Swfa turrets - do they move

[rickyw]

Have any of you who hunt with swfa scopes had your turrets shift? I had this problem with a vortex scope riding behind me in a sled on a snow machine. The windage turret was spun almost one full revolution. Missed a caribou at 300 yards when the day before I had taken one at 475. Anyway, I would consider a swfa 3-9 with uncapped turrets if they are not prone to shift. Thanks

 

[willisp.72]

None of mine have ever moved on accident. If it was something I was worried about I would throw a wrap of electrical tape around them.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I would throw a wrap of electrical tape around them.

That is what I do on my uncapped windage knob scopes.

 

[TheM1DoesMyTalking]

I've had my SWFA 3-9's elevation turret turn .1 mil off zero while bushwacking once. I just get in the habit of checking my turrets, tape would work too. The Gen 2 3-15 and 10x have covered turrets as an option.

 

[rickyw]

Cool. Yeah I recently acquired the 3-15 gen 2 and the turrets feel pretty stiff, which leads me to believe they would be difficult to accidentally move. Looking at the 3-9 for another rifle.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Cool. Yeah I recently acquired the 3-15 gen 2 and the turrets feel pretty stiff, which leads me to believe they would be difficult to accidentally move. Looking at the 3-9 for another rifle.

Tape it for peace of mind. I had a different scope spin on me in the scrub oak and shot way wide on an elk, windage was 1 rev off... tape ever since.

 

[E.Shell]

Have any of you who hunt with swfa scopes had your turrets shift? I had this problem with a vortex scope riding behind me in a sled on a snow machine. The windage turret was spun almost one full revolution. Missed a caribou at 300 yards when the day before I had taken one at 475. Anyway, I would consider a swfa 3-9 with uncapped turrets if they are not prone to shift. Thanks

Inspect you windage turret - make sure it's solid and not backed out.

I had a student shooting with me using a 10x SWFA on a .308 about 10 years ago. We were zeroed at 100 yards, then went to 300. After shooting awhile at 300, he was suddenly shooting far left. Went back to 100 and it took almost a full turn to get back to zero.

Went back to 300 and shot awhile, then he was suddenly shooting far left again. Went back to 100, another huge adjustment to get zeroed. Went back to 300, fired a few shots and the windage turret fell off.

The turret was popping loose one thread at a time and we didn't notice it moving. SWFA replaced his scope, shipping a new one out overnight and sent him a shipping label to return the broken one.

Weird failure, great service.

 

[rickjames80]

I was super nervous the first year with my 3-9. I checked it all the time. After 4 years now I don't even think about it and have never had it move unintentionally.

 

[rclouse79]

I have never had a problem with my 6 x. I just ordered two 3-15 and like that they have caps for the turrets. I plan to leave the windage capped. Electrical tape is a good idea. I used electrical tape on the eyepieces of my 15x binos since I always glass with them in and it allows me to attach a digiscope adapter without them spinning.

 

[Johnwell]

I have two 3-9’s I’ve hunted with in thick brush/woods for several years. Never had one move, I have near total confidence in them, even without tape.

 

[Braaap]

I’ve hunted with a SWFA 3-9 for 5 seasons and the fixed 6 last season. Using neoprene scope covers I’ve never had the turrets move on their own.

 

[flyfisher117]

Yes I have had both my elevation and windage get turned a few clicks. I have found a well fitting scope cover prevents that.

 

[Wacko]

My turrets always start out "stiff" and as you use them they get much easier to turn....

Long way of saying - yes mine have moved. I mark on the turret the "zero" as indicated by the revolution indicator...say it shows 5 on the elevation and 5 on the windage...I mark it 5/5....Quick reference. I do usually tape the windage anyway as well.

YMMV

 

[Wrangler13]

I’ve had the 3-9 elevation shift a click or two. Finally added shims to them. Should have done that awhile ago, really makes it a near perfect scope. The windage all get electrical tape.

 

[Foster_65]

Stupid question. How are you taping the turrets. Are you going around the tube and turret or just the turrets itself. Pics would be great. There is t a lot of surface for the tape to function if going around the turrets itself

 

[Wrangler13]

They don’t need a ton of tape. I go around 1.5 times.

 

[Foster_65]

Got ya. Thanks. What I thought but didn’t know if there was enough for it to stick securely without spinning

 

[Jimbee]

This is an easy reference. Drill a hole and make a dot.