I've been been looking for a 1-8x for a while and finally went with the Swaro 1-8x BRT.
I started with the CQBSS H27D, went to S&B 1-8x (SFP) and finally ended up keeping the Swaro.
I personally tested all 3 and all had strengths/weaknesses.
In full disclosure, my situation is probably different than most people due to my astigmatism.
I've issues with illumination and certain reticles.
Also, my reference model here is the Kahles 1-6x G4B reticle as well as all three 1-8's compared to each other.
CQBSS:
Good not great glass. 1x is pretty fast and the donut works but can wash out very quickly with head movement. 1x is sensitive in terms of eye box.
This is that flicker you read about. Compound that with astigmatism, the illuminations was the worst of all three mentioned above.
If your head is super stable it's fine. If you move around, it was very annoying and distracting. The illumination is daytime bright when you are properly lined up.
Turrets, although a bit mushy, build quality and fit/finish are excellent. The one thing I really disliked is the lens cap rotating with the ocular. They should have not designed it like that.
The biggest weakness of the CQBSS other than the illumination is the 8x. The eye is so sensitive. It's not like you move your head a lot for an 8x shot, but boy did it suck.
Also, 8x low light is the worst of all 3 1-8's and obviously the Kahles. It was terrible at night under street light or moon light tests. This scope was one where the 3mm exit pupil really hurt it at night. It was nearly unusable.
Also, 92 feet FOV is not great but you can work with it.
S&B 1-8x SFP
There is not much to say here, you get what you pay for. Great build, turrets, glass..... 1x is fast and 8x pretty good in terms of eyebox, but not great.
The biggest issue is the CQB2 reticle and illumination. It is definitely not daytime bright and the reticle is very fine. For a SFP scope, they should have made the reticle bolder like the original CQB reticle. When panning over different surfaces and shrubs, you can lose both illumination and the reticle. This gets significantly worse in low light or night conditions. During daytime, because the reticle is so fine and the dot is not bright enough, you end up focusing on finding them instead of focusing on the target. They almost got this one right. Again, had they put in the CQB reticle with a daytime red dot, this would be the winner because the build quality, turrets and overall fit/finish are superb. I would say a step up from the CQBSS in terms of fit and finish.
Swaro 1-8x
This was the last unit I tested and eventually kept. I added the throwelver, BDC current and aluminum magnetic lens caps.
The glass is simply the best glass I've ever seen and I've been through other high end glass other than what's noted above. Edge to Edge clarity, contrast, light transmission....I can go on and on. FOV is excellent and most importantly, the eyebox is just as comfortable as the Kahles at 1x and 8x (comparing Kahles at 6x). This is really big deal as 8x can be very finicky. What is shocking is 8x at night. The 3mm exit pupil should not provide the clarity and light transmission given the 8x pinhole. Under moonlight/streetlight, it absorbs every bit of light and is just a technical marvel. I can make out images clearly and are well defined. I could not say that about even the S&B at 8x unless I was perfectly lined up. The secret sauce at Swaro is out of this world.
Swaro Illumination is what the S&B should have been. In low light, I can dim it so low that it's just an amber spec, not in the way and it just perfectly guides your eye.
During daytime, it's an aimpoint that I can dial up to 8x instantly. If I can take a swipe at Swaro's illumination, it is that you can see it through the objective side. I wish it was masked on the objective side. That said, the Kahles is the same in this regard.
The BDC turrets are awesome. It gives you 70 clicks, which is perfect for an AR. Setting the BDC turret is super easy and with a 200yd zero, I setup markers at 300, 350, 400 and 500 given Federal TBBC ballistics from a 14.5 barrel. In use, if you can range estimate quickly, dialing is almost instant. If I were to start criticizing the Sawaro, it would be the turrets. They are definitely not built as tough as the CQBSS and the S&B. I'm sure they are tough enough for 3 gun, which is still pretty darn good. Also, I wish they would have made the zoom ring all metal instead of rubber. But, the zoom ring is butter smooth.
In summary. 18oz is great for a 1-8x and the eyebox is super friendly and comfortable at all magnification level, which is just insane. You can easily run and gun bouncing around and not lose your sight picture/dot. You can also settle down and dial up a 500 yard shot with precision. The red dot is truly aimpoint bright and gets easily dim enough for night vision use. The BRT reticle is great and maybe my favorite of the various reticles I've used and only perhaps the elcan 1-4x I may like better in terms of reticle design. The glass is in a class of it's own. Writing about simply does not do it justice. I didn't think anything would surpass the Kahles in this area but I was wrong.
Hope this helps your process.
