Hawke Optics for DGR

This scope has been briefly mentioned and discussed before on this forum, I don’t intend to be repetitive.

I thought I would share my experience on finding a DGR scope that would survive the stout recoil from my beloved .458 B&M. The rifle is a scope buster, busted one and my search began. I had difficulty in obtaining a proper (for a B&M rifle) Nikon African scope, just didn’t work out for me, excellent scopes for sure. Nikon hasn’t been very supportive in the scope or hunting industry, so it seems. The search began..

I have found better than the Nikon African, IMO, and with new modern day features, including illumination, 4”+ eye relief and in a lightweight 1” tube. This is a British brand, Hawke, but made in China under the strict supervision of their own design specifications, materials and rigorous inspection standards. The one I like and use is the Hawke Vantage IR, 1-4×20 L4A FD, it weighs 11.7 oz, 8.7” long & a German #4 with a red dot illuminated… $299, which I bought on sale for $259. I have shot over 150 rounds from 250 gr to 480 gr with the 458 B&M, without any problems whatsoever & most were in a scope punishing lead sled. I have since ordered a backup unit, as I believe this is my new and improved nikon African scope for modern times. I like this scope, it can handle hard recoiling guns and I can shoot it well, confidently. I have blacked out the made in china with a sharpie…Done.

Anyone else have any positive or negative experiences with this scope?

What other scopes do you have in hand to compare clarity?

My opinion is that you should never savings on optics. I also think the same about assembly. I have high-quality optics on all my rifles and all mounts are made of steel, regardless of caliber. I don't want to say that the Hawke is not of good quality, but I dont put him on the 458. It is still a rifle for dangerous hunting and I would simply choose one of the proven manufacturers for it. In any case, I respect your choice and will take into account what you said about the 150 rounds fired.

Aaron N said:

What other scopes do you have in hand to compare clarity?

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I have not compared this scope as far clarity to other scopes, yet.
At this point in setting up my rifle, I just wanted a scope that wouldn’t bust & didn’t want to spend too much money on higher end scopes. Sure, I may upgrade later.
As far as clarity, for now, it meets my expectations easily out to 100 yards. I will test it further out over time.
I will also add, I my objective was to find a low cost quality replacement of the Nikon African, as I grew tired of that rat race.

Miletic said:

My opinion is that you should never savings on optics. I also think the same about assembly. I have high-quality optics on all my rifles and all mounts are made of steel, regardless of caliber. I don't want to say that the Hawke is not of good quality, but I dont put him on the 458. It is still a rifle for dangerous hunting and I would simply choose one of the proven manufacturers for it. In any case, I respect your choice and will take into account what you said about the 150 rounds fired.

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I agree with you & thank you for you reply.
On my non DG rifles, I most definitely use much higher end scopes & always have believed in optic investments payoff, especially with clarity at distance.
I do agree with you, for DG applications there is no room for error of any kind…why take a chance.
That’s why I’m testing the hell out of this scope & receptive to constructive criticism on this scope.

Several times I installed Hawke optics on standard calibers (3006.8x57.7x64.308) at clients. They all worked without any problems, but I was really interested in how they would behave after a few years. This information from you is phenomenal for me and that's when I ordered such a test. Write if there are any changes to the glasses or to the movement of hits. Thank you

Miletic said:

Several times I installed Hawke optics on standard calibers (3006.8x57.7x64.308) at clients. They all worked without any problems, but I was really interested in how they would behave after a few years. This information from you is phenomenal for me and that's when I ordered such a test. Write if there are any changes to the glasses or to the movement of hits. Thank you

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You are welcome, Sir.
I will continue to torture this scope at the range until my July Australian Buffalo hunt, probably another couple hundred rounds.
Who knows, maybe it will finally fail & move onto another brand.
Updates to come.

CamoManJ said:

This scope has been briefly mentioned and discussed before on this forum, I don’t intend to be repetitive.

