Niko Sterling panamax 3-9x40

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 Air rifle rated version.
 $240 at gun city.
 Inch scope tube
 Comes well packed in box, with it sitting on the little stand in pic and packed either end to stop movement. Has cleaning cloth and booklet.
 The turrets are capped but under the caps is marked. One click = 1/4 moa.
 The clicks are felt and audible. Finger turnable. Turret caps have a rubber seal between cap and body of scope.

 The zoom is smooth and easy to turn with a built in ridge on zoom dial.
 It goes the opposite way of other scopes ive had zoom on

 The retical is part mildot. The glass is clear and presents a picture.
 Note this not how it looks through the scope to the naked eye. The ph seems to blow the colour out and gives a way less clear image. This image is to show the retical set up. 

 Over all it feels solid and well built.
 Has a bit of wieght but not anything overboard and not as heavy as the hawk vantage.
 Over all first impression is good but the proof is on the pudding.
 Still trying to decide if need recoil damping scope mounts or just pit a set of sportmatch mounts and if it gets shaken to pieces then get it repair(joys of lifetime warranty) then put a damping mount on.
 So far so good but thought the same of redwin which just couldn't handel it and crapped out.
 So thats the unboxing and first impression get back with real testing resaukts in a couple of weeks i guess.

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kruzaroad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 03 Jul 2022 Location: Hastings 4 now Status: Offline Posts: 3054	Post Options Post Reply Quote kruzaroad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Niko Sterling panamax 3-9x40 Posted: 06 May 2026 at 1:57pm
	Air rifle rated version. $240 at gun city. Inch scope tube Comes well packed in box, with it sitting on the little stand in pic and packed either end to stop movement. Has cleaning cloth and booklet. The turrets are capped but under the caps is marked. One click = 1/4 moa. The clicks are felt and audible. Finger turnable. Turret caps have a rubber seal between cap and body of scope. The zoom is smooth and easy to turn with a built in ridge on zoom dial. It goes the opposite way of other scopes ive had zoom on The retical is part mildot. The glass is clear and presents a picture. Note this not how it looks through the scope to the naked eye. The ph seems to blow the colour out and gives a way less clear image. This image is to show the retical set up. Over all it feels solid and well built. Has a bit of wieght but not anything overboard and not as heavy as the hawk vantage. Over all first impression is good but the proof is on the pudding. Still trying to decide if need recoil damping scope mounts or just pit a set of sportmatch mounts and if it gets shaken to pieces then get it repair(joys of lifetime warranty) then put a damping mount on. So far so good but thought the same of redwin which just couldn't handel it and crapped out. So thats the unboxing and first impression get back with real testing resaukts in a couple of weeks i guess.

-Ec Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2025 Location: Matamau Status: Offline Posts: 226	Post Options Post Reply Quote -Ec Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 May 2026 at 2:24pm
	Interested to see how you get on with this scope as I'm thinking of getting a new scope for my Diana. Not a huge hurry as the CV Life is OK except no half Mildot marks in the reticule and not a fan of AO for hunting - I just leave it about halfway between the 25 & 50 yard marks. I have been looking a Victoptics - a sub-brand of Vector optics that focuses on "cost-effective products to meet the needs of more customers". They have a number of scopes specifically designed for "high-power spring break-barrel air rifles to survive the harsh, two-way recoil that destroys conventional scopes" However I'm interested to see how you get on with the Niko Sterling panamax. Similar cost when taking shipping in to account and buying from a NZ dealer HAS to be an advantage if there are any issues. Surprised to see the pheasants sill hanging around with the hunting season underway!
	Regards, -Ec

kruzaroad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 03 Jul 2022 Location: Hastings 4 now Status: Offline Posts: 3054	Post Options Post Reply Quote kruzaroad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 May 2026 at 5:47pm
	That sounds interesting ec. Ill check it out. I don't like the idea of a recoil reducing scope mount base. Just more to go wrong. Just a bloody good scope would suit me. Lol two pheasants. That a very quiet pic. Saving them up for farmers son to come out for shoot. Doesn't get hunting in as much since he became a police sargent. So let them hang around till he gets here and has the sort of shooting you dream about pheasant hunting. Im not aware of the game bird seasons thought it was duck season with all the shotties going off around the place.

kruzaroad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 03 Jul 2022 Location: Hastings 4 now Status: Offline Posts: 3054	Post Options Post Reply Quote kruzaroad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 May 2026 at 6:05pm
	Dam wish i knew of them a week ago. They have some pretty awsome scopes I would like to try. 1000 g's of testing pressure. reticles with useful markings. Good find ec. Almost hoping the niko sterling doesn't handel it so can get one. Hmm or get one and put the niko on a powder burner.

