn’t bother with it.

The final add-on is the throw lever and if you fancy utilizing this popular feature, then remove the small threaded screw using the Allen key supplied, and gently screw the lever into position on the mag collar. Movement is smooth here, and the position of the lever helps the user quickly identify what magnification the scope is on in poor light. Straight up equals 8x etc. A small detail, but a guide nonetheless.

Glass & reticle

Hawke makes much of the new System H5 glass, and the technical specification is impressive. 18-layer, fully multi-coated lenses for high light transmission, and a high level of abrasion resistance that apparently exceeds military standards for durability is a good start.

Hawke also uses highgrade Crown Glass for low dispersion that combats chromatic aberration, but is also lead-free, meaning it weighs less. The highend H5 system is designed to reduce the effect of curvature too, thus promoting a flatter field of view.

The reticle fitted is the 10x Half-Mil illuminated spec. This offers an ultraprecise diagram where the centre half of the cross illuminates in red, via the rheostat control on the left turret. The disc-style battery is stored in the cap as usual, and there are 6-levels of brightness from the dual LED system, with convenient alternate off stages. To get the reticle pin sharp, just use the quick focus dioptre at the rear, and then the main setting up can begin.

With the Sidewinder mounted up, zeroing was next on the agenda.

Turrets

Parallax error is a problem in all shooting sports and this Sidewinder allows it to be effectively dialled out via the side focus left-hand turret. Target distances are marked up with a minimum 10 yards, then 15, 20, 30, 50, 100, 200, 300, 500 and infinity. The side-wheel carries the same markings.

As for the main turrets, these come with 1/10 MRAD click values and are the pushpull, lockable tactical-style. The clicks are satisfyingly audible and positive, whilst the firmness of the movement as the mechanism pulls open, and the precision feel of the machined caps and inserts are a credit to the Hawke operation. On test, zeroing and turret tracking all performed perfectly, as expected.

But let’s remember, there is also a joker being played here. When Hawke introduced their new generation of Sidewinder, one of the flagship features that caught the eye was the elevation turret display window (or witness window as Hawke dub it), which is a neat idea and slickly executed. A classic scenario is long range shooting, where the turret may be dialled through several rotations of elevation past zero. What this window system does is minimise human error by keeping the shooter informed as to exactly where the turret adjustment lies. Turret rotations show on an indicator as small numbers in the window, from the lowest up, and with a colour bar indicator also showing, returning to a known point, or centring the elevation turret can be done in seconds.

Versatile

The variable magnification from 4.5x up to 14x means this model is pretty versatile. If close range work is on the cards, wind down the mag and enjoy the huge field of view and super bright image. Set the mag to 9 or 10x, and the parallax to just under 25yards, and you’ve suddenly got a viable HFT rig. The image quality and clarity are impressive when viewing targets through the expected distances (8-45 yards) and that precision reticle, with true Half-Mil readings being available when viewed on 10x magnification, is a powerful tool where it matters.

Significant

All the usual assurances are in place with this scope being waterproof, shockproof and nitrogen gas purged (fog proof in other words). £479 is a significant outlay in anyone’s book but a recheck of Hawke’s product line-up shows the Sidewinders are pitched mid-table in terms of pricing, and this reflects the upmarket glass and level of build overall. An air of quality prevails, and in use, this Sidewinder 30 4.5-14x44 SF can’t fail to impress. In short, this Sidewinder can hold its own admirably as an ideal companion in the field, for a variety of applications.