Rifle Scopes SWFA SS HD 1-6x24 Tactical Scope For 3 Gun?

[Don-n-Texas]

SWFA SS HD 1-6x24 Tactical Scope For 3 Gun? Or Maybe at the range or plinking

I'm thinking about selling my current scope and getting one.
I've heard the eye box is very narrow on 6x but OK on 1x and no daylight illumination
Anyone running one of these? What do you think?

SWFA SS HD 1-6x24 Tactical Scope

SWFA SS HD 1-6x24 Tactical 30mm Riflescope

 

[SomeOtherGuy]

In my example the eyebox on 6x is just fine. Exactly what I would expect with a 4mm exit pupil, and comparable to other 1-6x scopes I've had including the Razor HD and Leupold VX-6. If you've ever used a hunting scope with a smaller exit pupil you'll be happy with it. If someone has only ever used an Aimpoint, it might seem small.

The illumination is good to very good by the standards of conventionally illuminated scopes. Setting 11 is not as bright as an Aimpoint at setting 11, but maybe comparable to an Aimpoint at setting 8 or 9. It will not be visible on a white target in full sun, but would be visible on a dark target in part sun, or anything on a cloudy day. The way the reticle is designed you really don't need daylight visibility. That said, some of this scope's competition is significantly brighter at max - the VX-6 and Razor have fiber optic illumination which goes very bright, and the Leupold Mark 6 (at 2x the price) has "third gen" illumination which goes to an extremely bright setting at max.

 

[Baron85]

I have a Swfa 1-6 and a bushnell elite tActical 1-6.5 2nd focal plane. I much prefer the bushnell. I have a hard time picking up the crosshairs in the Swfa on more precise shots. I also feel that the bushnell reticle is faster for me, I have not timed them but I will be selling my Swfa and purchasing another bushnell when I get off my lazy butt and post it. Another thing I don't like on the Swfa are the huge turrets, atleast for my use it is not a scope I'm going to be dialing in shots often. We did use it at 750yds on steel and it worked but not ideal.

 

[Baron85]

And don't get too hung up on the daylight bright illumination. Look for reticle design. The big bold donut stands out like a sore thumb and is very fast for quick shots. Another think I like more about the bushnell is the donut is a bit smaller than the Swfa making it faster and more precise for me.

 

[Nomad0001]

I just got one a couple days ago. I'm returning it. The eye box is just too unforgiving for me. At 6X, if you hold it at the correct distance and move your head the smallest infinitesimal amount in any direction you get a big scope shadow. The company is a good outfit though.

 

[Brabo]

I just got one a couple days ago. I'm returning it. The eye box is just too unforgiving for me. At 6X, if you hold it at the correct distance and move your head the smallest infinitesimal amount in any direction you get a big scope shadow. The company is a good outfit though.

I think that your problem is that you are testing the scope out without mounting it to your rifle. I get that you don't want to mount it and then not be able to return it but you cannot properly evaluate a scope by holding it up and looking through it. Doesn't work that way.

Mine is on an AR-15 and I have no problem with the eyebox. At 1x it is fast and very similar (reticle-wise) to the EoTech that I used to have and this is how I shoot it most often when I am running and gunning. I would not run and gun with any scope on its max power setting whether that is 6x or higher. Now if I want to settle in and take a longer or more precise shot I have the ability to crank up the power. Usually when doing this (shooting at 6x) you get lower to the ground or find a barricade or rest to take that longer or more precise shot. Because you are more stable the smaller exit pupil shouldn't affect you like it might while shooting free hand standing. Also, if you have a repeatable cheek weld this should not be a problem either.

I have also never thought that the illumination needed to be brighter. If there wasn't the circle around the crosshairs I could see why you would want a daylight bright red dot but I'm pretty sure I have never even turned the illumination on...never needed it...

 

[delixe]

I have several 1/6x24 scopes including the SWFA, Bushnell SMRS in SFP and FFP, and a Minox 1.2-6 which I won't compare here.
The SWFA eyebox at top mag is no smaller than the Bushnell's.
The SWFA is a lot of scope for the money, but I wish they'd saved a few $$$ in the manufacturing (passing that savings on to the consumer) and made it SFP and smaller capped turrets.. My guess is the SFP reticle donut would be smaller as the donuts current size is definitely an FFP compromise to allow it to disappear from the FOV at top mag. The turrets are nice but unnecessary, I mean, this type of scope is made to hold, not dial corrections IMHO.
The SFP Bushnell is my favorite with a reticle that works well at 1x without overpowering the great big FOV with no barrel distortion.
The SWFA matches the SFP SMRS at 1x (other than the reticle donut being too large) as the glass is clear and distortion free to the edge.
Also, the SWFA reticle is actually useful at night beyond close quarters with 5 mils of illuminated holds.
The FFP SMRS adds some barrel distortion at 60% of the FOV. The FFP SMRS reticle is too small for daylight work, since the illumination is 1/42 as bright as it is at 6.5x, so not nearly daytime bright.
Lastly, the Bushnell is 1/4 lb. lighter than the SWFA, something that does matter to me on the type of rifle I see it best used with, an AR-15.

Just my observations.

 

[sawman556]

I thought I would like the FFP with the SWFA. I didn't and sold it. I'm using a NF 1-4x on my AR until I find something better.