WyoWild
WKR
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2021
- Messages
- 528
This is a quick review of the just released Gen 2 SWFA 3-15x42 and 10x42.
This is a quick review to help others considering these scopes. Spent about two hours reviewing the optical performance, features and dimensions of these two scopes. They were compared against some of the current gold standards; the Trijicon Tenmile 3-18x44 and the Maven RS 1.2 2.5-15x44. I have used the Trijcion Credo's and Tenmiles for the last couple years. The Maven is new to me this fall and I have used it at the range and doing some positional shooting. Both SWFA scopes just arrived so although I spent a good amount of time looking thru them and comparing features I do not have field experience with them yet.
Dimensions (Length & Actual Weights on my small postal scale)
Gen 2 SWFA 3-15x42 - 13.7" - 24.4oz (23.5 oz with low profile turrets & without dust covers) - 1-2 oz heavier than listed on SWFA site
Gen 2 SWFA 10x 42 - 14.1" - 20.7oz (19.8 oz with low profile turrets & without dust covers)
Trijicon Tenmile 3-18x44 - 15" - 24.8oz
Maven RS 1.2 2.5-15x44 - 14" - 26.5oz - exactly as advertised!
Size Comparison
L to R: Gen 2 SWFA 3-15x42, Maven RS 1.2 2.5-15x44, Gen 2 SWFA 10x 42, Trijicon Tenmile 3-18x44
SWFA 3-15
SWFA 10x
Turret Performance/Features
Gen 2 SWFA 3-15x42 - 13.7" - 5 MIL per revolution, 8/10 for turret feel, turret markings line up precisely. Turing the elevation turret is nice and firm. Its not really going to accidentally get bumped and rotate. Compared to the Maven/Trijicon the turrets (without caps) are 0.2" taller. Not a big deal in my opinion. However if you have the dust caps on it adds another 0.25 inches so you end up close to 0.5" taller when capped (see photos). When capped they look a little goofy but I am not really concerned with cosmetics. One issues I noticed when I cycled rounds thru a Tikka, the ejected rounds would hit the windage turret during ejection. Annoying but it did not inhibit ejecting spent brass. However with the caps removed the ejected cases just cleared and were not hitting the low profile turret. The addition of the Zero Stop is well executed and easy to set.
Gen 2 SWFA 10x 42 - Same exact turrets and performance outlined above.
Trijicon Tenmile 3-18x44 - 15" - 24.8oz - 8 MIL per revolution, clicks feel similar to the SWFA but it is a bit easier to turn the elevation dial. I used this scope on several hunts this year and never had any issue with the turret getting bumped. Nice low profile capped windage turret. Zero stop is the same exact design as the Maven and is easy to set.
Maven RS 1.2 2.5-15x44 - 10 MIL per revolution, clicks are very positive but it is a bit TOO EASY to spin the elevation dial. This scope is new to me so have not used it in the field as much. Wonder if anyone has had issues with the turret getting accidentally spun in the field.? Regardless it it has a nice zero stop provided you remember to check. Nice low profile capped windage turret. Zero stop is the same exact design as the Trijicon and is easy to set.
Glass/Reticle/Eye Relief/Eye Box
Gen 2 SWFA 3-15x42 - The glass on the 3-15x42 is nice and clear, you get a bit of clarity loss toward the edges. It looses some light transmission in low light when cranked up to 15x. From 3-12 the glass is really pretty good. This is not "alpha glass" but it is good glass and totally functional. IMO the Mil-Quad reticle is a nice functional and simple design. At first light you have to strain to make out the reticle on 3x. However the extra thick outer stadia would still allow you to pull off a shot at closer range if needed. The reticle is 0.06 MIL thick and is great from 6x up to the top end. The reticle is non-illuminated but is very usable thru most of the mag range and in most lighting conditions. Eye relief is more than adequate and did not really decrease measurably evan at full mag. Eye box is good from 3-12x and gets tight at 15x but performed pretty similar to the Maven and Trijicon.
Gen 2 SWFA 10x 42 - Glass is nice and clear just like above. Eye relief is good and would not be an issue whatsoever. The eye box is a bit tighter but I think that is largely due to it being a fixed 10x and not having the option to decrease mag. This scope could be a bit harder to get behind when shooting from awkward positions.
Trijicon Tenmile 3-18x44 - Excellent glass that is clear edge to edge. Maintains great clarity and brightness all the way up to 15x. As with the others the scope darkens a bit when you get to max mag. Performs better at 15x than either the Maven or SWFA. Good eye relief but at 18x the eye box is very tight. The Christmas Tree reticle is busy at lower and moderate magnification but I don't mind it at all from about 9x on up. I used this scope to kill a mule deer and antelope this year and it performed well. However both the Maven and the SWFA reticles perform better at low magnification that the Tenmile. The Maven has the best reticle at 3x. The illumination on the Trijicon is great and allows both green/red, although the whole tree illuminates and it would be ideal if it was just the main crosshair. If hunting in thick timber and/or low light you will need to rely on illumination if using mag below 5-6.
