I don't know why this scope isn't more popular. It has good glass, reticle and magnification range, all at a great price. The only thing it's really missing is zero stop and If it isn't being used for competition, this shouldn't be an issue. As far as I'm concerned, there isn't a better scope for the money..
Rifle Scopes SS 3-15x42 FFP
- Thread starter Flynn
- Start date
I'm really happy with this scope on my ar10.
Love mine
I think a lot of people just sont really know about it. If youre patient and pick one up off the samplelist its a really good deal. Noy sure FFP is reslly needed in this mag range but it is nice to have.
I think a lot of people just sont really know about it. If youre patient and pick one up off the samplelist its a really good deal. Noy sure FFP is reslly needed in this mag range but it is nice to have.
For a rugged 3-15x FFP scope with acceptable glass clarity the price sure is reasonable.
A reason they're not super-popular is because for only a couple hundred more you upgrade into an entirely higher class of scopes.
There's also the unforgiving eye box, useless short range parallax focus and extreme reticle sizes at different powers ranges.
A reason they're not super-popular is because for only a couple hundred more you upgrade into an entirely higher class of scopes.
There's also the unforgiving eye box, useless short range parallax focus and extreme reticle sizes at different powers ranges.
What do you recommend for a couple hundred more?
+1... I've been looking at scopes in this price range and am really considering this scope but am open to any ideas.
G
Guest
Guest
I was looking at this scope for a while but went with a Leupold Mark4 3.5-10x40 M3 instead for my AR10. I may put this SWFA on a new Recce rifle or a Browe, not sure.
One option to consider is Trijicon. The 5-20 accupoint mildot can be had for around $850.
The Luepold 3.5-10 Mark 4 are awesome. Can't go wrong with that choice.
Both would be a big improvement in glass clarity and better eye box relief.
Still the swfa 3-15 is good value to try out a FFP featured scope or to have as a back up.
The Luepold 3.5-10 Mark 4 are awesome. Can't go wrong with that choice.
Both would be a big improvement in glass clarity and better eye box relief.
Still the swfa 3-15 is good value to try out a FFP featured scope or to have as a back up.
The AccuPoint TR23 is SFP, and has MOA turrets with a mildot reticle. The glass is pretty good, but the features I just mentioned are deal breakers for me.
Leupold Mark 4s are overpriced decade old technology.
Neither has a 5x erector in the perfect magnification range for a scope that can crossover from hunting to tactical.
The SWFA 3-15x42 is a lot of scope for the money, and quality was not sacrificed to offer the impressive feature set.
Joe
Huh? Do you own one because this has not been my experience. The eye box doesn't seem unforgiving to me and yes the reticle is FFP if that's what you mean?
The Triji Accupoint 5-20x is $1100+ everywhere I look and I'm not a fan of the Leupo 3.5-10x in any trim level. The tunnel vision on them turns me off. I've got fixed power Leupos on my hunting rifles so I'm not opposed to Leupos and they are a local company that I am happy to support.
Can you elaborate on your comments regarding the poor eye box, SF, and FFP reticle issues you mentioned?
Thanks,
Jason
Have you actually looked through the SWFA 3-15x42FFP? I can assure you, the MK4 is not a "huge improvement in glass clarity" over the SWFA SS 3-15x42. If there is a difference, I honestly don't see it.
The MK6 line - now that is an improvement in glass and overall quality, but Leupold MK4s are nothing spectacular - the SS SWFA 3-15x42 can easily compete with it.
For the record, I'm not bashing the MK4 3.5-10 series, they're fine scopes - they're just not any better than the SWFA SS 3-15x42 model.
I own all three of the scopes. The SS 3-15 is most difficult to get behind out of them all. Unless you're exactly straight behind it at exactly the perfect distance it there is constant shadowing.
And I know it's FFP. At lower powers the reticle is more useless than a fine duplex and too thick at the center at max power.
Just my thoughts. If it works for you that's cool.
I see the Trijicon's going for $850 regularly on DVOR quite often. Also, if you talk to a vendor here they'll probably help you out.
The Leupold 3.5-10 has a wider field of view than the other scopes mentioned here. Don't think you'll have any tunnel vision with one. It's not new technology BUT they're proven and you can find them for used for great prices. To me it's much clearer, brighter glass than the SS 3-15. You might see things differently, litereally. I would take my Mark 4 any day over the SS.
Yes, I own a SWFW SS 3-15. Maybe it's a shitty one (I got if off the sample list) because my Mark 4's glass makes it look like a toy.
Maybe my eyes are older and different than yours... but the MK6 uses the same lenses used in the MK4 so maybe you do agree with me
Not bashing the SS 3-15. It's a good scope for the money. I think you can do better for a little more money is my point. Maybe there are better choices for a couple hundred more than the two I mentioned... I dunno. You tell me. The OP was asking why they're not more popular so that's the issue I was addressing. They're constantly traded-in on the sample list... wonder why?
Yes, I own a SWFW SS 3-15. Maybe it's a shitty one (I got if off the sample list) because my Mark 4's glass makes it look like a toy.
Maybe my eyes are older and different than yours... but the MK6 uses the same lenses used in the MK4 so maybe you do agree with me
Not bashing the SS 3-15. It's a good scope for the money. I think you can do better for a little more money is my point. Maybe there are better choices for a couple hundred more than the two I mentioned... I dunno. You tell me. The OP was asking why they're not more popular so that's the issue I was addressing. They're constantly traded-in on the sample list... wonder why?
