Rifle Scopes SWFA Fixed 10 Power or 20 Power

[treillw]

I'm considering a SWFA Supersniper fixed power scope to throw on a volume gun for practicing. I've heard a lot of good things about the 10 power super sniper for the money. Does the 20 power one have the same reputation/quality?

I think I would prefer 20 power over 10 power for a scope like this, since I will strictly be using it at the range.

 

[Pointman308]

I have heard the glass was not as good on the 20x, if it were me I’d get the 12x. They are good scopes thought

 

[treillw]

The glass between the two scopes is likely the same composition?

Do the imperfections come out more because of the magnification? Or maybe the 20x has more lenses...?

 

[Bender]

10x because the field of view is much better. The 20x wold be very slow to find targets.

 

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

10x because the field of view is much better. The 20x wold be very slow to find targets.

This. For a general trainer, a 10x is more than enough. I have one(non-HD) on my son's CZ455 22lr and it is great for shooting from 25-250 yards. I got a fixed power to reduce his variables and it is great. Never gets lost looking for targets. Easy parallax. 20X for general purpose, I think, is too much.

 

[patriot07]

What is it used for? Purely bench shooting? Anything timed?

You'll be able to aim more precisely at far-away targets with the 20x. Better FOV for quick target acquisition and/or moving targets with the 10x. Which is more important? I had a 16x on two separate guns and it was great. 10x or 12x would have been less mag than I really wanted.

 

[...]

i have both and am very happy with them.

i like the 10X just a little bit better than the 20X......i dont regret buying the 20X, but if i had to to it again i probably would have just bought another 10X

the glass on the 10X is just a little bit brighter......but ranging is easier on the 20X because the reticle appears larger.

 

[Gohring65]

I had both, the 20 would give me eye fatigue if I looked to long. It served its purpose, but I won’t buy another 20x. I have a 16x that’s a little better than the the 20x.

 

[Precision Underground]

You will wish you had gotten the 10x if you ever shoot with a decent mirage kicking up.

 

[koshkin]

SWFA SS is at its best in 10x and 12x configurations, IMO.

Mechanically, they are all good, but optically a 20x42 is hard to pull off for $300.

ILya

 

[308pirate]

SWFA SS is at its best in 10x and 12x configurations, IMO.

Mechanically, they are all good, but optically a 20x42 is hard to pull off for $300.

ILya

I have a 16X and would agree. I would have been better off with a 12. For what I do with it, the loss of 25% magnification would be a good tradeoff for a wider FOV and better image quality.

 

[Moose]

I own a 10X and a 6X SS scope and for the money they are very good scopes.If you plan on hunting moving critters i would go with the 6X.Wait for the black Friday sales.Go with the mil quad reticle it is very nice to work with.

 

[7mmFanBoy]

16x helps see holes paper 300 yards get use to the picky eye box enough time behind scope. Spotting misses further out 600 beyond higher magnification does help

 

[treillw]

I will use the scope for load development at 100 yards initially and then pushing things out to 300 or 400 for more refined tuning.

After I have a good load worked up, I would like to use the scope for learning to shoot wind better. Ultimate goal is to get better for hunting. I won't be shooting moving targets with this scope; it will not be used for hunting. I'm most focused on shooting to learn wind at 400 yards and beyond.

I have a March 3-24x52 on my hunting rifle. In the woods, I always have it on 3x. At the range it pretty much never leaves 24x.

 

[hypno02]

I agree with everyone who says the 10x is ideal in the SS line of optics.

If you are going to be your own spotter and need to see your impacts/misses then you'd be foolish to go with anything but a 10x.

 

[408w]

The SWFA 20x is my go to scope for load development. I don’t own or have shot anything with a retical that can give me the precision at a 100yrds when deciding what load to go with. The simple reticle with the fine dot is great.

 

[TimK]

I've had them all. Myself, I like the 16X best. It's enough power to do load development (barely) and just right for field shooting. Most of my scopes are 5-25 variables, and in matches I'm almost always shooting at 15-17X.

 

[702lineman]

I've had a 10x, 12x and a 16x. Do not go over a 12x. 10 and 12 Are both great. I have a 12x right now and for 300 bucks or less they are great scopes

 

[winniethepooh]

(3) 10x milquads for me (side focus)

 

[TimK]

Oh, whatever you buy, don't forget to order a zero stop from me. It fixes the one glaring flaw in a great product.

