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Rifle Scopes SWFA 5-20HD VS STEINER P4xi 4-16
- Thread starter cro789
- Start date
I have had two SS 5-20's and one Steiner 4-16 Military. The Steiner is just in a different class I feel it is a lot closer to my S&B. The SS is really suppose to be a budget scope, but its just not priced at a budget price anymore. The turrets on the SS are not that nice, and no zero stop. I sold both of mine at a loss, and it took a while. Right now there are a lot of better options in the same price range which have better or as good glass, better names, and zero stop. You can get a razor HD gen 1 for around the same price used as a SS 5-20, and the gen 2 for around the same price as a new one. I also can't get over the name I didn't like telling people they were super snipers scopes at the range, and calling it a SS scope with their German eagle logo with the SS runes as the feathers is kind of something I don't like being associated with either. There are too many people with Nazi leaning as it is in the gun community, and I don't want to be lumped in with them.
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Tough to say on the Nazi heritage as Steiner was formed in 1947. Bmw, Mercedes, Porsche, Opel, Zeiss, Kahles, Schmidt & Bender, Swarovski, etc...manufactured products for the German war effort. Big stretch to say one could be a Nazi for owning any of those brands.
Do the these folks ride in ThyssenKrupp elevators or walk the stairs? How far does one push this anti business?
Ibknow a lot of WW2 vets would never own Mitsubishi anything but even those guys eventually gave in and would consider maybe a car or air conditioner by Mistubishi.
certainly one can buy what they choose, I will never argue that. But for the most part since the end of WW2 Germany, (West) was a good ally - especially when Kohl was PM.
And an American ran Porsche and saved the 911 - Peter Schultz.
Ibknow a lot of WW2 vets would never own Mitsubishi anything but even those guys eventually gave in and would consider maybe a car or air conditioner by Mistubishi.
certainly one can buy what they choose, I will never argue that. But for the most part since the end of WW2 Germany, (West) was a good ally - especially when Kohl was PM.
And an American ran Porsche and saved the 911 - Peter Schultz.
After owning a T5xi, I'll never buy another Steiner. Biggest $1k+ POS I've ever owned. Glass was just abysmal. I've never had a scope with such poor glass at any price point, by any brand, for any use. I've heard their military stuff is good, but I'll never know.
I had an SWFA HD 5-20 that I used for years. Fantastic scope that I eventually replaced with a Delta Stryker 4.5-30x56. My complaints on the SWFA - no zero stop, dated reticle, poor illumination. Things I never in a million years would have complained about - the company's initials or name, turret quality, logo, LOL.
The SWFA HD 5-20 could be had for most of last year at $899 brand new. Nobody pays full new price - that's like comparing it to the $2500 MSRP on the Razor.
To each their own, but downing a scope for it's logo or initials is a bit crazy to me.
The swfa illumination is crude but in actual use it works fine. It puts a red dot where you need it. Most scopes, especially ones where the whole Christmas tree lights up, are distracting in true low light. Lots of scopes don’t have illumination that is dim enough. I would prefer the illumination to be more like the Steiner M5XI or the Nightforce 4-14x50 F1 but it is what it is for now. I took a pig with my swFa at dark two weeks ago and it did the job.
Let me explain why I don't like the logo it has nothing to do with post war Germany or Germans or even "ex-Nazi's". I don't want to own a scope that has a slightly modified German WWII patch with two SS lightning bolts as part of it on the side of my scope. They basically straight up adopted Nazi iconography as part of their marketing.
If I was looking for 5-25x50/56 it wouldn’t be the SS HD because there are a ton of great scopes at that price or less that give you better value for your $$$ now a days. For hunting a 3-9x would be better. I would get a 3-9x for hunting and a 5-25x56 for long rang shooting. You could pickup both for the same price as the SS HD.
If you have your heart set on one scope, this may cover all you wants-
www.brownells.com
If you have your heart set on one scope, this may cover all you wants-
MATCH PRECISION OPTIC (MPO) 3-18X50MM FFP ILLUM. RIFLE SCOPE | Brownells
The Brownells 3-18x50mm Match Precision Optic® rifle scope gives you key features found on high-end scopes at a surprisingly modest price. We started with fully multi-coated, edge-blackened Japanese glass for maximum light transmission. The turret...
www.brownells.com
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The SWFA 5-20 trade in the exchange from $750-$950 depending on illumination and condition. I have a brand new illuminated one with a parralax gripper and throw lever listed in the exchange right now that falls in that price range. Great scopes. I have several.If I was looking for 5-25x50/56 it wouldn’t be the SS HD because there are a ton of great scopes at that price or less that give you better value for your $$$ now a days. For hunting a 3-9x would be better. I would get a 3-9x for hunting and a 5-25x56 for long rang shooting. You could pickup both for the same price as the SS HD.
If you have your heart set on one scope, this may cover all you wants-
MATCH PRECISION OPTIC (MPO) 3-18X50MM FFP ILLUM. RIFLE SCOPE | Brownells
The Brownells 3-18x50mm Match Precision Optic® rifle scope gives you key features found on high-end scopes at a surprisingly modest price. We started with fully multi-coated, edge-blackened Japanese glass for maximum light transmission. The turret...
The scout sniper emblems are a different issue, but If you like having patches and emblems on your gear from units you never were never in go right ahead with that.
I don't know if it changed mine either I though it didn't matter to me either for a long time. I did own two of them, but it was part of why I decided to sell mine, and upgrade, and looking back at it I am quite happy with my decision.
I don't need to have patches with units I never served in, I have my own from when I did serve and I was nothing special (just a leg).
