Are Air Gun Scopes Different?

Some air guns need special scopes and mounts.

High powered spring powered air guns have a unique heavy reverse recoil caused by the spring rebounding after the shot. This reverse recoil will ruin any scope not designed to handle it, including high powered rifle scopes.

Most quality air rifle scopes are braced for the heavy reverse recoil of high powered spring guns.

High powered spring powered air guns sometimes have a problem with the scope moving around on the mount if using regular scope rings, usually to solve this problem you will need a one piece scope mount with a top stop pin.

Most scopes designed for high powered rifles have the scope focus set at 100 yards which is beyond the range of almost any accurate air gun shot.
Most quality air rifle scopes either have variable focus called adjustable objective sometimes abbreviated as AO or have their focus set at 35 or 50 yards.

For hunting in the field or plinking for fun a scope with the focus set at 35 yards is preferred, second choice focus set at 50 yards. For target shooting a scope with adjustable objective is preferred.

Most air guns use mounts called dovetail, 3/8 or 11mm dovetail, both 3/8 inch and 11mm are the same size. 3/8 or 11mm dovetail is also the type of mount used by most rimfire firearms like .22 caliber rimfire. A few air guns use Weaver Mounts the same type of mount used by most high powered rifles.

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