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Swift vs, Pentax

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michael l View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote michael l Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Swift vs, Pentax
    Posted: November/08/2011 at 08:28
I've used swift optics my entire life and have not had a problem.Well this year my wife started hunting and she fell in love with the pentax 4x16x50 gameseeker 2 riflescope because she owns a pentax camera.Can someone please give me a decent review or incite on these pentax scopes.Thanks for any help or advise u can give
michael hudson
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michael l View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote michael l Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/08/2011 at 11:31
So no one has looked through one of those pentax scopes.and yes im gonna use info to prove a point to wife,i believe we should go with the swift or nikon i found..any help would be greatly appreciated
michael hudson
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31 bertram View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 31 bertram Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/08/2011 at 11:41
Up until 5 or 6 yrs. ago I use to have swift scopes but Swift Instruments was bought out and are not the company of old.  After losing a hunting season and going around and round with the new owners of Swift, I gave a 4x12x40 AO premire away.  No more Swifts for me, I would run "swiftly" away from them.  I never had one problem with the old original company Swifts.
The Pentax is just a re-badged Burris but I'm not for sure which one the Gameseeker II is compared to the Burris.  I have had excellent luck with the Burris FF II.  And hear generally good things about the Pentax line.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/08/2011 at 12:08
Well, I have. 
I'm not known for patience, but a couple hours here or there to get a question answered on a forum like OT doesn't seem excessive, to me. 
 
I like both, but the Swift would win out for me for one simple reason.  Superior warranty.  Truthfully, I find the glass pretty similar, but give the edge to Swift because they use American-made glass.  Adjustments are about the same...  I also have a higher level of trust in the variable Swifts over Pentax, but my 4x Pentax seems to be standing up well to both 458 Lott and 458 WinMag. 
Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.

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michael l View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote michael l Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/08/2011 at 12:18
Thank you for the response and i didnt relize swift isnt swift anymore.My last purchase of a swift was 1999.And this is all for not anyway my wife told me a little while ago she ordered the pentax gameseeker.So in a week or so i can look through both scopes and compare them in person.Sorry about rush as well---I just knew she was itching to buy.
michael hudson
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote slowr1der Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/08/2011 at 17:38
I think she'd have been better off to skip both of them and go for a Burris FFII, but that's just my opinion. 
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31 bertram View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 31 bertram Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/08/2011 at 18:36
Michael...let us know how she likes the Pentax.   I'd be curious to find out.
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michael l View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote michael l Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/08/2011 at 20:10
I will do a comparrison test when i get it..if all goes well i will have a vortex viper 2.5x10x50--swift premeir 6x18x50--bushnell banner 6x18x50 and a swift premier 3x12x56 (all those agaonst the pentax game seeker 4x16x50.Once i get all the scopes ready i will run a simple line and will use multiple eyes.As time fades away we will be marking the differences==sp give me a bit and ill post findings when im done
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dirtyoldsix Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/09/2011 at 05:26
Originally posted by slowr1der slowr1der wrote:

I think she'd have been better off to skip both of them and go for a Burris FFII, but that's just my opinion. 
 
I agree 100%! I had a gameseeker and I will NEVER buy one again.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/09/2011 at 07:12
Originally posted by Dirtyoldsix Dirtyoldsix wrote:

Originally posted by slowr1der slowr1der wrote:

I think she'd have been better off to skip both of them and go for a Burris FFII, but that's just my opinion. 
 
I agree 100%! I had a gameseeker and I will NEVER buy one again.
Obviously, your experience is YOUR OWN. 
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michael l View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote michael l Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/09/2011 at 12:49
talked with my cousin and he is coming down for some hunting in a week.He is curious about the pentax scope as well and said he will add his nikon monarch and minnox z5 to the list to compare it to.I told him i dont believe its gonna be close to his.That minnox z5 he has is one of the brightest scopes ive ever seen.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/09/2011 at 13:56
The Pentax and Nikon glass is very close.  My Zeiss Conquest 4x scope has better glass (and is much more expensive) than the Pentax 4x, but the Pentax has withstood several hundred rounds of .458 Lott, .458 WinMag, a few 7mmSTW and 7mmMag and I think I remember putting it on my 30-06, too.  I thought I broke it once, but I was wrong.  The 4-16 compares  favorably with Nikon Monarch 4-12, as does the 4-12.  In every case, the Pentax is MUCH cheaper. I paid $71.00 for my 4x.  I think around $120 for a 4-12.  I've not owned a Nikon Prostaff and have not looked at one in a long time, but remember the Pentax was optically better. 
You may get one that shows some QA problems, but it isn't going to hurt a lot, either. 
I'm not recommending you purchase one, I don't recommend scopes as a general rule, but don't think you will be upset if you do.  There are a lot worse out there...
Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote michael l Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/09/2011 at 16:22
thank you--kick boxer and i understand why u dont recommend scopes-I've never owned a high dollar scope like i said im a swift man or was till i got the news that they arent the same company.I would like to own a high end scope but i could never afford one much less justify buying it.And thats why i have never looked through one either because i know if i did it would kill me not being able to get one.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/09/2011 at 16:32
You need to look through as many as you can, just for comparison.  If you truly discover that a "higher dollar scope" provides you with an advantage over the cheaper ones, then it makes more sense to save up and get one.

I wasn't going to say anything, but... My wife bought me a Hensoldt...
Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.

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michael l View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote michael l Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/09/2011 at 16:43
Lol-Your wife bought u a hensoldt and my wife bought a pentax game seeker lol..Those 2 scope names shouldnt be mentioned in the same sentence.I have looked through a vortex viper and a couple zeiss but i dont consider them high end like yours.When u get into sworki's--lieca-hens ur way out of my league
michael hudson
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote powderburn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/09/2011 at 17:26
If it is not too late to return the gameseeker. Go to the SWFA auctions forum found lower down on the forum lists. Click on the ebay auctions and then scroll down until you see the pentax pioneer on auction for $125. They show two available and I believe these are the older pioneers built by Burris in the Philippines vs the pioneer II . Basically a fullfield II that is marked pentax. I have two of these and am very satisfied with them. Can't beat the price. I believe you will both be happy. I did order a 6x gameseeker to go on a 223 I have. It wasn't too bad but it was big and heavy for a 6x. I sent it back so I can't say much about reliability etc. but I like the pioneer's much much better.
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