-Ec Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2025 Location: Matamau Status: Offline Posts: 226	Post Options Post Reply Quote -Ec Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 May 2026 at 6:12pm
	Not sure of the exact dates now as it's been years since I did any game bird scaring, but back then both duck and "upland game" shooting started on the first Saturday in May. Duck shooting ended on Queens birthday weekend with pheasant and quail hunting lasting 6-8 weeks after duck shooting ended. I believe duck shooting season is longer now but not sure how much longer. My Gamo came with a "recoil reducing rail" which I still have but I'm not using at present as it mounts the scope too far forward for the scope I have on the gun. The son-in-laws 177 Gamo has one as well. Here is a quick video showing how it works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXh2rCTDdZ4 and this one shows the issue I have with my scope on my Gamo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkZX_7K6Yt8
	Regards, -Ec

kruzaroad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 03 Jul 2022 Location: Hastings 4 now Status: Offline Posts: 3054	Post Options Post Reply Quote kruzaroad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 May 2026 at 6:52pm
	Yeah i dont think much of gamo recoil mount. Had one before. That video makes me just as sceptical. Tells you nothing really. How does it reduce recoil forward, how do two separate but still clamped pieces stop shock when they don't move. You can't tell me those two little bits absorb shock 100% like gamo claim. Could be wrong nut i dont believe it. Rather something like diana bullseye recoil reducing mount. Seems more realistic. But that looks.problematic too. Those scopes are the one. Made to handel it, no need for fancy party tricks. Going to run it on strait med sportmatch mounts. Got a put onto them one.of shooters on here. After trying a few other types i pretty much stick to them. They are the bees knees.

-Ec Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2025 Location: Matamau Status: Offline Posts: 226	Post Options Post Reply Quote -Ec Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Jun 2026 at 2:37pm
	Hey kruza, how are you finding the Niko scope?
	Regards, -Ec

kruzaroad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 03 Jul 2022 Location: Hastings 4 now Status: Offline Posts: 3054	Post Options Post Reply Quote kruzaroad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Jun 2026 at 2:45pm
	Will let you know when rain stops. Its been fine and I'm happy with it but.... Few days back accuracy dropped off on rifle, when target shooting. Decided could be one of three things. Two ive fixed but weather stopped me testing scope at moment. Its air rifle rated, not sure its magnium air rifle rated. So yep happy with scope but not sure if it can deal with diana. Will update thread when have it back on and tested.

-Ec Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2025 Location: Matamau Status: Offline Posts: 226	Post Options Post Reply Quote -Ec Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Jun 2026 at 3:48pm
	I'm soooo over all this rain. I've replaced the stealth rings I had on my Diana with sports match rings and really want to test it out. Also want to test my Super Meteor. it came with a basic Chinese 4x32 scope with a 30/30 ret and some budget rings. I've now set it up with the stealth rings and I'm keen to see how accurate it is. I did mount my CVLIFE FoxSpook 3-9x40 which also has a 30/30 ret but it just looked too big for for this rifle (see picture below). If the BSA is accurate I'll look at getting a more suitable scope for it as it should be a decent bird gun out to around 40-50m plus a good plinking gun. Current favourite as a replacement is this one ... https://discoveryopt.com/collections/hunting-scopes/products/ms-6x32
	Regards, -Ec

kruzaroad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 03 Jul 2022 Location: Hastings 4 now Status: Offline Posts: 3054	Post Options Post Reply Quote kruzaroad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Jun 2026 at 4:39pm
	Checked the breech block for sideways movement? I imagine going off mine from years ago it will be accurate. That was back in days of no pellets to choose from. Good magnification level. Objective lens size might make picking a starling out amongst the tree interior a bit more difficult as last light fads. But looks like a good choice for gun. Plenty of birds up here if you want to tackle, myna, starlings and sparrows mid next month for a few hours during the day. I haven't used the 1322 for bird hunting since I got the diana. So they are a bit less wary. Gave the hatsan pistol away so they haven't even been shot at with that. Edited by kruzaroad - 28 Jun 2026 at 4:40pm