I thought I would share my experience on finding a DGR scope that would survive the stout recoil from my beloved .458 B&M. The rifle is a scope buster, busted one and my search began. I had difficulty in obtaining a proper (for a B&M rifle) Nikon African scope, just didn’t work out for me, excellent scopes for sure. Nikon hasn’t been very supportive in the scope or hunting industry, so it seems. The search began..

I have found better than the Nikon African, IMO, and with new modern day features, including illumination, 4”+ eye relief and in a lightweight 1” tube. This is a British brand, Hawke, but made in China under the strict supervision of their own design specifications, materials and rigorous inspection standards. The one I like and use is the Hawke Vantage IR, 1-4×20 L4A FD, it weighs 11.7 oz, 8.7” long & a German #4 with a red dot illuminated… $299, which I bought on sale for $259. I have shot over 150 rounds from 250 gr to 480 gr with the 458 B&M, without any problems whatsoever & most were in a scope punishing lead sled. I have since ordered a backup unit, as I believe this is my new and improved nikon African scope for modern times. I like this scope, it can handle hard recoiling guns and I can shoot it well, confidently. I have blacked out the made in china with a sharpie…Done.

Anyone else have any positive or negative experiences with this scope?



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I started buying Hawke scopes a couple years ago and have been very pleased so far. Put their 3-9x40 with the Slug gun reticle on my inline muzzleloader. 330gr cast over 105gr FFg in a <9# rifle produces recoil in the 40-50# range. No issues with a couple hundred rounds so far and great eye relief at 4".
Also have their 1-8x24 with the L4A dot on a 9.3x62. Haven't shot it more than a few dozen rounds with that scope yet, and not as much recoil with that rifle at the same 9#. There's a few more waiting for me to find time to get them mounted, one is going on a 375 H&H.
Comparing these Hawkes to the Leupolds and Nikons on other rifles, they are just as clear; I can't see any difference. Biggest advantage I've seen so far is the better eye relief and the selection of illuminated reticles they offer, even in a 1" tube. Obviously, I can't speak to their long term durability, but, no complaints so far.

I’ve been running a Hawke Frontier 1–8×24 on my .375 ruger and overall I’ve been pretty happy with it. The scope has had zero issues holding zero, even on a heavier-recoiling rifle, and the glass is quite good for the price point. Build quality also seems solid.

When the scope was brand new, I did notice that the auto-awake illumination took more movement to activate than I expected. At the time, I chalked that up to how the system was designed.

Over the course of about a year, the illumination became progressively harder to activate and now requires fairly aggressive shaking, with normal movement no longer waking it reliably. I contacted Hawke, and they’ve said they’ll take care of the issue under the no questions asked warranty.

Looking back, I suspect my original scope may have had a subtle issue from the beginning that was missed at the factory. I’m looking forward to comparing its behavior to the replacement once it arrives.

Mechanically and optically, the scope has been excellent for me — no tracking or zero concerns at all — but the motion-activated illumination has clearly changed over time.

Hawke do a lot of springer airgun scopes. Anyone who knows springers will tell you they break scopes. It is the 2 direction recoil and even the best German brands come apart on spring airguns. So I think that expertise has helped them create tough scopes. I have a Hawke Sport on my springer and several thousand shots later, it holds zero perfectly. Probably a $150 scope. It is OK optically at 4 x but at 12 x , it has some fall off in quality- still completely usable. I have often thought about putting an airgun rated scope on a heavy hitter because they are tough but never got around to it.

Have a Hawke 3-9 on my 22Lr and a 1-8 on the .375H&H. Until now no issues.
I decided for the HAWKEs after checking the used market. Hardly to find them used when I looked up. That was the point to try them out. And the springer argument of Nhoro.

I talked to Hawke at Dortmund and asked about the 1-8 on my 375 H&H and max Caliber for their scopes.
Answer was good for all hunting calibers.