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Rifle Scopes SWFA 1-6x24 for my .243?

R

RiverRatMatt

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Full Member
Minuteman
Oct 5, 2012
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Boise, ID
After a successful hunting season with my .243 + 5-20x50 SS HD, I'm thinking about changing things around a bit.

My father had a .30-06 hunting rifle (don't know the maker or model, will pick it up today), that would work great with my 5-20. Assuming recoil isn't an issue, I would move the 5-20 over and need a new scope for my .243.

I love the lower profile of the 1-6x24 and I think it would go great on my .243 as a deer and small/medium game gun. Because .243 starts running out of gas at about 400m, I think the 6x power would be enough, and the lower magnification would be great in the woods.

So, is 6x enough for 300m? 400m?
 
I want to add that I don't have any particular desire for reticle illumination. I'm bummed that they don't offer any non-illuminated 1-6x24s.

Any others I should look at? Optics are #1 in importance.
 
I'd say it is perfect for that, particularly on critters. Make your rifle nice and light too.
 
Maybe for deer, but for small game and yotes, you can get kills way beyond 400m. .243 is also a hell of a LR round. I dont see a point in running a 1-6 for hunting with that round, and you may want more mag for target ID/discrimination.
 
I'd want more than 6X for small game at that distance. You can certainly shoot targets at your distances with that magnification but animals typically blend in well. I'd want a minimum of a 3-9/10, more depending on how small the game is. As mentioned 243 still has plenty of steam left beyond 400, that's about it's limits for big whitetail but for yotes and chucks you can basically double that distance.

I'd say you've got a good setup now assuming the FFP isn't giving you any issues on 5X in low light. I'd be looking for a new scope for the 30-06. Depending on the rifle, accuracy, purpose, your 1-6 would probably be more at home on that if it's a typical hunting rifle that you're not using on small game. Something 1-X, 2-X, or 3-X would likely serve it well.
 
the older I get and the more I hunt, the smaller my knives get and the lower the magnification on my scopes gets. Just seems like sometimes less is more…..
The optics in both the swfa and leupold partrol are good---i've hunted with them both. Last three deer I have taken my 3-10 scope was set at about 5x. The ranges were between 110-455 yards.
 
Hm... awesome feedback! I was thinking a longer range scope would be more appropriate for the .30-06 because it has a longer effective range... that said, you guys raise some good points.

I'll keep thinking on this one before I pull the trigger.. Leupold's 1.1-8x20 would be great but $3000 is a bit out of budget.
 
Hoe does that small objective do in low light? The vortex 2.5-10x32 is nice but at low powrr being ffp the reticke doesnt work so well. Its too damn thin.
 
Re: Vortex, I want a scope that is as small as possible, which is why I like the 1-6x24. Also I don't really like Vortex in general... SWFA seems to make better stuff.
 
Id disagree with that but I dont know if your opinion is formed off first hand experience or the people who parrot internet crap. I own half a dozen vortex scopes and 2 swfa and I'd say they're on the same level. Theyve both got their strengths and weaknesses but theyre both quslity scopes for the money.
 
1slow01z71 said:
Hoe does that small objective do in low light? The vortex 2.5-10x32 is nice but at low powrr being ffp the reticke doesnt work so well. Its too damn thin.
Click to expand...

As always, and seemingly more so with optics, there are compromises - advantages with certain features which can also be a downfall. But I agree, I prefer SFP for close to medium range shooting. The OP seems to want FFP though.

My favorite scope for short to medium range is my NF 2.5-10x24 with LV600 reticle which is mounted on my AR shorty. Seems like it's either on 10x so the holdovers will be correct or 2.5x for anything else. I figure if it's so dark I can't make out what I'm shooting at then I don't need to be taking the shot. It's about the only SFP scope I own anymore.
 
1slow01z71 said:
Id disagree with that but I dont know if your opinion is formed off first hand experience or the people who parrot internet crap. I own half a dozen vortex scopes and 2 swfa and I'd say they're on the same level. Theyve both got their strengths and weaknesses but theyre both quslity scopes for the money.
Click to expand...

Its mostly based on handling Vortex binos that I wasn't at all impressed with. Probably not an accurate view of all their products so I'm willing to keep an open mind.

That said, I looked at a Vortex 1-6x24 the other day that was 50% more expensive than SWFA's, heavier and SFP so I'm not sure what to think D:
 
steve123 said:
As always, and seemingly more so with optics, there are compromises - advantages with certain features which can also be a downfall. But I agree, I prefer SFP for close to medium range shooting. The OP seems to want FFP though.

My favorite scope for short to medium range is my NF 2.5-10x24 with LV600 reticle which is mounted on my AR shorty. Seems like it's either on 10x so the holdovers will be correct or 2.5x for anything else. I figure if it's so dark I can't make out what I'm shooting at then I don't need to be taking the shot. It's about the only SFP scope I own anymore.
Click to expand...
If its going to be used for hunting and has a standard iteration of the crosshair reticle (aka not like the swfa donut reticle in the 1-6) it will be sfp for me. At low power ffp reticles are just too small for fast target acquisition in my opinion. My vortex 2.5-10x32 is an awesome little scope does great on my 300blk but I do wish they made it in sfp. Its the perfect mag range for me and the glass is awesome for the price but I'd like to actually be able to use 2.5x. When I'm carrying in the woods I've resorted to leaving it on 5x so its decently useable for fast shots.
RiverRatMatt said:
Its mostly based on handling Vortex binos that I wasn't at all impressed with. Probably not an accurate view of all their products so I'm willing to keep an open mind.

That said, I looked at a Vortex 1-6x24 the other day that was 50% more expensive than SWFA's, heavier and SFP so I'm not sure what to think D:
Click to expand...
That choice is a no brainer. The swfa 1-6 is a much better value. The vortex 1-6 is nice but not 50% nicer and its a damn boat anchor. Guess if all else fails and you ran ouy of bullets you could use it as a badass tomahawk lol. Eventually I'll own a razor 5-20 but I believe the swfa 1-6 will eventually make it on to my 300blk unless vortex comes out with the 2.5-10x32 in sfp. I personally see very little use for ffp until you get into the 20x+ mag range. At 15 and 16x mirage has never been too big of a deal where I felt I needed ffp.
 
So I think I may go with SWFA's3-9x42. I think that focal range is a little more appropriate for my .243, it is lighter than the 1-6x24, costs a lot less and has the same reticle as my 5-20x50. I may need to use a comb still, but honestly that doesn't bother me and i don't need an illuminated reticle.

I'm still open to suggestions if you guys have any.
 
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