S&C TV | Gary Chillingworth | How to mount and set-up a scope on an air rifle

In this episode of Shooting & Country TV, Gary Chillingworth explains and demonstrates how to set-up a scope on an air rifle. Covering everything in fine detail - from how to attach the mounts, to making sure the reticle is square, to setting your eye relief - Gary's comprehensive guide to scope mounting is ideal for anyone wanting to know how to attach a scope to an air rifle, but doesn't want to ask the lads down at the range!
The video also includes details on how to set the scope yup to shoot at different distances, and how to choose a zero.
Gary is running this new airgunning vlog - At the Range with Gary Chillingworth - every other week on Shooting & Country TV, so make sure to subscribe to the channel and keep and eye out for his videos if you love air rifle shooting. It will be a mixture of air rifle reviews, air rifle shooting technique advice, and tips for Gary's specialist subject - HFT.
If you want Gary to answer a specific question or cover a particular area of airgun shooting, just leave a comment below or contact Gary via details in the video. Enjoy!
Join a growing community of likeminded people, have fun, and request videos on subjects you want Gary to cover by joining his Life at the Range Facebook group here: / 212586927158986
CHAPTERS
0:00 Starts
0:18 Intro
1:43 Scope and Mounts
3:48 Which Mount high or low?
7:15 Attaching the mounts
9:45 Square up the mounts
11:35 Plumb line
13:35 Setting the scope in the mounts
17:12 Eye relief
19:12 Dial the scope in
9 -

[@jimbojet8728]

Superb vid Gary. I think I can get on fitting my first scope. Thank you

[@agoogleuserblootet5111]

Very helpful Gary for someone just getting back into Air Rifles after 30 years ! Many thanks. Just invested in an Air Arms TX 200 in .177.

[@FeathersMcGraw1]

Top rifle

[@garychillingworth]

Good man, you will love the Tx.

[@BionicRusty]

You won’t be disappointed, bud. I’m in a similar position and got back into air rifles a couple of years ago and bought a TX200 in .177 as well. I’ll never sell it. I’ve ended up shooting Air Arm Diabolo Fields and it likes them but have just tried a tin of QYS, 8.48 grains. Wow. It’s grouping better than the AA’s. If you get chance, give them a go. Enjoy

[@agoogleuserblootet5111]

Thank you Bionic. Yes, I will give the QYS a go. Si far, my TX seem to prefer H & N Field Target Trophies 8.64.

[@highgatehandyman6479]

@@BionicRusty my hw100 loves the qys in 9.2 grain. Aa diabolo do ok and Crosman too. But yeah agree that the Chinese pellets are very good ammo

[@kennethmidwinter982]

Brilliant video Gary. In my previous life I have used 9mm firearms however now retired I have just purchased a .177 air rifle and received my scope yesterday. Your video is gold dust for me. Brilliant Gary. Thank you. Kind regards Ken.

[@ShootingCountryTV]

Glad I could help Ken. Gary

[@geoff1237]

please cover some spring powered air rifle hunting! not many spring rifle hunting videos on youtube. great channel and i look forward to every episode!

[@garychillingworth]

Hi Geoff, we are going to be doing more Spring techniques, but I'm not a hunter I'm afraid.

[@leechatterton6150]

Real good honest content and easy to understand ......... Thanks

[@allthingsag938]

Great vid Garry. something for everyone there, even experienced shooters can learn something new or a different technique.

[@seemoore]

Looking forward to part 2 , as after years of shooting I'm still confused about scopes. Really enjoyed part 1 thanks Gary.

[@garychillingworth]

You and me both, have a look at our optics video and the one on rangefinding.

[@derricksalisbury7631]

Looking foward to part 2 of this

[@garychillingworth]

What I'm going to do, is Part 2 will be range settings and Elevated targets and how it affects the range settings.

[@springerlover113]

yes sir to the depth we need to know more about our guns , what they are capable of

[@ewanhobbs6297]

Great vid again Gary. I to use BKL 303's. I do use a set of single straps, i bought them for using the Connect 24L as they are one of the only mounts that you can use as normal (quite far from one another), i went with those as the Connectermount that comes with the 24L is too high & too far back for my liking. Single straps for normal use is also ok & no issues.

