Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Sneak Peek--SS1-4X24HD FFP Prototype!

Here's some info on an upcoming scope many of you will be interested in. First of all, don't pay any attention to the reticle. The production reticle was not ready so they stuck this prototype in there just to get a couple built so the optics/mechanics, etc, could be tested. And those tests it passes with flying colors.

The production reticle will be many times as thick such that it is very fast to use on 1X.

As you can see from the pics, it's a TRUE 1X on the low end, so it should be close to red-dot-fast for CQB, both eyes open shooting with the proper reticle. The glass is exceptional, amazingly bright for a 24mm objective and very sharp. There is no distortion or tunnel effect on any power.

The turrets are excellent, with 10 mils per turn you can do anything you'd want to do with an AR and a 4X scope on a single turn of the turret.

I had a chance to take it to the range today. Here are some shots:

I tested on two different AR's:



And although it's not exactly the type of rifle this scope is meant for, my 6.5 is the most accurate so it had to get some playtime as well:



And it didn't disappoint. Here are two groups from 300 yds, measuring 1.7" and 2.2":



Pretty decent for a 4X at that range.

The glass was very impressive. I was actually able to see a couple 22 caliber holes at 100 yds through it. Not many and not very well naturally, but that was pretty impressive for a 4X.

4X at 100 yds:



4X at 300 yds:



1X:




I can't wait to get my hands on one with the new reticle. Other than that, I'm very impressed so far. A couple more beauty shots:

[img]http://www.jonaadland.com/Hunting/SuperSniper/1-4X24/PICT0107.JPG[/img]

[img]http://www.jonaadland.com/Hunting/SuperSniper/1-4X24/PICT0105.JPG[/img]

JonA, now that's what I'm talkin about ! Lol. Really, that's one fine scope; the results speak loudly of it's worth . Looks are one thing, results are the core of it. Can you tell us more? Like how will we find one ? Any other magnifications? Price range?I think you said reticules are going to be different,right? Would also love to know how you posted the great picts ! Charles

I assume that's SWFA Super Sniper scope?

Is that a knob for an illuminated reticle?

What round/load are the other circle dots set for or will the new reticle be void of them since it has turrets as well?

Any idea of a price yet?

That's good shooting BTW, reguardless of scope.

They should be available from the manufacturer fairly soon. I don't know exactly when though.

Yes, they have recently added a 3-9X40 FFP and a fixed 10X42 HD to their lineup. These are a big step up in quality (and price) from their original fixed 10X, 16X, and 20X--those are still available though.



Good lighting.

Yup.



Yup.



The illumination works very nicely and is daytime bright--though not as bright as a Short Dot, etc. The new reticle should make it brighter but it's hard to say how much. Regardless the reticle will be sized such that it is fast to use on 1X even without illumination.

They were for M855 ball. Of course, just because the BDC is there doesn't mean you have to use it. In the end to keep everybody happy I think they'll offer two reticles, one with a BDC and one with simple mil lines for those bothered by the BDC.



I'd expect a bit more than the current 3-9 SS. Making the optics of a true 1X, not to mention doing it extremely well, is not easy or cheap. This is meant to compete with the high end 1-4's but at a much better price.



Thanks.

Nice, may have to put one of those on my wish list.

Ok, so good lighting.That's not hard with today's cameras. What camera? How did you post the pics here? What pixil setting? And, what 6.5 ? THat's a fine group for 300 yds !Charles

30mm tube or 1" ? A ball park price would be nice.

What is the eye relief on 1X? Positive clicks?

It's an old Minolta Dimage, only 3.2 Mp, but it still takes good pics. You post pics here by hosting them somewhere on the internet and using the [img][/img] tags. The rifle is a 6.5 Grendel.

It's a 30mm tube. I can't do any more than speculate on price, but if that'll suffice I'd put it somewhere in the $600-$900 range.

The clicks are very positive and firm with a very high quality feel to them. In addition to range work I did a multitude of tracking tests with a collimator as I do with all tactical scopes and tracking was perfect.

I haven�t put that much effort into it, but a quick flashlight measure shows the eye relief to be around 4�. For NTCH shooters the Recon X or the SPR-E will probably be best. This scope actually has enough eye relief it would be useable on a hard kicking bolt action.

It's a 30mm tube. I can't do any more than speculate on price, but if that'll suffice I'd put it somewhere in the $600-$900 range.

Well, if it is in that price range, I think I will stick with the Leupolds in the same power range.
Thanks for the heads up and hopefully it will be a good and durable scope.

Yep, I'll stick with the Leupolds for that kind of dough.

Be sure you're comparing apples to apples. Leupold's closest competitor to this, the Mark 4 1.5-5x20mm MR/T M2 Illum. SPR, goes for $900 and this is a better scope in about every way. A more fair comparison is with the NightForce NXS 1-4x24 NP1/FC2 which runs $1200.

Opinions vary.

A lot.............made in J A pan or here for the same money or a fair bit more...I'll choose here every time.

Where have you heard differing opinions? I'd like to hear them as well.

I agree, the NF 1-4X24 is an outstanding scope and will come marked "Made in the USA" but it costs quite a bit more. US Optics makes a couple very nice 1-4X's also Made in the USA but again, they're more expensive. All the rest of the top scopes are made overseas. I highly encourage buying those scopes for those who want to buy US products.

If you were talking about the Leupold, I think you will be disappointed when you look for the "Made in the USA" label.

That's a lot of $$ for a "super sniper" scope. Leupold's (while not perfect) scopes have been proven all over the world in some pretty ugly places and conditions.

This is just me talking, but the name "super sniper" causes me to immediately be inclined to disregard it. Much like I would disregard anything with a name like "Dark Ops" or "Extreme Ammo".

I don't buy hype.

So what's your connection to SS or SWFA?

My opinion is from my own experience looking through the SS line, it didn't impress me much and unless they've improved greatly, they have a long way to go to compare with Leupold.

I've used Leupold for a long time without issue. It's gonna be hard for me to change to a no-name scope and pay more money or even the same. Other than the occasional mention on snipers hide and the swfa forum, the SS line gets no praise elsewhere and even where it does it's a cheaper alternative to Leupold. I hope they don't expect to be swarmed by the masses...

JonA, I have spent 45+ years using optic's and have in my stable, Leupolds,Redfields,Burris,Leica,Nightforce,US Optic's and tried the SS series in the 16 and 20X. To my eyes the SS series are about the same quality of the Vortex brand. Really know nothing to SS warranty but I do know about Leupold,Leica and USO's warranty and they are second to no one.
I really do hope it is a quality product but I don't see it being an azz kicker to Leupold,Nightforce,USO.

Discounting a product because you don't like its name and you lack of knowledge about it, is of course, something you're perfectly free to do, even if it does lack logic or rationale.

I was sent the prototype for testing and evaluation. There is still time for some minor design changes before production begins (like the reticle, etc) so my input was solicited.


I'm sorry guys, I guess I didn't realize so many were unaware of SS's new models. Comparing the old fixed 10X, 16X, and 20X to the new models is analogous to comparing a VX-I to a Mark 4 Leupold. These new models are share nothing in common other than the name, they share no parts, they're made in a different factory to an entirely different level of quality that yes, compared side by side, blows Leupold away in most respects. I really suggest looking at them before forming an opinion about them.

This post was really meant as a heads-up to those who may be planning on buying a 1-4X NF, USO, S&B Short dot, Meopta K-Dot, etc, or other high-end 1-4X to let them know there will be another choice available soon. I don't know how the subject got turned to Leupold as they don't even make a 1-4X so comparisons are less than useful.