The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Hide > The Art of the Rifle: Bolt, Lever, and Pump Action

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old October 7, 2012, 10:39 AM   #1
Polinese
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 27, 2010
Posts: 945
New fixed power scope SWFA or Leupold

I prefer fixed power scopes. Had a bushnell 10x that I liked but when it failed on me (even though bushnell supposedly fixed it, i've been scared to mount it up again) I bought a redfield which is a decent scope for the money but I want to pick up another fixed power for my 308. The two main scopes I"m looking at are the Leupold FX-2 6x and the SWFA SS 6x or 10x with the mil/mil adjustments.

Anyone prefer one to the other? I've read good things on the adjustments and clarity of both scopes. Guess I'm looking for which one tends to be a little more rugged (even though I baby my guns)

Last edited by Polinese; October 7, 2012 at 12:49 PM.
Polinese is offline  
Old October 7, 2012, 12:45 PM   #2
SCDeac82
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 11, 2010
Location: Southeast-USA
Posts: 222
Are you thinking of the FX II's for the Leupolds?
__________________
"No free man shall ever be de-barred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain their right to keep and bear arms is as a last resort to protect themselves against tyranny in government." -- Thomas Jefferson
SCDeac82 is offline  
Old October 7, 2012, 12:50 PM   #3
Polinese
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 27, 2010
Posts: 945
Yes I changed the original post, all the different ones confuse me as I can make no sense of it other than higher number higher price.
Polinese is offline  
Old October 7, 2012, 01:46 PM   #4
old roper
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 11, 2007
Posts: 2,155
Leupold been making below scope for few years 6x42AO and I have that on one of my varmint rifles been a good scope solid everything track greats but it's pretty expensive compare to the others.

http://www.leupold.com/hunting-shoot...x42mm-adj-obj/

I have two early Leupold 6x compact with AO, one I left original other I had target knobs and dot install both are good scopes.

Fixed powers I like AO's. Another good 6x is the older Weaver T-6 steel tube and you can find them in the $200 to $250 range and they been holding their value.

Well good luck
__________________
Semper Fi
Vietnam 1965
VFW Life member
NRA Life Member
old roper is offline  
Old October 7, 2012, 02:29 PM   #5
Polinese
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 27, 2010
Posts: 945
Thanks I was actually looking at that scope but being a "competition" scope I didn't know if that would make it more or less fragile.
Polinese is offline  
Old October 7, 2012, 04:22 PM   #6
old roper
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 11, 2007
Posts: 2,155
Polinese, The Leupold I posted was made for the Score Hunter Class and Varmint-Hunter Class matches which is limited to a 6x . Varmint for Score can use any X scope.

Below is some information

Score Shooting
score shootingIn the sport of Benchrest there are two completely different scoring methods. In group shooting one must put five shots in the smallest group possible. In score shooting each and every shot is scored separately. Therefore, in essence, one could say that score shooting consists of twenty-five one-shot matches at a set distance (100, 200, 300 yards). By this statement we mean that once the shot is fired, and on the target, there is absolutely nothing that can change the score.

A score shooting target consists of 6 targets (a sighter target and 5 record targets) each having rings with a bull and center dot called an "x". The value of the shot is determined by the highest scoring ring touched. If the shot touches the center dot or "x", it is scored a 10X -- the highest possible score. The five record targets are added together to determine the match score -- highest possible score is 50- 5X. The sighter target may have as many shots on it as you need. The five matches are added to determine the day's score -- highest possible score is 250-25X. Since the inception of score shooting, the Varmint for Score class has reached this highest possible score of 250-25X and now records are kept by wipe-outs. A wipe-out is when the center dot or "x" is completely gone. The other classes will do the same once their records reach the 250-25X mark.


