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Comparison SWFA 3-15x42 and Weaver Tactical 4-20x5 |
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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Posted: October/30/2013 at 15:33 |
Picked up these two scopes recently and did a side by side review. I'll need to figure out how to take pictures, but wanted to share my initial thoughts. This is a knuckledragger's evaluation of the two scopes, so don't look for the technical lingo that you see quite often from the more qualified members . I barely understand the terms and would butcher the definitions if I tried to use them.
First up the SWFA 3-15x42 Specs Matte Finish First Focal Plane Patented Mil-Quad Reticle 30mm Tube Side Focus (6m-infinity) .10 Mrad Turrets Mounted on an SPR AR-15 in a Aadmount. SWFA Price - $699.95 For not being HD glass, the optics quality is excellent. At the low end, field of view is excellent and no distortion when panning on the Harris bipod. Not as good as the SWFA 1-4x, but no slouch either. Reticle is still useful for close in targets, but would like to have had illumination. At 15x, you have a very slight loss of picture clarity. I was ranging a water tower at 1585 meters and you could see very slight distortion around the edges, but image in the reticle was very clear. Color contrast was also very good and could easily separate targets in a treeline. Weaver Tactical 4-20x50 Specs: Matte Mil-Dot 30mm Side Focus 0.1 MIL First Focal Plane Reticle Mounted on a 308 DPMS SASS in an American Defense AD Recon mount SWFA Price - $774-95 Glass quality on the Weaver was generally as good as the SWFA. At the low end, field of view was also excellent and no distortion when panning on the Harris bipod. This one doesn't have illumination either, but the mildot reticle worked just fine. At 15x, the edge distortion was greater than the SWFA and slightly more at 20X. Looking at the same water tower, the picture quality was not as good but still very functional. Contrast seemed to also suffer, but not significantly. Overall, both scopes are excellent given the price point. I'll take them to the range and run them through the paces but expect each will help me achieve the purposes each rifle has. If I had to pick between the two, the SWFA would get the nod. Even with the additional 5x magnification range on the Weaver Tactical, I still preferred the image on the SWFA at 15x to the Weaver on 20x. The picture clarity and better contrast on the SWFA overcame the disadvantage in the magnification range. If you are considering either of these scopes, both a winners but sure makes me wonder about the SWFA 5-20X though. Pictures and range report to follow. |
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Good deal. Standing by for AAR.
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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billyburl2
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/08/2009 Location: Cottonwood, AZ Status: Offline Points: 4015 |
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I have both the 3-15, and the 5-20 HD, and the 5-20 IS better! Both will get the job done in bright day-light, but the 5-20 really starts to pull ahead in low light situations. The knobs on both are great, but I prefer the 10 mil per turn of the 5-20, Which, by the way, is enough to get the 300 WSM that it is mounted on, all the way to trans-sonic range...
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If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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I can see my 308 bolt gun setup or a new long range rig wearing one in the not to distant future.
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jonoMT
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: November/13/2008 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 4853 |
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I haven't tried the Weaver, but certainly agree with your assessment of the SS 3-15. While I'd pay extra for HD glass and shorter turrets, it's already a great scope for the money. While on a 300 yard range Tuesday with sun glaring off the snow and the targets in shade I could spot my bullet holes...with some effort...but I could see them.
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Reaction time is a factor...
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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Zeroed both scopes with a laser boresighter in preparation for doing some shooting tomorrow.
Rotating the turrets to zero was pretty standard on the SWFA. Remove the three screws, pop the turret and reinstall. Weaver was a little unique. In order to make adjustments, you have the pull up on the turret and then dial the adjustments. Interesting feature that is a good in between exposed and covered turrets. Zeroing the turrets on the Weaver is even simpler. Just unscrew the top cap and the turret pulls off. Adjust to zero and back on. I tried to take pictures using my iPhone and Sony pocket camera, but didn't have much luck. No sure how you all do it, but looks like I'm going to need some kind of tripod or rest to work with.
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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Any hints on taking pictures using a hand held camera?
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verminator
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/02/2013 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 191 |
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the S.W.F.A is gunna have a better image on 15x than the weaver on 20x the more mag the smaller the exit pupil...Marine24 did you try them on the same mag?or better still try the weaver tac 3-15 then you have a apples for apples test
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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I did run both on 15X and SWFA had the better image. The edge to edge clarity was better and image contrast sharper. The difference wasn't significant but still noticeable.
