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