SWFA Black Friday

[kaikens]

Hey Everyone,

In case you haven't seen it, the site appears to be live again (it had gone away and is now back): https://swfa.com/pages/blackfriday2...1tjWon9KGyUb8dPHdfzoXimzNRR4-mkbeHzqfq_S7-s6_

Two questions:
- Does anyone know of any discount codes that might stack on top of the deals? I had seen "C_DOES" and "CYCLOPS" mentioned in other posts, but neither appear to be working now.

- The 3-9 is typically regarded as a better hunting scope than the 3-15, right? Specifically, I'm talking western elk hunting. I know that the 3-9 is lighter and has better glass.

Thanks all!

 

[TimberHunter]

I’m in a similar boat but with a maven rs1.2. May sell it for almost two 3-15 so my trainer and hunting rifle match.

I’ve owned a 3-15 a few years back, does anyone know if the V2 got a bump in glass quality?


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[benconfused]

@Q_Sertorius - may be able to speak to these questions....

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Hey Everyone,

In case you haven't seen it, the site appears to be live again (it had gone away and is now back): https://swfa.com/pages/blackfriday2...1tjWon9KGyUb8dPHdfzoXimzNRR4-mkbeHzqfq_S7-s6_

Two questions:
- Does anyone know of any discount codes that might stack on top of the deals? I had seen "C_DOES" and "CYCLOPS" mentioned in other posts, but neither appear to be working now.

- The 3-9 is typically regarded as a better hunting scope than the 3-15, right? Specifically, I'm talking western elk hunting. I know that the 3-9 is lighter and has better glass.

Thanks all!

I don’t know that the 3-9x has “better glass” than the 3-15x. I haven’t compared the two side-by-side. My understanding is that the 3-15x is best up to about 12x, not to full power. Which tracks with what I have read and my experience with other SWFA scopes. The fixed 10x seems better than the fixed 12x.

I don’t personally own a SWFA 3-9x, but I have seen and used a couple. I don’t plan to get one because I don’t see real advantages over the fixed 6x or 10x (especially the 6x). But that’s true of any SFP scope. I have bought into the FFP scope advantages. Especially for “western style hunting” (which to me means shooting beyond MPBR on a regular basis).

If I get a new variable scope, it will be the SWFA 3-15x. Or I will wait for the RokScope… but the SWFA Black Friday sale is singing a siren song… and the voices in my head tell me that my .25-06 would love to have a 3-15x instead of the 10x it currently wears.

Edit - which is a bit irrational, since I dropped a deer at 80 yards standing, leaning against a tree, in the woods with my .25-06 and the fixed 10x. And another at ~120 yards seated unsupported… I think I probably have all my needs covered with my crop of 6x and 10x scopes.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I’m in a similar boat but with a maven rs1.2. May sell it for almost two 3-15 so my trainer and hunting rifle match.

I’ve owned a 3-15 a few years back, does anyone know if the V2 got a bump in glass quality?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I never heard of a change in glass quality.

 

[Formidilosus]

I’m in a similar boat but with a maven rs1.2. May sell it for almost two 3-15 so my trainer and hunting rifle match.

I’ve owned a 3-15 a few years back, does anyone know if the V2 got a bump in glass quality?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don’t know that they did functionally, but the 3-15x seems a bit better in the last year or so than I remember them 10 years ago, and they are as usable as the RS1.2’s on 15x.

 

[Formidilosus]

My understanding is that the 3-15x is best up to about 12x, not to full power.

That’s mostly made up nonsense that people keep repeating. The 3-15x glass is fine the full power range.

I don’t personally own a SWFA 3-9x, but I have seen and used a couple. I don’t plan to get one because I don’t see real advantages over the fixed 6x or 10x (especially the 6x). But that’s true of any SFP scope.

The 3-9x is FFP, and probably the best overall general purpose hunting scope made.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

That’s mostly made up nonsense that people keep repeating. The 3-15x glass is fine the full power range.




The 3-9x is FFP, and probably the best overall general purpose hunting scope made.

Oh… I did not know that about the 3-15x. One of the reasons I haven’t tried it is because I kept seeing people on here saying that. I honestly assumed they must be correct or parroting your thoughts on it. Thanks for correcting me.

Not sure how I missed that the 3-9x was FFP. Time to do some more calculations in my head.

 

[kaikens]

This is the first I've heard about the glass not being that different between the two. With the "HD" glass on the 3-9, I thought that was supposed to be measurably better. But I'm far from a glass snob -- I might not be able to tell the difference. In theory, I like the parallax adjustment on the 3-15. I probably don't really need it, however.