The dot that is mention for the 10x score at 100yd is only .060" in dia at 200yd dot is .110" dia you not only have accuracy rifle but scopes to match. The 10 is always easy but the x with 6x that hard.
__________________
Semper Fi
Vietnam 1965
VFW Life member
NRA Life Member
old roper is offline  
Old October 8, 2012, 08:35 AM   #7
kahrguy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 1, 2012
Posts: 561
Might want to look at Sightron scopes too. These are a very good quality scopes and can be viewed as good or better than leupold for bench shooters. There do have some models in close out at SWFA -

http://swfa.com/Sightron-6x42-SII-Bi...ope-P9153.aspx

http://swfa.com/Sightron-10x42-SIII-...pe-P45294.aspx
kahrguy is offline  
Old October 8, 2012, 08:51 AM   #8
coyota1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 6, 2008
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 663
I think SWFA is a company that deals with scopes.
coyota1 is offline  
Old October 9, 2012, 02:48 PM   #9
kahrguy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 1, 2012
Posts: 561
coyota1 Might benifit you to ckeck there web site first and see the couple scope they sale under there name.
http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-MOA-Scopes-C4226.aspx
http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-MRAD-Scopes-C4225.aspx
kahrguy is offline  
Old October 10, 2012, 05:13 AM   #10
HiBC
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 13, 2006
Posts: 8,274
I have used a 6x by 42 mm Leupold for a long time.Mine has no PA or target knobs,just a standard duplex.Unless they made a change,that duplex is one mil,like the mil-dot,from center to the tip of the heavier crosshair.That is useful for range estimation and some Kentucky windage.

The 42 mm lense provides a 7 mm exit pupil,which means about as good of low light performance as you will get.

The 6x by 36 is an FX2,iirc,and the 6x by 42 mm is the FX3 series.iirc,better lense coating.

I am thinking about getting another one.

I rate them very high.
HiBC is offline  
Old October 10, 2012, 04:40 PM   #11
Muler44
Junior Member
 
Join Date: October 14, 2009
Posts: 11
I have an SWFA fixed 20x scope on my 30-06. It is mainly a long range rifle for me and I really like the scope for the money. I have seen many of SWFA's scopes on the range, most in the 10x to 16x magnification format, and I've only spoke with one person who's had a problem with the scope. It was sent back to SWFA and they reportedly fixed it. Overall, I think it's a good choice in a fixed power scope.
Muler44 is offline  
Old October 10, 2012, 07:19 PM   #12
Polinese
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 27, 2010
Posts: 945
I do like a lot of the features of the SWFA over the leupold in the price I"m looking at. Leaning that way
Polinese is offline  
Old October 12, 2012, 06:37 PM   #13
Fusion
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 13, 2010
Posts: 429
The SWFA SS would be my choice by a long shot.
Fusion is offline  
Old October 12, 2012, 10:16 PM   #14
publius
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 25, 2005
Location: Mississippi/Texas
Posts: 2,505
You can never go wrong with Leupold.
__________________
"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress, but I repeat myself." Mark Twain
publius is offline  
Old October 14, 2012, 02:00 AM   #15
highbrow
Member
 
Join Date: November 22, 2007
Location: Montana
Posts: 92
For the price, it is hard to beat SWFA's Super Sniper scopes.
I use the 20x for F class competition and it works very well.
I think they have 6x, 10x 16x and 20x. I would get a higher power if they made them.
__________________
Mosin: Know the safety, Love the safety, Be the safety

There are some corners of this country which have bred the most terrible things, things that act against everything we believe in. They must be fought. FBHO- Free Edward Snowden
highbrow is offline  
Old October 14, 2012, 02:50 AM   #16
5RWill
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 20, 2008
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 2,654
In this case for fixed and price i'd go SS as well. They're great scopes for the money.
__________________
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me."
5RWill is offline  
Old October 14, 2012, 08:23 AM   #17
stubbicatt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 15, 2007
Posts: 1,707
To add to the confusion

I have really grown to appreciate my 6x IOR scope. You can get it with mil or moa adjustments. The glass is phenomenally clear. SWFA sells them too.

