A decent and high-quality scope makes hunting fun and memorable. The best side focus air rifle scopes are specially made for hunters or shooters who have an eye for the best available scopes. These scopes have an adjusting parallax within reach behind the scope, and also have unique features that are loved by devoted hunters.
The scopes are manufactured using aircraft-grade aluminum which makes them durable. The nitrogen-filled O- rings make them waterproof and hence convenient for use in all weather and terrain. The fully multi-coated lenses are anti-reflective and provide clear views of the target.
Best side focus Air Rifle Scopes
Below is a review of some of the best side focus air rifle scopes;
1) Vortex Optics Diamondback 6-24×50 Tactical FFP Riflescope
Adapted for accuracy and its value, the Vortex Optics Diamondback 6-24×50 Tactical FFP Riflescope delivers excellent performance. It is designed with a first focal plane, and a glass-etched reticle that keeps the subs tensions accurate.
The lenses are fully multi-coated and have extra-low dispersion glass. This enlarges the view to give a right-sight picture. The precision-glide erector system makes it easy for magnification changes even in the harshest conditions. The scope helps shooters make long distant shooting with the help of the exposed tactical turrets and a side parallax knob.
Key Features
- Fast focus eyepiece
- 30mm tube; shockproof, waterproof, and fog proof
- 6-24x magnification
- 50mm objective lens
- 9 inches eye relief
- Dimensions: 9.1 x 9.1 x 9.1 inches
- Weight:2.5 pounds
- ¼ MOA per click impact point correction
2) UTG 4-16X56 30mm Scope, AO
The UTG 4-16X56 30mm Scope, AO, 36-color Glass Mil-dot, w/ Rings Scope has a 30mm tube that is designed with an Emerald Lens Coating that transmits maximum light to give the best clarity. It has an innovative EZ-TAP Illumination Enhancing (IE) System which has red and green in dual-color mode and 36 colors in multi-color mode. This means that the scope can be used in all weather or light.
The scope has zero resettable target turrets that are zero lockable. They give a precise 1/8 MOA per click Adjustment. It has a 1-click illumination memory feature that allows the shooter to reset back to the previous color/brightness used. It also has a built-in 6 o’clock position bubble leveler within the viewfinder. Its purpose is to minimize long-range firing solution errors.
Key features
- EZ-TAP illumination enhancing technology
- Parallax adjustment of 10yds to infinity
- Zero lock/reset targets turrets
- A built-in color memory system
- Has an integral sunshade, max strength twist-lock high profile Picatinny/ weaver rings
- High-quality flip-open lens caps
- Fog proof, shockproof and waterproof
- Dimensions: 16 x 2.55 x 2.55 inches
- Weight: 1 pound
- Magnification: 4-16x
- Objective lens diameter: 56mm
3) Mueller Tactical 8-32×44 Side Focus Mil-Dot Reticle Scope
The Mueller Tactical 8-32×44 Side Focus Mil-Dot Reticle Scope has an eye relief that will help you spot your target with ease. For accurate range finding, the scope has a side focus parallax adjustment and exposed target turrets.
It has a 1/8 MOA fully exposed windage and elevation adjustments. This scope is excellent for hunting varmints.
Key features
- Mil-dot reticle
- The fast-focus eyepiece
- Objective lens diameter of 44mm
- Shockproof, fog proof, and waterproof
- Dimensions: 16.25 x 2 x 2 inches
- Weight: 2 pounds
- Eye relief of 4 inches
- 30mm mounting tube
4) Athlon Optics Talos 4-16×40 SFP Riflescope
The Athlon Optics Talos 4-16×40 SFP Riflescope is durable and has a reticle etched on the glass to make it shock-resistant to recoil. It has a fully-coated lens that reduces reflected light and increases light transmission for a brighter image.
It has a one-piece tube that is heat-treated to give it extra strength over other multi-piece tubes. The interior of the tube is made from aircraft-grade aluminum for durability and is nitrogen purged to keep out moisture for clear images.
