Rifle Scopes SWFA Teasing Announcement?
- Thread starter drewthebrave
- Start date
Pretty disappointing launch, no 6x, no Gen 2 3-9, I'd have even been pretty interested to try one of their Ultralights with a mil reticle, they should have done that years ago.
I have one of their 3-15s that I still use often, mostly because it works and isn't worth selling, but there's no way in hell it's worth $649 on sale in a world where an Athlon Ares ETR 3-18 is $583 on sale at Eurooptic. That's so much more scope for less money, it's ridiculous.
I have one of their 3-15s that I still use often, mostly because it works and isn't worth selling, but there's no way in hell it's worth $649 on sale in a world where an Athlon Ares ETR 3-18 is $583 on sale at Eurooptic. That's so much more scope for less money, it's ridiculous.
I was kinda hopeful after seeing the cyclops joe video talking about how revolutionary it would be to the optics world comparing it to personal jet packs and then they roll out “new” 20 year old tec. I didn’t think it would be “that” revolutionary, but I did expect more.
Yeah, that got me a little interested too, turns out it was just heavy sarcasm I guess, should have seen that coming with SWFA.
Well this is disappointing. I've been a SWFA fan for a long time and hoping to see them step into the modern era but I guess we can finally put the last nail in that coffin.
Adding that upgraded reticle image to the webpage is rubbing salt in the wound for everyone that was holding out. Oh well...moving on...
Adding that upgraded reticle image to the webpage is rubbing salt in the wound for everyone that was holding out. Oh well...moving on...
Those are the two I was hoping for, maybe they're going bankrupt and can't swing higher end prototypes or pay for a production run of 3-9s/5-20s.
I’ve had very model scope that SWFA has to offer other than their ultralight weight models. Just adding illumination to all models would have been a step forward and I would have picked up a couple more fixed power had they been illuminated. They’ve basically did nothing instead. I’ll stick to Arken when I want a cost effective scope.
I am going to point out their "updated" 
fixed powers are only 200 dollars right now. Not that I am interested, but it's not much money. I am honestly less interested in their updated version than their originals. Which I was also less than interested in. They let the market scream past them.
fixed powers are only 200 dollars right now. Not that I am interested, but it's not much money. I am honestly less interested in their updated version than their originals. Which I was also less than interested in. They let the market scream past them.
I am going to point out their "updated"
They’re actually $300, down from $350. Only the binoculars and the 3-15x42 are $100 off. Everything else appears to be $50 off. I’ll just say it’s a good thing their scopes are so robust. This launch may kill them, so their lifetime warranty will be a thing of the past and users will just have to rely on how reliable the originals are.
Like so many here, I feel the originals were a phenomenal value many years ago, but the market’s passed them by many, many times over. These “updates” should have been released 8-10 years ago. They MIGHT have gotten away with them even five years ago but today, with Athlon, Arken, and a few others, I see their customer base being tiny, comprised mostly of the fanbois on RokSlide and some stragglers on LRH and 24HR. There may be a few uneducated/lazy/misguided folks from here and ARF. Otherwise, most of us have wised up to *MUCH* better options that only cost a tiny bit more.
I hate to say it, but if this was their “big reveal,” SWFA as we knew them is dead to us, I think. You can’t released 15-20 year old tech in new clothes as a “leap forward” and expect to thrive off of it for long…
I really wonder if they’re going BK and this is kind of a last gasp
Entirely possible. Sad, as they were once a solid player and a great place to buy from. I just can’t think of any good reason why they’d wait so long to drop these now, other than they’d paid for their development (probably 10 years ago lol) and production and just want to move them before they close up shop. Their site says they’re wanting to embark on a new journey, but it’s gonna be a really short one IMO unless they have much better tricks up their sleeves with an HD line update. Only question is, will that be another 5 years from now?
Wow, all that time, and that’s the best they can figure out? Bet the price is twice the old ones, too.
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Yall should know by now that one-eyed snake will pimp anything anyone gives him for free, or offers him to buy into for profits. LOL
I'm really hoping they have the illuminated hs variable with the new reticle. I have a mark 4 hd I have never used because I hate the pr2 reticle. It's mounted on a rifle that has never been shot. I'd love to replace it. A 5-20 or 5-25 hd illuminated with the new reticle is perfect..
If they don't then I'll probably just replace it with a nx8 4-32 or even an atacr 5-25.
If they don't then I'll probably just replace it with a nx8 4-32 or even an atacr 5-25.
Um, have you heard of a little outfit called Leupold? Fuddery carried them from 1980 to 2020.
Still 5 mil turrets. Well, that certainly wasn't worth the wait.
You must not read very many of my posts... I bash on them for being a Fudd company every chance I get.
And their Fuddery didn't stop in 2020, it's still going strong. Even the MK5 is overpriced Fudd junk.
