There is no doubt that a scope makes your shooting job easier and more enjoyable. If you are particularly a newbie, getting a scope offers a vast array of benefits. But, can you use a regular scope on an air rifle?
Generally, a regular scope cannot be used on a break barrel air rifle because it can be damaged due to the double recoil forces it produces. Break barrel guns recoil in both forward and rearward directions. But you can use a regular scope on a PCP or pump air rifle as these recoil only in the backward direction.
What causes the bidirectional recoil is the hard sudden slamming of the spring piston onto the front end of the compression chamber. This comes after the backward recoil occurs.
It is important to know that air rifles need air rifle-rated scopes that can handle these destructive recoil forces, especially the forward forces. Let’s find out more on this topic right in the next sections.
Can You Use a Regular Scope on an Air Rifle?
A lot of beginners keep asking the question of whether a regular scope can be ideal for use on air rifles. But the answer is straightforward as always – you don’t want to use such scope on your air rifle because it will damage it sooner or later.
However, CO2 and pneumatic airguns have the basic level of recoil that comes as a result of shooting the pellet. The compressed air or CO2 helps to propel the pellet with the force which results in the backward recoil.
On the other hand, break barrel air rifles do produce immense recoil when shot. Not only is this recoil directed in the backward direction but it also goes in the forward direction.
The unique two-way recoil is a blast that the regular scopes cannot handle. They will not last a time under this intense pressure. This is because the ordinary scopes are designed to handle recoil that’s only heading in one direction.
The back and forth recoil of air rifles proves to be too strong for regular scopes. Other than the normal backward recoil from the release of the trigger, the spring and piston stop suddenly when the piston hits the front end of the compression chamber.
This violent action immediately changes the direction of movement of the air rifle. As it occurs, the air rifle moves in the forward direction.
Since it’s sudden and violent, it causes the scope attached to the air rifle to go rearward and break, shatter, and even collapse in the process. Just note that if you are a beginner, shooting a break barrel for the first time is not going to bode well with you.
Are Airgun Scopes Different?
Scopes for firearms and scopes for air rifles are basically different given their design. The rifle scopes are designed with just one-way recoil in the mind. Are airgun scopes different?
When it comes to the airgun scopes, they are unique. You are looking at scopes that have been rated and made to fit the extreme recoil of air rifles – particularly the spring piston types.
What happens when a spring-powered air rifle is shot is an intense rapid recoil that’s bidirectional. When it combines with the vibrations on the gun due to the energy from the relaxing spring, the air rifle moves violently and this has a serious impact on the attachments including the scope.
Air rifle scopes have been made to resist intense recoil that goes both in the forward and rearward directions.
Moreover, the airgun scopes come with the ability to focus targets even at close range. These scopes can capture objects in the range of 10 meters clearly; this is a far-fetched dream with the ordinary scopes meant for centerfire weapons.
In addition, the airgun scopes also feature some unique reticle design that has extra aiming points. With these points, you can be guaranteed you will not suffer as far as pellet drop is concerned.
What Magnification Do You Need for an Air Rifle Scope?
The magnification of a scope will depend on what range you are aiming to achieve. And this can come down to what activity you intend to use the scope for.
The scope you need for fun plinking or target shooting could be way different from the one for hunting. Hunting requires shooters to have a larger field of vision so that they can have a clearer and wholesome view of the target.
Generally, most people prefer 12x magnification for shorter distances like 25 yards and 16-20x for any distance that’s more than 25 yards. If you are considering hunting, a 4-16x to 3-9x will work just fine.
Having said this, the person who determines what’s best for them is yourself. How much magnification for a scope is a really personal matter, isn’t it?
What you want to avoid is too much magnification of your object. A small push on the gun could lead to serious problems with accuracy especially if you were taking the shot.
Are Air Rifle Scopes Universal?
If you have many air rifles in the cabinet, you would wonder whether there is a need for each to have its special scope or not. Or maybe, are air rifle scopes universal?
As a whole, air rifle scopes are universal and can be used on different airguns without a problem. The only condition is that the air rifle in question is furnished with a reliable scope rail with a universal design to it.
Picatinny rails are known to accommodate many different types and models of scopes. The system is designed in order to tolerate any differences in scope makes.
With such an accessory, having scopes of different kinds on your air rifle is always going to be something very possible. Furthermore, air rifle scopes can be mounted on rifles without a fuss.
Can You Use an Air Rifle Scope on Real Rifle?
We have already seen that a regular scope was not designed to withstand the intense pressure of the air rifles. It will simply crash to the impact.
But can you use an air rifle scope on a real rifle? Generally, you can you an air rifle scope on a real firearm and it works perfectly. The air rifle scope is rugged and is built to resist the aggressive nature of the reverse recoil generated by air rifles.
Firearms generate only the backward recoil which is not extremely powerful for most air rifle scopes. However, not all air rifle scopes will be suitable for real firearms.
Some air rifle scopes are cheap and will still give you a hard time working on powerful firearms. So, just take care as you switch to an air rifle for your firearm. You don’t want to put a scope on the rifle only for it to break loose its parts because the gun was too strong for it.
Will a Crossbow Scope Work on a Springer?
You could be doubling up airguns with crossbows. The two kinds of weapons are designed for fun shooting and can be really exciting to use.
Crossbows come with scopes as well. But will a crossbow scope work on a springer since the two almost follow the same path of action? Can it hold up the violent nature of a springer’s recoil?
Well, a crossbow scope will work on a springer. Crossbows come with plenty of double recoil and are way more violent in their action compared to springers. This means whatever amount of recoil is produced by a springer can still be contained by a crossbow scope because that’s what it’s used to.
The only downside to crossbows is the range of shooting. They focus better on shorter distances rather than longer ones.
So, if you decide to use a crossbow scope, be sure to be ready to shoot indoors or at similar ranges. This means winter shooting while positioned inside the house will be an option for you.
If you want to know more about whether the crossbow scope can work on an air rifle, check out this post and you’ll definitely get there.
What’s the Difference Between an Air Rifle Scope and a Riflescope?
One of the biggest differences between an air rifle scope and a riflescope is the capability to handle recoil. With air rifle scopes, they are built to be strong and sturdy so that they will effortlessly resist the double recoil generated from air rifles.
As for riflescopes, that’s not the case. They are structurally weaker for air rifles. Therefore, they can only be on rifles and not air rifles. Air rifle scopes can be used on both air rifles and rifles.
Yet, the air rifle scope allows for zeroing at close range – even below 10 yards. The rifle scope can only zero in at 50-100 yards at minimum.
Final Thoughts: Can You Use a Regular Scope on an Air Rifle?
A regular scope is not a good one for use on air rifles. Maybe it will work on precharged pneumatics and the CO2-powered types but when it comes to the break barrel air rifles, that’s not going to work thanks to the immense recoil these air rifles produce.
The extreme double recoil of the break barrels can damage the scope in no time. So, always, you want to avoid doing this at all costs. Otherwise, you will run in more liabilities of having to buy newer scopes after a short time.
