SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD - AAR and review
I know that many of you have ordered the new SS 5-20x50 and are awaiting a shipping confirmation, for those of you who are on the fence about the scope I suggest you hurry up and order on before the $500 off hide special expires on Friday. I'm happy to report that at less than $1,000 this is a steal of a deal on the scope.
There have been a couple of reviews from Jon A and Lowlight here, I've also chimed in as well about my initial impressions. I don't need to restate the same stuff we've all read several times, but a few highlights of all three reviewers are that the scope has nice clicks, great eye box, very bright and clear too. Many people have asked for some more comparison reviews and some real world feedback so I'll try to provide it here.
I had the opportunity to compare the SS 5-20x50 side by side with an NXS 3-15 and 5-22, both of those were also 50mm objectives as well. The thing that immediately jumped out at me was the brightness of the SWFA SS scope. It was hands down brighter in low light, hands down. I don't mean look through one, back to the other, back and forth and deciding.....I mean it was like a WOW moment. The clicks were similar, no complaints about any of the three there, solid and easy to know where you were. The clarity was good too, the SS appeared to be more clear but that could have been the brightness too, but all 3 were plenty clear for tactical rifle work. The illumination win goes to the SS because of it easily being variable, the NXS is variable too but it takes some work to change the brightness. All 3 scopes felt solid, well built. Some low end to mid-range tactical scopes feel like a hunting scope with exposed knobs, the SWFA SS felt like a tactical scope should, sturdy and well built without being huge and clunky. The one thing I can't speak to quite yet is the toughness of the scope, the SWFA SS is the new kid on the block and the NXS is obviously a proven performer, but I have no doubt that given what I've seen that the SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD will hold up very well to years of use.
Now the AAR on my shooting the scope in the Oregon Snipers Challenge. The scope shot just fine, first stage we had to place some precision shots on some small and weird shapes, slightly larger than moa targets. 2 shots per target 100 yards, with the clear glass and 20X I was easily able to pick out the correct shape (don't shoot the wrong shape!) and placed 2 shots basically touching in each. Hammered that stage like it was a walk in the park. Next stage was weak side, this is my weakness, I'm very right eye dominant and have issues with shooting on my left side. Weak side shooting was one of the reasons that I gravitated to the Hensoldt scopes, the great eye box made weak side shooting possible for me. Now I wasn't happy with my weak side barricade shooting, but I can say that it wasn't the scopes fault, I was able to get a good sight picture for every shot but just couldn't get stable on the barricades. I'm hesitant to say that the SWFA SS has as good of an eye box as the Hensoldt, but I will say that it's pretty damn close. All other stages the scope and rifle preformed as they should, I had my share of hiccups this match but none of them could be blamed on the scope.
I can recommend the SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD as a great buy at $1,500 and a MUST BUY at the current hide special of $999.99! It has the glass, the features and usability of a much more expensive scope.
I know that many of you have ordered the new SS 5-20x50 and are awaiting a shipping confirmation, for those of you who are on the fence about the scope I suggest you hurry up and order on before the $500 off hide special expires on Friday. I'm happy to report that at less than $1,000 this is a steal of a deal on the scope.
There have been a couple of reviews from Jon A and Lowlight here, I've also chimed in as well about my initial impressions. I don't need to restate the same stuff we've all read several times, but a few highlights of all three reviewers are that the scope has nice clicks, great eye box, very bright and clear too. Many people have asked for some more comparison reviews and some real world feedback so I'll try to provide it here.
I had the opportunity to compare the SS 5-20x50 side by side with an NXS 3-15 and 5-22, both of those were also 50mm objectives as well. The thing that immediately jumped out at me was the brightness of the SWFA SS scope. It was hands down brighter in low light, hands down. I don't mean look through one, back to the other, back and forth and deciding.....I mean it was like a WOW moment. The clicks were similar, no complaints about any of the three there, solid and easy to know where you were. The clarity was good too, the SS appeared to be more clear but that could have been the brightness too, but all 3 were plenty clear for tactical rifle work. The illumination win goes to the SS because of it easily being variable, the NXS is variable too but it takes some work to change the brightness. All 3 scopes felt solid, well built. Some low end to mid-range tactical scopes feel like a hunting scope with exposed knobs, the SWFA SS felt like a tactical scope should, sturdy and well built without being huge and clunky. The one thing I can't speak to quite yet is the toughness of the scope, the SWFA SS is the new kid on the block and the NXS is obviously a proven performer, but I have no doubt that given what I've seen that the SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD will hold up very well to years of use.
Now the AAR on my shooting the scope in the Oregon Snipers Challenge. The scope shot just fine, first stage we had to place some precision shots on some small and weird shapes, slightly larger than moa targets. 2 shots per target 100 yards, with the clear glass and 20X I was easily able to pick out the correct shape (don't shoot the wrong shape!) and placed 2 shots basically touching in each. Hammered that stage like it was a walk in the park. Next stage was weak side, this is my weakness, I'm very right eye dominant and have issues with shooting on my left side. Weak side shooting was one of the reasons that I gravitated to the Hensoldt scopes, the great eye box made weak side shooting possible for me. Now I wasn't happy with my weak side barricade shooting, but I can say that it wasn't the scopes fault, I was able to get a good sight picture for every shot but just couldn't get stable on the barricades. I'm hesitant to say that the SWFA SS has as good of an eye box as the Hensoldt, but I will say that it's pretty damn close. All other stages the scope and rifle preformed as they should, I had my share of hiccups this match but none of them could be blamed on the scope.
I can recommend the SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD as a great buy at $1,500 and a MUST BUY at the current hide special of $999.99! It has the glass, the features and usability of a much more expensive scope.
