So whats the concensus on SWFA SS Scopes?

[Eurodriver]

I have a pretty basic setup right now

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/2493/p6260313.jpg

Rem 700P in .308, about 400 rounds through it, wearing a Bushnell Elite 3200 10x scope on an EGW 0 MOA base. It has 8oz of lead shot in the barrel channel, along with 8oz in the buttstock and the action is glass bed with some trigger work. Its heavy as hell but kicks like a .243

This rifle is my first ever bolt gun. All my others are ARs, AKs, or Milsurp long guns. It was intended as a starter rig but has served me well, and I'd like to upgrade the optic.

I'm looking at SWFA SS, and have been looking at them for about 3 months and never ever seen a negative review, anywhere. For $300 they seem unbeatable. I know the guys with the $1400 Leupolds will say spend the $1400 and get a leupold, but as of right now I'm still learning. If I were to get a leupold I would put it on a brand new "Better" stick once I have my fundamentals down.

Thoughts? Also, whats a good 30mm ring setup that is QD capable without losing a significant amount of zero?

[maximus83]

Also, whats a good 30mm ring setup that is QD capable without losing a significant amount of zero?

I am interested in finding this out myself. At the high end of the QD mounts spectrum, I've been looking at the Larue Tactical "low" QD rings. They are pricey but coming from Larue, you know they are going to work:

http://stores.homestead.com/Laruetactical/Detail.bok?no=365


When you get into lower priced QD rings, I don't really know what they give up compared to higher end options like Larue, so not sure which if any of them are worth looking at.

[mcmillanman5]

My brother has one on a Rem 700 pss. His scope works fine unless it sits for a while. If he does not dial his scope the turrets seem to lock up. I think its a huge pain, he does not shoot/dial much so he does not care.

[Dirk Williams]

FWIW the SS's are a decent scope for the money. I use them on my build up guns. I have two for set up/funtion and dialing rifles in.

After the rifle's built and Im happy with the performance the SS is removed and a much better scope is mounted.

I have not experienced any dial or knob turning issues with either scope.

Good luck on your project.

D Williams

[TAZ]

I had one on one of my rifles for a long time. I had no issue with the knobs or anything on the scope. My only reason for moving on was my desire for a variable power scope. Its definitely NOT a Premier or a USO, but for the $$ its a great scope. Among its peers I think its the best out there. Having been spoiled over the past year or so with a Mil/Mil set up my only negative is the Mil/Moa on anything other than the HD version.

As for mounting options, I have used EGW bases with good success. For rings Warne. Not sure what the use for QD rings on a bolt gun would be, but my SPR mounts are rock solid.

[.30kal]

I own an original 10x42 and a newer 3-9x42. The new 3-9x42 is shares nothing in common with the older 10x42 other than the name. The turrets are in mils and are much more positive, the glass is better and the FFP reticle is a nice feature for a $600 scope. The only thing missing is a side parallax adjustment. I think for the money, the 3-9 is well worth it.

I understand that the 10x42 HD is on the level of the new 3-9x42 and has a parallax adjustment. If SWFA comes out with a FFP 4-14 or 5-15 with parallax and illuminated reticle for under a thousand, I'll be picking one up for sure.

[rudy99]

Here is a link to the SWFA Scope Rating scale for 2009: http://www.opticstalk.com/topic16515.html. You can see where the SS sits on SWFA's own chart, in comparison to say a Vortex Viper, which can be had for the same money (w/o target turrets), but gets a higher rating. The SS is hard to beat based on scopes with the exact same feature though.

[SHIVAN]

One of the only budget optics that met or exceeded my expectations. I recommend them to folks who don't aspire to be snipers, and need a solid optic for a bolt gun or DMR type AR.

There are certainly better scopes, but @ 2x/3x/4x...10x the price.

HOWEVER, the SWFA Super Sniper will be about on par with the 3200 10x you have now, maybe only slightly better.

If you want to upgrade, I think you'd be well served to jump up to the Leupold Mark 4 line. My personal favorite is the Mark 4 LR/T M1 3.5-10 (http://www.leupold.com/tactical/products/scopes/mark-4-lrt-riflescopes/mark-4-3-5-10x40mm-lrt-m1/). Though it's in the next zip code in terms of pricing.

I've used one of the older Nikon Tacticals (http://www.samplelist.com/Nikon-25-10x44-Tactical-Riflescope-DEMO-B-P854.aspx), and they get high marks from me too. I think the X line replaced them: Nikon Monarch X 2.5-10 (http://swfa.com/Nikon-25-10x44-Monarch-X-30mm-Riflescope-P45654.aspx)

[Bolt_Overide]

TBH they are good for their price point, and if you want to stay in that price point, they are hard to beat. I personally dont like to go with anything less than a NF or a leupy MK4, but thats just my opinion.

[Para1*]

I own one, my brother owns one, and a good friend owns one. We all like the scope and have had no problems. The only complaint I have is that when you turn the knobs it is more of a thud then a click, so when you are making adjustments it can be hard to know how far you've adjusted it sometimes. Good scope though.

[Eurodriver]

Thanks for the replies. I will stick with my 3200. In that comparison the 3200 is on the same level as the SS scope anyway. No sense in replacing a $200 scope with a $300 scope.

I don't get it. I have no qualms dropping thousands for my ARs, but when it comes to the most important part of my bolt gun I am a huge cheap skate.

I will save for a Mk4. Its what I've wanted all along, might as well stick with a true proven quality scope.

[wahoo95]

Good move, as I was gonna ask why you were looking t swap out your 10x 3200 for a 10x SS.

If you're looking to upgrade on a budget you could take a look at the Weaver Tactical 3-10x with Mil/Mil. Midway has them on sale for $300 now.

