Comparisons to SWFA FFP Scope?

I can say the swfa turrets are spot on on all swfa scopes I have had and used , I hav heard good things about Athlon but i didnt try one yet , I have tested Primary arms and it was a very nice scope for the money .

there is another one to look at , burris xtr 34mm tube in mid priced ffp ,

I have both the SWFA ffp scope and the Vortex Viper pst. They are both great scopes, but for my money it's the SWFA. I own 3 of them and one Vortex. Hope this helps.

Wait for Joe Rhea to chip in here. Pretty sure he's reviewed at least 2 out of 3. He rated the forge, big time

I have both the SWFA ffp scope and the Vortex Viper pst. They are both great scopes, but for my money it's the SWFA. I own 3 of them and one Vortex. Hope this helps.

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Do youhave the PST Gen 1 or Gen 2?

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I have the gen 2 PST

I don't have an SWFA, but do have an Athlon 6-24. Probably the best scope I've ever owned, not that I've had that many. I think you can't go wrong with either.

I was at SWFA in Midlothian when I compared the SWFA to the Vortex pst gen 2. I bought the 3-15 Vortex for my powder burner. Maybe I misremember, but I think it had something to do with the Vortex reticle lines being thinner. Later, I bought a 5-25 Vortex for another powder burner rifle. After some recent experience in long range competitions, I’m upgrading to Schmidt and Bender on both rifles. Reading mirage just isn’t possible with cheap optics, and neither is distinguishing most recent impact point on 600 and 800 yard metal targets. So I’ll be looking to get rid of some Gen 2 Vipers soon.

I can't compare the two based on use, but I did choose to go with the Athlon Helos 6-24×50 FFP over the SWFA only because of the lower paralax adjustment of the Athlon Helos. If shooting at short range, starting at 10 yards, I can focus down that far, whereas the SWFA only went down to 25 yards. The high power Vortex also had a 25 yards lower paralax adjustment. If the SWFA could do this with the high magnification and FFP it would have been my choice.

Haven't owned a SWFA but I have looked through them at gun shows. Seem to be nice enough glass (Japanese I believe) but the reticle is a dated design to me. I have owned a Athlon Cronus BTR which was nice but heavy, OK turrets, and some loss of resolution and darkening at 25+ power ...used it for awhile and sold it with a gun. Was pretty disappointed in the Ares upon arrival and sent it back without having really tried it out. Just wasn't please with the look, feel, glass, turrets and shining a light down the bell looking at the internals a lot of grease could be seen i.e. not cleanly built. Currently have a Vortex Viper PST II 3-15×44 FFP on a 20" AR-15. Good scope for the application. Don't do a lot of dialing. Optics good and reticle good for fast second follow up shots. The Bushnell Forge is very underrated IMO. I really like the Deploy mil reticle with it's small center dot aiming point which give the reitcle the edges over the Viper PST II. No real advantage in glass or turrets even though the Viper is made in the Phillipines and the Forge is Chinese. The Viper has illumination which is rarely of benefit to me personally but the Forge has the nifty throw lever which does come in handy all the time! Of your choices the Forge gets the nod for me personally with the Viper a close second.

Of the 3 the Forge is the one I like best . It for sure has the best glass in the group . And tracks like a bloodhound. They are expensive, but for my money . They may be the best scope under $1000 . That's saying a lot I know . But if you use one a while . And comapre it side by side with similiar scopes I think you might agree also . It's that nice a scope . Just my 2c

I have not looked through a Forge but I can say that Black Friday deal SWFA has on their SS scopes is a hell of a deal. That doesn’t do you a lot of good now unless they have another sale coming up before then and if they do I think I’ll pick up another. They seem to be a solid proven product.

Thanks to Joe I bought 3 SWFA's last year with no regrets. 10 fixed and 2 3-15's FFP. I hunt with a 5-25 PST 2 because I'm a holdover guy and I love the reticle. I need to take look at the Forge I guess. Anyhow, point here is that I bought all my SWFA's during their "Tax" sale last year and I expect they will do that again any day now. I wish I needed another scope right now cause the sale is really good. FWIW my SWFA 3-15's focus down around 12 yards. 

Cheers

I bought 3 of the 10x fixed at joes reccomendation and I couldn't be happier. I use them while hiding in brush and usually not hitting squirrels on a dead run. I am buying the 6x next for some faster action. If they had a 3x or 4x id be on that like white on rice on a paperplate in a snowstorm. They are that good.