Maven RS 1.2 2.5-15x44 - Outstanding glass! The image is clear bright and sharp. I would say this is without a doubt the best glass and viewing experience of these four scopes. Excellent clarity and resolution from 3-12x. The image gets a little darker at 15x just like the other optics at max magnification. This is the most usable and flexible reticle as it is usable even in low light from 2.5 to 15x. It does get a bit thick at 15x. Eye relief is MEGA!, longer than any of the others. Found I had to mount this scope a bit farther forward compared to the others. Eye box is great from 2.5-12+, as with others gets tight at 15x but pretty forgiving overall. Illumination is meh... the center dot illuminates and on low power gives a tiny aiming point. If turned up too high it bleeds and lights up random parts of the reticle which is distracting. It does work OK with the some mag turned up and the illumination set on a low setting. Given that the reticle works well in nearly all light conditions you really dont have to rely on illumination. I honestly wish you could get a version of this scope without illumination for $100-200 less and 1-2ox lighter.
Parallax/Focus:
Gen 2 SWFA 3-15x42 - Parallax is nice and smooth, easy to adjust and marked. The fast focus eye piece is excellent.
Gen 2 SWFA 10x 42 - The rear parallax works just fine. Harder to adjust on the fly when behind the gun but in a hunting situation just have it set at 250-300 and your good to go for 90% of shots. Fast focus eye piece is great.
Trijicon Tenmile 3-18x44 - Parallax is nice and smooth, easy to adjust and marked.
Maven RS 1.2 2.5-15x44 - Parallax is stiff and difficult to adjust, especially if its cold out or with gloves. Others have said that with time/use it loosens up.
Summary:
The Gen 2 SWFA 3-15x42 and 10x42 are quality functional hunting optics. I was particularly impressed with the 3-15x42. Optical performance is more adequate for hunting. The scopes have a great track record for durability and it sounds like drop testing is in the works for the Gen 2 versions. The addition of a zero stop is an awesome upgrade as is the lower profile turret option. The turret covers are comically tall and can result in ejected brass hitting the windage turrets. In my Tikka rifle it did not interfere with clearing spent cases but this could vary depending on your action, mounts and cartridge. For the cost these optics perform very well. Optically they are a step behind the Trijicon/Maven..... but also cost $500-700 less. Hope this helps others who might be considering these scopes.
This is a quick review to help others considering these scopes. Spent about two hours reviewing the optical performance, features and dimensions of these two scopes. They were compared against some of the current gold standards; the Trijicon Tenmile 3-18x44 and the Maven RS 1.2 2.5-15x44. I have used the Trijcion Credo's and Tenmiles for the last couple years. The Maven is new to me this fall and I have used it at the range and doing some positional shooting. Both SWFA scopes just arrived so although I spent a good amount of time looking thru them and comparing features I do not have field experience with them yet.
Dimensions (Length & Actual Weights on my small postal scale)
Gen 2 SWFA 3-15x42 - 13.7" - 24.4oz (23.5 oz with low profile turrets & without dust covers) - 1-2 oz heavier than listed on SWFA site
Gen 2 SWFA 10x 42 - 14.1" - 20.7oz (19.8 oz with low profile turrets & without dust covers)
Trijicon Tenmile 3-18x44 - 15" - 24.8oz
Maven RS 1.2 2.5-15x44 - 14" - 26.5oz - exactly as advertised!
Size Comparison
L to R: Gen 2 SWFA 3-15x42, Maven RS 1.2 2.5-15x44, Gen 2 SWFA 10x 42, Trijicon Tenmile 3-18x44SWFA 3-15
SWFA 10x
Turret Performance/Features
Gen 2 SWFA 3-15x42 - 13.7" - 5 MIL per revolution, 8/10 for turret feel, turret markings line up precisely. Turing the elevation turret is nice and firm. Its not really going to accidentally get bumped and rotate. Compared to the Maven/Trijicon the turrets (without caps) are 0.2" taller. Not a big deal in my opinion. However if you have the dust caps on it adds another 0.25 inches so you end up close to 0.5" taller when capped (see photos). When capped they look a little goofy but I am not really concerned with cosmetics. One issues I noticed when I cycled rounds thru a Tikka, the ejected rounds would hit the windage turret during ejection. Annoying but it did not inhibit ejecting spent brass. However with the caps removed the ejected cases just cleared and were not hitting the low profile turret. The addition of the Zero Stop is well executed and easy to set.
Gen 2 SWFA 10x 42 - Same exact turrets and performance outlined above.