Well, that certainly wasn't worth the wait.
I’d have been happy if they just kept up with production of their old lineup. Make it like 200$ for the classic and 450$ for the 3-9 etc
Pity.
Truth be told, I really like their plain - vanilla scopes.
It’s like a cheap can of tuna for lunch…
…nothing to write home about, but always suffices for the task.
Lousy analogy, I know.
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No Japan and Philippines. the original and HD models were made by LOW. The newer non HD were made in the Phillipines.
The original 10x was Low. At least that's the info I can fined Either way they were still Japanese.
I’ve been hammering them for years for the 3-15 to get ZS and capped windage. With the MQ reticle it’s a dam near perfect little mid range hunter
As evidenced by a 4.5-14x50 illuminated Mark IV I have that’s SFP, TMR reticle, and MOA turrets; they got their MIL/MOA bases covered in one scope
. Glass is decent and the turrets have not yet let me down, but you can’t easily use the reticle to figure out how many clicks to move. I’ve switched all my important rifles to MIL/MIL FFP scopes, so this dog is currently sitting on a AR10. Fuddery at its height!!I have a healthy gaggle of fixed 10x side focus Mil - Quads, but I need to stock up on the 3-15x42mm models.
SWFA contacted me back and said to stay tuned for the website for more updates.. this should include the new reticles and HD scopes with variable power.
This is another email I received just now..
We appreciate your long standing patronage. I don’t have firm dates as of right this second, but we are adding MIL and MOA tree reticles to all of the GEN 2 lineup except for the fixed 6x42 and they should all be in stock before the end of the Q1 2025. There will be new and redesigned HD models in the future that will have tree reticles too.
This is another email I received just now..
We appreciate your long standing patronage. I don’t have firm dates as of right this second, but we are adding MIL and MOA tree reticles to all of the GEN 2 lineup except for the fixed 6x42 and they should all be in stock before the end of the Q1 2025. There will be new and redesigned HD models in the future that will have tree reticles too.
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They also said the high power variable that is replacing the 5-20 will have illum and the new Christmas tree.
If they want to stay remotely relevant going forward, they really should. Sticking by Fudd designs isn't going to garner much attention these days.
I was just told by a buddy of mine in Texas, that their building in Waxahachie is for sale... Not sure what that means (if anything), just thought I'd pass that info along, as it's public information. It seems their dwindling sales and sticking with shit designs is not paying off. The simplest updates would bring them into at least 2014, like zero-stops, 10 MIL turrets (much shorter in height), 34mm tubes, 50mm objectives, tree reticles, etc... These are updates they should have been making over the last 10+ years, like everyone else did...
It doesn't mean anything. They are not doing in person sales anylonger and doing online sales.. They also had a location in Midlothian that they closed down a while ago.
I guess I am an old Fudd....I would rather have a basic, reliable scope that dials correctly and holds zero for $300. For me, it just needs to do it's job as an aiming device.
If I wanted a $300 scope that looks cool, well the market is already saturated with those.
I've owned 3 SWFA scopes over the last 15 years, and they are not always 100% reliable. There have been some known issues throughout the years, like the 3-15 models having glue dry up on the lenses causing lens failures, and reliable tracking issues/loss of zero/wandering zero. To say they're bulletproof for $300 is a gross overstatement. Honestly, the tracking on my Arkens has been just as good as my SWFA's, but with 10 MIL turrets, zero-stops, illuminated reticle, and tree reticles. I'm not saying they're better, just saying they are just as reliable, tough, and cost the same, but has WAY more modern necessities than the SWFA SS line.
My point being, people that want the features you want, are typically 60+ years old, and getting fewer every year... Most younger folks only bought them because of there budget constraints, but now that other companies like Arken & DNT are making budget feature-rich modern scopes. The SWFA is basically a dwarf star inevitably heading for a black hole demise... If they want to stay relevant to an ever-changing market, they really need to completely revamp and overhaul the ENTIRE SWFA line.
Oh I have no doubt all the Poors and Fudds will be busting a nut to get their paws on one of those mushy 5 MIL turret scopes...
Haha well we can't all be high rollers like you putting Arkens on our rigs
You're right...I can afford whatever I want.
That's why I also have Kahles K-series, Zeiss, NF ATACR F1, RG3, and many others...
If I buy a budget scope, it's because I simply want to try it to see if it's garbage, or not. I also own top-end scopes that aren't really worth the money, IMO, either. So I'm not just hating on budget scopes.
I'm looking forward to their new high power variable optic. I want to replace a mark 4hd 5-25 i have that i don't like the pr2 reticle.
My other scopes are 5 nightforce. 3 of which are atacrs and two are nx-8. I also have ACOGs, and even aimpoints.
Wanting a swfa scope doesn't equate to poor.
True, but that's why most of us bought them back in the day. And that's why many still buy them today.