-Ec Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2025 Location: Matamau Status: Offline Posts: 226	Post Options Post Reply Quote -Ec Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Jun 2026 at 4:55pm
	There is no sideways movement in the breach, however there is a little up and down movement. Looks like if I pop a pin out and turn it around it may sort this. Hopefully will be able to test it in the next day or so. A mate had a Meteor back in the early 70's and this was a very accurate gun - though I struggled to hit anything with it! Plenty of starlings, magpies and turkeys around here though the Diana is more suited to the magpies and turkeys!Would be keen on a visit next month if that is possible. Still have to arrange another visit to Myson's once I have both both the Diana and BSA zeroed in. Below is a picture of one of the flocks of turkeys in the area - there is another flock of similar size plus two more of around 6 birds.
	Regards, -Ec

kruzaroad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 03 Jul 2022 Location: Hastings 4 now Status: Offline Posts: 3054	Post Options Post Reply Quote kruzaroad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Jun 2026 at 6:03pm
	Yeah thats fine. Be looking after farm for couple of days so will send you the dates later. If you want to rabbit shoot bring the diana up as well. They start showing up around 3pm to 3.30pm. i can show you where earlier in the day and you can head up by yourself and set up. Same with hares. They are a bit too wary to have two ppl up there. Set you up with thermal range finder. Makes them easier to pick up along the blackberry edge. One spot should give you from 12m to 80m plus depending on whats around. I'll leave that side till then and attack the other side of farm, to increase chances if you want to do that. Only a couple of hundred meters walk. So easy walking. But whole farm there for hares. Pigeons not sure about. Owner is about to stop feeding them (about time) so they will probly spread back out. But they are fair game too. Think might have sorted accuracy issue on scope. It had gone from 0.1° out to 1.3° out in rings. But i had taken it off the gun to work on it. But is back on and back to 0.1° out again. Hope that has cured it. Don't want to send it back. Don't want to buy a new one. Will be a vicoptics if i do. Edited by kruzaroad - 28 Jun 2026 at 6:06pm

-Ec Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2025 Location: Matamau Status: Offline Posts: 226	Post Options Post Reply Quote -Ec Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 hours 45 minutes ago at 11:15pm
	I did get some time today between rain showers to test my Meteor - so far I'm happy with it. Found the 4x32 scope not really up to the task while doing the initial zeroing at 20m so won't be much use out to 30m which is about as far as I"m willing want to use this low powered gun for hunting. For now I've put the CV Life scope back on it and hopefully will get a chance for much more detailed testing tomorrow. Initial testing has been with Webley Acupell 7.90s but I did grab a tin of JSB 8.44s, a tin of H&N FTT 8.64s and a tin of Stoeger x-Hunt 8.64s - hopefully the gun will like one of these pellets. I really don't like the look of the CV Life scope on this gun - it just looks too big for it, so I've just bought one of these for it https://www.victoptics.com/product/2-7x32-rifle-scope-vioc-02/ Should be here within the next 10 days or so ... This is similar in size to the 4x32 I got with it so should look better and 7x max mag should be fine. I usually use 6x on all my 3-9 CV Life scopes. Soon a my new scope arrives I'll be selling the CV Life and 4x32 scopes. If I like the Victoptics scope, I think I'll end up replacing the CV Life scopes on my other two rifles with Victoptics scopes as I like the look of the reticle on these scopes. The scope on my Diana has AO but I've found the front focus a pain for hunting. Also it has a mil dot reticle and I think I'll like half mil dot better. The Scope on the Hatsan it the first new scope I bought and has a BDC reticle which is OK but a half mil dot will be better. May look at an AO scope with side Focus for this gun as this is more of a target than a hunting gun. While it does have plenty of power and is accurate, at around 10 pounds it is too heavy to carry for too long and also very hard to shoot unsupported.
	Regards, -Ec

kruzaroad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 03 Jul 2022 Location: Hastings 4 now Status: Offline Posts: 3054	Post Options Post Reply Quote kruzaroad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 hours 4 minutes ago at 6:56am
	Look up break away nylon coasters. Might be a solution for making your your front ao adjuster more usable. The retical on the vicoptics scope looks much more usable than just dot markings. Ive found that the line between dots (or short line, long line in you case) makes it distinct for dot hold over placement. Finer adjustment for zeroing and dialing too. Looks over practically seems like a bad way to chose a scope to me. But then if its a plinking rifle, no reason not too use that metric i guess. Personally I'll avoid a unsupported shot in the field as much as possible. Between sitting, kneeling or resting on or against something, there is very little reason to except running shots. Which is 0 from 6 so far. 😁

kruzaroad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 03 Jul 2022 Location: Hastings 4 now Status: Offline Posts: 3054	Post Options Post Reply Quote kruzaroad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 7 hours 40 minutes ago at 11:20am
	Yep scope fine. Ran a dozen shots through gun and grouping just fine. Hand held rested, on the bulls. Off bag not held all low and left. Once the ground dries out, back into it. Its totally sodden at moment but if get a day of fine weather should be at that perfect state of not squishy and wet and not dry enough to make everything crunch underfoot.