SWFA 6X vs 10X vs 3-15

[nuffgun]

I hunted this past season with the Swfa 10x on my tikka .243. Animals taken with that setup were a spring black bear at 140 yards, 1 antelope at 335 yards, 1 antelope at 100 yards, and 1 mule deer buck at 400 yards. No issues indexing or finding target in scope at close range. I primarily hunt the open country of the west and I think the 10x is great for that purpose. Also great for plinking steel at 1000 yards. The only issue I could see is if you take a lot of close running shots, might be better suited in that 4-6x for that.

 

[Wrench]

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.

I kilked one at 6 something with my 3-9 at 6 hundred and something yards. I remember after that shot looking down and thinking geez... that was on 6x. The 3-9 is better glass than the 6x by a very slight margin, so factor that in to my response. I also traded every one of my 15xs off for 3x9s because I felt the glass and reticle was superior in the 9x over the x15.

I have several 10 and 6x fixed scopes too and have dinged steel at 1k without much trouble in decent light.

 

[Gstefan]

I don’t have experience with the variable power riflescopes, but my 6x has a much more forgiving eyebox than my 10x. Not much of a concern for a 223, but something to think about on bigger calibers

 

[Mike Islander]

I have several each of 6X, 10X, 3-9, and one Gen 2 3-15, all mil quad. My favorites are the 6X and the new 3-15. I miss parallax on the 3-9, and 10X is more than I need most of the time and more prone to glare.

Between 6X and 3-15Xx42, 6X is my favorite. Dead simple. Best reticle of the bunch. Nothing to adjust but parallax. I have it on my squirrel gun, which is fantastic practice for close in work. I don't find 6X limiting up close at all. Excellent field of view.

 

[Clatta]

I’m also in the market for my Tikka .243 hunting scope mainly whitetail and Coyote. I will wait for the 6x or the 3-9 to come back in stock.

 

[Ajsomp]

The 6x is all business. I honestly don’t know if I have used the 3-9 on 3 power. Eye relief is great on both.

Given the available options at the moment - 3-15 gen 2 MQ. You can split hairs with this but ultimately I’d put a 3-15 on and never need to take it off again.

 

[nm.otter]

my 6x has a much more forgiving eyebox than my 10x.

Larger exit pupil plus better depth of field = bigger eyebox. Also improved performance in low ambient light conditions.

 

[ckt3]

New to SWFA scopes. I’ll pick up a 3-15 but does anyone know when they typically restock? Would love to get a 6 and 3-9 but I don’t know if I’ll be waiting a month or a year for that based on their lead times.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

New to SWFA scopes. I’ll pick up a 3-15 but does anyone know when they typically restock? Would love to get a 6 and 3-9 but I don’t know if I’ll be waiting a month or a year for that based on their lead times.

You can find a 6x or 3-9x on sale here on the classifieds if you look and are fast on the draw. I think I saw three 3-9x scopes sell for fair prices in the past few days. I don’t recall any of those ads being up for more than a day.

As for when they will be back in stock at SWFA, that’s anyone’s guess. Last year, they got a large drop of 6x at the end of June that sold out in a day or so. Then they got another drop at the end of July that sold out in less than a day.

The 3-9x didn’t sell out until Black Friday.

The 10x is another good option. I carried one of those most of last season and it performed very well on kill shots from 80-200 yards. There were many more deer I could have killed with it. Maybe not my first choice for a running shot at 25 yards, but for everything else, it’s golden.

 

[ckt3]

You can find a 6x or 3-9x on sale here on the classifieds if you look and are fast on the draw. I think I saw three 3-9x scopes sell for fair prices in the past few days. I don’t recall any of those ads being up for more than a day.

As for when they will be back in stock at SWFA, that’s anyone’s guess. Last year, they got a large drop of 6x at the end of June that sold out in a day or so. Then they got another drop at the end of July that sold out in less than a day.

The 3-9x didn’t sell out until Black Friday.

The 10x is another good option. I carried one of those most of last season and it performed very well on kill shots from 80-200 yards. There were many more deer I could have killed with it. Maybe not my first choice for a running shot at 25 yards, but for everything else, it’s golden.

That’s helpful, thanks. The 10x is tempting, though I’m a bit worried of getting lost in the scope from 50-100 yards. Sounds like it wasn’t a problem for you.

 

[Mike Islander]

That’s helpful, thanks. The 10x is tempting, though I’m a bit worried of getting lost in the scope from 50-100 yards. Sounds like it wasn’t a problem for you.

Mount it on your squirrel gun for the next 2 months. It will never be a problem after that.

 

[ckt3]

Mount it on your squirrel gun for the next 2 months. It will never be a problem after that.

Wonder if an offset red dot wouldn’t be a bad idea

 

[Ajsomp]

Wonder if an offset red dot wouldn’t be a bad idea

The case for the SWFA 10x Scope

For the people ecstatic about the prospects of buying a 6000 MSRP 1-10 scope, Walter has a few words of advice: First, with a paper towel, dude wipe, sock, or the sleeve of your shirt, wipe the remaining British Ranger Regiment semen off of your chin.

sobchaksecurity.substack.com

It’s viable.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Wonder if an offset red dot wouldn’t be a bad idea

It would be a bad idea.

 

[nm.otter]

I got a chuckle out of this place being Heaven's Gate.

Bowlers was new to me.

 

[Choupique]

I was thinking about sticking a 10x swfa on my AR that gets hunted in tight timber sometimes. Am I going to hate myself if I do that?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I was thinking about sticking a 10x swfa on my AR that gets hunted in tight timber sometimes. Am I going to hate myself if I do that?

No, but I think a 6x would work better. I like a bit more magnification in the woods. It’s easier to place shots between trees. Having hunted with a fixed 4x, fixed 6x, a variable always on 8x, and a fixed 10x, my preference is 8x, 6x, 10x, 4x.

My only use for 4x is on my AR and then only because I am used to the ACOG. I got a pair of nice, light, reliable old Bausch & Lomb 2.5x and 4x scopes to use on “woods” rifles and just hated them. Out in the open, they were great.

 

[ckt3]

Why don’t you like the offset dot idea, Q?

 

[Choupique]

Am I gonna need offset backup irons or an RMR or am I just being dramatic?

 

[Castle Rock]

Wonder if an offset red dot wouldn’t be a bad idea

Dumb idea, just learn the gun and scope, as said before