Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics When is SWFA....

going to fix the eye relief problem on their ultralight. Want to replace a few Leupolds before they give up the ghost in the field.

That is all they are missing for my needs.

Same day Barrett introduces the Fieldcraft in 280ai.

And agree. I would like to see that as well.

Maybe about the same time they start using their 1-4x short turrets on the fixed power models.

So much trashing of Leupold on this site. Now, they all have to be replaced before they fail in the field.

SWFA is a small operation. I think sometimes people forget they aren't a major optics company. They sell firearms, optics and accessories.

None of my SWFA's have failed so far. Owned them for a while. I have had 7 broken leupies from my Weatherby's so far. Four on my 378 and 2 were MK4's

They won't be changing anything
That scope is just a re badged Sightron with a few grooves milled in the ocular housing
That in itself is good because those scopes are rock solid, I have used one extensively for over 10 years and never even noticed the eye relief until it was cried about on here.

It ain't crying, but OK.

The current Ultralight is not intended for hard kickers, although I do agree that it is a very nice little scope (as was the little Sightron that was mentioned earlier).

I do not think SWFA is quite done introducing new hunting scopes, but I suspect a lot depends on market response to scopes out there now. I assure you, they pay attention to what people say. Still, they introduce products one at a time and focus on getting them right, which takes time.

I know what I would like to see next and I gave them my feedback. We'll see what they decide to do.

ILya

I got one of the ultralights this week. I will have a harder time seeing the tiny turret than seeing the reticle in twilight.

What did you mount it on

Ever thought that swfa might not see the issue with the scope. And they wanted it that way

So far nothing.
I built 6 rifles in the last month.
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...ing-rifles-for-october-hunt#Post13124567
I leave to go hunting in a couple weeks.
That scope's only hope for 2018 is if I put a Husq Mauser action together with a Bartlein barrel, Timney trigger, 2 position M70 safety, and a Bordon stock.. this week.
I have the reamers and the Bartleins to make that a 25-06, 6.5-06, or 280AI. I would be inclined to do the 280AI.

Might not be exactly what they wanted, but it obviously was okay for them, especially as opposed to having something new worked up at their expense. There's probably more like that out there than one would suppose. Still looks like a reasonable choice for .22s or other light kickers for those who don't need high power and brightness at the same time.

Should have parallax adjustment if meant for .22, huh?

Correct. This scope was intended this way. Now, that does not mean they will not have some other models aimed at a different market niche. However, this particular design will get a new BDC reticle shortly.

ILya

I have never designed and sold rifle scopes so what is the advantage to such a short eye relief? I believe that is the chief complaint about this scope. So is it not possible to build this scope "for its intended purpose" and give it more eye relief to gain more customers?

If Castle_Rock is correct and this is just a cosmetic redo of an existing scope, that would explain the design. Can't just snap your fingers and change the eye-relief; everything's connected as they say. If, on the other hand, it's new, then the ER is either a compromise to achieve the other optical goals, or a giant boo-boo that will turn some buyers away, but obviously not all. Like it or lump it; buy it or don't; can't see them changing it now.

Castle Rock is wrong.

There is a Sightron that is physically similar in many regards, but the specs are wildly different.

weight, diameter, travel, eye-relief are all vastly different...all expect weight favor or the Sightron btw.

Dave

Somebody was out of focus the day they reviewed the ER specs.

I think you might find that I am correct if you do a bit of research, there have been a couple of Sightron models in the 2-10 range