I've seen several people immediately discount them because of the shorter eye relief at higher power...but then I have also seen a few users report no issues.
No one questions the robust build of the 20+ ounce fixed and variable SS models...have these proven solid at half the weight?
With low profile capped turrets, I assume it is safe to say they aren't intended to be hardcore dialers, but as a set-and-forget scope, will they be as reliable, or more so, than a Leupold 6x36?
Just looking for some honest field reports now that these have been out for a bit.
I don't know that this qualifies as "an honest field report," as I've only used one at the range, to date.
As reliable as a Leupold FX-II 6X? Don't know. Haven't dropped it off a cliff, thrown it into mud, pounded tent stakes nor shot a bullet hole through the tube.
However, so far, I really like it mounted on a Kimber Montana .223. I haven't noticed, nor found the eye relief to be a handicap. When SWFA gets the rimfire version back in stock, I'll pick up one of those too. It seems to be, to me anyways, a nice lightweight scope option.
I have one on a 6.5 CM Kimber MT and one on a 22k Hornet. I like the scopes and have not felt that the eye relief is a handicap in any way. I'd buy another.
Mine is on a .223, no issues yet. More data after this hunting season.
'Four legs good, two legs baaaad." ---------------------------------------------- "Jimmy, some of it's magic, Some of it's tragic, But I had a good life all the way." (Jimmy Buffett)
I bought a used one here and put it on a Rem SA with a light weight 22" barrel chambered in 250AI. I used it with lighter weight bullets to fireform 200 cases in prairie dog shoots this summer. It works fine for me from low power to about 8x but seems not as clear to my eyes at the top powers. As a light weight option on lower recoil hunting rifles it seems like a good option. I used the dials in conjunction with rangefinder binoculars and the adjustments seemed consistent but only about 200 rounds so far.
I have one mounted on an AR15. I have the BDC reticle. Still working on verifying aim points out to 300 yards. I agree with other comments about it being usable up to 8x. You can use it up to 10x, but clarity goes away after 8. Eye relief is not an issue and probably be fine on anything up to a 308 for me, but my 308 is a really soft shooting rifle. I plan on getting at least one more of these for a AR15 in 6.8 SPC. Seems like it is almost half the size of the SWFA 6x which I had mounted on another AR15.
I could not find a rear flip up cap that fit, so I have a front cap on the rear that fits great.
With a couple of folks saying over 8x is tough to use and clarity suffers that rules it out for me, especially a SFP BDC version.
Huh, well, I've been using mine at 8-10X and haven't noticed any less clarity. Of course, that's my subjective opinion - like their's, I guess.
I can use mine cranked up to 10x, but I wear trifocals and depending on how I am sitting at the bench, I have a hard time focusing on targets. More to do with the transition points of my trifocals. I have to tilt my head back to focus on a front sight of handguns. Probably need to get a pair of prescription shooting glasses made.
I have one on a Kimber Montana .223 rem. The short eye relief is no problem on that light recoiling rifle and the adjustments appear to be precise. I will say the optical quality is just a little better than poor especially at the highest magnification. You can get the reticle sharp and clear but no amount of adjustment will get the target in good focus and it appears it is more an issue of glass quality than focus mechanics.
I will say the optics are good enough to get the job of shooting game done just fine and if the scope holds zero over extended time I will keep it.
Put one on a 6.5 creed Montana. I like the size and weight. Eye relief is fine for me. Glass kinda sucks, made the mistake of shooting with my razor right before using the Swfa for the first time. Like said before at 10x the target is out of focus, cross hairs are sharp. Eye box is very finicky at 10x. I might just leave it on 6x....I’m sure I’ll kill game just fine.
I used one last year and it performed well. The setup killed a moose, 2 caribou, and a couple deer. Dialed it out to 600 yards and back several times and it tracks true....for now no doubt it can’t be SS tough given the weight but for the application it’s still the setup I am taking sheep hunting this year.
I put one on a Voquartsen 17 HMR lightweight with Talleys and it is perfect for the job. Shot paper and made tiny rocks dance at 110 yds on various magnifications. Took it out once while scouting the desert and wacked a few rock rats. I like it!
Will be buying at least two more. Might be a while with SWFA's backorder situation.