[@garychillingworth]

Cheers Ewan, good to know.

[@ianhunter55]

Good video again, looking forward to part 2 and how you perceive the targets when you approach the peg. I stand and use the Mk1 and as an ex-referee of rugby use head alignment and visually measure in 10 metre increments as a rough guide. Then see the kill zone size through my scope to clarify the range. Your input is always appreciated.

[@garychillingworth]

Pete Sparkes one of the top hft shooters used to be a pipe layer, and he was used to 10m sections. He did the same as you.

[@Happy-Me.]

Excellent video Gary. I love my HW98 but also have a HW95 which are siblings. Looking forward to aim points on the range. I tend to zero at 30 yards with 10 magnification for HFT.😎

[@emilyjoseph100]

Great stuff , much obliged

[@ShootingCountryTV]

Glad it helped - Chilly

[@FeathersMcGraw1]

Another great informative video Gary. Just to say I get my cheek central on the cheek piece and then move the scope to the correct eye relief. I'm really looking forward to you shooting a hft course and your thought processes involved in each shot. Shooting up or down and combating wind is the info I need to see. I'm sure the quote "Be excellent to one another" comes from Bill and Ted.

[@garychillingworth]

No defiantly Shakespeare ;-)

[@steveplows9996]

I echo other comments Gary, back in after a while, new pcp (2nd to follow) The walkthrough HFT course would be good with the thought process, trying to find a closeish HFT shoot so I can go along as a spectator to watch and learn in the mean time eating youtube vids like yours is helping. I know it's boring old hat to the experienced shooters (I apologise) but even at 63 I can be a 'newbie' looking for something different.

[@garychillingworth]

63 is the new 40. Where in the UK are you, I'm sure I can point you towards a good club.

[@steveplows9996]

@@garychillingworth South Yorkshire, spent the morning at Doncaster indoor range for first time,

[@jonathanpowell9180]

hi Gary,really great video,i need as much help as possible,recently got back into shooting im a member at a couple of ranges,i only taget shoot,ive got a new HW95 177 \Hawke 3\9x 50,which is all good ,using sportsmatch one piece dampa mount as ive had problems with the scope twisting in the rings under recoil,even though ive clamped down to the max hopefully this has cured it,the rifle is not tuned and to be honest i dont intend to get it done,really looking forward to your future videos on range settings.

[@eyygurke6081]

Excellent

[@ShootingCountryTV]

Thank you so much 😀

[@Happy-Me.]

When mounting a scope I put the bright light on in the bathroom and set my reticle in a darkened room facing the bathroom about 10 yards away so I focus for that and line the reticle up with the tiles so it's perfect!

[@ShootingCountryTV]

That's a great idea

[@highgatehandyman6479]

A scope will move point of impact 1/4 inch . 6mm at 100 yards. So 4 clicks will move the poi by 1 inch or 25mm at 25 yards. Zeroing a scope is a perplexing experience in windy conditions

[@blomkransen]

Great video! Please also compare range settings for both 177 and 22 caliber, thank you!

[@garychillingworth]

Will do.

[@Shorts-qy5no]

As an air rifle hunter that shoots up into trees on my permission elevated shooting would be good. I have seen on software such as chairgun how over 30 degrees really affects your aim points (shoots higher than horizontal) but for the life on me that does not happen to me and I just shoot the same as if horizontal. No idea why.

[@garychillingworth]

That vid is coming soon mate.

[@xringhammer1871]

Hello and thanks for the helpful content. Can you define the rule for prone position for HFT? New TX200 owner coming over from smallbore and High Power in the US.

[@garychillingworth]

In the UK, if you shoot prone, part of your body or the gun must touch the peg. The pistol grip can not touch the ground, but you can rest the very rear part of the rifle on the deck.

