SWFA 3-9 SS HD vs. SS 6x Gen2

[wbpowers06]

I’m currently in the process of building an RSS in 6cm and trying to decide between these two scopes.

Does anyone have experience with both and can speak to the pros and cons?

I used a 4x ACOG during my time in the Marines so I have at least some experience with a fixed power optic.

Hunting guns have all been 3-15 though.


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[sndmn11]

6x

 

[Billogna]

How often did you need to use the zoom feature on your scope while hunting. Most guys I know generally leave their 3-9's somewhere near 6x most of the time. And rarely have time to zoom. This is primarily whitetail and varmint shooting tho.

 

[RyanT26]

3x9 is my preferred of the two listed. But I am a odd ball like SWFA’s 3x15 more then both of them

 

[Jimbee]

6x

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Both are great with an excellent reticle.

My answer would be, how often are you regularly shooting animals past 600 yards?

For target shooting, 10” steel targets and larger work great out to stupidly long ranges with the 6x. Targets that are animal sized and painted blend in to terrain start being hard to make out around 600 yards for me.

Same with real life animals, especially small deer like coues deer. 600 would be at the absolute maximum for coues deer with the 6x. Elk in a farm field on a clear day? Easily 800 yards with the 6x.

If you are a regular, very long range shooter, the extra 3x on the 3-9 can be helpful. Or for animals that are small like coyotes at very long ranges. Or training with deer sized targets that blend into terrain past 600 yards.

The FOV on the fixed 6 versus the 3-9 at 9x is very noticeable, especially when shooting cartridges that make the reticle, and potentially total sight picture, pop off the target (somewhere around unsuppressed 6.5CM recoil from field positions).


Getting a bit long winded here sorry. Both scopes work fine. I prefer the 6x for most general hunting but I also shoot a lot past 1,000 yards while training, which can make the 6X unusable on certain targets. Most steel targets that stick out with white or orange paint are no issues to very long ranges.

 

[fmyth]

I have both. I have used the 6x to ring steel at 1k and have killed multiple elk and mule deer out to 400 yards. I'm looking to stretch my kill zone to 600 yards now so I have purchased a couple 3x9's. So far I've only used the 3x9 at the range but I am pleased with it.

 

[Deadspace]

Buy the 3-9 and if you regret it just put it on 6 and keep it there.

 

[lelliott8]

Here is the difference between the 9x on the 3-9, 6x on the 3-9, and 6x on the 6x all with MQ. I believe she was about 200 yards away when I took these photos

 

[nm.otter]

Just noticed that the 3-9x weighs ~1.5 ounces less than the 6x does.

 

[Seak_angler]

Both are fantastic utility killing scopes. I just prefer the 6x myself

 

[Kyguy]

I had one 6x a couple years ago, ended up selling it. I've played with a couple of the 10x and 12x too. Just bought 4 of the 3-9 a couple weeks ago. I prefer everything about it over the fixed power scopes for an actual hunting rifle. Better form factor, better eye relief, a bit shorter length, turrets aren't as obtrusive. I like a wider FOV on low power for when I'm walking in, out, and around and jump something or for when I'm in close wooded areas.

 

[5811]

People SAY the 6x is good to 600 yards, but how many shot the cold bore challenge this year with one?

Proof is in the pudding. 6x is a great scope but it is visually uncomfortable in ranges that the 3-9hd is automatic at.

Before the tar and feathers come out, note that I said uncomfortable, not impossible. A lot of people can train themselves to be long range machines with 6x. I have a couple 6x (and ordered another) and I really like them for what they are. But the 3-9hd feels like a different category of scope quality, in my opinion.

So for me, as a general hunting scope, 3-9hd all day long, subjectively of course.

 

[bojangles808]

I prefer the 3x9 over the 6x

 

[N2TRKYS]

I prefer the 3-9 over the 6x, as well. I prefer higher magnification scopes. I like their 3-15 even better. I can shoot to 600 yards with a 6x, but can do it more easily with a higher magnification.

For a hunting scope, I’m probably about done with the 6x power scopes. They just don’t have enough magnification for me.

 

[Ajsomp]

They both have pros and cons. The 3-9 is shorter and lighter, better glass (though it’s hard to really tell in most conditions), smaller turrets. It doesn’t have parallax and setting the ocular can be tedious with the fixed parallax.

The 6x is longer and heavier, has zero stop now, and parallax adjustment. the gen 2 has much better adjustments than the 3-9 and while the turrets are big, you get the choice between capped and regular and any combo in between.

Both have the same reticle and durability. The 6x is pretty great for 600 and in and is easy to hand off to a new shooter - just dial and shoot. No messing with the magnification. I tend to leave my parallax set at 300 and just dial. It’s a great scope on a 223, but works on any rifle you’d use to hunt. I shot a doe around 200 yards around sunset last year and not only had plenty of light through the scope but great FOV.

The 3-9 sits mostly between 4-6x for me. It is not great at 3x. Is the 9x nice? Yes, at extended ranges at times. Do I use it a lot- no. Specs wise the 3-9 is better in pretty much every way, but the 6x is so easy to get behind.

I am going to replace my 3-9 on my 223 only because I want to get some time with the gen 2. I’m going to keep the 3-9 on my 6.5 PRC and still undecided on my 22 creed.

If you were to only buy one - you won’t be disappointed with either. But I’d probably lean towards the 6x.