SWFA 6X vs 10X vs 3-15

[N8funk83]

Any word on a gen2 3-9 coming out anytime soon?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Any word on a gen2 3-9 coming out anytime soon?

No word on that.

 

[bojangles808]

I have had/currently have all 3 and 3-15 is my first choice

 

[jfk69]

In order my favorite is the 3x9, then the 6x and finally the 3x15. If the 3x15 had HD glass and the same solid diamonds as the 3x9 reticle I would love it. The adjustable parallax is nice. With that said, the 3x9 is such a great scope, and I don’t need PA at that magnification.

 

[4th_point]

What should I get from SWFA? The 3-15 definitely would work. The 6x seems like not enough magnification to shoot steel to 1,000 yards. Maybe the 10X is enough? Is a 10x going to handicap me at closer distances? When hunting and such, I typically follow the rule of 1-1.5x per 100 yards.

I'd go with the 10x for overall use, but not for a dedicated hunting rifle. I'd go 6x if you are leaning towards hunting.

I've owned multiple of 6x, 10x, 3-15x, and 3-9x. And one 12x. Bought the first in 2008 or 2009.

The magnification will ultimately depend on you. I made the mistake, for many years, believing that others should be able to see targets as well as me. I feel like an idiot now, as I have taken many people shooting mid-to-longrange, and some people really can't see well. And some see really well with unaided vision, but once behind a scope struggle. I used to get frustrated when they couldn't see details through a good scope, but they could see hidden critters with no magnification. Each said that they have weird eyes, but I wasn't listening.

And I know people that can see better than me, and I have better than 20/20 corrected.

The problem with the 6x and 10x is that you can get a reflection off the exterior ocular surface. You have to shade the ocular with your hat or something when that happens. The 3-9x is much better with the reflection back towards your eyeball. I call it a 4-9x though, because it tunnels on 3x.

You can also get bad veiling glare from the 6x and 10x. I had a buck moving at close range once, with the rising sun right behind it, and the view was completely hazed over. I killed it the next day, but that could cost you a shot.

I don't recall getting any reflections off of the 3-15x ocular. And it is excellent for veiling glare - one of the best I think. But, the resolution on the few I had wasn't great. They were really ~12x scopes, as 15x didn't provide any more detail in the image.

ETA - mine were all before SWFA released the new Gen2, and there might be improvements to the latest ones

 

[doverpack12]

If you go 6x get the Mil version or make sure the Moa reticle isn’t the small center dot. Targets are fine with the small center dot but it can be tough at times with the thin crosshairs. Mil reticle and I believe a different Moa reticle are not like that

 

[nm.otter]

The SWFA 6x is perfectly fine shooting steel, rocks- whatever at 1,000 yards. It’s no harder to aim at a 10” target at 1,000 than it is a 1” target at 100 yards. Every S2H class every student is shooting several hundred shots at 1-2 MOA targets from 100 yards to well past 1,000 yards on 6x.

The 6x MQ Gen2 worked well for me last week out to 1,000 yards. The instructors were skeptical at first, but they eventually came around to it. Depth of field is sufficient that if I set parallax at 100m, I can use it from about 40 yards out. My only real complaint is the gigantic windage turret hanging off the side.

14-15x would be nice mostly for the ability to spot my own (or others') shots.

 

[N2TRKYS]

The 6x is ok for shooting shapes out to about 650 yards. It gets tougher past 400 yards, but doable. The 3-15 is awesome. The higher the magnification the more accurate I shoot. The 10x power is good, as well. There’s been zero issues for me shooting a 10x from 0-650 yards. I’ve never had any issues shooting close shots with a higher magnification.

Really hard to go wrong with any of the three.