SWFA 6X vs 10X vs 3-15

[Q_Sertorius]

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

You are being dramatic. Use the scope. As someone mentioned, put it on a squirrel or varmint or trainer, and practice with it. Take it with you on walks in the woods. You’ll figure out pretty quickly whether or not it works for you.

I’ve shot running deer at 40-80 yards moving laterally with a 10.8#, 26” long barrel, .25-06 with an 8x scope. Best woods rifle I ever owned. Last year I had to get it rebarreled, so I upgraded from the 1960’s era B&L 2.5-8x and put a SWFA 10x gen1 scope on it. I managed to keep the weight the same by cutting the barrel to 24” and adding an OG 6.5. While I’d rather have an 8x, I don’t have a problem finding the animal in the scope. That weapon accounted for four bucks this past year. None were running. Three of four were in mature woods. 80, 120, 125, and 200 (open field at dusk). There may be better “killing scopes” out there, but it was very effective in the hands of people who knew it and had used it before.

The only reason I sold that scope is because I had an impulse buy of a 3-9x on Black Friday.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

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

Adds unnecessary weight for zero gain.

What is the use case for an offset dot on a bolt action hunting rifle?

Do you really think that you are going to place a shot more precisely at 25 yards with an offset dot than just putting your crosshairs on the animal?

I love my older brother, but he has an offset sight on an AR-10 style rifle, which is otherwise set up for 200-800 yard combat. It’s just plain stupid. He has it there because he thinks he’s going to have to defend his home against a threat that doesn’t exist, under conditions in which he is simply going to die if it did exist.

If you think you need an offset dot on an AR, it’s because you are imagining a scenario that doesn’t really exist for civilians (or most soldiers for that matter) and/or you have too much scope on your AR.

But hey, I am not a CQB ninja, never done live fire in a shoot house, don’t practice for the scenario above, and all I really know is my own limitations.

But whatever you have, if you practice with it, I am sure it can work well for you.

 

[Ajsomp]

Adds unnecessary weight for zero gain.

What is the use case for an offset dot on a bolt action hunting rifle?

Do you really think that you are going to place a shot more precisely at 25 yards with an offset dot than just putting your crosshairs on the animal?

I love my older brother, but he has an offset sight on an AR-10 style rifle, which is otherwise set up for 200-800 yard combat. It’s just plain stupid. He has it there because he thinks he’s going to have to defend his home against a threat that doesn’t exist, under conditions in which he is simply going to die if it did exist.

If you think you need an offset dot on an AR, it’s because you are imagining a scenario that doesn’t really exist for civilians (or most soldiers for that matter) and/or you have too much scope on your AR.

But hey, I am not a CQB ninja, never done live fire in a shoot house, don’t practice for the scenario above, and all I really know is my own limitations.

But whatever you have, if you practice with it, I am sure it can work well for you.

Red dots (offset or top mounted) have their place, both on ARs and bolt guns. Several reasons why, but for hunting you don’t need it.

 

[Choupique]

You are being dramatic. Use the scope

Well, going on the temu mk 12 as soon as some new rings show up. I did play around with it on my .22 and having the parallax go down to 20 meters is pretty cool.

I do think ill HAVE to put back up irons on it though. Im not mature enough to be immune to tacticool marketing yet.

 

[Mike Islander]

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

You won't need it.

 

[43.6N]

For anybody worried about the 10x consider the following:

Do you have 10x42 binoculars?
Do you find yourself struggling to see things within 100yds with said binoculars?
The 10x SWFA will behave very similarly to these binos.

I promise, at 10x with even a just little bit of practice, you won’t struggle to get shots off quick.

And if after shooting it, you decide it’s just not your cup of tea on your main rig, it makes a phenomenal trainer optic for a 223 or 22LR.

 

[ckt3]

With how this conversation is going, I might end up with one of each… 6, 3-9, 10, 3-15

 

[Choupique]

Do you find yourself struggling to see things within 100yds with said binoculars?
The 10x SWFA will behave very similarly to these binos.

Im more concerned with 30 yards or less at dusk in the thick stuff.

 

[Kaleb]

I've had the 6's 10's 3-9's 3-15's and 5-20's a long time. I do not like the 10x's for regular use. For rimfire or normal rimfire I like the 6x's and play rimfire I like the 3-15. To my eyes and mine are the ones Im more concerned about the 3-9 on 9 is a bolder easier to see reticle than the 10x. For a range gun in good light the 10x is fine for my eyes but I don't hunt it at all. In low light I have several scopes I prefer over the 10x but it is a nice scope normally. Its not as much distance as it it is the reticle to my eyes. Even though I have others the only swfa scopes I have a use for is the 6x the 3-9 and the 3-15. The rest are just okay if you don't have something better to use or compare them to. To my eyes.

 

[Kaleb]

With how this conversation is going, I might end up with one of each… 6, 3-9, 10, 3-15

drop the 10 and I agree.

 

[Kaleb]

For anybody worried about the 10x consider the following:

Do you have 10x42 binoculars?
Do you find yourself struggling to see things within 100yds with said binoculars?
The 10x SWFA will behave very similarly to these binos.

I promise, at 10x with even a just little bit of practice, you won’t struggle to get shots off quick.

And if after shooting it, you decide it’s just not your cup of tea on your main rig, it makes a phenomenal trainer optic for a 223 or 22LR.

We obviously disagree. With that said we live over 2k miles apart too. I don't like 10x binos either. I know our eyes are different because mine are mine and your's are your's but I also suspect our terrain is different. This needs to be taken into account for someone ordering or deciding on a new scope. The fella living in bigger country preferring 10x binoculars would probably swap me all the 10x's for 6x's I wanted. I'm not saying Im right at all but Im in a different place and for sure have different eyes.

