New SWFA 3-15x42

[BrigandTwoFour]

Saw this start popping up in my news feeds today. Frank at Snipershide started posting pictures this morning, followed by an official announcement by SWFA later on.

I'm pretty sure this is going to end up atop my .308 AR precision project.

[ThreeFingerPete]

Yes please! This gives me a reason not to buy the Weaver 3-15 with the reticle that I don't care for.

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

I don't dislike the line but I would not take advice from that douche bag!

[BrigandTwoFour]

I don't dislike the line but I would not take advice from that douche bag!

Fair point, but I haven't taken advice from him. I just happen to "like" snipershide.

I've been in the market for a few optics. My recce has a TR24 on it, and I've been agonizing about what to replace it with. Vortex just answered that one with the 2.5-10 FFP. I was planning on the SWFA 3-9 for my M1A (which may now go down to a fixed 6x to avoid too much overlap in optics), and then the new project (precision .308 AR) was in need. I think a 3-15 sounds just about perfect for that application. It's not a magnification range I've seen done too much from companies with good reputations at a price point I am comfortable with.

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Fair point, but I haven't taken advice from him. I just happen to "like" snipershide.

I've been in the market for a few optics. My recce has a TR24 on it, and I've been agonizing about what to replace it with. Vortex just answered that one with the 2.5-10 FFP. I was planning on the SWFA 3-9 for my M1A (which may now go down to a fixed 6x to avoid too much overlap in optics), and then the new project (precision .308 AR) was in need. I think a 3-15 sounds just about perfect for that application. It's not a magnification range I've seen done too much from companies with good reputations at a price point I am comfortable with.

Thanks for that!

I have not heard any bad things about the vortex except they are not 100% made in the USA but few things are. TR24 is hard to beet, maybe someday Trijicon will give us what we all want.

[bnanaphone]

Looks very interesting, thanks for posting. I have been wondering when they would release a scope in this range. The price and features seem very competitive with the PST offerings too.

Looks like it uses their mil-quad reticle though. That is the only thing I don't like about my 5-20 SS scope. It is not bad, I just prefer hashes over any other shape for MIL or MOA refrence points.

[BrigandTwoFour]

Thanks for that!

TR24 is hard to beet, maybe someday Trijicon will give us what we all want.

I know, that's why I'm having such an issue replacing it. Really my only complaint about it is the lack of reference marks for holdovers at distance. But besides that, it has been damn near flawless for me.

[SomeOtherGuy]

Thanks for that!

I have not heard any bad things about the vortex except they are not 100% made in the USA but few things are. TR24 is hard to beet, maybe someday Trijicon will give us what we all want.

If by "not 100% made in the USA" you mean their scopes are 0.000% made in the USA, then yes. Their Viper series are from Philippines, Razor HD is made in Japan, and I think their cheapest models are in China but not 100% sure. None of them are made in the USA. Vortex is a US company like Bushnell or Weaver (ATK), but like them outsources all the actual production to asia.

I think Vortex makes pretty good stuff, but I just see the constant repetition that they are somehow US made, and it ain't so. (For that matter most Leupold stuff uses asian components with only final assembly here, and Nightforce scopes are partially to mostly made in Japan depending on the model.)

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

I know, that's why I'm having such an issue replacing it. Really my only complaint about it is the lack of reference marks for holdovers at distance. But besides that, it has been damn near flawless for me.

Have you looked at the bushnell 1-6 HDMR?

[BrigandTwoFour]

Have you looked at the bushnell 1-6 HDMR?

Actually, I have. I was having quite a bit of trouble deciding between that one and the SWFA 1-6.

But, I'm just not in the 1-6 market right now. I will have one eventually, as I think it's probably a great option for a "do-all" optic. But, currently, the rifle with the TR24 is getting used more and more for target shooting at longer ranges. The 2.5-10 suites my needs better for that.

The "social purposes" gun has an RDS.

In any case, the scope in the OP is going to end up on a .308 for me.