Rifle Scopes FS SWFA SS 5-20x vs. VIPER PST 6-24X50???
- Thread starter pcweidman
- Start date
Re: FS SWFA SS 5-20x vs. VIPER PST 6-24X50???
I've had both.
The SWFA has the edge on glass clarity and durability-- I've killed 2 6-24 FFP PSTs just from recoil on a braked .338 winmag hunting rifle. Debris inside the scope happened first and then the POI wouldn't hold as the reticles came loose. They've been perfect after being cleaned and repaired (quickly!) by Vortex here in the USA.
The PST has a more "conventional" reticle that appeals to me a little more than the SWFA mil-quad although the SWFA does give you some interesting options for shooting small targets as you can dial one mil up or down and use the little dot in the middle of the diamonds. Ranging/holdovers on either reticle is fine but there's a little more memorization required for the SWFA. It's more an issue with spending enough time to know it rather than a limitation. The turret markings are more widely spaced and easier to read on the PST; if you do a search on the SWFA the majority of the bitching stems from the knob to turret interface having 60 splines where the actual erector mechanism has 100 clicks/marks per rev. What this means is that depending on where your zero ends up the turret might index in between hash marks.
If illumination matters to you the PST is full illumination where the SWFA is only an illuminated center dot; the PST does the better job here.
If you pick up both scopes the additional heft of the SWFA is the first thing you notice; the PST feels like a toy in comparison because it's so much lighter.
Both the SWFA and post-repair PSTs have tracked well.
My suggestion would be to snag a new or very lightly used 5-20HD off the classifieds here and save a few bucks over new. However, the PST is still a very good option and will save you a few bucks over a used SWFA.
While you didn't ask, in my experience a better comparison to the SWFA from the Vortex line is the 5-20 Razor HD. Given the choice between a PST and the SWFA I'll choose the SWFA every time without hesitation but ask me to choose between the Razor HD and the SWFA and the choice is much more difficult. Having spent a lot of time behind my 5-20 and a friends Razor HD, money no object I'd give the edge to the Razor but if you factor in the "special" prices available on the SWFA in the past and what you can snag lightly used ones for the SWFA wins the price/performance contest and really doesn't give up much IMO.
I've had both.
The SWFA has the edge on glass clarity and durability-- I've killed 2 6-24 FFP PSTs just from recoil on a braked .338 winmag hunting rifle. Debris inside the scope happened first and then the POI wouldn't hold as the reticles came loose. They've been perfect after being cleaned and repaired (quickly!) by Vortex here in the USA.
The PST has a more "conventional" reticle that appeals to me a little more than the SWFA mil-quad although the SWFA does give you some interesting options for shooting small targets as you can dial one mil up or down and use the little dot in the middle of the diamonds. Ranging/holdovers on either reticle is fine but there's a little more memorization required for the SWFA. It's more an issue with spending enough time to know it rather than a limitation. The turret markings are more widely spaced and easier to read on the PST; if you do a search on the SWFA the majority of the bitching stems from the knob to turret interface having 60 splines where the actual erector mechanism has 100 clicks/marks per rev. What this means is that depending on where your zero ends up the turret might index in between hash marks.
If illumination matters to you the PST is full illumination where the SWFA is only an illuminated center dot; the PST does the better job here.
If you pick up both scopes the additional heft of the SWFA is the first thing you notice; the PST feels like a toy in comparison because it's so much lighter.
Both the SWFA and post-repair PSTs have tracked well.
My suggestion would be to snag a new or very lightly used 5-20HD off the classifieds here and save a few bucks over new. However, the PST is still a very good option and will save you a few bucks over a used SWFA.
While you didn't ask, in my experience a better comparison to the SWFA from the Vortex line is the 5-20 Razor HD. Given the choice between a PST and the SWFA I'll choose the SWFA every time without hesitation but ask me to choose between the Razor HD and the SWFA and the choice is much more difficult. Having spent a lot of time behind my 5-20 and a friends Razor HD, money no object I'd give the edge to the Razor but if you factor in the "special" prices available on the SWFA in the past and what you can snag lightly used ones for the SWFA wins the price/performance contest and really doesn't give up much IMO.
Re: FS SWFA SS 5-20x vs. VIPER PST 6-24X50???
I have had both... I much prefer my PST 6-24. Give Mike @ CSTactical a call, he will hook you up!!
DK
I have had both... I much prefer my PST 6-24. Give Mike @ CSTactical a call, he will hook you up!!
DK
Re: FS SWFA SS 5-20x vs. VIPER PST 6-24X50???
