Swfa thoughts and magnification

[anhzx]

I have 10x, 12x, 16x and 20x plus variable 3-15x all swfa. I normally use 10x for 100-300 yards. I prefer 16x at 600 yards. Haven't tried 1000 yards yet. 20x does not seem to have as good glass as 16x, IMO.

[boyguan]

I have 10x, 12x, 16x and 20x plus variable 3-15x all swfa. I normally use 10x for 100-300 yards. I prefer 16x at 600 yards. Haven't tried 1000 yards yet. 20x does not seem to have as good glass as 16x, IMO.

Thoughts on the 10 vs 12. They say the 20 has a. Uct better fov

[BMWguy206]

Thoughts on the 10 vs 12. They say the 20 has a. Uct better fov

My first rifle scope is a SWFA SS 10x42. So far I have been very impressed with it and recently took it out to a Level 1 Sniper course where we shot targets from 250 up to 475 yards. I am taking a Level II Sniper course in a few weeks and hoping to shoot targets at 1,000 yards so I'll give you a report on that and I'll try to take a picture through the scope if I can.

I was also debating if I wanted to get a 10x or 12x SWFA but I went with the 10x because I felt it was good enough for the targets at the range I go to and people have reported using it for 1,000 yards. Not to mention, there are dozens of YouTube videos doing reviews on the 10x42 and Rex from TiborasaurusRex raves about it.

[NorCalFocus]

Look, you can spend $300 now on the SWFA fixed and out grow it the day you take it to beyond 600 yards. So why throw $300 away on a scope that you know your going to outgrow and need to replace? Wouldn't that $300 be better used as a savings towards a budget FFP scope? I certainly think so.

In addition to the scopes kwikvette listed, there is also the SWFA 3-15x42 FFP, thats $700. Or a even cheaper scope is the Athlon Argos 6-24x50 for $380. I mean its $80 more than what your spending now.

[Guns and guitars]

With that said. What’s your thoughts of it out to 600, 800, and 1000? I don’t think we will be shooting paper out at 1000. Most likely ringing steel. How long before I outgrow it? If I do I’ll just move it to my 223 and replace my cheaper leupold and crossfire 2 that I have.

I used my first gen swfa to hit steel at 800 all day long. Granted it was grainy but it worked.
I still actually have that scope ( purchased it in 2000 ) but it has long been moved to a back up/loaner rifle.
But at the time it was a great scope to help get me into long range shooting at a low cost. I was new at the whole "out to 1000 game"
Once you get in that race you will start to figure out what you like and need and grow from there.
The good thing is the SWFA can always be passed down to another rifle. They can take a beating thats for sure but its a great place to start that wont break the bank.




As for the mentality that you can buy a $380 dollar scope which makes it $80 better than the swfa Im in disagreement.
For some reason people think that money equates to quality. There are deals out there. If I had a budget of $600 or less and was just getting into the long range sport, I would buy a swfa and AMMO to PRACTICE.


Granted all my LR bolt guns now have scopes that easily break the $2000 range now but the swfa still sits in the safe....waiting for the day to use it for shooting steel!

[LCU1670]

I own one of the fixed 10x SWFA's and it's a great scope for the money but I do think you'll want something with a little more magnification for 1000 yards.

I have one and at 1000 it's not precise enough, when I do shoot at 1000 I am trying to pick the 12 o'clock on the dot to make it more precise, which isn't really that precise. Shooting plates, it's ok for that.

[TheReluctantCraftstronaut]

Im kinda a scope elitist.
But with that said Ive found the swfa ss 10x scopes are pretty darn good for the cost. No US optics or Swarovski but they work most importantly are repeatable..

Are you TiborasaurusRex? Your handle is Guns and Guitars, you're a scope schnab, but you give credit where credit is due for SWFA...

OP, in case you don't know about TiborasaurusRex's youtube channel, he is a well respected long range shooter, has LOTS of great videos that are worthy of your time. His Sniper 101 series is excellent and in that he goes over optics heavily. He also has many Rex Reviews on scopes, including the SWFA fixed and variable powers. I think watching that series will help you decide for yourself what will be best for you.

Sniper 101 Part 14 - Scopes for Extreme Long Range Shooting

Long Range Scope Reviews

In a nutshell, x10 is his choice for best all-around scope for long range. And on a budget build, he highly recommends the SWFA x10. Maybe consider the SWFA x12, I think the glass quality will be the same as the x10.

SWFA SS 12x42

[boyguan]

Are you TiborasaurusRex? Your handle is Guns and Guitars, you're a scope schnab, but you give credit where credit is due for SWFA...



OP, in case you don't know about TiborasaurusRex's youtube channel, he is a well respected long range shooter, has LOTS of great videos that are worthy of your time. His Sniper 101 series is excellent and in that he goes over optics heavily. He also has many Rex Reviews on scopes, including the SWFA fixed and variable powers. I think watching that series will help you decide for yourself what will be best for you.

