Rifle Scopes Opinions on SWFA fixed scopes?
- Thread starter John_vinblad
- Start date
No......
Just kidding , they are a staple of the hide. Best value scope out there bar none. I use my 10x way more than my 5-30x56..... just handy on a .223 bolt.
Just kidding , they are a staple of the hide. Best value scope out there bar none. I use my 10x way more than my 5-30x56..... just handy on a .223 bolt.
Impossible to beat for what you’ll pay for them. Most say the 10-12x fixed are the sweet spot, but the 16x and even 20x are both excellent as well. Really just depends on your use.
The variable power 3-15s and 5-20s are both excellent as well, though of course you’ll end up paying more for those.
The variable power 3-15s and 5-20s are both excellent as well, though of course you’ll end up paying more for those.
I love mine, have 6 of them I'd guess at the moment, have had more. Meh glass that is usable, and a SHITTON of accurate adjustment. I've shot way past 1k with the fixed powers, and way past 2k with my 5-20x HD!
I have 2 fixed 10, they are the best you can get for the money hands down. I had a fixed 20. Super clear, I just don't like only have that much zoom, I feel like you should have variable power when you are getting that high. It makes spotting targets easier, but you aren't going wrong with swfa which ever you choose.
I guess I'll be the odd-man out: "Trust, but verify."
There have been some quiet rumblings here and there recently as to how things are going with those scopes. I'm on my third super chicken (10x42) over the last two years:
The first one stopped tracking correctly, and SWFA took real good care of me.
The second one's parallax is goofed up. That one's still getting fixed up so I have no news yet.
The third one seems to be squared away so far, although I'm still trying to wring it out.
To their credit, SWFA in general and Skylar in particular has been absolutely fantastic to deal with. They are responsive and on the ball, and if you have any problems their warranty is very good, similar to Vortex's.
Traditionally, the rear-parallax models have been more rugged and less prone to problems. Couple that with their lower cost and it's a clear winner if you can handle that location. Just make sure you pay close attention to the turret screws.
IMHO the design of the scope itself is outstanding. There's no other scope out there quite like them (except maybe the Trijicon TARS) in terms of combining wide adjustment range (44 mils in both), ruggedness and temp resistance (-50*F), and historically reliable tracking. If you get a squared-away superchicken, they're superb. In fact, if I hadn't had any problems with mine, there's no way I'd be looking at anything else. Overall they are just a great choice.
There have been some quiet rumblings here and there recently as to how things are going with those scopes. I'm on my third super chicken (10x42) over the last two years:
The first one stopped tracking correctly, and SWFA took real good care of me.
The second one's parallax is goofed up. That one's still getting fixed up so I have no news yet.
The third one seems to be squared away so far, although I'm still trying to wring it out.
To their credit, SWFA in general and Skylar in particular has been absolutely fantastic to deal with. They are responsive and on the ball, and if you have any problems their warranty is very good, similar to Vortex's.
Traditionally, the rear-parallax models have been more rugged and less prone to problems. Couple that with their lower cost and it's a clear winner if you can handle that location. Just make sure you pay close attention to the turret screws.
IMHO the design of the scope itself is outstanding. There's no other scope out there quite like them (except maybe the Trijicon TARS) in terms of combining wide adjustment range (44 mils in both), ruggedness and temp resistance (-50*F), and historically reliable tracking. If you get a squared-away superchicken, they're superb. In fact, if I hadn't had any problems with mine, there's no way I'd be looking at anything else. Overall they are just a great choice.
I'll break the mold here I guess..
4 years ago I purchased a 10x for my 308. I thought the turrets were total mush. Full of slop and the windage turret has barely noticable detents with no audible sound.
Then after no abuse and under 1000 rounds through the rifle, the (housing?) Under the elevation turret came loose and would spin with the elevation turret, making finding zero impossible. (Bomb proof my ass)
Sent it back to swfa and they sent me a brand new scope.
New one arrived and the turrets were worse than the first. Also with the second one, everytime I took the rifle from the safe the elevation turret would "stick" initially, requiring a good twist to get it to move.
Also to date the worst low light resolution I've ever experienced during last light hunting situations. I've had $200 redfields blow both swfa scopes out of the water regarding light transmission.
Sent the second one back and requested a refund.
Just my limited experience with 2 samples, but enough to turn me off from those scopes for a lifetime.
4 years ago I purchased a 10x for my 308. I thought the turrets were total mush. Full of slop and the windage turret has barely noticable detents with no audible sound.
Then after no abuse and under 1000 rounds through the rifle, the (housing?) Under the elevation turret came loose and would spin with the elevation turret, making finding zero impossible. (Bomb proof my ass)
Sent it back to swfa and they sent me a brand new scope.
New one arrived and the turrets were worse than the first. Also with the second one, everytime I took the rifle from the safe the elevation turret would "stick" initially, requiring a good twist to get it to move.
Also to date the worst low light resolution I've ever experienced during last light hunting situations. I've had $200 redfields blow both swfa scopes out of the water regarding light transmission.
Sent the second one back and requested a refund.
Just my limited experience with 2 samples, but enough to turn me off from those scopes for a lifetime.
Good to see both sides. I have one SWFA 10X but did not put it to real use so far, for many years. It's really really cheap so I dont really really care a lot, but I think it is a very fair price for a decent device by playing with it. Made in Japan, good reticle and OK turrets.
Bomb proof is overstatement at this price point, more like a bench scope shooting for fun stuff. Very good starter before serious $$$$ investment.
Bomb proof is overstatement at this price point, more like a bench scope shooting for fun stuff. Very good starter before serious $$$$ investment.
Nah. They are bomb proof. They keep zero if you drop your rifle off the bench and it lands on a turret.
Ask me how I know.... lol.
Ask me how I know.... lol.
Sucks to hear it. are they the mil/mil, MOA/MOA or MOA/mil version? I have several mil/mil in 6x, 10x, 1-4x, 1-6x and 3-9x with no issues, IMHO hands down the best scope for the price. Always heard the mil/mil version had the least problems.
Thanks for posting that. That's about the time I'll be ready to purchase a decent scope for an upcoming build (or buy - RPR?) and I never knew that or thought to wait for that day.
Your welcome bro, Someone told me that 3 years ago and every year I buy something.This year I would like to get another 1X4 SS.
They were both moa models with the mil dot reticle. Based on my experience you very well could be right. Mines a small sample, and alot of people really like these scopes.
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