Key features
- Has a Mil-Dot reticle
- Second focal plane reticle
- Parallax adjustment 15yds to infinity
- Heat-treated, aircraft-grade aluminum single tube
- Waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof
- Scope dimensions: 16.2 x 3.9 x 3 inches
- Weight: 1.04 pounds
- 40mm objective lens
- 4x magnification range
- Fully multi-coated optics
5) Vortex Optics Crossfire II 6-18×44 AO, SFP Riflescope
The 6- 18 x 44 Adjustable Objective Crossfire II riflescope has a Dead-hold BDC reticle that makes it efficient for shooting tactical or hunting at various ranges where estimating holdover is a concern. Equipped with a customized hashmark design, it eliminates guesswork on holdover and windage corrections.
Its rugged construction, a fully multi-coated lens, a long eye relief, re-adjustable MOA turrets, and an eyepiece that is fast focus make it stand out among other rifle scopes.
The tube is nitrogen purged and made from high-quality aluminum that makes it waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof. The Second Focal Plane reticles, found near the scope’s eyepiece behind the image erecting and magnifying lenses, maintain the same appearance. The no-reflective lenses provide image focus and get rid of parallax while shooting.
Key features
- Has a dead-hold BDC reticle
- Ultra-forgiving eye box and long eye relief
- Fast focus eyepiece
- Capped reset turrets that are finger adjustable with each MOA click
- Fog proof, waterproof and shockproof
- Dimensions: 9.1 x 9.1 x 9.1 inches
- Weight: 2.2 pounds
- Maximum magnification of 18.00
- Minimum magnification of 6.00
- Objective lens diameter of 40mm
6) Hammers 4-16×50 Side Focus 1st FFP Long Range Target Shooting Rifle Scope
The Hammers 4-16×50 Side Focus First Focal Plane FFP Rifle Scope is specially designed with a strong glass etched reticle and a target turret. The target turret knobs are externally lockable. When the magnification power goes up, the reticle lines get heavier and when the power goes down, the reticle lines become lighter.
The scope allows you to focus on the target without the need to move your eye since the side focus wheel is mounted to the side of the turret. The multi-coated lens is high-end and they have black flip-open lens covers. On top of including heavy-duty tactical scope rings, the scope has a three-year factory warranty.
Key features
- Range finding reticle
- Multi-coated lens
- Black flip-open lens covers
- Dimensions: 14 x 3 x 3 inches
- Weight: 2 pounds
- Magnification maximum of 16x
- Minimum magnification of 4x
- Objective Diameter of 50mm
- Field of view at 100 yards: 24.6’-6.3’
- Parallax setting of 12yds to inf
- Click value at 100yds: 1/4”
- Eye relief of 4 inches
- Exit pupil: 12.5mm- 3.1mm
7) Mueller Target Rifle Scope, Black, 8-32 x 44mm
With the Mueller Target Rifle Scope, the chances of missing a target are almost zero. The fully multi-coated optics enhance clarity has a fast-focus eye that gives better clarity from a long distance than other scopes. Its price is impressively lower than other high-end scopes.
The scope has a 30mm tube, side focus parallax adjustment, and a micro-fine cross-hair with a target dot. The target turrets are fully exposed to allow you to change elevation and windage without difficulty even with a moving target.
Key features
- Fast focus eyepiece
- Windage/elevation adjustment range: 40 inches @ 100yds; overall
- Dimensions: 16.25 x 2 x 2 inches
- Weight: 1.63 pounds
- Magnification maximum of 32x
- Objective lens: 44mm
- Eye relief: 4
8) Vortex Optics Crossfire II AO, SFP, 30mm Tube Riflescope
The Vortex Optics Crossfire II AO, SFP, 30mm Tube Riflescope has an SFP V-Brite reticle with a v-plax format. It illuminates the center dot (has battery-powered electronics) during low light conditions/weather. The scope also has a long eye relief and an ultra-forgiving eye box that helps a shooter acquire a target quickly. The fully multi-colored lens is non-reflective and gives a clear picture of the target.
