Restocked SWFA 3-9x42 Gen 1

[ztc92]

I traded messages with him via eBay…he said to just order what is listed on eBay and put a note that you want the 3-9 shims.

I did exactly that and received the 3-9 shims

For anyone following along for the shims…

I emailed to be safe and got the same templates email reply that was shared earlier in the thread. I sent payment and details via PayPal as instructed, got a message 2 days later shims had shipped. Received then 3 days later and they look great. Definitely $27 well spent.

Also, he has started a website to sell them going forward:

Max Ordinate Precision | Firearm Accessories

www.maxordinateprecision.com

 

[Mike Islander]

For anyone following along for the shims…

I emailed to be safe and got the same templates email reply that was shared earlier in the thread. I sent payment and details via PayPal as instructed, got a message 2 days later shims had shipped. Received then 3 days later and they look great. Definitely $27 well spent.

Also, he has started a website to sell them going forward:

Max Ordinate Precision | Firearm Accessories

www.maxordinateprecision.com

Same here. Easy and fast.

 

[4th_point]

Maybe I missed it, but has anyone checked with SWFA to see if they condone shims for the 3-9x?

Several years ago people asked and SWFA's response was that shims / hose washers were OK for the fixed powers but not the 3-9x.

 

[Mike Islander]

Maybe I missed it, but has anyone checked with SWFA to see if they condone shims for the 3-9x?

Several years ago people asked and SWFA's response was that shims / hose washers were OK for the fixed powers but not the 3-9x.

Got a quote or a reason? My only guess at why they might say this is waterproofing. And maybe there is some difference in shims versus hose washers?

 

[ztc92]

Same here. Easy and fast.

Out of curiosity have you installed your shims yet? I’m only on the 3rd rev (and just barely) on my 3-9x and I had to use every shim in the kit and the stop is 1.5 mils below my current zero. It feels like either I’m missing something or more shims would be needed it my zero was a higher revolution. Thoughts?

 

[Kurts86]

Out of curiosity have you installed your shims yet? I’m only on the 3rd rev (and just barely) on my 3-9x and I had to use every shim in the kit and the stop is 1.5 mils below my current zero. It feels like either I’m missing something or more shims would be needed it my zero was a higher revolution. Thoughts?

That’s where my zero is and I used all but 1, as long as you can’t make a full revolution down it’s working as intended. All the shims will get you right to 3 turns.

 

[4th_point]

Got a quote or a reason? My only guess at why they might say this is waterproofing. And maybe there is some difference in shims versus hose washers?

Man, that was several years ago. Maybe up to 10 years ago - people have been messing with different shims for a long time.

The discussion was probably at 24hrC. If I had to wager, it wasn't a concern about moisture but the guts.

I skimmed this thread and saw this regarding the 5-20x:



I'd just contact SWFA, but I don't know who's running it these days. Sr. was the best person to get info from. Jr. was hit and miss.

I've used SWFA for many years but never bothered with shims or hose washers.

Good luck

 

[Mike Islander]

Man, that was several years ago. Maybe up to 10 years ago - people have been messing with different shims for a long time.

The discussion was probably at 24hrC. If I had to wager, it wasn't a concern about moisture but the guts.

I skimmed this thread and saw this regarding the 5-20x:

View attachment 865565

I'd just contact SWFA, but I don't know who's running it these days. Sr. was the best person to get info from. Jr. was hit and miss.

I've used SWFA for many years but never bothered with shims or hose washers. I like having a zero stop. Not necessary, but nice.

Good luck

Just curious. I use Jim's shims, regardless of what SWFA says.

 

[Lock3]

Do any of the SWFA models have an illuminated reticle?

 

[Bcleck90]

1-6HD is the only one I know of @Lock3

 

[sndmn11]

Do any of the SWFA models have an illuminated reticle?

No

@mcr-85 sent me a 6x and some 3d printed shims. Id bet it wouldn't be hard for someone with a printer to figure out the id/of needed then learn what thickness equals a mil. I didn't fiddle with what he sent, but it looked like he'd already figured that out for the 6x

 

[ChrisAU]

The 5-20 was available with illumination I think.

