Howdy all. I've been pondering a lightweight/repeatable long range rifle scope (800-1000 yds), with the least amount of moving parts. I'm thinking a fixed power (something between 12 and 20 power), adjustable objective or side focus, with an etched moa Christmas tree reticle (around 30 or 40 moa vertically, with windage moa dots). The only thing close to this, that I've found, is a SWFA SS. Does something closer to what I described, exist? Thanks, Andy3

Nothing much better than the SWFA SS for what you are wanting. I love mine.

Well.... Years ago, I owned a 16x SWFA with the rear parallax and was not impressed. Entry level, okay...

For the money and features, pretty hard to beat the Athlon Argos BTR in 6-24x. For $369 you get 30mm tube, side focus parallax, Illuminated FFP hashtag reticle like a Horus, Illum turns off between illum settings, and excellent optic quality. $389 will get you the Argos BTR in 8-34x. This scope is very fine for longrange use. Add another $200 to the mix and your get HD Glass and Advanced Coatings, plus illum reticle control on the side parallax turret. Athlon uses the 2032 battery so can get them for $2 at kmart. Don't want illumination? Take the battery out...

I tested both Argos BTR scopes at our local airport, using 1100yds of runway and a HD photo tripod setup with Pic rail to mount the scopes on. The Argos 8-34x and Cronus 4.5-29x got most of my attention from 1100 yds out . The 6-24x though was very much in the performance mix out to 1100yds, just not showing the 4" runway marker lights as large and tight as the more powerful magnification scopes.

Lifetime transferable warranty. Worth your evaluation for sure. Great optics and built tough! I am an affiliated Athlon dealer.

I have to agree with beretzs. It is hard to beat the SWFA SS line for the money. I have the SS 10x42 and will soon be ordering another SS in 6x42. At 21 oz, I don't know that I would consider them to be a light weight scope but they, are certainly lighter than some tactical scopes. I really like SWFA's MOA reticle for hunting and the 2 MOA subtensions should work fine for holdover shots, at shorter ranges. Hunting can be tough on scopes and I chose the SWFA for it durability, good glass, and repeatable dialing. The glass in my 10x is comparable to my Leupold VX 2's and a higher end Nikon that I have.

Hogan ,do you work for Athlon? If I'm not mistaken you have been pushing them pretty hard in your last few posts.

Check out his tag line.

After not being able to find "exactly" what I was looking for......I took the advice, and bought a SWFA 10x42M (side focus), with 40 moa reticle. I didn't mount it on any of my long range hunting rifles, but instead, put it on my suppressed/sub-sonic .22 varmint rifle. Zeroed at 50 yds, I can take it out to 260 yds, using all 40 moa. I verified that this morning by setting out multiple clay birds from 50 yds to 260 yds, and ran about 150 rds through the rifle. This gun is crazy accurate with CCI, 40 grain, subsonic loads, and with little to no wind this morning, I got repeatable hits at all ranges to 260 yds, just using the reticle, without twisting the turrets. Thanks for the advice on my original post.......this outfit will serve me well! Andy3

For a rimfire, or an air rifle, the SWFA scopes are hard to beat because they focus so closely, and their image quality doesn't suffer up close.

I know I'm late, and they ain't light on weight, but for future readers - two more would be the S&B PM II 10x and the USO ST10/LR17.

The S&B PMII 10x42 weighs 20 oz. So it's right there with the SWFA in terms of weight.

I've heard those are pretty good......;)

Andy,

I've had or have the SWFA SS 6x, 10x, 10xHD and 16x. Mechanically, they are all superb. Tracking, return to zero and zero retention are all as they should be. Optics wise, for me, the 16x left much to be desired. The eye box was very critical and glare, when the sun was low on the horizon was really bad. I have not had the 12x, but from what other folks say, it is not too bad.

We're it me, I'd get the 10x or 10x HD. They don't display any of the issues the 16x had and is still plenty enough magnification to get you to 1k.

Want to emphasize again that they are great scopes.

John