Awesome info bro! I think I would prefer the Razor but the price is a little more up there. I am in the final throws of a new build on an AICS 300wm and I have to draw the line somewhere on money spent. The word Super Sniper is VERY lame but I hear they are moving away from it for respect reasons and the fact that everyone feels the same about the name, LAME.
The Vortex are very attractive because of warranty and the American product and saving weight is a good thing. I dont wanna cheap my new gun by being cheap on an optic but I have to be able to match the capabilities of the rifle to the optics.
Awesome info bro! I think I would prefer the Razor but the price is a little more up there. I am in the final throws of a new build on an AICS 300wm and I have to draw the line somewhere on money spent. The word Super Sniper is VERY lame but I hear they are moving away from it for respect reasons and the fact that everyone feels the same about the name, LAME.
The Vortex are very attractive because of warranty and the American product and saving weight is a good thing. I dont wanna cheap my new gun by being cheap on an optic but I have to be able to match the capabilities of the rifle to the optics.
Re: FS SWFA SS 5-20x vs. VIPER PST 6-24X50???
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pcweidman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Awesome info bro! I think I would prefer the Razor but the price is a little more up there. I am in the final throws of a new build on an AICS 300wm and I have to draw the line somewhere on money spent. The word Super Sniper is VERY lame but I hear they are moving away from it for respect reasons and the fact that everyone feels the same about the name, LAME.
The Vortex are very attractive because of warranty and the American product and saving weight is a good thing. I dont wanna cheap my new gun by being cheap on an optic but I have to be able to match the capabilities of the rifle to the optics.
</div></div>
The SWFA 5-20 doesn't say "Super Sniper" anywhere on them. I don't think "Super Sniper" has been around since the end of the Tasco days. We're not talking CounterSniper levels of derp printed on the eyepiece housing (in paragraph form, no less)-- just SWFA-SS and their bird logo on the end of the parallax/illumination knob.
Vortex's CS is great without a doubt. While you state American company keep in mind the PST is assembled in the Philippines using Japanese glass while the Razor HD line is assembled in Japan. (The SWFA is also assembled in Japan.) Vortex servicing is done in the USA though. When the PSTs died I called up and had a Fedex return label in my email while I was still on the phone with them. It was back in my hands in less than 10 business days including shipping. I would have preferred not to need their services at all but when I did need it they are certainly a company with a very "customer first" service model. While my PST experience hasn't been 100% positive because of the debris & failures it hasn't put me off Vortex in the least-- I just picked up a Razor HD spotting scope (which is a <span style="font-style: italic">damn</span> nice piece of glass) and my good friend I shoot with has two Razor HD scopes which have been flawless. I'd probably have at least a pair of Razor HD scopes myself if only they had 34mm tubes...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pcweidman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Awesome info bro! I think I would prefer the Razor but the price is a little more up there. I am in the final throws of a new build on an AICS 300wm and I have to draw the line somewhere on money spent. The word Super Sniper is VERY lame but I hear they are moving away from it for respect reasons and the fact that everyone feels the same about the name, LAME.
The Vortex are very attractive because of warranty and the American product and saving weight is a good thing. I dont wanna cheap my new gun by being cheap on an optic but I have to be able to match the capabilities of the rifle to the optics.
</div></div>
The SWFA 5-20 doesn't say "Super Sniper" anywhere on them. I don't think "Super Sniper" has been around since the end of the Tasco days. We're not talking CounterSniper levels of derp printed on the eyepiece housing (in paragraph form, no less)-- just SWFA-SS and their bird logo on the end of the parallax/illumination knob.
Vortex's CS is great without a doubt. While you state American company keep in mind the PST is assembled in the Philippines using Japanese glass while the Razor HD line is assembled in Japan. (The SWFA is also assembled in Japan.) Vortex servicing is done in the USA though. When the PSTs died I called up and had a Fedex return label in my email while I was still on the phone with them. It was back in my hands in less than 10 business days including shipping. I would have preferred not to need their services at all but when I did need it they are certainly a company with a very "customer first" service model. While my PST experience hasn't been 100% positive because of the debris & failures it hasn't put me off Vortex in the least-- I just picked up a Razor HD spotting scope (which is a <span style="font-style: italic">damn</span> nice piece of glass) and my good friend I shoot with has two Razor HD scopes which have been flawless. I'd probably have at least a pair of Razor HD scopes myself if only they had 34mm tubes...
Re: FS SWFA SS 5-20x vs. VIPER PST 6-24X50???