[pennzoil]

I second the good move comment.

I have both the 3200 elite and the standard SS. The SS I've had for awhile and the 3200 elite I got as a cheap place holder till the scope I'm waiting for is released. I like the SS alittle better then the 3200 but wouldn't pay the extra $$ for it if I had the 3200 first.

I think they are pretty close to equal from what I can see on my sample size of one but the nod would go to the SS no question about it.

SS holds zero between trips out and the time I dropped my rifle on its side:cray:. The SS tracks more accurately for me and just seems more solid all around(6 oz heavier).

3200 elite has better glass quality(vs standard not seen SS HD glass yet) is 6 oz lighter but seems to me like it wouldn't take near the beating that the SS would. It has held zero so far but doesn't track as well for me as the SS but could be apples to oranges as my SS is on bolt gun with all badger mounting and 3200 is in a primary arms mount for now on a new AR build. I think my 3200 is newer then yours as mine has the crappy green paint on the turrets thats harder to see.

I would of gotten the new 3-9 SS scope for my AR but had some issues with SWFA when I bought my first SS scope so decided against it. Maybe when they come out with the 1-4 I'll try them again.

http://a.imageshack.us/img824/1124/picturebackup1279.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/picturebackup1279.jpg/)

[cujet]

I have the side focus, super sniper scope on my DPMS 308. My good friend has a much more expensive, similarly sized Leupold (sorry I forgot the model) on the same model gun. I know this is highly subjective and non scientific. However, I am an amateur astronomer and I appreciate good optics.

I really like the SS optics, and I find them clear, with a nice field of view and tough enough for my use. However, the Leupold is a better scope. It's not more clear, or more sharp. But, under very low light conditions, the Leupold clearly works better. It's coatings and overall optical quality do help transmit light better.

In my neck of the woods, it matters not. I don't hunt or target shoot during the 2 minute period between waning light and total darkness.

Edit for additional information: It's $400 vs. $1200 and the real world performance is exactly the same. As I mentioned above, it's just as clear and sharp and it's tough. The $800 additional only results in slightly better "twilight" performance. By that I really do mean the last few seconds of available light. Not the performance at dusk, mind you, but the performance when dusk is over and night is just starting.

Also, I took the scope out and did some stargazing with it. The stars are sharp to the edge, a sign of properly figured optics. The light gathering ability is impressive. Better even than my 10x, 50mm (larger objective) Meade aiming scope.

[$CashMoney$]

I have a SS 10X HD on my .308 bolt gun, which has gone from a SPS Varmint to a sub .5 moa tack driver (with a little coaxing from the wallet and a good gunsmith).

Anyway, the scope tracks as well as any M3A that I've used (I've been a sniper, spotter, sniper squad leader, and scout/sniper platoon sergeant over the years) and in my opinion the difference in glass quality is not worth the difference in price, unless it's on the Army's coin. I've shot early morning and at dusk with guys with the S&Bs, Nightforce, and Swarovski's and did just fine. I'm not saying that SS is the same as these scopes, but I AM saying that they're not that much worse.

I haven't used the newer variable power FFP but I would imagine it's on par or slightly better than a Falcon Menace 4-14, which I've never personally used but I've read good reviews.

Bottom line, use what is best suited for your needs and your budget. The most important thing is that you're shooting long and straight.

[TacticalIntervention]

Heck I have been using a 3-9 and 10HD version of the SS line of scopes for about a year now. Best deal going on 3-9 varible and best deal on a fixed 10X. Basically the new 10HD is like an original BxL 10X tactical wthat has been beefed up a bit. If they offered these with M3 type dials I would be in heaven.

The less expensive 10xs fixed are a great deal but no where near as good as the newer models.

I did a review of the 3-9 and its on my website

www.tacticalintervention.com

[Scotty]

I have an old 10X side focus that I've been using since 2002. No problems here.

[zxd9]

I have the 10x on my Savage 10FP .308.

It has been great and the adjustments have been accurate from one distance to another.

[Utah1]

I put a 10X on my Regmington PSS eight years ago until I could afford something better. It's still there. I have two of the 3-9 with FFP and mil/mil and am waiting for the new 1-4 to come out. Great scopes.

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/1006/picture002br.jpg (http://img715.imageshack.us/i/picture002br.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)img]

[sgtlmj]

I was an LE sniper for many years, and was the assist. sniper team leader. I was in charge of T&E'ing all the new stuff. (Tough job, but someone had to do it. :D)

Anyway, I've had all kinds of crazy-expensive glass on my rifle: S&B, USO, NF, IOR, etc.

Since getting out of the biz, and not really needing a $3000 piece of glass on a rifle that only punches paper and woodchucks, I sold off the USO I had and put a SS 3-9 on it just so it would have some kind of glass.

I'm pretty impressed. It's nice and clear, tracks well, and doesn't look too bad. I'm going to give the Viper PST a look once they sort out the issues with those, just because I like having parallax adj, and illum, but for the time being, the SS fits my needs. I'll likely keep it and stick it on my Recce or something.

http://gallery.me.com/sgtlmj/100169/IMG_2540/web.jpg

[tobys]

I've had the base SS 10X on my 700 5R for years now. Rock solid, no zero loss ever, love it.

www.tobystactical.com for more info...

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy108/tobyandcarol/Shooting/5R_043a.jpg

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy108/tobyandcarol/Shooting/IMG_8233.jpg

[REAPER6]

hello everyone...new to site....just wanted to jump in and tell everyone from my experience with SWFA SS scopes there is NO better scope out there for the pricepoint, i have one mounted on an M-40 like rifle i built for myself and it has consistently proven itself out to about 1100 yards. very reliable adjustments !