Sniper 101 Part 14 - Scopes for Extreme Long Range Shooting

Long Range Scope Reviews

In a nutshell, x10 is his choice for best all-around scope for long range. And on a budget build, he highly recommends the SWFA x10. Maybe consider the SWFA x12, I think the glass quality will be the same as the x10.

SWFA SS 12x42

He is mainly why I am considering this for now. He says he can shoot it out to 1000 but that might be at a 24x24 plate.

Like many others have said this is a good scope to step into the 1000 and if I continue to like it. I will replace this scope with something better once I save up the guns. I can easily move this to my 223 which I usually only shoot 100 with

The thought is that for the price and because it is non variable your getting a much better value. I could get a variable x-24x at the same price but if the glass is crap at maximum zoom it might be unusable.

[NorCalFocus]

As for the mentality that you can buy a $380 dollar scope which makes it $80 better than the swfa Im in disagreement.
For some reason people think that money equates to quality. There are deals out there. If I had a budget of $600 or less and was just getting into the long range sport, I would buy a swfa and AMMO to PRACTICE.

Its not that its $80 better than the SWFA, its that it fits his needs better. My point is why should the OP spend $300 on a scope, that he is already unsure about the magnification, when for only $80 more he can get a scope that solves that issue. Any scope under $2500 is giving up something. The cheaper you go, the more you give up. At the OP's price point he has to give something(s) up, he has to decide on what is worth giving up.

Money spent does equal quality in most things you buy. Not saying that its a 1:1 ratio, because its not. But with optics it is true every few hundred dollars more you spend, the better the options and quality you get in return.

There are deals out there to be found. You just have to know where to look. I have a Viper HSLR that I got for $630. My friend just got a Viper PST gen I for $690. Caebla's bargin basement here in AZ has some great deals. There are other deals to be had, you just gotta look and wait.

[ExtremeX]

Big time SWFA fan here as well, lots of value in the glass and tracking department. Really enjoyed my 5-20, 10x, and 1-6x.

I don't have any problems with my fixed 10x shooting at 1k. We generally try to punch a 12x12 steel plate at that distance, but I still prefer the option of more magnification. Shooting paper is a challenge since you dont get any feedback like you would on a steel plate.

20x is a good place to be on the top end, but i've owned scopes that range from 15x to 24x.

Reticle thickness can come into play on FFP scopes depending on what ur doing, and sometimes you need to work around that by using other parts of the reticle.

For shooting groups, ive always enjoyed having the additional magnification. Even at 100 yards I would always be at max mag.

The fixed 10x and 12x are great scopes, but if you could find a used 5-20 SWFA you would be in heaven.

You could consider a fixed 16x or 20x from SWFA as well for shooting groups if that's all you really do, but I rather push for a variable at that point.

[boyguan]

I used my first gen swfa to hit steel at 800 all day long. Granted it was grainy but it worked.
I still actually have that scope ( purchased it in 2000 ) but it has long been moved to a back up/loaner rifle.
But at the time it was a great scope to help get me into long range shooting at a low cost. I was new at the whole "out to 1000 game"
Once you get in that race you will start to figure out what you like and need and grow from there.
The good thing is the SWFA can always be passed down to another rifle. They can take a beating thats for sure but its a great place to start that wont break the bank.




As for the mentality that you can buy a $380 dollar scope which makes it $80 better than the swfa Im in disagreement.
For some reason people think that money equates to quality. There are deals out there. If I had a budget of $600 or less and was just getting into the long range sport, I would buy a swfa and AMMO to PRACTICE.


Granted all my LR bolt guns now have scopes that easily break the $2000 range now but the swfa still sits in the safe....waiting for the day to use it for shooting steel!

[crufflers]

SWFA is one of the rare times I've been shocked by a bargain scope clarity and quality...comparatively I am usually not impressed by Vortex for the $$. I got an SWFA SS 10x42 and for $260 was really impressed. Under $400 the Burris RT-6 and SWFA SS surprised me. No buyer's remorse possible IMHO.

[BigShow2111]

I just installed the Swfa SS 12x on my RPR. From the fence it looks very clear. I only have access to 400 yards but so far I don't see it being an issue for the short range game. I am about 4 hours from a 1000 yard range so I don't have any input on that but I am truly impressed with the clarity so far. I really don't think 1,000 yards is going to be an issue with a respectable 18x18 size steel target.

[HUTCH 7.62]

Tagged

[C.W.M.V.]

I have 10x, 12x, 16x and 20x plus variable 3-15x all swfa. I normally use 10x for 100-300 yards. I prefer 16x at 600 yards. Haven't tried 1000 yards yet. 20x does not seem to have as good glass as 16x, IMO.

I have the 20 and the 3-15, and I agree the 20 seems to be worse.
The 3-15 is clear as can be, right there with my Vortex but not Nightforce quality lol.