In this latest exclusive Hard Air Magazine Executive Interview, Kevin Sheehan, the Vice President of Hawke USA, talks to HAM Publisher Stephen Archer.
We got together recently at the 2026 Pyramyd Cup – in between Kevin talking to customers and shooting in the Field Target and Benchrest competitions!
Here’s how the discussion went…
Hard Air Magazine: Kevin, how long have you been employed by Hawke and what is your job title?
Kevin Sheehan: I have worked for Hawke for almost 10 years. In fact, October 1st will be my 10th anniversary. Wow, Steve, that makes me feel old! I am the Vice President of Hawke USA. Our owners and our global headquarters are in the United Kingdom. I am responsible for the U.S. business.
Hard Air Magazine: How long have you worked in the sport optics industry?
Kevin Sheehan: Hawke is the only optics company I’ve worked for. I was new to the category when I started back in 2016. Prior to Hawke, I worked in the golf equipment industry for 14 years and the paintball industry for 11 years. So, I have been in sporting goods since 1992.
Below. Kevin shows me the latest Hawke binoculars at the SHOT Show a couple of years ago.
Hard Air Magazine: Kevin, I know that you are an enthusiastic airgun Field Target shooter. How did you start-out in the sport?
Kevin Sheehan: Well Steve, as you will remember, I attended Pyramyd Air Cup in 2019. I didn’t compete. I only observed. I enjoyed that week but the entire time, I wished I was shooting rather than just working our vendor table!
That very next weekend, I took a couple of our company airguns to the range and started shooting. In the spring of 2020, I signed up for a Field Target match at the Columbus Airgun Club. I had no idea what I was doing…
Honestly, I only went there because I felt like I should try it, just so I could say I did. I didn’t think I would like it, but I loved it!
And, other than one missed year, I’ve shot in the Pyramyd Field Target event ever since. Those guys at the Columbus club were amazing. They were thrilled to have a newby that day and they were very welcoming and helped me with everything.
Below. Kevin is often to be seen shooting an Air Arms XS510 TDR air rifle in Field Target.
Hard Air Magazine: Which FT category do you complete in and why?
Kevin Sheehan: I have always shot PCP Hunter class.
But, this year, I tried Piston Hunter class, just for the experience. I really liked it. I didn’t do very well, but it was a lot of fun. There’s something really cool about a springer. Just the gun and some pellets. No air needed!
Hard Air Magazine: What do you find the most interesting part of Field Target competition?
Kevin Sheehan: It’s both a competitive event and a social event. It’s like playing a round of golf. Spending time with the others in your group and chatting with the other groups as you move along is a lot of fun.
Competitively, it’s fun because you can just compete against the course and not the other shooters. If you strive to beat your best score, it’s a lot of fun and very satisfying.
Below. Kevin also shoots benchest at the Pyramyd Cup using an FX Crown.
Hard Air Magazine: What do you think are the biggest challenges in Field Target?
Kevin Sheehan: Hitting the targets. Ha Ha!
Seriously, I think holding still and making a good trigger pull is the most challenging.
Ranging the correct distance is also very challenging, but I’ve learned if you choose a great scope with very good brightness in low light conditions, you can feel confident with your ranging.
Hard Air Magazine: What air rifles and pellets do you use for FT?
Kevin Sheehan: Well, in recent years, I’ve used an Air Arms TDR .177 with JSB pellets. This year, I used an Air Arms TX-200 with JSB pellets.
Hard Air Magazine: What Hawke scope do you use for FT and why?
Kevin Sheehan: Typically, I recommend the Sidewinder or Airmax Side-Focus for Field Target because they have great glass and parallax down to 10 Yards.
Some think I’m crazy, but I’m using a Frontier 34mm 5-30×56 (on 16x, of course) with a Mil Pro reticle. They think I’m crazy because it only parallaxes down to 15 Yards.
However, my good friend Jon Herman, an avid FT competitor, turned me on to this. Yes, I sacrifice clarity below 15 Yards, but the clarity and the brightness at longer distances, especially in low light conditions is incredible.
The scope actually focuses down to about 13-14 Yards. For distances between 10 and 15, although it’s not crystal clear, you can still get a good range with practice.
In fact, I use the same scope on my benchrest gun. That 30x magnification is more than enough power. It has incredible clarity and a reticle with many aimpoints making adjustments for windage and elevation easy and very precise. I like it for both disciplines!
Hard Air Magazine: Please describe your favorite feature of your FT riflescope.
Kevin Sheehan: The clarity and brightness for sure. Also, those many aimpoints are good for for extreme precision when holding over.
Hard Air Magazine: Is that your overall favorite Hawke riflescope, or just your FT favorite?
Kevin Sheehan: Steve, in addition to Field Target shooting, I have become a diehard deer hunter.
Our best scopes designed specifically for hunting are our Endurance riflescopes. The new models, introduced last year, are tremendously popular. Specifically, the 3-18×44 Mountain Hunter. It’s lightweight, extremely clear glass, push-button fiber-optic illumination, and the perfect reticle for me.
You might expect that my other favorites would be our top-end scopes like the Frontier or Sidewinder, but I’m always amazed that the quality for the price throughout our entire Vantage line of riflescopes.
Hard Air Magazine: Please tell us why you feel Hawke has the best sport optic products.
Kevin Sheehan: There are some very good optics brands in the market. We strive to offer great products at great prices. Hawke offers the best combination of quality, advanced features, and value.
We have 125 riflescopes in our catalog, between $100 and $1,200. Some are slightly more expensive than similar products from the competition. But if you look closely you’ll see that they are well worth the price, with better glass, or better features, or both.
Many of our products, especially in the Vantage line, are less expensive than similar products from the competition. They offer great quality and features at a great price.
And – of course – all of our optics have Hawke’s No-Fault Lifetime Warranty. We take great pride in our products and customer service.
Hard Air Magazine: What do you like most about the Pyramyd Cup?
Kevin Sheehan: Friendship, camaraderie and sportsmanship. I should stop right there…
That’s what I look forward to every year. Sure, I love to compete and do my best, but even when I don’t shoot very well, I always enjoy just being a part of it all!
Thanks to Kevin for taking the time to talk to us. It’s great to know that he became an enthusiastic airgunner as a result of attending the Pyramyd Cup!
The post Kevin Sheehan Hawke VP Shoots Airguns! appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