 

[Formidilosus]

This is the first I've heard about the glass not being that different between the two. With the "HD" glass on the 3-9, I thought that was supposed to be measurably better. But I'm far from a glass snob -- I might not be able to tell the difference. In theory, I like the parallax adjustment on the 3-15. I probably don't really need it, however.

Very few people can tell any difference- people parrot what they hear, and see what they want to see. I have multiple Macen RS1.2’s, Trijicon 3-18x Tenmiles, SWFA 3-15x both gens, and SWFA 3-9’s- anything you can see with one, you can see with all.

 

[kaikens]

Awesome -- thanks for the info @Formidilosus. I appreciate it!

 

[BBob]

My understanding is that the 3-15x is best up to about 12x, not to full power.

"My understanding" So no actual personal use. I have no problem using the 3-15 at 15X. Does it degrade above 12X? I don't know and don't care as it works fine at 15X. Yes I use it at 15X all the time. I might pick to use my 3-9 over the 3-15 or vice versa but it certainly isn't because of glass at max mag.

 

[Firth]

I have a single 3-15 SWFA that I picked up the first year after they came out. My sample of one is useable in the 12-15x range, but clarity falls off noticeably. Sample of 1, YMMV, and all that. Maybe I got a lemon, or they just got better later on, don't know, it's the only one I've looked through. The scope has always been reliable, however.

My 3-9 HD SWFA is on my Tikka 223 that probably get shot more than all my other bolt action centerfires combined and that would be my choice between the two scopes for general hunting use.

 

[benconfused]

I have a single 3-15 SWFA that I picked up the first year after they came out. My sample of one is useable in the 12-15x range, but clarity falls off noticeably. Sample of 1, YMMV, and all that. Maybe I got a lemon, or they just got better later on, don't know, it's the only one I've looked through. The scope has always been reliable, however.

My 3-9 HD SWFA is on my Tikka 223 that probably get shot more than all my other bolt action centerfires combined and that would be my choice between the two scopes for general hunting use.

Do you ever wish you had the 3-15 power on the 223 for any reason? Splitting hairs question I know - asking because I'm getting one of these two scopes for my 223. Primarily a trainer that will also be used for mid-TN whitetail with the kids as well.

 

[dårlig jeger]

The 3-9 for $499 on black Friday is a steal. People were paying silly money for those used before the restock this year. I guess people just want them when they can't have them.

I'd trade 6x's for 3-9's all day.

 

[fightthenoise]

Why does SWFA refuse to make any more 6x's?

 

[Firth]

Do you ever wish you had the 3-15 power on the 223 for any reason? Splitting hairs question I know - asking because I'm getting one of these two scopes for my 223. Primarily a trainer that will also be used for mid-TN whitetail with the kids as well.

I've never had an issue with the 3-9 or wished for something different on my 223.

I might choose the 3-15 for smallish targets particularly at close range for the parallax adjustment. I could see it being good on a precision 22, for example, and might choose it there, or on a centerfire that would be used on a lot of ground squirrels.

 

[TimberHunter]

Do you ever wish you had the 3-15 power on the 223 for any reason? Splitting hairs question I know - asking because I'm getting one of these two scopes for my 223. Primarily a trainer that will also be used for mid-TN whitetail with the kids as well.

One use case I don’t see talked about often is what the higher magnification can do when making last minute animal sizing calls.

For example I have a spot where it’s a steep hike and as soon as you hit the ridge you need to be ready to shoot (usually prone but shots are only 300-400 yards so need to be quick). Usually don’t have the time nor the desire to bust out a tripod and handholding binos when I’m excited and out of breath is almost worthless lol. Then I’ll zoom out and make the shot


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[hunterguy122]

Very few people can tell any difference- people parrot what they hear, and see what they want to see. I have multiple Macen RS1.2’s, Trijicon 3-18x Tenmiles, SWFA 3-15x both gens, and SWFA 3-9’s- anything you can see with one, you can see with all.

Out of what is available on this sale, if you were going to try a SWFA for the first time, 10x. 3-9, or 3-15? All around general purpose shooting and hunting. Thanks

 

[CJ_BG]

That’s mostly made up nonsense that people keep repeating. The 3-15x glass is fine the full power range.




The 3-9x is FFP, and probably the best overall general purpose hunting scope made.

May have missed it if there was an eval done of the 3-9 but is the reticle more visible at 3x than the 3-15?