You all know that I’m a bowhunter, but I’m not one that looks down on folks for using other weapons, even a crossbow. In fact they are a lot of fun to shoot. I still prefer a compound bow in the woods but really enjoy shooting my Dad’s crossbow with him. So when Dad decided he wanted a new scope over the stock 1X red dot scope that came with it we turned to Hawke Optics. I’ve been impressed with my their products and have had the chance to handle most all of their products at various trade shows. I’ve always been impressed with their products and the XB30 is no different.
I’ll start with the draw backs. First off crossbows aren’t light for the most part and neither is this scope. It’s a tad heavier than I expected but by no means does it make your crossbow impossible to shoot without a rail or sticks. Also the weight comes as a side effect of the features and glass in this scope. That’s it for draw backs and the weight is really worth it for the features.
The XB30 is 1.25-4×24 and sighting it in is pretty much a snap. There is an adjustment to set the scope to the speed of your bow. Once you’ve done that you sight it in at 20 yards and you are pretty much done. Each line on the crosshairs represents another 10 yards based on your speed selection. If you don’t have a chronograph to know your crossbows exact speed you can set it to the factory setting then fine tune as you back up the yardage with slight adjustments. The scope also has a lit reticle that makes it great for low light situations. There are various brightness and color settings to allow you to adjust to your exact preferences. Lastly, it’s just crystal clear. The sight picture is super clear and target acquisition is not challenging at all. If you are a serious crossbow hunter or shooter this is a must have scope.
Having had the opportunity to shoot quit a few crossbows with an array of scopes at various events and trade shows, the Hawke Optics XB30 is by far the best scope for a crossbow. The draw back of weight is nothing compared to the clarity,ease of use and features. At around $250 it’s fairly price for the features, durability and warranty.