glock24
02-20-11, 17:52
Gentlemen,
I'd like to share with you some of my opinions on my new SWFA Super Sniper 1-4x24mm HD (http://www.opticstalk.com/swfa-ss-hd-14x24-scopes-finally-available_topic27632.html) . While I haven't been able to get to the range this weekend, my initial opinions are very positive.
My 1-4x Super Sniper arrived on Friday afternoon. I chose the T-post reticle with exposed turrets only because I thought the circle reticle looked just a bit too obtrusive at 4x. In addition to CQB, I plan to do a lot of longer range shooting (up to 500 meter) with mine, and thought the T-post reticle would provide a bit better field of view for longer ranges. I was able to mount it on my SPRish and make some initial observations.
Delights;
- The glass is impeccable from edge to edge.
- The reticle is very strong! What I mean is that it provides me with an unmistakable aiming center in both busy target backgrounds and lower light conditions. All without the need for illumination. See below for more details
- The illumination is bright! Think fluorescent red. It's really too bad because I don't plan to use it much.
- Definitely true 1x after setting the diopter for my eyeballs
- The mag ring is firm, but not obscenely tight. A cat-tail may not be needed for quick magnification changes.
- Eye relief is large, and the eye box is very forgiving.
Meh, not so much;
- My Troy BUIS will not fit beneath the ocular bell. My setup (CASV + LaRue LT-719) gives me a 1.41" center-line height above the receiver. It is not enough by about 0.005"-0.010". It appears this scope will require a center-line height of 1.5" to comfortably clear at least the Troy BUIS.
- The elevation click spacing is way too close together. That should have been obvious to me even before I handled one. The darn knob is 2/3s the diameter of a Nightforce Hi-Speed knob, yet both have 10 mils per revolution.
- I have a feeling it is going to be very hard to get a cat-tail for this scope anyway. The mag ring offers poor accommodations for the typical two-piece clamp system. I guess we'll see.
Obligatory glamour shots;
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c194/flexiblehorse12/SPR/Picture002-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c194/flexiblehorse12/SPR/Picture017.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c194/flexiblehorse12/SPR/Picture012.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c194/flexiblehorse12/SPR/Picture009-2.jpg
More on the reticle;
When I speak of busy target backgrounds, dark tree lines always top the list. Although it is still winter here in Michigan, I'm hopeful this reticle won't care about the summer foliage. I can confidently say that the current conditions are not a problem with this scope.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c194/flexiblehorse12/SPR/Picture036.jpg
Below is my home's hallway in the middle of the afternoon. I also know it isn't unusual for every home to have shadowy places like this. This is another type of target background that gives me trouble when trying to use the small, thin, centrally located reticle on many 1-4x optics. I'm happy to report the Super Sniper's reticle works very well here too.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c194/flexiblehorse12/SPR/Picture029.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c194/flexiblehorse12/SPR/Picture031.jpg
The ability to see, unmistakeably, even a portion of a non-illuminated reticle in all conditions is a very big deal to me. I've been waiting a long time for it. This is not a new, or unique opinion. I think many of us can still remember our fathers and grandfathers bragging up the advantages of their trusty Redfield's Heavy-Plex reticle when brush hunting or hunting at dusk/dawn. The same advantages apply in a tactical situation, but for some reason that value has been lost in a lot of these new generation 1-4x optics.
These SS reticles allow me to run a non-illuminated reticle with enough contrast to see and/or at least bracket the target's center of mass in a vast majority of conditions. I've tried my same hallway and tree line experiments with the IOR, Meopta, GRSC, Burris XTR, Nightforce (mil-dot) and Vortex PST. They don't compare. I loose the reticle. The 1-4x Super Sniper solves this problem.
Think what you want about the value of illumination. Personally, I think very little of it. Any 1-4x scope will not have Aimpoint reliability or battery life. I refuse to stake my safety on a $0.99 lithium cell if ever I am required to use my weapon in haste. Especially when I forget to turn off the illumination switch from last week's range session.
Conversely, I also enjoy knocking steel out to 500 meters. I've tried it with a Trijicon AccuPoint, Millett, and Nightforce (FC-2). It sucks. There is little ability to hold-over for distance. The 1-4x Super Sniper solves this problem also.
Obviously your mileage will vary, but this is my take on the 1-4x Super Sniper, and what I value most in its features. I believe SWFA did an absolutely outstanding job of understanding and executing a reticle design that is without a doubt the best-in-class for capability and flexibility. If this scope also performs mechanically, I think that I (and many others) have found, quite literally, the perfect 1-4x optic.
