SWFA 10X HD

[OverInfinite]

I own a SWFA 10X SS and runs on a 22-250 for alot of my hunting, I've enjoyed it and am thinking of getting another for another rifle. Shots are typically 250-600. My problem is I am a pretty dedicated MOA guy.
I keep hearing, if I am going to get another fixed 10, get the HD model, but SWFA doesn't seem to make it in MOA.
Would I be better off trying to switch to MIL and buy the HD, even though it would be the only one out of 9 other MOA scopes. Or get the non HD and stick to MOA. I am assuming low light vision will be the most difference, but is it worth it? Or is there a better option?

 

[Montstr78]

I just got a 10x MQ, non-HD, and it's within spitting distance of my NF NXS 2.5-10x42, biggest issue is the fine reticle washes out in low light. I tried a bunch of scopes looking at rabbits in the backyard last fall after sundown, there was only a few minutes of difference between them, and they all go their butt kicked by a pair of 20 year old Nikon Action 7x42 binoculars.

I was looking at rabbits next to the woodpile at about 25 yards until it was too dark to see any at all. Then I grabbed the Nikons and saw two in front of the woodpile I hadn't even noticed with the scopes....

Now, I worry more about a reticle I can see, reliably holding zero, and how the controls work with gloves on or in the dark than I do about how "clear" the glass is. I'm not taking a picture with it.

The HD model would certainly be "better", but in a hunting situation, I'd rather have the reticle I want.

 

[4th_point]

My problem is I am a pretty dedicated MOA guy.

Would I be better off trying to switch to MIL and buy the HD, even though it would be the only one out of 9 other MOA scopes. Or get the non HD and stick to MOA.

I prefer milliradians but if I were you with all MOA scopes I wouldn't change.

 

[4th_point]

I was looking at rabbits next to the woodpile at about 25 yards until it was too dark to see any at all. Then I grabbed the Nikons and saw two in front of the woodpile I hadn't even noticed with the scopes....

Now, I worry more about a reticle I can see, reliably holding zero, and how the controls work with gloves on or in the dark than I do about how "clear" the glass is. I'm not taking a picture with it.

I've done the same, comparing scopes to binocs. In fact, I was chasing mule in the timber once and couldn't see them with my scope. I could with the binocs. Very frustrating!

I'm with you on the scope being used to shoot and not observe. However I cringe a bit when people state that they don't care about how "clear the glass is".

I'm a huge fan of the fixed power SWFA scopes, however they can suffer from glare/flare. I struggled to get on a buck last year, as the stray light washed out the image. I still got the buck the following day, but you do sometimes gain certain qualities from higher end equipment that might not be readily apparent. And I knew about the flare/glare issue beforehand.

I don't have a 42mm NXS, but I suspect that it would handle stray light better than the SWFA. And perhaps show a bit more detail.

 

[Montstr78]

Correct, I shouldn't say "I don't care about the glass"; I do care, however it's not the top of the list anymore, as long as it's not noticeably bad. The NXS does much better with glare from both in front and behind the scope, and the eyebox at 10x is less critical than the SWFA.
I've looked through a pile of scopes hoping one would be a low light "night switch" like good binoculars are, and haven't found one. My Burris XTR Pro is excellent actually, but at 34+oz and 56mm, not an ideal walking around hunting scope! That lives on my Vudoo .22.

 

[OverInfinite]

I own a vortex venom, by far my "largest" scope. 5-25x56 with a 34mm tube. Thing is a brick.. almost too ridiculous to want to carry. I dug it out this afternoon and had my wife help me compare it to my 10x42 non HD swfa. Honestly side by side, until the last 2 minutes there was no change. Even with that venom, about 15 power was as much as you could do without it being too dark. Of course the crosshairs on the swfa are so small, low light with dark backdrop makes it tough. The swfa being a sub $300 scope is insane. It's hard to find a 3-18x50 that would be comparable to that price point. Unless you guys know one?

 

[Montstr78]

At $300-400? No, not new for sure. I actually have two, 2.5-15x power, FFP MOA scopes for sale here, I just took them out and compared them to my SWFA 10x milquad....They did "better" in the moonlight looking at rabbits in the snow at 25-50yds, but again, no "light switch" difference. Also took my Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x42 to compare, no huge difference to my eyes, someone else's may tell a different story.
You need bold, dark reticles to stand out in low light, Swaros are excellent at that. Not sure why, they don't look tremendously "brighter" after shooting time, but the standard crosshairs really stand out, giving you more chances. The Maven RS.1 I have has very heavy outer crosshairs, super easy to see in low light. When I turned the illumination on in my NF, that was the easy winner, but on a hunting rifle, I want simple, and fast.