Hawke Sport Optics 12221 XB1 Crossbow Scope Review

As a crossbow hunter who hits the hunting grounds regularly, I’m always on the lookout for optics that can improve my hunting experience. I’m someone who values superb glass quality, a good reticle, and a decent overall performance on a crossbow scope. And that’s how the Hawke Sport Optics 12221 XB1 crossbow scope caught my attention. In this Hawke Sport Optics 12221 XB1 crossbow scope review, I’ll share my first-hand experience with this scope. 

Hawke Sport Optics 12221

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A dedicated crossbow scope with 1.5-5x magnification and a reticle system from 10-100 yards based on speeds from 250-425fps.

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Specifications and Background of Hawke Sport Optics 12221 XB1 Crossbow Scope

Hawke Sport Optics is a UK-based family-owned business that grew into a global leader in sport optics. They specialize in high-quality and affordable optics like rifle scopes, binoculars, and spotting scopes for hunting, target shooting, and bird watching. I’ve tried out Hawke Sport Optics 12221 XB1 and a few other crossbow scopes from them, and I really appreciate the fact that they haven’t let me down with their product quality.

Before diving into my experience, let’s check out the specifications of the Hawke Sport Optics 12221 XB1 crossbow scope.

The Hawke Sport Optics 12221 XB1 crossbow scope is a variable-powered scope with a magnification range of 1-1.5x to 5x by 32. This scope has illuminated center aiming points and an illuminated reticle for improved visibility for various lighting conditions. It also includes a capped low-profile turret for windage and elevation adjustments.

The Hawke XB1 has a field of view of 75 – 22.5ft at 100 yards. The scope is nitrogen-purged, making it shockproof, waterproof, and fog proof. This crossbow scope weighs about 13oz and measures 8.3 inches in length. A CR2032 battery powers the scope.

Having covered the specifications of the Hawke Sport Optics 12221 XB1 crossbow scope, let’s now move on to the review of it.

Hawke Sport Optics 12221 Features

1 Speed Adjustment

Adjusting the magnification ring to your bows speed will correct the reticle

2 1 Inch scope tube

The 1 inch scope tube means finding rings will be easy.

3 Capped Turrets

Capped windage and elevation turrets for zeroing the scope.

4 Reticle

Reticle shows drops based on bolt speed out to 100 yds.

Review of the Hawke Sport Optics 12221

So, I had the chance to take out the Hawke XB1 out on a few hunts, and I’ve got a lot to share about this scope. Something that caught my attention real quick is the ergonomics of it. I loved the capped low-profile turrets. It was sleek and didn’t snag in any of my clothes when I was out in the field. The fast focus eyebell helped make quick adjustments to the focus of the scope, which helped me spot fast moving targets. The 11-layer coated lens on this scope gave me excellent clarity. It consistently gave me bright and sharp images.

When setting up the Hawke Sport Optics 12221 XB1 on my crossbow, the initial step of zeroing was surprisingly easy. The scope zeroed in consistently even after taking multiple shots. However, I did face a small issue with the covers that protect the scope. They broke occasionally. But I just upgraded them to Hawke’s enhanced covers and it fixed the issue.

I’d confidently say that the illuminated reticle is the key feature of Hawke 12221 XB1. This scope gave me illumination in both red and green colors, which allowed me to choose either one of the colors that best suited my hunting environment.

The 5 level brightness adjustment on the Hawke 12221 XB1 was handy for spotting targets in different environments. The 1.5-10x magnification helped with accuracy in most of my hunts. However, it didn’t perform well in low-light situations.

One thing I noticed with the Hawke Sport Optics 12221 XB1 crossbow scope is that it shot low every time when the see-through lens cover was down, but it’s something that I can work with. While the Hawke Sport Optics 12221 XB1 is not steeply priced, I think really stands out. Considering what you get for the price, it’s worth the investment. That said, if you are on a budget, I’d recommend a Vortex Crossfire II instead.

Hawke Sport Optics 12221 Pros and Cons 

Report Card
Reliability	With no electronics to fail, this scope had great reliability.	A
Glass	High quality glass.	A+
Reticle	The reticle is clear and easy to read and easy to adjust based on bolt speed.	A
Ergonomics	Works just like a rifle scope.	B-
Value	This scope offers a decent value.	B-

Hawke Sport Optics 12221

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Our Grade

A-

Reviewed by Dave Chesson

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Final Thoughts on Hawke Sport Optics 12221

In conclusion, the Hawke Sport Optics 12221 XB1 has earned its place as the premium optic in my best crossbow scopes article. It is accurate, tough, and comes with cool features that really help when you’re out in the field. Whether it’s setting it up easily or taking shots confidently from different distances, this scope has gone above and beyond what I expected. 

If you’re someone who is looking for a crossbow scope that gives you a clear view, works well, and has a cool illuminated reticle and doesn’t mind the price, then the Hawke Sport Optics 12221 XB1 is a great pick.

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Important Links

• 12221 XB1 Crossbow Scope by Hawke Sport Optics