Trijicon Tenmile 3-18x44 - 15" - 24.8oz - 8 MIL per revolution, clicks feel similar to the SWFA but it is a bit easier to turn the elevation dial. I used this scope on several hunts this year and never had any issue with the turret getting bumped. Nice low profile capped windage turret. Zero stop is the same exact design as the Maven and is easy to set.
Maven RS 1.2 2.5-15x44 - 10 MIL per revolution, clicks are very positive but it is a bit TOO EASY to spin the elevation dial. This scope is new to me so have not used it in the field as much. Wonder if anyone has had issues with the turret getting accidentally spun in the field.? Regardless it it has a nice zero stop provided you remember to check. Nice low profile capped windage turret. Zero stop is the same exact design as the Trijicon and is easy to set.
Glass/Reticle/Eye Relief/Eye Box
Gen 2 SWFA 3-15x42 - The glass on the 3-15x42 is nice and clear, you get a bit of clarity loss toward the edges. It looses some light transmission in low light when cranked up to 15x. From 3-12 the glass is really pretty good. This is not "alpha glass" but it is good glass and totally functional. IMO the Mil-Quad reticle is a nice functional and simple design. At first light you have to strain to make out the reticle on 3x. However the extra thick outer stadia would still allow you to pull off a shot at closer range if needed. The reticle is 0.06 MIL thick and is great from 6x up to the top end. The reticle is non-illuminated but is very usable thru most of the mag range and in most lighting conditions. Eye relief is more than adequate and did not really decrease measurably evan at full mag. Eye box is good from 3-12x and gets tight at 15x but performed pretty similar to the Maven and Trijicon.
Gen 2 SWFA 10x 42 - Glass is nice and clear just like above. Eye relief is good and would not be an issue whatsoever. The eye box is a bit tighter but I think that is largely due to it being a fixed 10x and not having the option to decrease mag. This scope could be a bit harder to get behind when shooting from awkward positions.
Trijicon Tenmile 3-18x44 - Excellent glass that is clear edge to edge. Maintains great clarity and brightness all the way up to 15x. As with the others the scope darkens a bit when you get to max mag. Performs better at 15x than either the Maven or SWFA. Good eye relief but at 18x the eye box is very tight. The Christmas Tree reticle is busy at lower and moderate magnification but I don't mind it at all from about 9x on up. I used this scope to kill a mule deer and antelope this year and it performed well. However both the Maven and the SWFA reticles perform better at low magnification that the Tenmile. The Maven has the best reticle at 3x. The illumination on the Trijicon is great and allows both green/red, although the whole tree illuminates and it would be ideal if it was just the main crosshair. If hunting in thick timber and/or low light you will need to rely on illumination if using mag below 5-6.
Maven RS 1.2 2.5-15x44 - Outstanding glass! The image is clear bright and sharp. I would say this is without a doubt the best glass and viewing experience of these four scopes. Excellent clarity and resolution from 3-12x. The image gets a little darker at 15x just like the other optics at max magnification. This is the most usable and flexible reticle as it is usable even in low light from 2.5 to 15x. It does get a bit thick at 15x. Eye relief is MEGA!, longer than any of the others. Found I had to mount this scope a bit farther forward compared to the others. Eye box is great from 2.5-12+, as with others gets tight at 15x but pretty forgiving overall. Illumination is meh... the center dot illuminates and on low power gives a tiny aiming point. If turned up too high it bleeds and lights up random parts of the reticle which is distracting. It does work OK with the some mag turned up and the illumination set on a low setting. Given that the reticle works well in nearly all light conditions you really dont have to rely on illumination. I honestly wish you could get a version of this scope without illumination for $100-200 less and 1-2ox lighter.
Parallax/Focus:
Gen 2 SWFA 3-15x42 - Parallax is nice and smooth, easy to adjust and marked. The fast focus eye piece is excellent.
Gen 2 SWFA 10x 42 - The rear parallax works just fine. Harder to adjust on the fly when behind the gun but in a hunting situation just have it set at 250-300 and your good to go for 90% of shots. Fast focus eye piece is great.
Trijicon Tenmile 3-18x44 - Parallax is nice and smooth, easy to adjust and marked.
Maven RS 1.2 2.5-15x44 - Parallax is stiff and difficult to adjust, especially if its cold out or with gloves. Others have said that with time/use it loosens up.
Summary:
The Gen 2 SWFA 3-15x42 and 10x42 are quality functional hunting optics. I was particularly impressed with the 3-15x42. Optical performance is more adequate for hunting. The scopes have a great track record for durability and it sounds like drop testing is in the works for the Gen 2 versions. The addition of a zero stop is an awesome upgrade as is the lower profile turret option. The turret covers are comically tall and can result in ejected brass hitting the windage turrets. In my Tikka rifle it did not interfere with clearing spent cases but this could vary depending on your action, mounts and cartridge. For the cost these optics perform very well. Optically they are a step behind the Trijicon/Maven..... but also cost $500-700 less. Hope this helps others who might be considering these scopes.
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