Rifle Scopes Questions: SWFA SS HD 5-20x50 for Long Range

[Moadrifter]

I have a new 338 LM XCR II for long distance shooting in the field from 800 to 1,500 yards. It’s a carry gun for packing around Alaska and Montana mountains so weight is a priority, but I want to get a scope that makes no sacrifices in long distance performance. The primary application is long distance hunting from 600-1,000 yards. The second use is 12-24 inch iron with targets from 800 to 1,700. I practice way more than hunt so longer than 1,000 yards is a priority too. I've purchased many scopes, but until now have always shot mil dots and rarely shoot past 400 yards so we virtually never use turrets. My eyes are fairly good with glasses, but not what they used to be so I need all the help I can get from the scope and will spend what I need to spend.

Here are my application priorities:
(1) best available optical resolution, contrast and clarity - in sun, shade and low light,
(2) turrets: tracking, repeatability, and user friendliness, useful elevation adjustment range of 60 MOA minimum to get the 338 LM out to 1,500 and preferably more so it’s not bottoming out,
(3) lowest weight possible without significant trade-down in optics quality or mechanical quality,
(4) FFP,
(5) reticle performance, accuracy and ease of use,
(6) eye-box tolerance / forgiveness,
(7) MOA/MOA, or Mil/Mil,
(8) minimum useful magnification of 20X and would prefer higher (I know you often can’t use it, but my eyes are getting older and when I can use it I’ll gladly take it),
(9) holds up to abuse from recoil, field mishandling and the elements.

I’m considering the SWFA SS HD 5-20x50mm. Reviews on this scope say it “almost” keeps up in optics with the very best like S&B, Premier, etc. Reviews also say it has good turrets with 10mil/rev, solid clicks and pretty good tracking and repeatability. I’m not crazy about the reticle due to the thick diamonds, but can definitely work with it. The lightest high quality scopes I have found weigh about 22/23 ounces and the next weight step up to about 31/32 ounces which is exactly where this scope is (31.4 oz) so it’s not heavy for a 50mm with all the above features. This scope has plenty of elevation adjust (103 MOA). Compared to the lightest scope I am considering (March 3-24x42) I add 9 more ounces for what seems to be much better optical quality, and a little less turret quality (but still very good) and a great price ($1,500) compared to scopes with better quality (but not clear how much better).

Question for people who have used the SS HD 5-20x50 and have also used the best scopes from one or more of S&B, Premier, Hensoldt, March, etc. to shoot long range:

Is the long range optical performance of the SS HD compared to the best high end scopes substantially better or barely noticeable? Is the turret tracking and repeatability top quality for this application? How do you like the reticle for long shots?

Question for people who have used the SS HD 5-20 and have also used the Vortex Razor HD 5020x50mm:

Based on reviews by ILya Koshkin the Razor HD 5-20 is very close to the SSHD 5-20, with the SS having slightly better optical quality but the Razor still being higher quality/performance overall. How does the SS HD 5-20 compare to the Razor HD 5-20 for long range optical performance? How does the SS compare to the Razor for other features? I’m happy to spring for the small price increase for the Razor over the SS, but it’s 4 ounces heavier so it needs to be noticeably better to pay this weight penalty for this application.

Thanks for reading this post and any replies would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jde650]

Re: Questions: SWFA SS HD 5-20x50 for Long Range

Look at the field test just completed by JROB300. He has the answer to all your questions.

Jim

 

[Ring]

Re: Questions: SWFA SS HD 5-20x50 for Long Range

"Question for people who have used the SS HD 5-20 and have also used the Vortex Razor HD 5020x50mm:
"

look at thet review, but i do have a SS and razor... im not a fan of the SWFA dimonds... but it is a good scope over all... but the review above is a good read

 

[Moadrifter]

Re: Questions: SWFA SS HD 5-20x50 for Long Range

Thanks Jim!! I checked out John's post and it really answered the questions of SS vs Razor.

 

[Moadrifter]

Re: Questions: SWFA SS HD 5-20x50 for Long Range

Thanks Ring! You, Jim and the great review by JROB300 have firmly answered the question of Razor vs SS. The Razor is the choice for me over the SS. Now I need to choose between the SS and a couple of higher end options...

 

[jpspeeddemon]

Re: Questions: SWFA SS HD 5-20x50 for Long Range

I own a SS 5-20. You will not be disapointed by the optics, eye box/ eye relief forgiveness, turret sound/feel, or tracking. All of these are top notch.

The reticle is just fine for hunting or steel, but probably too thick for 1000 yd benchrest competitions.

 

[Moadrifter]

Re: Questions: SWFA SS HD 5-20x50 for Long Range

Thanks Jspeeddemon!

From everything that's out there the SS 5-20 totally rocks for optics, equal +/- to the Razor HD it seems.

You also want to know what happens in a stressful situation like a tactical call or when you are shooting about as far as you can ethically harvest an animal. I wanted to ask about this specific LR hunting app because equipment comparisons can change depending on the shooter's use. For example - ILya's reviews are as good as they get but JROB300 reviewed the SS vs new HD Razor under competition conditions and found that:

"The more I use the other 3 scopes, the less I like the turrets on the SS. ... I used my SS to shoot a couple matches and definitely spent more time making sure I was really on 3.6 mils and not 3.7. There is just enough slop and not quite enough "snap" to make me lose confidence in what I was looking at."

Slop in the turrets that make the shooter lose confidence in match conditions would also do a number on your success in the field under even more stressful conditions where you might only have 10 seconds to dial and make a shot to the next ridge.

That's why I didn't think my post is re-hashing old ground, no one I found specifically asked about comparing the Razor to the SS in a high caliber LR mobile field application.

Thanks again for your feedback and any additional comments would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Moadrifter]

Re: Questions: SWFA SS HD 5-20x50 for Long Range

Thanks for the feedback guys! The turret issue is a deal breaker for this build so I'll need to open the wallet a little wider ;-)

In two other posts I did today we also weeded out the March 3-24x42 and validated the Razor HD 5-20x50 as a world class ELR contender. I have 5 really great scopes left on the list and will put out one last post ("Questions About Splitting Hairs With Top ELR Scopes") to ask some comparison questions for those before making the buy.

Thanks again!