[@dannyscrimshaw78]

hi gary would like to see other yards like set at 35/40 then work out where to put target at different yards on mil dots just so i know i'm doing it right cheers just got the Air Arms HFT 500 cheers danny

[@MudMaxMetalDetecting]

Great video. I always thought that if you put the bubble on the rifle and then on the scope, you will have a straight level ret. Do you use the plumb line in case the ret has not been printed straight? ATB MMMD

[@garychillingworth]

I don't know how you could put the bubble on the scope as its curved. You can't use the Turret caps as they aren't always level. But I will research it.

[@MudMaxMetalDetecting]

@@garychillingworth Sorry should have said, bubble is in a baby spirit level so a flat base. ATB MMMD

[@markcabaniuk6980]

Hi Gary, what happened to your HFT on a budget videos?

[@simeonbriggs]

Thanks Gary very helpful, can I ask are all HFT measurements in yards not meters ?

[@ShootingCountryTV]

Hi Simeon, In HFT, we measure range in yards, kill zones in MM's, Bacon sandwiches by the yard and tea and coffee in fluid ounces, however, hot chocolate we use Demiards. It's a strange world :-) Gary

[@SoutheastShooter]

👍👍👍

[@yetiwheeler7972]

I do 10 yrd . Bang on at 10.. and 40.

[@Jordanhealy95]

Hi Gary I’m just wondering I’ve had springers for years my best was the hw80 is it worth getting a pcp or getting the hw95 ?

[@ShootingCountryTV]

I love the HW80, the 95 is very nice, what PCP are you thinking of? Chilly

[@Jordanhealy95]

@@ShootingCountryTV I was thinking of the Daystate huntsman safari but I’ve heard pcps are a lot of messing about and don’t know a lot about them

[@aditendrasingh1119]

Hey Gary I have a .177 4.5mm air rifle for which I have to get a scope and I have also seen the scope 'Bushnell 3-9X40EG', is it ok to get this scope as it does not have the option to check yards can you suggest Whether it will be right to take this or not or any other option.

[@ShootingCountryTV]

Hi Aditendra, the Bushnell are a well known brand and make some great budget scopes. Is you rifle a PCP or a Springer? - Gary

[@aditendrasingh1119]

@@ShootingCountryTV sir Spring rifle Indian 1983 model I have .22 spring air rifle too.. both are good in condition and powerfull and i want a scope for .22 too (yr. 1988).

[@50caliber29]

Great video; however some clarification on fitting BKL's (both one & two piece). When fitting the lowers remove the clamping screws to allow the Jaws to spread. You didn't mention this step. If you follow your instructions you are trying to spread the Jaws against the bolt tension of the two clamping bolts. The way to do it is : (1) remove the base bolts (2) insert one of the bolts in the spreader hole (3) tighten the bolt slightly & present to rail (4) if it doesn't fit repeat step 3 until it slides onto the rail. The key is patience & not overtightening the bolt to avoid over spreading & stressing the clamping Jaws. (5) when base slides onto dovetail insert the other bolt into the hole on the other side & tighten slightly so base clamps the rail & doesn't fall of (can happen) (6) fit remaining bolts & fine tune position. Do not overtighten the clamp bolts & ensure even torque One piece mounts have two spreading holes. Make sure you take the same slow approach to spreading the Jaws & apply torque to both spreader bolts evenly. I would always advise one piece mounts for springers & the good thing about BKL mounts is they auto centre the scope. BKL are superior to Sportsmatch. I use them on multiple Webley rifles without arrestor pins & they have never had scope shift under recoil.

[@ShootingCountryTV]

Cheers mate, great information - Chilly

[@dlh1947us]

👍👍👍👍👍😊

[@alanmullock381]

👍👍👍👍👍👍😎😎😎

[@Pony5950]

How come nobody mentions recoil stop pins when fitting scopes to a springer?

[@ShootingCountryTV]

Honestly, because I have never used one or needed one. Gary

[@ZiaKhan-qd9kw]

Thanks,I learned but very very late.

[@linusgallitzin]

One year in the future, I didn't get the lottery numbers. :)

[@jefftaylor35]

Did you do the Chairgun video?

[@paulsymons7643]

Can you use a bubble on the rifle and a bubble on the elevation turret. I haven't got a garden so I've set mine in my work room on the bench. Cheers fella, been binge watching. Great channel.👍