 

[mcr-85]

No

@mcr-85 sent me a 6x and some 3d printed shims. Id bet it wouldn't be hard for someone with a printer to figure out the id/of needed then learn what thickness equals a mil. I didn't fiddle with what he sent, but it looked like he'd already figured that out for the 6x

If someone can get me some measurements I'd be happy to make some for the 3-9. I don't have one of those.

Edited to add a photo of the shim kit I drew and printed for the SS 6x / 3-15x scopes. There are enough shims to get you 6.5 revolutions in and get it to within 1/4 revolution of zero.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Refer back to this thread for dimensions to get you in the ballpark for shims for the 3-9

Post in thread 'Swfa zero stop shims ?'

Sep 23, 2024

Anybody up for designing some for the 3x9?

I modeled one real quick based off my 3-9, you got a printer or does anyone else that wants to validate some dimensions? I can email the STL file I tossed together quick.

Or for anyone that wants to play around with the concept themselves its just a cylinder. I did a 22.5mm OD x 12.5mm ID cylinder. On my scope it appears there is about 7.4mm of deadspace in the cap compared to where my turret bottoms out naturally. Each revolution appeared to be about .67mm. Thus if you needed it to stop at 1revolution above your bottomed out point the...

• pods8 (Rugged Stitching)

 

[yycyak]

Not sure if this will work with a 3x9, but in case you're considering the washer route:

Thread 'SWFA Zero Stops'

Dec 5, 2023

In hopes of helping out the collective Hive Mind:

If you are annoyed that your SWFA 6x doesn't have a zero stop, try "M18" crush washers.

I specifically used M18 washers that were 18mm (id) x 24mm (od) x 2mm thick. Three of these stacked inside the elevation turret made an almost-perfect zero stop (would advance about 3-4 clicks at most past zero.)

26mm wide fit the best, but they are tougher to find.

Costs like $6 for 10. Work waaaaay better than the hose washers I was using before.

Happy MacGyvering.

• yycyak
• Replies: 0
• Forum: DIY Gear Modifications

• 

with these I was able to make the zero .1mil below my 100m zero.

So I emailed Tim about the unadvertised set of shims for the 3-9 SWFA on Feb 28, never heard back. Is this the correct email for him?

[email protected]

I'm probably just going to go to the hardware store at this point with a turret in hand and get some nylon washers.

 

[Johnwell]

The 5-20 was available with illumination I think.

Correct, I have one. People complained about the illumination for a lot of reasons.

Just the very center illuminates and is barely daytime visible on the highest settings. The lowest two or three settings or so are not visible to me at all.

The higher settings bleed a bit in low light. Not the best execution I’ve seen, but if the goal is to help the reticle stand out in low light settings 4-7 are pretty good. I probably won’t ever use the illumination though.

 

[sndmn11]

If someone can get me some measurements I'd be happy to make some for the 3-9. I don't have one of those.

Edited to add a photo of the shim kit I drew and printed for the SS 6x / 3-15x scopes. There are enough shims to get you 6.5 revolutions in and get it to within 1/4 revolution of zero.
View attachment 866319

What you send me for the 6x has the correct inner diameter. The outer diameter should be 22.75-22.80mm

 

[FSB12B]

Yeah I came here to say this. Was looking to grab a 10x for a 22 and there is no discount code box anymore

Same. Sucks but with how popular these are I don't blame them. Just ordered a 3-9 for $612.09 shipped.

If someone can get me some measurements I'd be happy to make some for the 3-9. I don't have one of those.

Edited to add a photo of the shim kit I drew and printed for the SS 6x / 3-15x scopes. There are enough shims to get you 6.5 revolutions in and get it to within 1/4 revolution of zero.
View attachment 866319

Any updates on these?

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Any updates on these?

I posted the info above and also remeasured in the below table off my single sample (not sure variation among other scopes). Someone is free to use it or if needed I can print something up, it would just be a question of what resolution is desired.

Deleted this info, see below instead.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I thought of a better idea. If some folks can confirm the total travel of their scopes to check for variation I think something like this would be feasible to get in the ballpark. How many mills and how much vertical movement, mine is ~3.14mm for 25.2mils but I'm gonna remeasure it more closely.

Have a base shim that is -10mils from zero, then 10-20mil shims can be used/stacked as needed to go in 1mil increments from zero to 25mils, to cover the scope's travel. Should be more straight forward to figure out what shim is needed