 

[180ls1]

There will likley come a point where 10x will probably cost you an animal. Not during the vast majority of hunting situations but I can think of a few where that would have been the case for me over the last 20 years.

More so at the margins where you are rushed or light is limited, likley both.

 

[Choupique]

I can think of a few where that would have been the case for me over the last 20 years.

Do you think irons or a red dot would have helped?

I've got quite a few dead deer to my credit at sub 30 yards with a rifle, one was nearly contact distance. All my scopes except one are 2-7 or 2.5-8 and most of my kills are on the lowest power, so using a fixed 10x is a major culture swing for me. I've also found that red dots suck severely bad for low light shooting and irons not much better, but curious what others think

I've been playing around with it in the late evenings and I think I'll be alright just with the scope. I'm gonna try it and see.

 

[180ls1]

Do you think irons or a red dot would have helped?

I do know of a guy who likes elevated see through rings so he can use irons or his scope. Not sure how reliable that setup is. I also feel the light a red dot throws off would impact low light shooting compared to a traditional scope on low power.

I've got quite a few dead deer to my credit at sub 30 yards with a rifle, one was nearly contact distance. All my scopes except one are 2-7 or 2.5-8 and most of my kills are on the lowest power, so using a fixed 10x is a major culture swing for me. I've also found that red dots suck severely bad for low light shooting and irons not much better, but curious what others think

I've been playing around with it in the late evenings and I think I'll be alright just with the scope. I'm gonna try it and see.

Yeah, I think you'll hate 10x. Personally speaking, when comparing binos to a scope at the same power, the binos have a distinct advantage.

The AMPLUS 6 2.5-15x56i would likley suit your fancy if you are ok not being drop test approved. Check out the FOV and the specs.

 

[43.6N]

We obviously disagree. With that said we live over 2k miles apart too. I don't like 10x binos either. I know our eyes are different because mine are mine and your's are your's but I also suspect our terrain is different. This needs to be taken into account for someone ordering or deciding on a new scope. The fella living in bigger country preferring 10x binoculars would probably swap me all the 10x's for 6x's I wanted. I'm not saying Im right at all but Im in a different place and for sure have different eyes.

Well said.
And I think perfectly highlights why why having a common reference point on a forum makes sense.

So I suppose I could rephrase my original post to be more along the lines of: “IF you find that 10x binoculars work well for your terrain and common ranges, the 10x Swfa will likely also work well.

IF you struggle to use 10x binocular in your terrain/ranges, then the 10x will likely be too much magnification.”

 

[Kaleb]

Well said.
And I think perfectly highlights why why having a common reference point on a forum makes sense.

So I suppose I could rephrase my original post to be more along the lines of: “IF you find that 10x binoculars work well for your terrain and common ranges, the 10x Swfa will likely also work well.

IF you struggle to use 10x binocular in your terrain/ranges, then the 10x will likely be too much magnification.”

And don’t get me wrong not saying I couldn’t use 10x or you couldn’t use 6-8x but I understand why our preference or opinions can be different.

 

[BBob]

IF you struggle to use 10x binocular in your terrain/ranges, then the 10x will likely be too much magnification.”

Just for comparison sake and general info. My main binoculars have been 10x since the 80’s. Yes I’m mostly an open country western hunter but on many occasions I’ve been know to still hunt the juniper and pine forests for elk from right under my feet to as far as I can see through the trees. Not a problem. I see 8x recommended the most for elk in timber but I’ve no problem with 10’s. I’ve never felt like there has been a downside to doing that. The supposed added advantage to the larger field of view with 8’s hasn’t seemed to hurt me. As an archery hunter stalking Coues and pigs up close hasn’t been a problem with 10’s ever as well.

 

[Choupique]

Yeah, I think you'll hate 10x. Personally speaking, when comparing binos to a scope at the same power, the binos have a distinct advantage.

Maybe so. I am obviously a little concerned about it, but I'm going to try it anyway.

I will have offset irons for at least the first year with a little dab of glow in the dark paint on the front sight, just in case.

I like hunting really really tight. You gotta spice up louisiana deer hunting somehow, and I do it by trying to be right in the middle of the deer and getting away with it. Last year my favorite deer spot had a maximum shot opportunity of about 35 yards, with deer often close enough to touch. I use a shotgun for that mostly but next year, I'll be using the AR with the 10x on it. We'll see how it goes.

 

[43.6N]

Maybe so. I am obviously a little concerned about it, but I'm going to try it anyway.

I will have offset irons for at least the first year with a little dab of glow in the dark paint on the front sight, just in case.

I like hunting really really tight. You gotta spice up louisiana deer hunting somehow, and I do it by trying to be right in the middle of the deer and getting away with it. Last year my favorite deer spot had a maximum shot opportunity of about 35 yards, with deer often close enough to touch. I use a shotgun for that mostly but next year, I'll be using the AR with the 10x on it. We'll see how it goes.

@Choupique whats the farthest shot you think you might take?

 

[Choupique]

whats the farthest shot you think you might take?

Far as I can feel like I can hit them, which could be 7 or 800 yards if I felt like I could do it. I'm self-limited to 250 yards though.

The rifle is my only .223 with a scope, so it's getting the 10x SWFA because I have it, and that's what I want to practice with. I just deer hunt with it because it's my only rifle with a can, and it's fun. I'm not actually concerned about it, if I lose a deer because of it it won't be any big deal. I know a fixed 10x isn't ideal for what I'm doing, but its on the rifle I want to use.