I checked their site and they are out of Vipers. Is mike on the forum?
Also has anyone seen any of their in house cerakote jobs?
I checked their site and they are out of Vipers. Is mike on the forum?
Also has anyone seen any of their in house cerakote jobs?
Re: FS SWFA SS 5-20x vs. VIPER PST 6-24X50???
I have both. I do think the glass is better on the SWFA but in general I prefer the PST. I think the PST has an excellent feature set and glass for the price.
I have both. I do think the glass is better on the SWFA but in general I prefer the PST. I think the PST has an excellent feature set and glass for the price.
Re: FS SWFA SS 5-20x vs. VIPER PST 6-24X50???
I am in the same boat, thanks for asking, Soaking up all info now...
I am in the same boat, thanks for asking, Soaking up all info now...
Re: FS SWFA SS 5-20x vs. VIPER PST 6-24X50???
I love my ss5-20. Kept it over a sfp NXS. I've compared it to the 4-16pst and completely agree with Kiba on all accounts. Except I like the mil-quad just as much as the moa viper reticule. (haven't seen a mil)
I love my ss5-20. Kept it over a sfp NXS. I've compared it to the 4-16pst and completely agree with Kiba on all accounts. Except I like the mil-quad just as much as the moa viper reticule. (haven't seen a mil)
Re: FS SWFA SS 5-20x vs. VIPER PST 6-24X50???
So is the swfa only available in mil? I have learned everything at moa. I am not x military or a "proper trained" shooter. I am a hunter and history buff who has an affinity for 'military' style weapons and admires them for their durability and simplicity over many other schools of thought.
I dont know why I have just thought of this but if I were to logically go with what I know I would looks for the MOA version of a scope. The vortex has this option correct?
I dont want to have to learn a new school of thought. Plus most hunters work on MOA.
So is the swfa only available in mil? I have learned everything at moa. I am not x military or a "proper trained" shooter. I am a hunter and history buff who has an affinity for 'military' style weapons and admires them for their durability and simplicity over many other schools of thought.
I dont know why I have just thought of this but if I were to logically go with what I know I would looks for the MOA version of a scope. The vortex has this option correct?
I dont want to have to learn a new school of thought. Plus most hunters work on MOA.
Re: FS SWFA SS 5-20x vs. VIPER PST 6-24X50???
I grew up shooting MOA and mildot recital, When I switched to mil mil from swfa 16x it was a dream come true, it was super easy, and i have not been confused with it once. Since then i have picked up another in 20x and am eyeballing the 5-20x50
Yeah Vortex has moa-moa
I grew up shooting MOA and mildot recital, When I switched to mil mil from swfa 16x it was a dream come true, it was super easy, and i have not been confused with it once. Since then i have picked up another in 20x and am eyeballing the 5-20x50
Yeah Vortex has moa-moa
Re: FS SWFA SS 5-20x vs. VIPER PST 6-24X50???
I have both.
SS 5-20 ffp and PST 6-24 sfp(wish I had the FFP)
I prefer the SS.
Clearer at high magnification and feels more
Robust, as other have said.
Can't go wrong with either, for the price.
I have both.
SS 5-20 ffp and PST 6-24 sfp(wish I had the FFP)
I prefer the SS.
Clearer at high magnification and feels more
Robust, as other have said.
Can't go wrong with either, for the price.
Re: FS SWFA SS 5-20x vs. VIPER PST 6-24X50???
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pcweidman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I checked their site and they are out of Vipers. Is mike on the forum? </div></div>
Yes, Mike is on the forums as "CSTACTICAL". You can PM him from here. And there is a reason why the PST's are almost always out of stock... they are just plain good. I absolutely LOVE mine!!
DK
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pcweidman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I checked their site and they are out of Vipers. Is mike on the forum? </div></div>
Yes, Mike is on the forums as "CSTACTICAL". You can PM him from here. And there is a reason why the PST's are almost always out of stock... they are just plain good. I absolutely LOVE mine!!
DK
Re: FS SWFA SS 5-20x vs. VIPER PST 6-24X50???
The SS is more comparable to a Razor HD than a Viper PST. It is my understanding that both are manufactured by the same Japanese OEM. My testing experience with the Viper PST line has been good but it is not of the quality, or the price bracket, of the SS.
The SS is more comparable to a Razor HD than a Viper PST. It is my understanding that both are manufactured by the same Japanese OEM. My testing experience with the Viper PST line has been good but it is not of the quality, or the price bracket, of the SS.
