Setting up and zeroing your riflescope

Before zeroing your riflescope ensure it is correctly mounted and in a comfortable position that provides optimum eye relief.  For more guidance on riflescope setup see "Mounting a riflescope".

OCULAR LENS ADJUSTMENT

All Hawke riflescopes are fitted with an adjustable ocular focus. To focus your eye characteristics to the riflescope, giving a crystal clear picture of the reticle, carry out the following adjustment. 

  1. Hold the scope about three or four inches from your eye and look through the eye piece at a blank, flatly lit, bright area such as a wall or open sky.
  2. If the reticle is not sharply defined instantly, turn the eyepiece (either direction) a few turns. Quickly glance through the scope again. If the focus has improved, but is still not perfect, continue focusing.
  3. If the focus became worse, turn it the opposite direction.
  4. (SIDEWINDER 30 SF) When the desired focus is achieved, rotate the inner lock ring until tight. This will prevent accidental adjustment when in the field or traveling.
Warning: Never look at the sun with a riflescope, it may permanently damage your eyes.

TURRET ADJUSTMENT

After mounting the scope remove the windage and elevation caps to expose the adjusters.
Each click of adjustment is measured in MOA (minutes of angle) on the target. 1 click = 1/4 MOA ≈ 1/4” at 100 yards.
Therefore, at different ranges, each click of adjustment changes: 
1 click = 1/8" @ 50 yards (4mm @ 50m), 
 = 1/4" @ 100 yards (7mm @ 100m), 
 = 1/2" @ 200 yards (15mm @ 200m), 
 = 3/4" @ 300 yards (22mm @ 300m).

Turret Adjustment - Sidewinder 30 SF

  1. Before adjusting the turrets, you must first unlock them; this is achieved by pulling them outwards. They will now click when rotated.
  2. The turrets can then be adjusted until they are on zero. To lock the turrets, simply push them back down. 
  3. When a satisfactory zero is achieved, the turrets can be reset. To do this, loosen the hex screw with the turret in the down and locked position, rotate the turret cover to the zero position, and then retighten the hex screw.

Turret Adjustment - Airmax 30 SF

  1. To unlock the turrets, rotate the lock (located on the top of the turrets) counter-clockwise. Rotate the lock clockwise to lock the turrets into position.
  2. The turrets can be reset once the riflescope has been zeroed to make future adjustment easier. Loosen the three screws on the selected turret using the allen key provided. The turret can now be rotated to zero without making any adjustments.
  3. When the turret is in position, use the hex key to re-tighten the screws (be careful not to over tighten).

PRE-ZEROING

Pre-zero sighting can be done either visually or with a bore sighting collimator. If a bore sighting collimator is not available, it is recommended to pre-zero visually.
  1. With the firearm in a steady rest position, open the action of the firearm and look along the bore to a predetermined target (at approximately 50 yards).
  2. Scopes fitted with an adjustable objective or side focus should be adjusted to the 50 yard position. Set a variable power scope to mid-power.
  3. Remove the caps from the windage and elevation turrets. Adjust the windage and elevation adjusters to position the reticle on the center of the target.
  4. For windage adjustment, turn the windage adjustment turret clockwise to move the point of impact left and counter clockwise to move the point of impact right. In the same manner, adjust the elevation by turning the elevation adjustment clockwise to lower the point of impact and counter clockwise to raise the point of impact.
Note: When using windage adjustable rings, make major windage correction with them. In certain shooting situations such as close range air gunning when special elevation adjustable rings are not available, the rings may have to be shimmed. Only final precision adjustment should be made with the scopes adjustment turrets.

ZEROING WITH LIVE AMMUNITION

Warning: All shooting should be carried out at an approved range or other safe area. Eye and ear protection is recommended.
Final sighting-in of your rifle should be carried out with live ammunition, based on your preferred target distance.
Warning: If a bore sighting collimator or any other bore obstructing device was used, it must be removed before zeroing with live ammunition. An obstruction can cause serious damage to the gun and possible injury to yourself and others nearby.
Sighting in should be at the distance that you are normally going to shoot. The parallax should be set to this distance during the sighting in process. Set variable power scopes to highest power then from a steady rest position fire three rounds at a target. Observe point of impact on the target and adjust windage and elevation turrets as needed to correct aim. Repeat until point of aim and point of impact are the same. When you are happy with the zero, replace the turret covers.

PARALLAX ADJUSTABLE MODELS

To give the best accuracy all riflescopes should be parallax error-free at the required target distance. Non-parallax adjustable riflescopes are commonly set at 100 yards to be parallax error-free. Any other distance can cause a parallax error, this will show itself as a movement of the reticle on the target. Riflescopes with parallax adjustment allow the shooter to correct this error for any target distance. After the zero-in process, we recommend that the parallax adjustment is checked.
The riflescope has printed pre-set distance markings on the parallax adjuster, these are only a guide to get you started. Shooters should test and adjust the parallax settings by using a measured distance target to set the optical system to your personal eye condition. It is best to first bench rest your rifle, set the riflescope magnification to the maximum setting, then proceed to check the parallax markings, if required be prepared to re-mark the adjuster to your own personal settings.

Attaching the side wheel - Endurance 30 SF & Airmax 30 SF

  1. Remove the side focus nut using the key provided.
  2. Locate the side wheel and place into the grooves on the side focus shaft. The wheel is designed to fit one way only into the grooves. This ensures its position is correct in relation to the markings on the side focus shaft.
  3. When the side wheel is in place, replace the nut and tighten using the key. Over tightening the nut may cause side wheel operation to seize.

Attaching the side wheel - Sidewinder 30 SF

  1. Align the ‘teeth’ of the parallax control and the brightness control on the riflescope. Then slide the wheel completely past the brightness control and onto the parallax control.
  2. To read the scale on the side wheel we recommend using the ‘pointer’. To install, place the ‘pointer’ around the body tube, at your preferred position.

ILLUMINATION

The illumination rheostat is located on the side of the saddle or on the eyebell.

High brightness settings are recommended for daytime use when ambient light is bright, this will allow the reticle to be visible against dark backgrounds. At times of low light such a dawn or dusk, a lower brightness setting is recommended. The lower settings may not be visible during bright daylight. Reticles are black in the off position or if the battery is defective.
All Hawke illuminated scope models use a CR2032 coin style lithium battery. To insert a battery unscrew the battery compartment cap on the top of the rheostat adjustment turret and insert a new battery “+” side up.
Warning: Always hold onto the lower half of the rheostat when loosening or tightening the battery compartment cap to ensure no damage is done.

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