New Gen 2 SWFA 3-15x42 & 10x Review

[WyoWild]

@jamesmc8 if you were running one of these on all your hunting setups after your observations, which one do you think your choosing? (Given the SWFA pass the eval)

For me it is between the Maven RS 1.2 and SWFA 3-15x42. The Trijicon is a GREAT scope but for me the reticle in the Maven & SWFA is better for hunting use.

I assume they SWFA will do just fine in the drop eval. DLO on you tube reviewed them and discussed the Gen 2 with SWFA and noted that the internals have not changed at all. The only factor I can see is that if run with the dust caps/turret covers drops could be more jarring given the height. If I were to run this scope it would be without the caps for sure.

Maven RS 1.2
Pros:
-Awesome glass with sharpest image
-Elevation turret with 10mil per rev
-Much more low profile capped windage
-Better Reticle (slightly)
-Illumination (though the illumination OK its not great)
-Great company with great customer service

Cons:
-Heavier (2-3oz)
-Very stiff parallax adjustment
-$$$

SWFA
Pros:
-Good value
-Decent glass
-Good reticle
-Smooth parallax which is easier to adjust
-Lighter weight (23.5 oz with out dust caps ~ 3 oz lighter than the Maven)

Cons:
-Tall ass turrets - especially if you use caps
-Elevation is 5 mil per rev (may not be an issue depending on how far you shoot)
-Uncapped windage ~ unless you want to run tall ass cap
-Reticle less visible at low light in the 3-5x range but does great from 6x on up
-Customer service? I have no direct experience with this but know others have not been happy with backorder/repair times etc.

Tie/Functionally Equal
-Eye relief
-Eye box
-Zero stop

Overall the Maven is a better scope. Know reliability and a great but not perfect feature set. I will likely run the Maven on my Tikka 6mm Creed hunting rifle. If cost is not a big concern I think most would be very happy running the Maven.

I am leaning toward running the SWFA on my Tikka 223 which I use mostly for practice and occasionally for hunting. It does not give up too much to the Maven and is still a very functional scope. I can put the $500 saved toward binos/ammo/tags etc.

When/if the 6x or 3-9 HD comes available I have an ultralight Howa Mini in 6 ARC that I want to try those scopes on. Right now I am running a Trijicon Credo 3-9 which has been great but being able to dial vs hold for elevation for only 2oz more is appealing.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

The deadspace under the windage is especially galling...who's going to be maxing out the windage? I think a lot of folks will just cover with a rubber chair leg end or similar (I think a 7/8" will fit with some stretch). I think SWFA should sell shorter caps for the windage if nothing else.

IMHO the easiest seems like run the narrow turrets and then just wrap around the base with electrical tape once your zero'd. No weight, no additional protrusion, etc. Easy to peel off if zeroing for another load.

 

[qotsa23]

IMHO the easiest seems like run the narrow turrets and then just wrap around the base with electrical tape once your zero'd. No weight, no additional protrusion, etc. Easy to peel off if zeroing for another load.

Agree that is the easiest solution. The rubber chair leg would save some height if you remove the narrow windage turret.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Agree that is the easiest solution. The rubber chair leg would save some height if you remove the narrow windage turret.

It could, but since the narrow turret doesn't block ejection I see little reason to take it off. If it blocked ejection it would be a completely different matter.

 

[BBob]

Elevation is 5 mil per rev (may not be an issue depending on how far you shoot)

Agreed on likely not an issue for most.

700ish yards with 5mil and a generic 6.5 CM. Seriously how many people really need more than 5mil worth of elevation in 1 turn of rotation? Another silly gripe.

 

[Schmo]

Seriously how many people really need more than 5mil worth of elevation in 1 turn of rotation? Another silly gripe.

Exactly!

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Agreed on likely not an issue for most.

700ish yards with 5mil and a generic 6.5 CM. Seriously how many people really need more than 5mil worth of elevation in 1 turn of rotation? Another silly gripe.

I think its fair to acknowledge that base 10 is easier to not screw up something IF that is relevant to the shooter and the OP noted it likely wouldn't be. Base 5 is reasonable though, base 8 is kinda stupid...

 

[WyoWild]

3-15 mounted on a 223. Range time tomorrow.

 

[WIDrake]

Agreed on likely not an issue for most.

700ish yards with 5mil and a generic 6.5 CM. Seriously how many people really need more than 5mil worth of elevation in 1 turn of rotation? Another silly gripe.

Me, I'm of of those idiots that does something in a way that needs more than 5 in one turn. I shoot a 223 in PRS and shoot matches at 950 and in but have shot one out to 1267 yards. 615 is 5 mil with my current load combo but I might switch loads to a combo that gets me to 720 at 5 mil. But that's getting into the weeds and it's a self induced issue where I'm getting into situations with limited time to dial out and back for shots.

 

[WyoWild]

Climbing today... shooting tomorrow

 

[sndmn11]

 

[BjornF16]

I do have both the Gen 1 and Gen 2 to compare. I will try to get out this evening or tomorrow morning to compare.

Overcast skies. Started comparing Gen 1, Gen 2 and my Tenmile 3-18x44 at sunset +10 all the way to +30 minutes past sunset.

I could not differentiate between Gen 1 and Gen 2 on various backgrounds to include forest in my “back 40” and to an archery target (side view with writing) at the same magnification.

Additionally, my aged eyes couldn’t really tell a difference with the Tenmile as far as general scene. Lost the ability to read the archery target at the same time as the SWFAs.

However, the SWFA mil quad reticle was usable for much longer than non-illuminated Tenmile reticle with the forest background.

Just my subjective view

 

[BBob]

Climbing today... shooting tomorrow

Why do so many climbers think others would want to see their ass shots???

 

[WyoWild]

Why do so many climbers think others would want to see their ass shots???

Well BBob you keep PMing me to "send pics"

 

[Spoonbill]

Overcast skies. Started comparing Gen 1, Gen 2 and my Tenmile 3-18x44 at sunset +10 all the way to +30 minutes past sunset.

I could not differentiate between Gen 1 and Gen 2 on various backgrounds to include forest in my “back 40” and to an archery target (side view with writing) at the same magnification.

Additionally, my aged eyes couldn’t really tell a difference with the Tenmile as far as general scene. Lost the ability to read the archery target at the same time as the SWFAs.

However, the SWFA mil quad reticle was usable for much longer than non-illuminated Tenmile reticle with the forest background.

Just my subjective view

Thanks for the info especially on the reticles. Sounds like the gen 2 is the same as the original swfa.

 

[WyoWild]

This video has a very nice review and comparison of Gen 1 vs Gen 2 in the fixed 10x.

 

[sndmn11]

Well BBob you keep PMing me to "send pics"

He meant feet

 

[eric1115]

Climbing today... shooting tomorrow

Just how high are you planning to drop it from?

 

[WyoWild]

Just how high are you planning to drop it from?

Drops are 9 x 36 feet right?

Maybe the new eval should see which scope can survive the highest drop and hold zero.

Scope did great today. Tracking and RTZ are dead on. Really like the reticle from. 6-12x.

 

[Weldor]

Ok, Dumb question. Can't someone use a 3-d printer to make a shorter windage cap?