Rifle Scopes I need opinions on 3 scopes

Don-n-Texas

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Apr 17, 2011
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The 3 scope considering Vortex 4x16 PST FFP, SWFA 3x15 FFP, Weaver 3x15 FFP.
1st Vortex 4x16 PST FFP I have a 6x24 PST I like it. Now I read there are problems with the 4x16 on the upper magnificion. I wonder how l wide spread this is. I've read other people loved theirs.
Does Vortex fix it if you get a cloudy one.

Next up Weaver 3x15 tactical w/t emdr reticule. Read a lot of good thing nothing really bad. Any short comings i should consider.

3x15 SS everything I've read is good to go.

Any opinions on which one to get?
 
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I have the Vortex, and SWFA. It's really a coin flip between the two, if you want illumination though you'll have to go Vortex. I like the clicks on the Vortex turrets a little better, but I don't regret getting the SS.
 
Had the 4-16 PST FFP, glass was murky above 13x or so. Not $100 Chinese junk murky, but below my expectations for even a $400 scope.

I have the non-EMDR Weaver 3-15x FFP. It's very good. Definitely better glass than the 4-16x PST, and feels better made too. It costs less than the PST and has everything except the zero stop and sunshade. I can't see any reason not to get the EMDR version.

No experience with the 3-15x SS.
 
I very much enjoy my weaver 3-15x50 edmr. I also own a 10x42 SWFA SS and it is a great introductory scope, however glass quality is lacking. I also contemplated among the three scopes you indicated. The deciding factors for me was locking turret design, no tools require to set the turrets to Zero, location of the illumination dial, the compact 13.5" overall length and reviews stating the lens being better than vortex and almost on par with leupold mk4. The only con is that weaver no longer manufactures the sunshade that fits it, though you can still find some popping up online.

With that said, these scopes are relatively inexpensive and you cannot go wrong with either. I would say it comes down to which features appeal to you more.
 
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Weaver 3-15x50 is a great scope. I've owned 2, and not needed any warranty work on either. Glass is better than Vortex.

Conversely I've owned 1 Vortex and needed warranty(which is a great warranty) twice.

If I were looking for an optic in that price range I would buy another Weaver.
 
Only the SWFA 3-15 has parallax that dials down to 6 meters.

This adds to the versatility of the scope for air rifles and rimfires at closer distances.

Here's a few things I've done with mine;

1. Practiced offhand shooting at 6Y in my shop when mounted on my air rifle.

2. Shot and won a 25Y stage at a 22 tactical match (I could see (focus on) the match heads and dial the parallax error out, where other guys couldn't).

3. Hit steel at 419Y with the same 22 rifle, "no angled base involved" because of the huge amount of travel in the scope.

3. Won long range matches with it on the centerfire.
 
Thank you for your input. Everyone was very helpful. I was all set to go with the Weaver
Then I check their Warrenty. I didn't like what I saw.
I really wanted illumiantion. So I went with Vortex. While I was at it I got a Vortex HD spotting scope I've been wanting.
I got some new toys coming in the mail. The gunsmith should have the muzzle brake and PTG DBM installed on my new 5 R Milspec soon.
Spring is coming and I'll be HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY

brianf I really like Sightron I have 2. This scope is going to replace my Sightron 10x.
 
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Too late for this thread, but my two EMDR's have both red/green dial able illum. Have two EMDR's, had a 4-16 PST that I returned for an even trade up to 6-24 PST/MRAD because of glass clarity issue, have two 3-9 SWFA's which I think are a solid value, as I would expect same for 3-15, which I haven't tried yet. Best of luck with your selection.
 
Thank you bobke. It's never to late for good advice. The first I'll do is get my 6x24 Vortex and compare the too.

Then I'll compare both to my Sightron 8x32 I just got. That rifle is at the gunsmith too. With the way winter has been I picked a good time to put them in.
 
Sorry for not getting back sooner. I didn't get the FFP like I wanted. It was a long wait so I changed to the SFP. Then the gunsmith took longer than I thought to get my 5R Milspec back. Then it was just one thing after another.
Bottom line I love my 4x16 Vortex SFP scope. I am more than happy I got it.
 
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Out of those, I like the Weaver the best. Only bad thing is the illumination. The illumination on mine is horrible! Lots of light bleed and the reticle itself becomes a little bit washed out, even at low settings. Pretty much unusable; maybe I just got a lemon. I don't really care, though. I never use the illumination. But the turrets on the Weaver are excellent, and the locking feature is nice.