SWFA SS or Falcon Menace for 1st time LR shooter?

[JelloStorm]

Hey all,

Looking at getting a scope for my 700P 26" .308 rifle and I've come to the realization that I'm not going to be able to afford a Nightforce F1 or NXS anytime soon, so...

I've been looking at the SWFA SS vs. Falcon Menace.

The Falcon has everything I'm looking for at half the cost of the SWFA SS. The ones I'm looking at both have .1 mil adjustments and "MLR" type reticles. I'm just not a fan of mildot.

Now, the Falcon looks sweet, but the SWFA is twice the cost. What's the reason for this? Better glass? Or..??

Instead of SWFA SS 5-20, should I just spring for a Vortex Viper PST FFP 4-16 .1 mil?

I don't want to buy the best, yet. Heaven forbid I find out I can't shoot for a shit or my 700P is one of the Remmy lemons.

 

[JCH]

Re: SWFA SS or Falcon Menace for 1st time LR shooter?

if you can afford the SS 5-20 you need to get it now before the $500 off offer expires.

 

[BrettSass844]

Re: SWFA SS or Falcon Menace for 1st time LR shooter?

My vote is for the SS. They are a great value for the money! When its time to upgrade you can sell them easily for hardly any loss provided you take care of it. Take a year or so and learn the basics why you are saving and you will have a better idea what features fit your needs and rifle best. I have looked through SS HD, regular SS, and the Menace. I would rate the glass quality in the same order! Would also rate the functions and reliability in that same order.

 

[JelloStorm]

Re: SWFA SS or Falcon Menace for 1st time LR shooter?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JCH</div><div class="ubbcode-body">if you can afford the SS 5-20 you need to get it now before the $500 off offer expires. </div></div>

What? $500 off?

 

[JelloStorm]

Re: SWFA SS or Falcon Menace for 1st time LR shooter?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JCH</div><div class="ubbcode-body">if you can afford the SS 5-20 you need to get it now before the $500 off offer expires. </div></div>

Oh shit. It would appear that the 12-pack of beer has caused me to not observe the price on that bad boy. Ouch.

I'd like to have a variable power scope for groundhog reasons so the SWFA SS 5-20 is way out of my price range. I'd just spring for a used NXS at that price

 

[Force_Multiplier]

Re: SWFA SS or Falcon Menace for 1st time LR shooter?

SS in any flavor over a falcon... use the code "Hide500" on swfa's site for $500 off the 5-20 until mid june

 

[jason07]

Re: SWFA SS or Falcon Menace for 1st time LR shooter?

My vote is for the ss!

 

[Crapshot]

Re: SWFA SS or Falcon Menace for 1st time LR shooter?

I recently got the same gun and after literally years of research (since I joined this site) I went with the regular old swfa ss10x and I've since shot it from 50 yards to 1000 with no prob whatsoever. I couldn't decide between a wotac, falcon, or SS. Honestly if I had to do it again id go wotac variable power. I can, however, spot my own shots from 250 out with the fixed SS 10x. But at 1000 yards it gets alittle tricky sometimes with the limited magnification. A faint "dong" is my only sign I've hit steel. I am brand new to "long range" shooting (other than countless hours of internet searching) but I would guess the ffp on the falcon, coupled with the higher mag, would make my 1000 yard conquest a little bit easier. Not sure if that helps any

 

[Basher]

Re: SWFA SS or Falcon Menace for 1st time LR shooter?

Having never looked through a Falcon (knowingly, anyway), allow me to make brief mention of the fact that, sometimes, higher magnification isn't always better if the scope's quality isn't up to snuff. I don't know where Falcon stands, but they seem to be on the lower end of things.

For me, I'd go with an SS. They're not necessarily "high-end" optics (though the 5-20HD may change that), but they work well and have pretty darn good image quality. Having owned both a 3-9x42FFP and 10x42HD, I can state that I'm fully pleased with the image I see through the glass.

If you put a lower quality, high-mag scope next to a medium to high quality, medium-mag scope, chances are you'll find the higher quality, medium-mag scope to be more useful. All that extra magnification won't mean jack if you get image distortion or chromatic aberations that screw up what you can "see" through the scope.

With that in mind, be sure to try and look through both a Falcon and an SS before putting your money on the table. I've learned that the "buy once, cry once" philosophy works best for me, but you don't have to spend a ton of money to get a good product. You do, however, have to spend some time doing your homework.

 

[mackdrvr]

Re: SWFA SS or Falcon Menace for 1st time LR shooter?

SS. I have been running one since 2002 with no problems.

 

[Heltsley]

Re: SWFA SS or Falcon Menace for 1st time LR shooter?


Another SS vote here.

Thay all are great to shoot with and very repeatable. I have shot with all of the SS except for the 20x, the 10x and 16x have all worked well for me from the older line. All of the new designs are vast improvement and with the group buys on all of them and also on the 10x they are a no brainer.

 

[mwroseberry]

Re: SWFA SS or Falcon Menace for 1st time LR shooter?

The SS 16x or 10x can't be beat for the money. If you are every going to hunt anything under 100 yards go with the 10x. If you are going to go after targets 100 and out only then go with the 16x and you can thank us all later.

Good luck,
Merritt

 

[head2h2o]

Re: SWFA SS or Falcon Menace for 1st time LR shooter?

Without question, the SS. With lower prices come less reputable guarantees. I would feel much better about SWFA standing behind the SS than Falcon or a distributor behind the Falcon scope. Beside, having used both, I would say the SS is a better all around scope. Even if you get the lower end models, they are pretty good scopes for the money invested.

 

[2Shots]

Re: SWFA SS or Falcon Menace for 1st time LR shooter?

I would pick any of the ss models any day. And the 5-20 about to come out is a bargain with the hide discount. I waited a year for a PST and will be you I am going to like the SS better.

 

[JRose]

Re: SWFA SS or Falcon Menace for 1st time LR shooter?

Falcons are shit. You've been warned.

 

[z71rat]

Re: SWFA SS or Falcon Menace for 1st time LR shooter?

Any offering from SWFA far and above any offering from Falcon. I have owned several SWFA SS scopes in various power ranges. They are nothing but awesome scopes for the money.

I am currently waiting on the SS5-20, and I am about as tickled as I can be to get my hands on it!!

DK

 

[Emouse]

Re: SWFA SS or Falcon Menace for 1st time LR shooter?

The Falcon scopes are cheap asian scopes that leave the factory for not much more than $50 bucks. If you think that will do you good service for 1000yrd shooting then good luck.

 

[crawdad1]

Re: SWFA SS or Falcon Menace for 1st time LR shooter?

Look at the SS good scope and great company to deal with.

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: SWFA SS or Falcon Menace for 1st time LR shooter?

Well, you can get a VIper PST for less than the SS 5-20 with the Hide500 discount.
Especially if you get SFP instead of FFP.
Please do not buy a Falcon. There are numerous horror stories and some gruesome pics that have floated around here.