Cutting a scope down…

[Tanner]

Okay, I can’t be the only one who has eyeballed the absurd amount of excess scope tube on the end of the fixed power SWFAs and had intrusive thoughts about chopping it off. I will never use a sunshade on it and I’ve had this particular 10x MQ forever, it’s ugly, it’s beat to shit, but it works and I wanna make it 3/4” of an inch shorter. Dremel is out of the question for sparks I figure. Perhaps a pipe cutter will do the trick?

Tanner

 

[Kyguy]

Good ole hacksaw would do it

 

[nm.otter]

Unscrew the objective end and chuck it up in a lathe (pretty much any lathe, actually) -- five minute job.

 

[Kyguy]

I think the purpose of the long front objective was to be an integral sunshade. Then you can add to it as you like with the additional short shades.

 

[Tanner]

Unscrew the objective end and take it to a machinist -- five minute job.

I don’t reckon that objective end unscrews…

 

[Tanner]

I think the purpose of the long front objective was to be an integral sunshade. Then you can add to it as you like with the additional short shades.

I don’t fault the logic, but just don’t have any use for that much tube beyond the objective lens… hacksaw could work just fine.

 

[Kyguy]

I absolutely agree with you.

 

[StupidLightweight]

I don’t reckon that objective end unscrews…

This! Please don’t try unscrewing scopes.

 

[nm.otter]

Depends on where the seal is, but yes.

 

[Jakeb]

I don’t reckon that objective end unscrews…

I think I remember reading somewhere on the internet that someone did unscrew it and the scope came apart. SWFA warrantied it and said not to do it again. I honestly have no idea where I would have read it though, possibly the hide or something. Idk where to even find it again.

 

[khart_6882]

Stuff a blue shop towel against the glass then attach the 4.5” death wheel to your grinder.

 

[Wrench]

It can be chucked up in a lathe. A 4 jaw and a steady will do it if you can't chuck it up in the head stock.

 

[Ratamahatta]

Let the intrusive thoughts win......

 

[Loper]

Please keep us updated on how you decide to modify it. Also please take before/after photos and notes on weight and keep us posted.

 

[JCMCUBIC]

I think I remember reading somewhere on the internet that someone did unscrew it and the scope came apart. SWFA warrantied it and said not to do it again. I honestly have no idea where I would have read it though, possibly the hide or something. Idk where to even find it again.

This is true. It wasn't me but I had considered doing the same thing before I read his account.

I use the heck out of 6x SWFA's but I would prefer it's objective end was more in line with 3-9's. That said, I might end up being regretful as it might make coating issues "glaringly" obvious that previously were not seen.

 

[tt_johnsclist]

I imagine it’s aluminum so you shouldn't have to worry about sparks when using a dremel.

 

[BLJ]

Dremel is out of the question for sparks I figure.

I’ve never seen aluminum produce sparks.

ETA. Posted same time as above.

 

[Chris in TN]

I've always thought sunshades were dumb and the vast majority of my range shooting is in the afternoons with the sun at my back - *but* that little bit of overhang can be awfully nice to have when actually hunting, if you see something halfway towards the sun, which has happened before.

I wouldn't touch it. An inch of thin aluminum tube weighs almost nothing. If anything it serves as a 'crumple zone' and might protect the more important part of the scope in a fall.

ETA: I say that because my current binos stick out past what's actually needed, by a small amount, and one of my kids bent the crap out of it but the barrels are still in alignment and the thing still works as intended, it just has an annoying bend in the objective end of the barrel. The bend is visually annoying once you see it, but it beats breaking a lens.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I personally wouldn’t do it, but if you do it and regret it, you can easily get a new one.

 

[4th_point]

I think I remember reading somewhere on the internet that someone did unscrew it and the scope came apart. SWFA warrantied it and said not to do it again. I honestly have no idea where I would have read it though, possibly the hide or something. Idk where to even find it again.

Someone posted that many years ago with a fixed power, I believe on 24hourcampfire. That was the first time I ever heard of it.

Since then, people have posted similar in other forums, but maybe the 3-15x and not the fixed power specifically.

And also here:

Thread 'Defective SWFA have me the chance to see what's inside'

Dec 4, 2025

Had a new 10X arrive today from SWFA's black Friday sale. When wiggling on the butler creek cap, the objective spun freely enough I thought that it was the sun shade. It wasn't.

Ive never looked inside a scope, so here you go.

• sndmn11
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Optics

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