There are plenty more (and better) reticle shots on SWFA's forum (http://www.opticstalk.com/swfa-14x-ss_topic22981_post356967.html#356967). Check them out;
I'd like to share with you some of my opinions on my new SWFA Super Sniper 1-4x24mm HD (http://www.opticstalk.com/swfa-ss-hd-14x24-scopes-finally-available_topic27632.html) . While I haven't been able to get to the range this weekend, my initial opinions are very positive.
My 1-4x Super Sniper arrived on Friday afternoon. I chose the T-post reticle with exposed turrets only because I thought the circle reticle looked just a bit too obtrusive at 4x. In addition to CQB, I plan to do a lot of longer range shooting (up to 500 meter) with mine, and thought the T-post reticle would provide a bit better field of view for longer ranges. I was able to mount it on my SPRish and make some initial observations.
Delights;
- The glass is impeccable from edge to edge.
- The reticle is very strong! What I mean is that it provides me with an unmistakable aiming center in both busy target backgrounds and lower light conditions. All without the need for illumination. See below for more details
- The illumination is bright! Think fluorescent red. It's really too bad because I don't plan to use it much.
- Definitely true 1x after setting the diopter for my eyeballs
- The mag ring is firm, but not obscenely tight. A cat-tail may not be needed for quick magnification changes.
- Eye relief is large, and the eye box is very forgiving.
Meh, not so much;
- My Troy BUIS will not fit beneath the ocular bell. My setup (CASV + LaRue LT-719) gives me a 1.41" center-line height above the receiver. It is not enough by about 0.005"-0.010". It appears this scope will require a center-line height of 1.5" to comfortably clear at least the Troy BUIS.
- The elevation click spacing is way too close together. That should have been obvious to me even before I handled one. The darn knob is 2/3s the diameter of a Nightforce Hi-Speed knob, yet both have 10 mils per revolution.
- I have a feeling it is going to be very hard to get a cat-tail for this scope anyway. The mag ring offers poor accommodations for the typical two-piece clamp system. I guess we'll see.
Obligatory glamour shots;
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c194/flexiblehorse12/SPR/Picture002-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c194/flexiblehorse12/SPR/Picture017.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c194/flexiblehorse12/SPR/Picture012.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c194/flexiblehorse12/SPR/Picture009-2.jpg
More on the reticle;
When I speak of busy target backgrounds, dark tree lines always top the list. Although it is still winter here in Michigan, I'm hopeful this reticle won't care about the summer foliage. I can confidently say that the current conditions are not a problem with this scope.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c194/flexiblehorse12/SPR/Picture036.jpg
Below is my home's hallway in the middle of the afternoon. I also know it isn't unusual for every home to have shadowy places like this. This is another type of target background that gives me trouble when trying to use the small, thin, centrally located reticle on many 1-4x optics. I'm happy to report the Super Sniper's reticle works very well here too.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c194/flexiblehorse12/SPR/Picture029.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c194/flexiblehorse12/SPR/Picture031.jpg
The ability to see, unmistakeably, even a portion of a non-illuminated reticle in all conditions is a very big deal to me. I've been waiting a long time for it. This is not a new, or unique opinion. I think many of us can still remember our fathers and grandfathers bragging up the advantages of their trusty Redfield's Heavy-Plex reticle when brush hunting or hunting at dusk/dawn. The same advantages apply in a tactical situation, but for some reason that value has been lost in a lot of these new generation 1-4x optics.
These SS reticles allow me to run a non-illuminated reticle with enough contrast to see and/or at least bracket the target's center of mass in a vast majority of conditions. I've tried my same hallway and tree line experiments with the IOR, Meopta, GRSC, Burris XTR, Nightforce (mil-dot) and Vortex PST. They don't compare. I loose the reticle. The 1-4x Super Sniper solves this problem.
Think what you want about the value of illumination. Personally, I think very little of it. Any 1-4x scope will not have Aimpoint reliability or battery life. I refuse to stake my safety on a $0.99 lithium cell if ever I am required to use my weapon in haste. Especially when I forget to turn off the illumination switch from last week's range session.
Conversely, I also enjoy knocking steel out to 500 meters. I've tried it with a Trijicon AccuPoint, Millett, and Nightforce (FC-2). It sucks. There is little ability to hold-over for distance. The 1-4x Super Sniper solves this problem also.
Obviously your mileage will vary, but this is my take on the 1-4x Super Sniper, and what I value most in its features. I believe SWFA did an absolutely outstanding job of understanding and executing a reticle design that is without a doubt the best-in-class for capability and flexibility. If this scope also performs mechanically, I think that I (and many others) have found, quite literally, the perfect 1-4x optic.
There are plenty more (and better) reticle shots on SWFA's forum (http://www.opticstalk.com/swfa-14x-ss_topic22981_post356967.html#356967). Check them out;