07/06/2026
๐๐ข๐ค๐ฆ๐ข๐๐ซ๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐ฑ ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ฌ ๐
๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐๐.
When it comes to installing and using day/night and thermal scopes over traditional glass optics, there is always the risk that the new scope recently purchased with hard earned cash does not meet expectations or something goes wrong with it.
โ๏ธโพ Thermal and day/night products contain sensitive electronics controlled by even more sensitive and complicated algorithms.
During their lifespan from out of the box to well used, things may and do go wrong with them. There is also the issue where they are not installed or set up properly by either the owner or the store they were purchased from.
Other problems that can impact performance are poor or mismatched scope rings and mounting rails, incorrect torque settings, ammunition, or the rifle itself.๐ฉ
Trying to find out which factor is impacting that new scope is and can be extremely frustrating, confusing and difficult for the owner of the product. This can be especially so when returning the product to a store where the store themselves may not have the technical expertise or experience to help fault find.
Recently, we were advised by a customer that had purchased a Hikmicro Alpex 4K from us in 2025 that his FX splattered groupings after the Alpex had been installed. Prior to this, it was reported that with a glass optic the FX was consistently shooting โhole in holeโ at 30 yards and beyond. Unfortunately, the customer removed the Alpex scope and put both 'in the cupboard' with disappointment and without contacting us for nearly 7 months. For anyone that is familiar with the FX range, if one splatters a grouping there is something immediately wrong. These air rifles are renowned for extreme accuracy and reliability.
๐๐จ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ? Our ethos is, โif it is broken, fix itโ. โIf it isnโt working properly, fix itโ. โIf there is an issue, fix itโ. โIf you arenโt happy with the product, call us so we can fix itโ. Ok, so that might be multiple ethos..
With a request to bring the FX and scope out for a field test we set about to organise a detailed fault finding mission - Alpex 4K vs FX.
๐ซ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐:
Set the Alpex 4K back on to the FX with all of the correct torque settings and a good set of scope rings, a full air tank and the standard projectile typically used by the customer. Perform a series of groupings, zero the rifle and then retest. Compare these results with another FX air rifle sporting a brand new Alpex Pro as our baseline that definitely shoots hole on hole. Switch the scopes over and perform all of the same tests again.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐:
- ๐๏ธ Speed of the projectiles from both air rifles
- ๐ฏAccuracy of the groupings before zero
- ๐ Zeroing, new profiles created, accuracy and holding zero of the saved profiles
- ๐จ Air pressure recordings before and at the end of each 10 round group
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐: ๐ ๏ธ๐
- Two FX air rifles. FX One that shoots hole in hole as a comparison, and FX Two that isnโt.
- Two Alpex day / night scopes. One that we know is working AOK and one that potentially isnโt.
- One chronograph, because without this we have no idea if the problem is the rifle, the scope, or the projectiles being used. Or that we all just canโt shoot straight and should go home.
- One digital torque screwdriver, because without this we could be over or under tensioning the scope rings and mountings. Ensuring this aspect is correct is vital to ensuring the scope tube is not being crushed which can cause aberrant scope function.
- One bipod and gun bag, a stable table rest and a comfortable seat because you know this is going to take some time.
- A safe (and legal) place to set up some targets at the required shooting distances plus a set of binoculars or spotting scope for those of us that cannot see more than 20 feet past their nose.
๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐ก๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ก๐ฎ, ๐๐๐:
- 5 people with a good deal of Aussie humour and banter not afraid to continually mock the field tester (me) that being left handed โhas to be the cause of splattered groupingsโ. Those 5 people should also have the requisite skills and personal attributes to sit in the hot seat and allow retribution from said left handed shooter and the โpeanut galleryโ observing such field testing.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐:๐
- FX One being our base line, shot consistently 1038 fps, maintained air pressures across all groups, held zero across profiles, and as expected shot hole in hole at 30 yards and 50 yards with the Alpex Pro as we had previously set it up to do.
- FX Two being the suspect rifle confirmed the customers reports when bearing the Alpex 4K. It splattered its projectiles at 30 and 50 yards, but shot a consistent 820 fps for 40 rounds. Zeroing held in each profile tested, though (point of impact) POI moved wildly from 5mm to over 25mm from POA (point of aim) on some shots despite consistent air pressure and projectile speed.
- FX Two then had the Alpex Pro installed and we completed the entire test again (torque settings, zeroing, new groupings, projectile speed, air pressures).
๐ฅ ๐จ๐ต๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ถ๐ด: FX Two with the Alpex Pro installed did exactly the same thing splattering POI over POA.
Next step, to confirm we placed the suspect Alpex 4K on FX One baseline rifle, repeated the entire process and ๐ฉ๐๐ต๐๐ถ ๐ฅ Hole in hole at both 30 and 50 yards.
๐ค๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐:
The Alpex 4K scope (in this case) was not the problem. Either the rifle itself or the projectiles being used are causing the issue.
Further discussion around time frames of Alpex 4K scope fitment by the customer revealed that the rifle just prior to being fitted with the scope had been returned to the manufacturer for a full service kit. It had not been tested or used with the original glass optic after having the service kit installed and before having the 4K fitted.
The good news is that the day/night scope is absolutely fine and potentially it could be as simple as trialling a new bunch of projectiles (pellets) to find a more compatible match.
Day / Night and thermal scopes and monoculars (no matter the brand) are electronic pieces of kit and it is critical they are installed and set up properly to ensure they function properly.
Being electronic, they can do sometimes straight out of the box from factory have faults, or can be a steadfast faultless performer for months or years when suddenly something goes wrong.
When they donโt work properly, it is imperative the owner of the product has somewhere or somebody to turn to that can help them fault find and sort the issue be it a factory warranty problem or another problem that has emerged. This is especially so for people that are not all that familiar with electronic equipment, pairing devices, ballistics calculators, firmware updating, and the range of other technical requirements.
Another factor that can contribute to issues can often be projectile and ammunition mismatch, and certainly once ballistic calculations start to be used.
What used to shoot well with a glass optic suddenly starts being a problem as the mini computer now sitting on top of the rifle is not giving the outputs that match the projectile. This is where classic ballistics and physics meets modern electronics head on and sometimes it just isnโt pretty.
๐ซฉ๐คฆ๐ผThankfully, we thoroughly enjoy our fault finding missions. Assisting our agribusiness customers obtain and continue to enjoy the right product that suits there needs for the entire life of those products comes with a lot of satisfaction. As does just helping people out with technical issues of their scope or monocular. Not only is it fun, we can chat for hours about it, but we are all constantly learning as this technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace. ๐
