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Tech Force 6-24 target scope is a winner - A low-cost, high magnification Airgun scope that's worth a try

By Tom Gaylord

When we started The Airgun Letter back in 1994, there weren't a lot of scopes for Airguns-certainly not high-quality, high magnification scopes at affordable prices. For many years after the newsletter started, I touted the venerable Bushnell Trophy 6-18 power, because, in my experience, it was a classic at the price. Unless a shooter wanted to break the $300.00 price point, there were not a lot of alternatives.

That's all changed. Quality optics are streaming into this country from the Orient and most of them are made really well. This month, I'm reporting on a scope from Tech Force-the brand is owned and marketed by Compasseco. I have selected the 6-24 power target scope to test, because a decade ago I was among those whose noses were pressed against the window of stores selling scopes this powerful. Now, for a mere $105.00 anybody can have one!

This model has a 1" tube, which means just about any conventional mount can be used. I selected the Sportsmatch adjustable for this test to get a twofer (actually, I got a threefer, but the report on the report on the Webley Tomahawk break barrel will have to wait for a later issue), for my trouble.

Anytime you magnify something 24 times, the scope diameter will be critical for light transmission. And, as I reported in the Swift 8 to 32 test in the June 2001 issue. A 1" tube means the internal optics have to fit inside a smaller space than what is available in a 30 mm tube. This Tech Force scopes does show some darkening as the power advances past 14 but it doesn't grow progressively worse-it just seems to darken a little, then hold at that point. For the new air gunner it will probably seem very subtle, but a field target veteran will see it.

The objective lens diameter is 40mm, which is another point where light can be reduced. Still, this is not a dark scope! It is simply not as bright at higher power as some more expensive instruments. And a 40mm objective lens makes mounting much easier with conventional mounts.

I guess that makes this scope an ideal sporting scope that can also be used for hunting during normal daylight hours. The variability makes for a wide range of applications, and I tested it on a hard-kicking springer with no signs of impact shift. So you're probably safe mounting one on your magnum rifle. Just remember that nothing lasts forever and even Leupold scopes have been known to break at times.

The parallax ring adjusts down to a true 10 yard, and three-fourths of the ring diameter is given to distances between 10 and 50 yards-perfect for air gunning! It means you have a large adjustment distance for the smooth yet firm-turning ring, so rangefinding between 10 and 40 yards can be done with precision. I am finding that after 40 yards, almost all scopes have trouble making fine range determinations, and that's probably more a result of my eyes than any fault of the scopes, for I do wear bifocals!

One nice aspect about buying from the Orient and Eastern Europe is-they still live in the 1950's as far as design is concerned. Far from being bad, it means they still give the little fine touches that Western manufacturers abandoned decades ago as too costly. On this scope, it's threaded scope caps-just like the legendary Unertl target scopes from the past.

Before you can sight through the scope, you must unscrew a cap on the front and back. This may seem strange to many shooters and after years of using the convenient plastic covers with elastic bands, I did find it to be slower to get into operation. But the two caps fit easily in my pocket. Where I am confused is about to do what with those modern scope caps.

The adjustment knobs are covered with separate caps, a feature I like more all the time, since the scopes that have exposed knobs seem to get adjusted by accident or by curious "knobologists." The clicks are very crisp and pronounced from lock to lock so there shouldn't be any problems knowing how far you have gone.

The scope performed the box test very well-shooting five groups in a box pattern by adjusting the reticle. Group five should center on group one (providing that an equal number of clicks in all four directions brings the point of aim back to the same place) for the scope to get a good score.

Once the scope and mount were "vetted" in this way, I moved them to other air rifles of established accuracy to prove their fidelity. I had them on springers and pneumatics alike, with nary a problem from the hardest kickers.

You will notice in the first photo that this scope comes with a long detachable sunscreen tube. I used it on all the pneumatics but it was too long to clear any of the break barrels. A sunscreen keeps the sun from shining directly on the objective lens, which then washes out the image. It's sort of like the Scope Enhancer that's used on the eyepiece end, only it has no impact on how you position your eye-it just shades the objective lens. The day you discover what it's for, you won't leave home without it.

Scope adjustments are in the ?-minute clocks, which means the strike of the round should move ?" at 100 yards. We know that is just an approximation but it's convenient for conversation. At 10 yards, it takes 10 times the clicks to move the on the back of the package round the same distance. That's another reason you want to use an adjustable mount and mount a scope that's been optically centered-so you don't have to crank in hundreds of clocks to get the pellet on paper. Quarter-minute clicks make adjustments faster than 1/8-minute clicks, which is good at close airgun distances.

With all its power, this scope focuses down to less than 10 yards! Ours focuses clearly at about nine. That's at 24 power, so of course it is very clear at lower power, too. By "focus" what I really mean is the parallax adjustment. As you rotate the parallax ring, the image resolves until it is absolutely clear. That means that there should not be any scope-induced parallax at that particular range. Naturally, you must use the same spot weld (cheek position on the stock) every time for this to be true.

Finish on all the Tech Force scopes I have seen so far has been the same-flawless. On the test scope, it is a matte black that seems very scratch resistant, as there are no marks left from several mountings.

The big question is always how rugged a scope is. Will it stand up to a powerful springer? The last rifle I tested this on was a Webley Tomahawk, which has a sharp, quick-firing behavior. The scope rode out hundreds of shots without a complaint and was ready for the next assignment.

Final Impressions This is a great airgun scope for the price. Don't expect it to beat a scope costing three times as much. But, for a sporting gun, it is really hard to beat. The optics equals the best scopes from a decade ago. I only wish these had been around when I needed them!

Wrap Up

Tech Force 6 to 24 power target scope

Pro-Clear optics, focuses down to 10 yards, good repeatability on adjustments, sharp clicks throughout the range, tough attractive finish.

Con-Some darkening at higher powers.

Cost-$105.95, plus shipping.

Availability-Tech Force brands are sold by Compasseco and their dealers. Call them at 1-800-726-1696 Monday through Friday 9-5 EST, or visit their website at www.compasseco.com.

Copyright Airgun Letter August 2001 All rights Reserved

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