For the $$ invested, I have been quite pleased with the SWFA 10X42 HD scope with its durable, high quality construction and quite-decent glass. I figure I would have to spend two to three times more on a variable-power scope to retain the build quality and robustness, and gain some worthy features I would value such as an illuminated reticle, side focus and turret stops. However, I'm not at a point where I could justify such an expenditure.
The lack of built-in turret stop have been addressed with an easy-to-install shim kit, which serves the purpose.
Up until now, by far my biggest gripe with this scope is its difficult-to-turn parallax adjustment ring, located on the back of the scope just in front of the eye piece. The ring is somewhat stiff, but the problem is mostly due to the poor design of the ring, which I find almost impossible to adjust when positioned behind the rifle. IMO, this ring should have been made larger in diameter with some aggressive knurling. I contacted SWFA a few years ago to see if any of their cat tails for their variable power scopes would fit, but was informed that none would and there were no plans to make one.
This past week I came back around to trying to find a solution to this. I went to the MGM Switchview site and after some measuring found that their 172-176 model looked like it would fit, so I ordered it from Midway. The cat tail arrived yesterday and I installed it;
It's a perfect fit when installed on the rear edge of the ring. The rear edge of the tapered ring has a small flat area, just enough for the cat tail to lock on straight and tight. I positioned the lever at around the 50 yard mark on the ring, which places the lever at about the 8 o'clock position when set at infinity and at about 10 o'clock with it set to 100 yards (when viewed from behind). This makes the cat tail easy to reach with the support hand, with about 30 degrees of throw from 100 yards to infinity.
The cat tail is just what was needed: the parallax can now be easily adjusted, even when set up behind the rifle in the prone position!
If anyone else is struggling with turning the parallax adjustment ring on the SWFA 10X42 HD scope, I have found the MGM Switchview 172-176 to be a viable solution.
The lack of built-in turret stop have been addressed with an easy-to-install shim kit, which serves the purpose.
Up until now, by far my biggest gripe with this scope is its difficult-to-turn parallax adjustment ring, located on the back of the scope just in front of the eye piece. The ring is somewhat stiff, but the problem is mostly due to the poor design of the ring, which I find almost impossible to adjust when positioned behind the rifle. IMO, this ring should have been made larger in diameter with some aggressive knurling. I contacted SWFA a few years ago to see if any of their cat tails for their variable power scopes would fit, but was informed that none would and there were no plans to make one.
This past week I came back around to trying to find a solution to this. I went to the MGM Switchview site and after some measuring found that their 172-176 model looked like it would fit, so I ordered it from Midway. The cat tail arrived yesterday and I installed it;
It's a perfect fit when installed on the rear edge of the ring. The rear edge of the tapered ring has a small flat area, just enough for the cat tail to lock on straight and tight. I positioned the lever at around the 50 yard mark on the ring, which places the lever at about the 8 o'clock position when set at infinity and at about 10 o'clock with it set to 100 yards (when viewed from behind). This makes the cat tail easy to reach with the support hand, with about 30 degrees of throw from 100 yards to infinity.
The cat tail is just what was needed: the parallax can now be easily adjusted, even when set up behind the rifle in the prone position!
If anyone else is struggling with turning the parallax adjustment ring on the SWFA 10X42 HD scope, I have found the MGM Switchview 172-176 to be a viable solution.