The finger adjustable capped reset turrets with MOA clicks, can be reset to zero after sighting in. made from high-grade aircraft aluminum material, the scope is durable in harsh weather conditions and is shockproof.
Key features
- Resettable MOA turrets
- Waterproof, shockproof, and fog proof
- Has a fast-focus eyepiece and fully multi-colored lenses
- V-Brite reticles; uses V-Plex format to illuminate the center dot
- Dimensions: 14.5 x 2 x 1.73 inches
- Weight: 1.1 pounds
- Magnification: 1-4X
- Objective lens diameter: 24mm
9) Simmons 8-Point 3-9x50mm Rifle Scope with Truplex Reticle
The pocket-friendly Simmons 8-Point 3-9x50mm Rifle Scope with Truplex Reticle has high-quality features compared to other scopes in its class. It has fully coated optics that provide bright high-quality pictures. The windage and elevation adjustments have a ¼ MOA with each click.
The windage and elevation adjustment system stays locked to zero even in tough conditions. The QTA eyepiece makes the shooter acquire the target with ease. The 3.75-inch eye relief has an exit pupil of 16.6- 5.6mm and a 60inch adjustment range at 100yds.
Key features
- True zero fingertip windage and elevation adjustment system
- Triplex reticle
- Shockproof, waterproof, and fog proof
- Quick target acquisition eyepiece
- Dimensions: 14 x 3 x 3 inches
- Weight: 10.08 ounces
- Magnification: 3-9X
- Objective lens diameter: 50mm
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Side Focus Air Rifle Scopes
Focal plane
Riflescopes are either manufactured with First Focal Plane (FFP) or Second Focal Plane (SFP). Those with FFP have the reticle located at the front of the tube towards the objective lens. These are new to the market and are mostly used for long-range shooting because the holdover values remain constant with scope power making shooting at a long distance more precise. The SFP is the most common. The reticle is found near the ocular lens at the back of the tube. In SFP, the reticle appears to be of similar size across all powers.
Turrets
There are two types of turrets; exposed turrets and capped turrets. While capped turrets are only adjusted once when zeroing in on the target, the exposed turrets allow the shooter to manually adjust while in action. The exposed turrets are the most preferred ones as they allow the shooter to correct for elevation or wind drift in case the target moves.
If you are hunting animals that are always on the move or in unpredictable weather (where the wind can fluctuate), exposed turrets are preferred. Hunting in predictable climatic conditions makes the capped turrets efficient. This is because there will be no need to change your zero, and you are more likely to deliver a perfect shot.
Adjustable parallax
Parallax happens when the target and reticle are not on the same plane. This makes the target look out of focus and it mainly occurs while focusing on higher magnification. If parallax is not corrected, you might miss the shot since it reduces the accuracy. It is therefore essential to choose a scope that has an adjustable parallax. Fixing the reticle crosshairs on the target helps ensure accuracy and also helps the shooter aim better.
Magnification
Depending on the shooter’s preference and application, the power of a rifle scope can be fixed or variable. Most shooters prefer a scope with a side focus that features variable power. This is because they are more adjustable when in action.
Best Side Focus Air Rifle Scopes FAQs
- What is parallax adjustment?
It happens when the reticle and the target are not in the same plane. This can make a shooter miss the target as it looks out of focus. Long-range shooting rifle scopes have a parallax adjustment setting as they are prone to getting parallax adjustment. The setting can be a knob on the scope’s side or an adjustable ring found on the objective lens.
- What does the side focus on a scope do?
It gives the scope the best accuracy when shooting a target from a distance. Its main aim is to correct the parallax error
- What does AO stand for on a scope?
AO stands for Adjustable Objective. It helps a shooter to focus on a target. A scope that has AO written on it means it has parallax adjustment.
Final Thoughts
The additional adjustable parallax on the side focus air rifle makes it one of the best scopes to make your hunting experience excellent. These scopes are perfect for shooters looking for versatile and high-performing scopes.
With the information above, we hope they will lessen the struggle of looking for a perfect side-focus air rifle scope.