Ultimate Lightweight Western Hunting Riflescope Advise

[ElPollo]

I’m looking for the best lightweight riflescope for Western hunting, and I’d appreciate some input from those with experience. My key requirements are:

• Holds zero consistently
• Excellent tracking
• Drop tested and durable
• Lightweight (under 24 oz max, ~20 oz ideal)
• MIL reticle
• 15x max zoom (less is okay, 10x minimum)
• 42mm objective lens

So far, my top contenders are:

1. Nightforce NXS 2.5–10x42
2. Trijicon Credo 2.5–15x42
3. SWFA SS 3–15x42 30mm MQ Gen 2

Questions for the group:

• Which of these scopes best balances durability, weight, and performance for Western hunting?
• Am I overlooking any strong alternatives in this category?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

The 3-15 SWFA is a really good solid scope and has a better reticle than either of the other two That said, it’s not particularly nice to use above 12x due to limited eye relief. I personally prefer the 3-9 and the fixed 6x and 10x (I own all but the 10x currently). The reticle on these is marginally better than the 3-15 because the diamond hash marks are solid as opposed to hollow on the 3-15. The 3-9 is pretty close to your 10x minimum and you are not going to be able to see much of a difference between 9x and 10x in the field. All of my variables stay set around 6x.

On the others, I would not recommend an SFP scope and particularly ones with reticles that are hard to see and use. I would take the Maven RS1.2 over any of those and if you really want more than 10x, I’d go with that.

Maven is not a shit company. They stand behind their products with a good warranty. They seem to have lucked into producing a really solid scope in the RS1.2 even though the rest haven’t passed Forms drop tests. That said, their binos and spotters are pretty good products.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

The 3-15 SWFA is a really good solid scope and has a better reticle than either of the other two That said, it’s not particularly nice to use above 12x due to limited eye relief. I personally prefer the 3-9 and the fixed 6x and 10x (I own all but the 10x currently). The reticle on these is marginally better than the 3-15 because the diamond hash marks are solid as opposed to hollow on the 3-15. The 3-9 is pretty close to your 10x minimum and you are not going to be able to see much of a difference between 9x and 10x in the field. All of my variables stay set around 6x.

On the others, I would not recommend an SFP scope and particularly ones with reticles that are hard to see and use. I would take the Maven RS1.2 over any of those and if you really want more than 10x, I’d go with that.

Maven is not a shit company. They stand behind their products with a good warranty. They seem to have lucked into producing a really solid scope in the RS1.2 even though the rest haven’t passed Forms drop tests. That said, their binos and spotters are pretty good products.

Vortex also stands behind their scopes with their warranty as do many others. Maven is shit because they legitimately don’t care if they build a scope that holds zero or not…they lucked into the 1.2. They know they could and choose not to. Trijicon advertises their scopes are drop tested now. They care…you guys want more scopes that pass the drop test stop sending companies money that don’t give a shit.

 

[ChrisAU]

Vortex also stands behind their scopes with their warranty as do many others. Maven is shit because they legitimately don’t care if they build a scope that holds zero or not…they lucked into the 1.2. They know they could and choose not to. Trijicon advertises their scopes are drop tested now. They care…you guys want more scopes that pass the drop test stop sending companies money that don’t give a shit.

…like Swarovski?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Hard to go wrong with any of your choices. I love Trijicon scopes (but my favorite is the Accupoint).

I would buy whichever one is cheapest and use the difference in price to the next one to buy more ammo for practice. My “long range” rifle has an SWFA 10x gen1 on it. I really like that scope and the 6x variant as well.

 

[ElPollo]

Vortex also stands behind their scopes with their warranty as do many others. Maven is shit because they legitimately don’t care if they build a scope that holds zero or not…they lucked into the 1.2. They know they could and choose not to. Trijicon advertises their scopes are drop tested now. They care…you guys want more scopes that pass the drop test stop sending companies money that don’t give a shit.

Whether it was luck or not, neither you nor I likely have much knowledge of what it takes to actually build a dependable and repeatable rifle scope. And frankly all but 4-5 optics companies don’t either. If you want to make more companies better, you spend your money on the products that work. The RS1.2 is one of those products. Bad mouthing them for making other products that aren’t as durable doesn’t help as much as spending money.

And finally what scope do you think is currently available that is better for western hunting than the RS 1.2 that meet’s the OP’s criteria? I’d say it’s a short list.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

I would take the NXS and Credo over an RS1.2 any day. The OP never said it had to be FFP - y’all pushed that on him. Frankly I hate FFP scopes and kill animals every year over 600 yards with SFP scopes. FFP is a PRS gimmick

 

[ElPollo]

I would take the NXS and Credo over an RS1.2 any day. The OP never said it had to be FFP - y’all pushed that on him. Frankly I hate FFP scopes and kill animals every year over 600 yards with SFP scopes. FFP is a PRS gimmick

If the OP is going to have to use a reticle to account for wind and do it quickly, an SFP reticle is not ideal. That’s not a PRS gimmick thing where I live. It’s an everyday thing.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

If the OP is going to have to use a reticle to account for wind and do it quickly, an SFP reticle is not ideal. That’s not a PRS gimmick thing where I live. It’s an everyday thing.

