I picked up one of these a few years ago in .177. Done some plinking and a little hunting with it and am pleased with the accuracy with the factory open sights. I've been kicking around the idea of making it my primary tool for rabbit and squirrel hunting. Problem is, at my age the open sights are getting harder and harder to use.

So, I'm curious what would be a good scope to put on it. I've never scoped an air rifle but have heard that they need special scopes because of the way they recoil. I'm not sure where the best source for mounts and scopes would be.

Also, what would the general advice for pellets to use? Is there any brand that would perform better than others in .177 for serious small game hunting? I've just used what I had available until now. Or would I be better off upgrading to a .22 caliber for hunting small game?

Hawke is generally considered to be the best maker of scopes that can handle the recoil of a springer. some leopold, bushnell will work but you must be sure about the specs of the model you are buying. Centerpoint also makes a large variety but not so good optically( although much cheaper. for hunting, use a heavier pellet in .177- at least 10 grains. otherwise accuracy sucks with the lighter weights.frankly i would sell it and get a .22 springer like the RWS 34/36, 350, 48. more power, better accuracy. AVOID THE GAMO RIFLES!!

Pirate--With a centerfire rifle for example, you can select the bullet you want to use. By varying the powder type and charge you can develop an accurate load. You can't do that with pellets, they are either accurate or not. So you have to experiment with pellets to find the one for your gun. I lucked out with my RWS 52 that Crosman Premiers were accurate. They happened to be what WalMart was carrying and were cheaper than most others. My 52 is also .177 and I do prefer the 5mm (.20 cal), but again accuracy is king and a well placed shot trumps all else.
With springers, you do get a double whammy recoil--sorta like popping a towel. This can and will wreck scopes not made for that. Leupold stands behind all their scopes---you break it--they take care of it. So they don't put out scopes that wont take it. That doesn't mean all Leupolds are suitable for air rifles. Most are set for 50 yards and anything closer will not be clear--thus air gun range is pretty much eliminated. A scope that is not clear is as useful as a tire that will not hold air. I have posted this so many times that I'm sure others get tired of it--I do---but here goes. Leupold makes some models that have EFR---Extended Focus Range which means they will focus down to 10 yards. They have an adjustable objective lens( the big lens up front). One model is their compact 3x-9x with EFR> This scope will set you back over $300. A few years ago you could buy a new one for $307. I watched them on EBAY and never saw one go for less that $275. Many were older and had been bought for less than $275. In my books that makes it a $32 scope if you can sell it for within $32 of what you paid. AVOID BUSHNELL SCOPES (I'll copy JDollars Gamo warning). There is another option that might work for you. That is a peep sight. Looking through a small opening does make us old geezers eyes focus. I have a peep on my Sheridan Blue Streak and it serves me well.
Mounts---By all means get adjustable mounts. I tried non adjustable and the way RWS is set up, I did not have enough adjustment in my scope. RWS base does not come off so shims were out. Shimming the rings --no good. I called Airgun Express which was the RWS warranty center at that time and the air tech told me to get adjustable mounts--I got RWS mounts and am pleased with them. 1-800-896-4867 or 1-641-623-3098 use to be good numbers--guess they still are.

Swift 685m 3-9x40 adj. objective, about $200.-
Designed for springers.
Have one on an RWS48-.22 and it has held up just fine.

I have a RWS model 45 I put a Bushnell 6x with BDC on about 6 years ago just to see what would happen. Several hundred rounds later, it still works fine. There are surley better scopes for springers, but the Bushnell works pretty good.

Look at Pyramid Air, Arizona Airguns and google search for "Airgun Scope".

The prices vary greatly.

Good mount, NOT just rings is best. Lots of clamping surface area as the springers really have an interesting "recoil" that likes to move things.

The UTG Scope Mount Base, Fits RWS Diana 38 compensates for barrel droop & stops the scope shift that takes place on these guns. Somewhere around $20