YMMV.
stubbicatt is offline  
Old October 14, 2012, 06:06 PM   #18
Clifford L. Hughes
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 24, 2011
Location: Southern Californis
Posts: 795
I have used Leuolds for fourty years with complete satisfaction. I have these fixed power scope. 3X, 7.5X, 8X and a 12X with AO and target turrets. I also have a 3x9.

Leupold has a life time warranty on the scope not the life of the purchaser. So, you can buy a used scope an it will still be under warranty. In all my years selling guns, I never saw a Leupold go back for warranty work.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery Sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired

Last edited by Clifford L. Hughes; October 14, 2012 at 06:08 PM. Reason: spelling
Clifford L. Hughes is offline  
Old October 21, 2012, 03:37 PM   #19
publius
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 25, 2005
Location: Mississippi/Texas
Posts: 2,505
That's where I am , Cliff. I've been using Leupolds forever and have had Burris, Nikonand Redfield also. had a problem with a Nikon and they jerked me around about fixing it, which they finally did. I've pretty much decided it's Leupold from now on b/c I've never heard of someone getting a bad one and have heard nothing but excellent reports about their service.
__________________
"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress, but I repeat myself." Mark Twain
publius is offline  
Old October 21, 2012, 06:41 PM   #20
HankB
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 30, 2000
Location: Central Texas, outside of Austin
Posts: 1,698
I've had a Leupold 6x42 with heavy duplex reticle on my .375 H&H for over 20 years now with no problem - the current equivalent model can be seen at http://www.leupold.com/hunting-shoot...s/fx-3-6x42mm/


This has been on a couple of African safaris and has never given me the least bit of difficulty; since you mentioned you were " . . . looking for which one tends to be a little more rugged . . . " this may be a good data point.
__________________
To be kind to your enemy is to be cruel to yourself - Sun Tzu

Last edited by HankB; October 21, 2012 at 06:51 PM.
HankB is offline  
Old October 22, 2012, 04:02 AM   #21
Polinese
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 27, 2010
Posts: 945
Indeed it is hank. Thanks for the info everyone. Still undecided on which way to go.
Polinese is offline  
Old October 22, 2012, 03:50 PM   #22
MJ1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 10, 2008
Posts: 329
;)

I received this 10X SSM in '99 and it has thousands of round shot and I prefer it to my Leupold 3-10 M3 LR. I remove it for transport and cleaning and it always shoots to the same point the next time I mount it. I don't know if anything has changed in how they are made now but I did hear SWFA changed manufactures at some point in the last ten years.



Cheers
..MJ..
__________________
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading"
--Unknown Soldier--
Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid.
- David Hackworth -
MJ1 is offline  
Old October 22, 2012, 07:20 PM   #23
10mmAuto
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 13, 2010
Posts: 598
Currently manufactured SWFA scopes are better than Leupold's - what really stands out to me compared to Leupold is glass clarity, their more expensive scopes are on par with Nightforce. They have a lifetime warranty and their customer service is pretty good, which can also be said for Leupold.
10mmAuto is offline  
Old October 23, 2012, 01:14 AM   #24
5RWill
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 20, 2008
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 2,654
In that price range i agree. Leupold though has re-entered itself in the top of the line optics with their new Mark 4 (locking turret), Mark 6s, and Mark 8s. Of course they also hold the price of S&B, USO, and premier. They made some strides for sure though.
__________________
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me."
5RWill is offline  
Old October 23, 2012, 07:32 AM   #25
nicknitro71
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 5, 2008
Location: DeLand, FL
Posts: 110
SWFA SSs are built in Japan and they are quality scopes, possibly the very best for the money.

Of course, nothing wrong with a Leupold! I had a fixed 10 Leupold on my M21 while in the service that took some serious abuse and never lost its zero.
__________________
http://nitrorigging.com
nicknitro71 is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:44 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.14304 seconds with 10 queries