Why? Where does he say that? I have found that wind doesn’t do much until you get past 600 yards if you are shooting a high bc bullet. If you are in the plains or desert, maybe the wind at your location is the same as the animals, but if you are hunting in the mountains, its an educated guess at best with swirling winds etc. I dont have an issue killing with SFP scopes, even out past 600 yards.

 

[ColPenguin]

Of your list, I have only used the SWFA 3-15. It is a solid pick.

The SWFA SS HD 3-9 is a solid choice too but it doesn't come with factory zero stop or turret caps.

 

[sndmn11]

@denverangler725 I have a handful of these scopes folks are brining up. If you truly are in Denver, you can swing by and get first hand experience with them if you wish.

 

[denverangler725]

@denverangler725 I have a handful of these scopes folks are brining up. If you truly are in Denver, you can swing by and get first hand experience with them if you wish.

@sndmn11 Sending a DM

 

[schmidty3]

…like Swarovski?

Because Ford made a pinto, id never own another Ford....

That's his argument

 

[180ls1]

They all have weaknesses and if the Maven was out I’d probably use an NX8 or a Trijicon 3-18 before any of them. If you made me choose, SWFA. I like for my wind holds to be true at any magnification, and the reticle is usable in low light at low magnification. The Credo 2.5-15 requires illumination in low light at any magnification (since it’s SFP), it is thin. The NXS is a great scope. However, I’d get the SWFA 3-9 over the 3-15.

At what point/range is the lack of parallax an issue on the SWFA 3-9 or just in general?

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Because Ford made a pinto, id never own another Ford....

That's his argument

No, its like saying that because ford made the 7.3 powerstroke all powerstrokes are the best and we should reward them despite the shitty performance of the 6.0 and 6.4.

 

[ChrisAU]

At what point/range is the lack of parallax an issue on the SWFA 3-9 or just in general?

Have never seen it be an issue, I’ve been on hand to shoot or see shot 3 bull elk from 400-575 with SWFA 3-9’s and me nor my buddy ever wished they had parallax adjustment. Couple antelope at 400-450 as well. It’s one less thing to worry about in the moment really. The FOV on them kind of sucks tho, they are really 4-9’s with obvious tunneling from 3-4x. That turned me off on them for close quarter fast action whitetail.

 

[schmidty3]

No, its like saying that because ford made the 7.3 powerstroke all powerstrokes are the best and we should reward them despite the shitty performance of the 6.0 and 6.4.

Maybe I havent been paying attention. But which maven scope newer then the rs1.2 has been a performance regression?

 

[seand]

I’ve got the rs1.2 and the swfa3-15 gen2. For a big game hunting scope I prefer swfa3-9 or 6x. Can’t see choosing to use a SFP variable scope for hunting

 

[ElPollo]

I personally think the SWFA 6x is the best western hunting scope for the money. And I think it’s the best for people just starting out. People tend to want big variables with 2-3x on the bottom end and 12-15x top end. Neither is particularly useful for most western hunting. 2-3x snap shots are something everyone thinks they need to be prepared for but rarely happens. Most (likely all) people should not be shooting at moving animals. I’ve carried 2-3x variables a lot and have never needed it. Most of them stay set in the 5-7x range. The last animal I shot was at 20 yards in thick brush at dawn and it was with a 6x.

6x magnification also gets people on target way faster at distance than a 12-15x and gets them back on target faster as well. In my experience, people shooting 12-15x at game generally ask the same questions after the shot. “Did I hit it?” Or “Where did it go?”

The 6x SWFA is less than $400, durable and dials repeatably, has less stuff to jack with and screw up, and has a great reticle. 6x is also enough magnification to shoot about twice as far as most should be shooting. If someone wants a scope for killing in the west that’s usually my recommendation.

 

[Balderdash]

Have never seen it be an issue, I’ve been on hand to shoot or see shot 3 bull elk from 400-575 with SWFA 3-9’s and me nor my buddy ever wished they had parallax adjustment. Couple antelope at 400-450 as well. It’s one less thing to worry about in the moment really. The FOV on them kind of sucks tho, they are really 4-9’s with obvious tunneling from 3-4x. That turned me off on them for close quarter fast action whitetail.

I agree. Had 3 at one point, but have pretty much moved away from them. They were great scopes both mechanically and optictally, and if I were constrained to use only them I wouldn't complain; however, I do believe that there's better options. The 3-12 LRTS would be one,, as would the SWFA 6x, IMO.

 

[Bater]

I have every scope on your list. All three are fantastic at what matters….retaining zero and tracking correctly. If I had to choose one it would be the Credo. I’m not one of those guys that has to have FFP but if you are then the SWFA or RS1.2 if you can spare a few more ounces.