Hawke 3-9x40IR 223/308 reticule

I was impressed with the last offering from Hawke, their Vantage 4, bullet drop compensating (BDC) reticule for 22 LR sub-sonics. So I thought I would test an Endurance model in 3-9x40mm, it too has a BDC set up but this time for a .223/.308 centrefire. Designed in the UK by Deben but made in China, it offers a cost effective optic of good quality and ability!

BUILD

There are many models in this range, but I selected a compact, the type you would put on a stalking rifle or vermin gun, so the size of the 3-9x40mm Endurance was perfect. It is 12.1” long and weighs 17 oz., all built around a 1” body tube. This is a sturdy design, which can be low mounted to aid correct cheek weld. Overall finish is a uniform satin black, which is resistant to scratches and marks from mounts.

The objective is 40mm and the eyepiece equally large, giving a good sight picture that is not at all eye relief sensitive at full magnification. Talking of which and very sensibly, the eye relief is 4.5”, so perfect for even those hard kicking rifles. There is a fast ocular focus system that is mandatory these days and the magnification ring has raised ridges, with a more prominent one at x5.5 magnification that is easily felt in the dark. Magnification increase from x3-9 is anti clockwise and is smooth, yet reassuringly firm, so no slack at all.

SADDLE UP

The saddle contains the adjustment turrets, as well as the illuminated reticule controls. This is an infinitely adjustable, step-less rheostat design that has a positive OFF position then click ON, again reassuringly positive. From then on the central cross and lower stadia are illuminated in red only. Nice and faint to start with, for use so your natural night vision is not lost and then all the way up to maximum brightness for day use if necessary. There is a small colour bleed around the edges at ¾ to full power but for the price who can complain? It is powered by a CR2032, with a spare included, along with a lens cloth and lens covers, nice!

Click values are the near standard ¼ MOA at 100 yards, with turrets being graduated into 14 segments, so 14 MOA per turn. Firm clicks with just a faint amount of backlash; I had a few missed clicks from the start but no problems thereafter. The build is what I would call hunter-style with low, screw-off caps, so all corrections are done on the reticule!

Lens-wise the 17 layer multi coated lenses offer good clarity edge to edge and for 90% of all hunting scenario`s the quality is more than good enough. The long eye relief is appreciated and makes the Hawke safe in use.

.223/.308 RETICULE

Now the crux of the Endurance scope and part of its appeal. The reticule is calibrated for the trajectory of a .223 or .308 win round with bullet weights of 55 and 155 grains and velocities of 3240 and 2785 fps respectively. Or a generic velocity and BC value of 2790 fps and 0.4010. I fitted the scope to a Tikka .308 Win rifle to test this calibre-specific reticule feature.

I loaded up some Hornady 150-grain SST bullets in front of 46-grains of Alliant RL15 powder to achieve 2775 fps and a BC of 0.415, so pretty close. The 2nd focal plane reticule dictates the use of the reticule for trajectory compensation set at the maximum setting, in this case x9 power. I zeroed dead on 100 yards, not my usually 0.5 or 1.0 high zero.

SIX POINTS

You have six aiming points, the first being the central zero cross, with five descending crosses beneath, to compensate for trajectory down from 200 to 600 yds, with the larger upright post at 6 o`clock being used as a 700 yd zero. I tested out to 500 yds, as that was the limit I had on the farm with steel silhouettes at 100 yard intervals to aid visual and audible hits. With 1” groups at 100 yds and on x9 I used the second cross down for the 200 yd target as the aim point and clang, so far so good.

At 300 yds the groups were getting bigger but the steel rang out, a bit low so the third cross down was more like 315 yds but still a hit. At 400 low again so in reality 425 yds with this load and at 500 yds just below but groups had opened up from this light weight sporter barrel.

Impressive performance for a first go and all you have to do is subtly change the load to coincide the bullet drop to the correct cross or just lower the magnification a smidge to drop the reticule in the view and bingo. It’s a fast system to use and once you have shot the rifle to coincide it is a reliable scope for shots at sensible ranges!

Generically any bullet travelling at 2790fps with a BC of 0.4010 at a scope height of 2.35” or equivalent trajectory will work, a 75-grain .223 A-MAX at 2795 fps and BC of 0.395 is very close, as is a 6.5x55mm 120-grain Ballistic Tip travelling at 2822 fps with a 0.430 bullet and so on. However, I would advise you to shoot all the distances with your load, so you know where to aim off when required. BDC systems are great but as they have to be load-specific, you really need to learn what they do!

CONCLUSIONS

Having shot the Hawke for several months now in some pretty horrible weather, I was pleasantly surprised at how it performed. This is not a European scope, but then it’s not that price either and from the performance I had from it, it looks a bargain to me! Optically good and a reticule system that takes the hassle out of quick reaction hunting range finding.