Bender,
You really have my interest spiked with this scope, so I tried to call SWFA but they are closed on Sundays. So maybe you can explain why is the price difference between the 3-15 and 5-20 $600.00? I understand one has HD glass and 10mil turrets but the scope with a 5x range is 600 less than the scope with the 4x range. Anyways the 5-20 would be closer to the Bushnell 3.5-21 that I was contemplating, but it is 300.00 more than what I can get the DMR version for.
I feel like a woman in a shoe store right now!!!! I have no clue what I want I just know I need something.
1. SWFA 3-15 vs SWFA 5-20 vs Bushnell DMRG2 vs Bushnell ERS G2: for quality vs price?
2. SWFA 3-15 vs SWFA 5-20 vs Bushnell DMRG2 vs Bushnell ERS G2: for overall quality?
3. SWFA 3-15 vs SWFA 5-20 vs Bushnell DMRG2 vs Bushnell ERS G2: which would you pick for varmints/targets between 300-700 yards?
I'm sure others people will chime in and I appreciate that but I am trying to stay right at or hopefully below $1000.00.
I'll try to tackle your questions. The major jump in price for the SWFA 5-20 HD (2 models illuminated ($1500) and non illuminated ($1300)) is for the jump in glass quality, locking ocular adjustment, thicker aluminum tube, better fit and finish, 10 mil rotation knobs, etc.. There are a bunch of differences, but the glass difference is the greatest influence. Optical quality glass is very expensive, and the higher quality the optical glass the higher the price.
Between the SWFA 3-15 & 5-20, it all depends on application. The 3-15 would be amazing for a 22lr trainer, but wouldn't be the best choice for a full on sniper/competition rifle yet still suitable for one. The 5-20 would be over kill on a 22lr trainer, and would be right at home atop a sniper/competition rifle
To me, I'd spent the extra money on the 5-20 all day over the 3-15. In my case it's because it's on my tactically built 308. I think to most people they'd spend the extra money too on the 5-20.
Between the bushy and the SWFA's becomes a harder choice. The Bushy is very compact for the magnification range, it has locking turrets, and it has reticle options. One downside to the Bushy is that it tunnels slightly at bottom power, and it's not true to the mag range at 21x it's a bit lower than that (I want to say 19x area). The 3-15 is fairly compact, I'd say equal glass quality, and has the milquad reticle. The 5-20 has 10mil rev turrets, optional illumination, best glass of the bunch no question, and seems to be a true 20x magnification, built like a tank.
I like the Bushy's and I'd like to try one if the new ones with 10 mil turrets and zero stops, but I'll save that for sometime down the road.
The 3-15 is a feature packed scope with high quality construction all around with a very reasonable price.
The 5-20 is a very nice scope with glass that's not far off from alpha quality, and very high quality in the overall fit and finish.
For the reticle choice, I really like the milquad reticle. It's clean, precise, and ascetically pleasing. I prefer the milquad over a standard mil dot, and over my Steiner's G2B mil reticle.
One reason I'd like to get the Bushnell is to try the reticle that many people seem to like. The milquad for certain people, and the G2 seems to be a crowd favorite.
When I by scopes, the 2 biggest factors to me are reliability/use-ability and glass quality. For the battle of these scopes I'd choose the SWFA 5-20.
I've been through the debate before, and that's why I have the 5-20. I've even sold the 5-20 and bought different scopes to replace the 5-20. I am currently on my 3rd 5-20 and I'm not changing again for a long while.
