SWFA fixed power

[RetiredArmy]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with an SWFA fixed power scope with the side focus? I have 2 (12x42) with rear focus. Thinking about the 16 power with SF. Any thoughts?

Thanks
Bill

 

[avidflyer]

had ones years ago worked like it should no issues

 

[Hammer47]

Have several and they are fine but I prefer to save the $100 and take the rear focus. I believe them to be the best buy on this or any other planet especially with the moa quad reticule, of course all the sniper wannabees will demand the mil quad reticule but you lose the tiny dots that come with the moa version and to me that is a major loss. Those tiny dots are to my way of thinking just the best. Never saw the day a 12x fixed would not carry me past 1000 yds with no drama and no worries. Ymmv..... my all time favorite is the 16X with rear focus and moa controls and reticule. For $299 [should be cheaper on Blk. Friday sale] it is THE deal of the century.

 

[fyrewall]

I have 3, 12X42 rear focus moa quad. I would agree these are a super good deal. The moa reticle matches the 1/4 moa adjustments. At a 500 meter or about 550 yard range I can hit targets at 100, 200, 385, and 500 meters without touching the adjustments. If I want to make an adjustment I can spot my hit, then adjust using the reticle, then put the tiny dot in the center of the moa reticle on the target to make a hit. The mil adjust-mil reticle will also do this but I think the moa setup is better for small targets like rodents. I have used SWFA 16X42 and think the 12X42 is a little brighter.

Does SWFA make a 16X with side focus? The 12X42, despite its relatively low magnification, combined with a good range finder will provide many prairie dog hits at varying ranges.

I can use metric but am more comfortable with yards and MOA.

 

[Hammer47]

Sorry, side focus is on my 3/15 variables and fixed 10x's.........senior moment...however I still prefer the 16X rear focus MOA QUAD to any and all comers in this price vicinity. I am going to take a look at the new Aeon 10x50x60 but I can almost predict that the turrets will not be as repeatable as the SS product and hence will be returned. Time will tell.

 

[T-shooter]

I have a 16X SWFA with rear focus and for the price, I love it. At 100 yards I can see the inner circle on a 1" diameter target dot. At 215 yards I can still see the center black square and hits on white paper. Not the sharpest glass but will do the job. This is what I could see at 1-1/4 miles. Had the scope on a tripod, not pointing a rifle at a house. The picture is the exact same size in comparison to the marks on the reticle. I made this picture but it is what I can see through the scope. I could just make out some of the electrical wires. Not the sharpest glass but for $299, I'm not complaining. I tried ranging with the reticle. I put up a 6' object and could read the range to within +/- 2 yards at 410 yards. I have never tried turret tracking yet with this scope.

 

[Delfuego]

You will not find a better scope in that price range.

 

[nakneker]

I own multiple SWFA fixed power rear focus scopes. I think they are one of the best dollar values out there, tough, repeatable, decent glass all from a company who backs them up.

 

[Gary in MD]

Well, they’re on sale. I have been wanting to try them so I just ordered a fixed 16 power and a fixed 6 power.

 

[JCUtah]

I have a side focus 16 and 10 power. Mostly good on the 16. I have suspected the parallax adjust is not as good as the rear focus. It's a very narrow window to get the parallax right on mine and it seems i work a lot to fine tune through the day. The 10 power does not have this concern. Been rock solid.

 

[Hammer47]

Side focus 16X ??? never heard of such an animal in the SWFA SS stable.

 

[Downhill]

I love the rear focus. Have a 6x47 on a varmint rifle, 2 10x on hunting rifles and a 16x on a 6mmbr. No issues with any of them.

 

[JCUtah]

Side focus 16X ??? never heard of such an animal in the SWFA SS stable.

I really thought it was a side focus. I do remember the side focus being turned to max most of time. If I am wrong I apologize. I sold it a while back. Not related to the parallax. Just didn't need 16 fixed in the end. Maybe sold the wrong scope? My wife has accused me have having too much of a good thing.

 

[Sniper338]

I have two 10x with side focus. Great scopes. I have had both break on me though, the side focus on one not long ago, then a turret issue on another. send them both back and they were replaced. Still have the two and use them often. still nothing but happy.

 

[nakneker]

I really thought it was a side focus. I do remember the side focus being turned to max most of time. If I am wrong I apologize. I sold it a while back. Not related to the parallax. Just didn't need 16 fixed in the end. Maybe sold the wrong scope? My wife has accused me have having too much of a good thing.

LoL at the wife comment

 

[fyrewall]

I have 3 12X42 MOA Quad's and at one time a had a 16X42 MIL Quad. The 16X was a fine scope but the 12X's are somewhat brighter. Comparing the exit pupil of a 12X @ 3.5mm and that of a 16X @ 2.63mm might mean something. When playing around with the 12X and its rear focus on a bad light, cloudy day at 100 yards I was able to get the colors of an orange target dot to turn white and then back to orange by turning the focus in and out - I guess the optics wizards would call this "chromatic aberration". The 16X was noticeably not as bright but on a prairie dog shoot on a bright day the extra 4X was an advantage. I prefer the MOA reticle and .25 MOA clicks for varmint shooting vs the MIL Quad; the tiny dot in the center of the MOA Quad reticle on the 12X comes close but does not cover a 3/4 inch dot at 200 yards and 6.5 mm bullet holes in the white can be seen @ 200 but a 16X would show the same bullet holes better. As mentioned the rear parallax is sort of touchy over 200 yards and this might make focusing a 16X more touchy. My next SWFA scope might be a 16X42 and I sure wish they made that one with a side focus.

T shooter sure has great pics.

 

[RetiredArmy]

Thanks for all the feed back. Ordered my 3rd SWFA, 16x with rear focus. Black Friday deal, $259.00 with free shipping, set of rings and a level. Can't beat it.

Thanks
Bill

 

[Gary in MD]

I ordered a 16x also on Black Friday, just got an email saying they were out of stock. 4 - 5 weeks delay on order.

 

[RetiredArmy]

Gary, are they gonna give you a rain check for the sale price? Like Hammer47, I kept the $100.00 in my pocket with the rear focus. More creedmoor bullets to shoot.

Bill

 

[Gary in MD]

Gary, are they gonna give you a rain check for the sale price? Like Hammer47, I kept the $100.00 in my pocket with the rear focus. More creedmoor bullets to shoot.

Bill

Yes, the email said that all special pricing would apply.
Gary