Subject

   I recently purchased the Hawke 1-4x30mm optic and mounted it on my SA M1A Scout Squad with a Sage int. EBR CQB chassis, using weaver 6-hole tactical (high) rings. Here is my review of it (which I also posted in the swfa store section for buyers to read)

When considering this scope, lets first look at the price.  At $330 this seems a lot less expensive than a Leupold, night force, or other high-end 1-4x optic, but 330 dollars is still quite a bit of money for something, especially when its made in china, which the Hawke 1-4x30mm indeed is.

This scope has great design features and excellent layout, but lacks on execution.  For example the turrets have a very nice, tactile "click" to them, but only once you move one a full click or two. As the sit they have a "rubbery" wobble before being turned enough to start clicking.  Also the illuminated reticle on mine is very slightly off center, and it lights up behind the black dot of the standard reticle, rather than replacing the black dot with it. This means it covers more space and looks cheap when it's on.  Another quirk: at its brightest setting (11) the reticle is not even visible in sunny daylight (although not really necessary I suppose), and at its lowest setting it is too bright for dark situations. The range needs to be more dynamic/expanded. I really like that the rhetostat is side mounted, but it is very hard to turn, which completely takes your focus off shooting and your target just to get it to move; another failure in execution.

The optics are decently clear, but not overly impressive, especially when compared to my other Hawke scope, the rare japanese made Hawke Frontier Side Focus 4-16x40mm (discontinued, sadly.)  From 1x to about 2.5x the clarity is good, but by 4x it gets a little foggy. My Frontier SF was notably more clear even maxxed out at 16x when compaired side by side, as well as both scopes being at 4x.  Also at 1x there is a lot of optical distortion and parallaxing if your eye isnt perfectly aligned, so running this optic in a both-eyes-open style is a little bit tough.

The zoom ring is much easier to moved then all my other optics, and this is a nice feature in my opinion, because this optic is meant to be used on the move, while your strong hand is still on the grip of your rifle. I wish the rhetostat was as easy to use. The ocular adjustment is also easy to turn, with slight detents as you turn it to hold its place. My only gripe here is I wish the detents were a little more pronounced to ensure the focus stays put. So far I have not run in to an issue of it moving, but I admittedly have not been in the field much with it.

Overall this optic isnt too bad, but its not nearly as great as it could be. The looks, layout, and features are brilliant, but in the end it feels like high end chinese, rather then high end japanese or medium end US.  If you can afford to spend more, buy the new Super Sniper 1-4x and dont look back, but in the 300 dollar sector this is still your best bet.

Similar Threads: "Hawke 1-4x24 Endurance 30mm review"
Subject	Author	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Hawke Endurance 30m 3-9x42 ?	1911man	Rifle Scopes	0
Hawke Endurance 20-60x60	onfinal	Spotting Scopes	0
Crossfire IR vs Hawke endurance 30	perch161	Rifle Scopes	9
Hawke Endurance 30 1.25-4.5x24	koshkin	Member's Tests and Reviews	0
Hawke Endurance 3-9x42	ti-force	Rifle Scopes	9
Hawke Endurance Burris Euro Diamond ?	excess650	Rifle Scopes	0
Hawke 2.5-10x50 Eclipse 30mm Riflescope	sighewa	Rifle Scopes	7
Hawke Frontier 8x25mm Binocular Review	BigJimFish	Binoculars	0
SS 1-4x24 FFP HD Review	Sapper524	Tactical Scopes	6
Leatherwood 1-4x24 CMR Tactical 30mm Rifle Scope	JDjesse	Tactical Scopes	9

Bitterroot Bulls Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Optics Master Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 2728	Thanks for your review.
	-Matt

neilbilly Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Optics Master Joined: February/07/2010 Location: Sweeny TX Status: Offline Points: 999	Well done on the review. I have a few Hawke scopes and like them a lot. I'd love to have one of the new 1-4 SS scopes but simply can't stretch my budget that far at the moment. After reading your review and seeing the reviews from others on the 1-4 SS it looks like it's worth every penny. I'll end up with one at some point.
	If God didn't want me to play with it, he'd of made my arms shorter.

moeman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Optics GrassHopper Joined: December/15/2010 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 34	The optic in the price range of the Hawke that should be good competition is the Burris TAC 30.

Hawke 1-4x24 Endurance 30mm review