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verminator
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/02/2013 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 191 |
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pity you could not have tried the 3-15 weaver tac as a direct comparison as there is more glass in the higher mag scope which could affect light transmission
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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Any specific experience with the Weaver Tactical 3-15x? Picked up a 223 Rem bolt action rifle that I need to scope. Easy answer is going with the SWFA 3-15X, but for a few dollars more the Weaver Tactical provides illumination.
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verminator
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/02/2013 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 191 |
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got the weaver 3-15 and its on a howa B/A RIFLE in .223 excellent scope nice clear glass works well with the nv mono on the back right across the mag range. not seen the new 3-15 S.W.F.A not available here..but sounds like a good scope from the reviews..i have a brand new xotic which was a S.W.F.A scope..i would say the weaver is a close call glass wise..best a luck with your new purchase
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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Just sent a price match request to SWFA for it. As much as I like the SWFA 3-15X, the larger objective and illumination on the Weaver make it an easy decision to give it a shot.
Based on what I saw in the comparison between the SWFA and Weaver bigger brother (4-20X), the differences are very subtle. It will be interesting to do an "apples to apples" comparison between the SWFA and Weaver.
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14962 |
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The SWFA SS 5-20x50 is the nicest scope I have. Some day I hope to have a better scope but Heinsoldt is still out of my price range.
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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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Totally agree. I picked up one of SWFA's Black Friday deals and couldn't be happier. It will be going on my 260 Rem build that is in the works. For my 223 Rem rifles, the SWFA and Weaver 3-15x is more than enough for the 1-400 yard ranges they will be used for but no comparison to the SWFA 5-20X. The HD glass makes a very notable difference.
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verminator
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/02/2013 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 191 |
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yep be great if you could compare the 2...I'd dare to say the weaver would be better in low light...best a luck
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verminator
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/02/2013 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 191 |
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this baby..Meopta ZD 6-24x56 RD also has notably better glass than the all the scopes I own. but its expected considering the price difference. be nice to see a comparison with the S.W.F.A 5-20 HD..
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Litehiker
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/03/2016 Location: Mojave Desert Status: Offline Points: 45 |
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My 1st post here.
I have an SWFA 5-15 x 42 (non HD) scope I luckily got on sale for $537. with shipping at $100. off. It's mounted on my 6.5 Creedmoor Ruger American Predator with Burris 6 screw "tactical" rings on an aftermarket 20 MOA Pic rail. I'm using it for mule deer and antler-less elk. To me it was a good budget scope for a good budget rifle. I wanted FFP and mil/mil with side focus. I got all that in this scope. Had I looked harder I may have bought the Weaver tactical scope with virtually the same features but I kept hearing about the SWFA's good lenses and I was not disappointed. Plus I really like SWFA's mil diamond/hash mark reticle. Perhaps I'll tape the scope turrets once I zero it at 200 yards and re-zero the turrets. The tape will keep the turrets from getting accidentally bumped out of place. Does the Weaver Tacticle have locking turrets? Eric B. |
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There are no comfortable packs - some are merely less uncomfortable than others.
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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Weaver Tactical does have locking turrets. You pull up, make the adjustment and push back down.
Mojave Desert - What a wonderful place. You obviously aren't hunting mule deer or elk there. When I was stationed there in the 80s, only thing to hunt was crack houses and coyotes.
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Litehiker
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/03/2016 Location: Mojave Desert Status: Offline Points: 45 |
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Marine,
Yes, the Mojave is not a great hunting ground but we do have Desert Bighorn and in the nearby Spring Mountains are mule deer and elk. I go to northern Nevada to hunt because that's where the NDOW gives me tags. This year I got cow and calf elk and buck mule deer, all in the same area. This year I'll be taking my 6.5 Creedmoor Ruger Amer. Predator with that SWFA 5 -15 x 42 scope. That combination has been shooting 1/2 MOA groups with Hornady 143 gr, ELD-X ammo. As Hornady says, it it truly match grade hunting ammo. Eric B.
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There are no comfortable packs - some are merely less uncomfortable than others.
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