The Mk4 has the same glass as the Mk6? I was under the impression that the optical system in the mk6 is completely different from the mk4. Did someone at Leupold tell you otherwise?
I think the mk4 video you are referring to is comparing the one 34mm mk4 to the mk6. It is my understanding that is the only model that shares the mk6 glass. Lowlight has even confirmed this. The SS 3-15 IMO is not a top of the line scope but I am happy with it for the money. Fwiw the reticle thickness to me seems not as thick as my other FFP scopes that I own including the mk6. Some like Fords, some like Chevys.
Found the vid. I'm probably wrong then if Lowlight confirmed it's only the 34mm products. Didn't mean to spread false info.....
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/j7vst0jg9RU?list=PLXxlsYWsML_bhmZ14wOlJ_OlJjEwZ8IP5" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Sorry to get off topic here.
Back to the 3-15 SS. Eye-box is way to tight for me.... Could it be just my particular scope? Sounds like nobody else finds it a problem.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/j7vst0jg9RU?list=PLXxlsYWsML_bhmZ14wOlJ_OlJjEwZ8IP5" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Sorry to get off topic here.
Back to the 3-15 SS. Eye-box is way to tight for me.... Could it be just my particular scope? Sounds like nobody else finds it a problem.
One thing that deterred me from purchasing a 3-15x42 was the lack of illumination. It was going to go on a super squirrel sniper gun (I know, I know. I just used the word "sniper" but I just can't turn down extending an alliterative phrase) so low light shooting was going to happen. I'm just going to stick with my Vortex unless I can find something comparable.
Thanks for the DVOR reminder. I keep forgetting about them.
Have not heard about the limited eye-box on the 3-15x42, but I haven't seen one in person yet. The problem I have with the VX-3 and similar MK4 scopes is tunneling effect, not FOV. Not everyone notices it or cares, but its just one of those things that annoys me with some scopes. Dick's Sporting had Leupo 4.5-14x scopes on discount and I literally bought an armload of them, but returned them all because of the tunnel vision (FOV on 4.5x isn't much better than my fixed 6x either). Also spent a quite a bit of time at the Leupold facility in Beaverton looking at MK4 versions and saw the same tunnel effect.
As you said, everyone sees differently. Thanks for the info.
Jason
The eyebox gets tight because the exit pupil is a function of objective size and magnification.
The "useless" focus range becomes quite useful on air guns and rimfires. But if you don't need it, there is no drawback.
The "extreme" change in reticle size is a simple matter of zoom ratio (5x).
The S&B 5-25x56mm PMII suffers from the same alleged problems, so I guess it sucks too.
That's because it has a top-end zoom of only 9.9x. Turn down the SS to the same zoom, and it'll yield the same FOV.
How does the glass on the 3-15 compare to the swfa 10x HD model? They are just about the same price.
How much do you want for it?
You either got a bum scope or youre smoking crack. The eyebox on it is perfectly acceptable with any semblance of a decent stock to get good cheek weld on. Glass quality is dang close to an hdmr and 6-24 PST. The trijicon is lacking a lot of features that this scope has so its not even a comparison, and who even runs trijicon scopes these days? Point blank youre going to spend 4-500 dollars more to really see a noticeable difference. The only thing this scope is really lacking is zero stops and it would be nice to have illumination. The 5x zoom range makes the reticle small at low power but I don't know if anyone who uses subtensions at low power. It works just fine for me and many others. When you consider that you can get this scope for 620 to your door off the sample list there isn't a scope even close to it on the new market, and on the used market youre still going to spend another couple hundred bucks to match it.
I haven't looked at them side by side but Id say theyre pretty close. Id rather have the 3-15 any day though but Im not a big fan of fixed powers unless its for a bench only gun or a rimfire.
No doubt it's a solid scope... I've been saying this all along --- It just isn't for me.
It was my first FFP scope and at 15x top-end, I found no need for FFP. That, combined with the scope's other features led to drawbacks for my purposes. I tried it, now I know it's not my thing.
Glad that it works for you. Everybody is different.
It was my first FFP scope and at 15x top-end, I found no need for FFP. That, combined with the scope's other features led to drawbacks for my purposes. I tried it, now I know it's not my thing.
Glad that it works for you. Everybody is different.
Post your order number from us and I will send a call tag for it and refund you what you paid including shipping.
Chris
This is reflective my customer service experiences with SWFA; and why I'll continue to support you folks! Not to mention, your value proposition with this line of scopes is very compelling - I've been behind quite a few, and own two.. going on three!
Wow.
# 513070A
Much appreciated! A credit to the account is fine because I plan to continue giving you my business. Thank you very much.
No worries, I want to compare it to others and have others do they same and if it is different we'll disect it and find out why, then determine what measures need to be taken to keep it from happening again.
Wow... Awesome customer service. I've been so impressed with the vendors on this forums pride in their products and service. I've been shopping for suppressors lately and Thunder Beast Arms is also a prime example of this. Zak is very helpful and won't release a product until they are 100% happy with it.
I just went to check out the price and didn't see the 3-15 listed with a sale price as a black friday sale item???
You need the coupon code. Sent to email subscribers.
Not sure of the numbers, but you can add them and put them in your cart with the scope. I did.
Sent you a PM, Chris. Thanks again!
Similar threads
