Looks like SWFA got some scopes in and have them discounted for Black Friday
https://www.swfa.com/blackfriday2020
https://www.swfa.com/blackfriday2020
SWFA Black Friday sale
- Thread starter Mr.H
- Start date
Great deals! Now's the time to buy your MARCH SCOPES!!! (AND NIGHTFORCE)
And SWFA SS 3-15x42 FFP if these floats your boat.
BTW the 16x isn't that clear IMHO I have 2 of them and the 20x is even worse. The 10x is great though.
And SWFA SS 3-15x42 FFP if these floats your boat.
BTW the 16x isn't that clear IMHO I have 2 of them and the 20x is even worse. The 10x is great though.
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Took advantage of it again even though there was a little price creep on the 10x with side focus. I obviously feel it’s good deal or I wouldn’t have bought another one. I had checked their website a few times lately and just about all the SS scopes were back ordered and feared the end of them. Never had an issue with either the 10x or the 3-15!
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I have the 20x42 fixed. The glass is clear, but the scope suffers from glaring when light conditions are not perfect. If there is any brighter area in front or behind the target, the eye box gets REALLY small for a clear picture and almost impossible in some situations. I have read that adding 3 sun shades is the key, but I am waiting for a sale on the $19 x42 sun shades (I already have one installed) from SWFA before I give it a try. Also, from the same source, the "kill-flash" does not help.
Other than that, I like the scope. Repeatable clicks and 20 power is just about right for my pesting, even though my extreme range is now only about 32 yards. Aim small, miss small. (grin)
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Try covering/taping the front of the SWFA sunshade with black construction paper and cut out a hole in the middle the size of a nickel and wrap the ocular with another black piece of paper completely around extending back about 2 inches to make an eye shade then cut 1 inch slits open and fold 45 degrees like a flower or just make it like a funnel bend the edges back so your eyeball doesnt touch it.
If it's still bad make another with the hole the size of a dime and run a longer ocular eye shade cut slits to open up like a flower or just make it like a funnel so your eyeball don't touch it.
If it's still bad make another with the hole the size of a dime and run a longer ocular eye shade cut slits to open up like a flower or just make it like a funnel so your eyeball don't touch it.
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I don't think the problem is with the ocular, but I may try what you suggested on the sun shade. The only problem I foresee there is that the scope isn't really good in very low light now... For bright conditions this might do well, but for low light conditions I can't see it helping. Under "ideal" lighting conditions, the eye box is not so bad and the scope clarity is one of the better that I have owned.
Thanks for the idea. I may try the nickel hole over the sun shade tomorrow. I have 2 young tree rats that need a dirt nap, but they are very savvy!
p.s.
What fixed power scope would you recommend for 20x or above?
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Heres the scoops I compared my SWFA SS 20X and 16x directly to my old made in Philipines Simmons 44mag 6.5-20x44 front AO focus. I liked the $99 Simmons better at 16x and EVEN MORE SO at 20x when doing side by sides. My $229 Alpha6 4.5-27x50 optically SMOKES both of the SWFA SS 16x and 20x compared side by side at both 16x and 20x and is even better for my eyes than the 3-15x42 version as well at 4.5x and 15x as well. I haven't found a more forgiving eyebox than the cheap Alpha6 at all its variable zoom from end to end from 4.5x-27x including tier1 scopes that I own and also the returned ones because I thought they were only sub par for being tier1 optics.
I have to disagree with this guy with his comments about the 16x which he thinks is the nicest and I don't think he has seen tier 1 glass regularly to be subjective enough to know what good glass is. You in really bad shape when a Hawke Sidewinder 30 6.5-20x42 looks clearer at 20x let alone a $99 Simmons than the SWFA SS.
The eyebox and the rather annoying eyepiece glare are pretty damn terrible on the SWFA SS scopes including the 3-15x42 IMHO.
https://youtu.be/2FlLYktM0rk
You better off buying a Sightron SIII 10-50x60 on sale for half price to be honest they are only $650 and have 11-13 yard focus and just leave it at 20x. Useful up until around 35x then you notice optical degradation the higher you go up.
Call Scott at Liberty Optics say the $649 SIII illuminated 10-50x60 with 13 yard focus.
Only a Leupold EFR 6.5-20x40 AO front focus for under $600 when shopping smart would be my other recommendation unless you want to pay over $1000 for better 20x glass.
I wouldn't recommend any fixed power 20x and higher under $1000 since you can buy cheaper scopes that can be fine and ckearer than the SWFA SS 20x currently from $229 to $349.
MidwayUSA Black Friday sale there's the Korean Bushnell Nitro FFP 6-24x50 $349 that's almost like half price cheap and at 20x will SMOKE the SWFA SS 20x almost (but not quite) as bad as the $229 Chinese Alpha6 does.
Even the cheaper sub $300 Chinese Bushnell Engage 6-24x50 SFP SMOKES the SWFA at 20x as well.
I have to disagree with this guy with his comments about the 16x which he thinks is the nicest and I don't think he has seen tier 1 glass regularly to be subjective enough to know what good glass is. You in really bad shape when a Hawke Sidewinder 30 6.5-20x42 looks clearer at 20x let alone a $99 Simmons than the SWFA SS.
The eyebox and the rather annoying eyepiece glare are pretty damn terrible on the SWFA SS scopes including the 3-15x42 IMHO.
https://youtu.be/2FlLYktM0rk
You better off buying a Sightron SIII 10-50x60 on sale for half price to be honest they are only $650 and have 11-13 yard focus and just leave it at 20x. Useful up until around 35x then you notice optical degradation the higher you go up.
Call Scott at Liberty Optics say the $649 SIII illuminated 10-50x60 with 13 yard focus.
Only a Leupold EFR 6.5-20x40 AO front focus for under $600 when shopping smart would be my other recommendation unless you want to pay over $1000 for better 20x glass.
I wouldn't recommend any fixed power 20x and higher under $1000 since you can buy cheaper scopes that can be fine and ckearer than the SWFA SS 20x currently from $229 to $349.
MidwayUSA Black Friday sale there's the Korean Bushnell Nitro FFP 6-24x50 $349 that's almost like half price cheap and at 20x will SMOKE the SWFA SS 20x almost (but not quite) as bad as the $229 Chinese Alpha6 does.
Even the cheaper sub $300 Chinese Bushnell Engage 6-24x50 SFP SMOKES the SWFA at 20x as well.
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I sympathize with you on the 20x SWFA, Mr. OD.
Had two but sold both of them
The 2nd one I sold for $140 shipped and it was almost brand new and in brand new shape.
I find SWFA's fixed power 20x not suitable to my eyes.
Had a hard time hitting bull'seye at 50 yards using those scopes.
I would have been better with a 12x or a 10x, or even a 6x.
The SoKor Bushnell Engage scopes are nice optically but I find their MOA reticle too busy and closely spaced.
I wish they were numbered.
I also sold my 4-12x Engage, 1" tube.
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WHERE DID THE 3-15 in MOA GO? I do only MOA. Discontinued? If it is, who has one that I can buy?
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