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.

 

[Bama67]

I had the 10x for a while, didn’t like it.

I had a bear at about 25 yards near dark and I just couldn’t tell WTF I was looking at.
I was unsure and never could get a good picture before it took off.
Likely it wouldn’t have been an issue at 3 or 4 power.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Have 6x, 10x, 12x, and 3-9's. For an everything kinda scope a 6x or 3-9 is the easy button IMO. I do like a 10x for just playing around though. Cant say I have ever wanted more magnification on that type of rifle.

 

[N8funk83]

Got the 3-15 during the Black Friday sale. Really pleased with it so far. Ended up grabbing another

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Any off you use the 3-15 on a 22.
I have a T1x that needs a new scope.

 

[MCT453]

Any off you use the 3-15 on a 22.
I have a T1x that needs a new scope.

3-15 on a brownell reciever Feddersen barreled "10/22".

 

[lefthandedasian]

At what distance do you guys find the detail starts to diminish with the 6x? If an animal is bedded in some brush beyond 400 yards are you guys finding adequate detail to make out the image? How far out are you able to identify things easily? I'm sure there's a lot of person to person differences that factor into this, but I'm just curious if there's a practical limit to the 6x that a 3-9 or 3-15 could over come with the ability to zoom and make identifying game easier.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

At what distance do you guys find the detail starts to diminish with the 6x? If an animal is bedded in some brush beyond 400 yards are you guys finding adequate detail to make out the image? How far out are you able to identify things easily? I'm sure there's a lot of person to person differences that factor into this, but I'm just curious if there's a practical limit to the 6x that a 3-9 or 3-15 could over come with the ability to zoom and make identifying game easier.

You are going to shoot at an animal bedded in some brush at 400 yards?

I’ve had no problems seeing the vitals on deer using the 6x at any range at which I can see the deer.

 

[lefthandedasian]

You are going to shoot at an animal bedded in some brush at 400 yards?

I’ve had no problems seeing the vitals on deer using the 6x at any range at which I can see the deer

It depends on if I can see the vitals or not, but yes I would if there was an opportunity like that. My main concern was more if you spot them with your binos (10x, 12x, 15x etc) bedded, after switching to your rifle would you be able to find them easily enough or will the lack of magnification make it harder and the deer will "disappear."

I'm an adult onset hunter with only a handful of years of hunting under my belt. So with my little "in the field" experience, I'm just curious. That being said I've been around firearms my whole life so don't confuse my little hunting experience with little shooting experience.

I'd like to potentially make the swap to the 6x I've acquired but am hesitant to switch from my 3-9hd as the magnification seems like a nice safety blank at the moment. I like the idea of hunting with a 6x for simplicity sake but I'm hesitant it could also handicap me. I'm sure with more field experience I will be able to answer this question on my own but for now I defer to the experienced.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

If you have the SWFA 3-9x, I would not switch to the SWFA 6x. The 6x is a great budget option and I like it a ton, but the 3-9x is a great hunting scope in its own right. It’s worth the extra money.

But if the use case is shooting through brush into a bedded deer in brush at 400 yards, you may want to rethink that one.

 

[nm.otter]

My main concern was more if you spot them with your binos (10x, 12x, 15x etc) bedded, after switching to your rifle would you be able to find them easily enough or will the lack of magnification make it harder and the deer will "disappear."

IME it's more like the opposite problem: Spot something with binos and then struggle to get it in frame with the scope magnification cranked up. Then back off the mag ring, get in position, zoom back in -- and the critter has moved.

 

[BBob]

If an animal is bedded in some brush beyond 400 yards are you guys finding adequate detail to make out the image?

This can be a big problem down here in Coues deer land. Go try to find and shoot that little guy while he’s buried back under a mesquite tree with an ocotillo or cholla in front of it with a 6x. BTDT and in lots of cases it’s not going to happen with a 6x and mby still not with a 10x or 3-9. If that’s not your use scenario then a 6x might be fine. FWIW I own 6x, 3-9 and 3-15 and I’d say my favorite overall for my use is the 3-15.

 

[lefthandedasian]

If you have the SWFA 3-9x, I would not switch to the SWFA 6x. The 6x is a great budget option and I like it a ton, but the 3-9x is a great hunting scope in its own right. It’s worth the extra money.

But if the use case is shooting through brush into a bedded deer in brush at 400 yards, you may want to rethink that one.

?? Have you ever waited for an animal to stand up while being on the gun and in the scope? If the front half of an animal was clearly unobstructed while they were bedded I'd take the shot, but if I can't see vitals clearly I'm waiting for them to stand up and move. Id rather be setup in the scope ready for the shot instead of watching them with binos and then trying to get on the gun after they've moved. It seems like a lost opportunity on a fairly quick moment.

I ain't just going full send shooting through 3 feet of brush praying my bullet makes it to the otherside unscathed lol

Aside from that, I agree with you that the 3-9hd is fantastic. Once I receive my Lefty 223 from UM I fully anticipate putting the 6x on it. But until then the 6x is just sitting in my closet screaming to be put on something.

This can be a big problem down here in Coues deer land. Go try to find and shoot that little guy while he’s buried back under a mesquite tree with an ocotillo or cholla in front of it with a 6x. BTDT and in lots of cases it’s not going to happen with a 6x and mby still not with a 10x or 3-9. If that’s not your use scenario then a 6x might be fine. FWIW I own 6x, 3-9 and 3-15 and I’d say my favorite overall for my use is the 3-15.

That's a reasonable way to look at it. I guess use case depends on how far and how busy the terrain is.