 

[ebnash]

I have a 10X and a 16X and optically, I feel they are equals. Keep in mind that my scopes are 10-12 years old so not sure if things have changed over time. I always prefer more magnification at the range, even if shooting @ 50 yards. I would go for the 16X

 

[atepointer]

16x helps see holes paper 300 yards get use to the picky eye box enough time behind scope. Spotting misses further out 600 beyond higher magnification does help

Man this place is great thanks all. I had to re-read everything after qualifying I'm shooting at IPSC steel and not paper. Seems like the 10-12 range is the sweet spot for the impromptu quasi poll here. Slightly better quality image, better FOV.

I know this will sound really stupid, but you will learn I am a huge iDioT. Push me to the 10 or the 12. I know MOA's and think the MOA-quad reticle is the tits so that decision I'm 100 percent sold on. Not saying it's better, just that I know it and like it like an old hat. Thanks for the input guys the SWFA sale is too tempting to not dive in.

 

[Adam4pt6]

I've read so many good things about the 10x that I picked one up with the sale going on and I dont even have a rifle for it. I'm going to mount it on something and shoot it to make sure there are no issues and its going to sit on the shelf as a back up/diag tool until I get something to put it on. From the little bit of looking at it I did today it seems solid and seems like it's going to hold up to all the hype. My mind set is for a general purpose, do it all type of scope 10x is a safe choice. I made some shots out to 800 with my main scope set at 10x to get an idea for what would work for me and 10x was plenty to make consistent hits that far. I know it qasnt this particular scope, but the concept is the same I suppose

 

[ebnash]

When my 10X came off my 10FP, I ditched the cheapo nikon on my 10/22 target plinker and slapped it on there. Optics are awesome and it looks the business on that gun... I think I need another for my Savage .17HMR bolt gun....

 

[D_TROS]

hAVE the 12x mil quad and its a great little scope. Def one of the best for the $$$. perfect for entry level, hunting, or best for rimfire because low parallax.

FOV
10x - 3.9m - 12.8ft
12x - 3.2m - 10.5ft
16x - 2.2m
20x - 1.9m

I think the 10 or 12 for sure. Not only the FOV but as mentioned glass quality.


Regards,
DT

 

[Jackomason]

I saw a few of the 20x on the PX for $175, kinda tempted to get one to fill empty rifles.

 

[Artemis444]

I am new here and am getting into Long Range. My dad and I both picked up some 6.5 Creedmoor chassis guns. He has extremely nice glass on his but I am strapped for cash. We have property to shoot out to 700 yards any time we want but have just got on the waiting list for a range that has 1250 yard capability. I will generally be shooting from 500 yards plus. Steel targets. I generally pistol hunt so this will probably not see any action other than the range.

Would the 16x or 20x be ok? I feel that 10x will not be enough but I am just compairing to my hunting systems that are 3-9 and 4x fixed.

This is my first step into long range so if I am wrong let me know why...

Thanks

 

[AZgeek]

I think it depends what size targets you plan on using at your maximum range. I find it difficult to precisely hone in 12"x12" plate beyond 900 yards at 15x. You will probably be better off with 20x on the high end if your going out past 1200 yards if your targets are that small. An 18"x24" plate at 1200 is no problem for me with 15x on the top end. Just some perspective. YMMV.

 

[patriot07]

I'd get the 16x myself. I've had a couple and they're nice compromises between the 12x and 20x.

 

[charkear]

I have the 6x and it is a great scope. For 100 meters it is not quite enough magnification. 10x would be great for 100 meters.

 

[Artemis444]

I'd get the 16x myself. I've had a couple and they're nice compromises between the 12x and 20x.

How is the 16 in low light?

 

[patriot07]

How is the 16 in low light?

Not great. I used mine for bench-only.

High quality glass, high magnification, accurate tracking, and low price are not something that goes together. With the 20x, you sacrifice glass quality and low light capability. With the 16x, you still sacrifice both a bit. With the 10x/12x, you get to where you aren't sacrificing those as much because the optical demands of high magnification are a bit reduced. It's all a trade-off. There's nothing wrong with the 12x either, and you get FOV in return.

I used my 16x for bench-only and only in daytime bright, so low light performance was never a major concern.

 

[Red_SC]

I’ve had a number of 10’s, 12,s, and 16’s. I think 12x is the sweet spot for those scopes, I no longer own the 16’s.

 

[TexasUplander]

DEFINITELY 6x or 10x. A fixed 20x is almost good for nothing....

 

[Gtscotty]

I've been happy with my 12x for all around range use, I don't really think the power is a constraint for most uses until you get past 800 or so yards.

 

[Novak77]

Had a 10x on a FN PBR and it was more than enough for me.

 

[BuildItYourSelf]

I had the 10x and the 20x at the same time the glass is the same quality but at 20x bench shooting its not good enough. I sold the 20x and the 10x sits in top of a factory Remington 700 heavy barrel 308. It was one of my first "range rifle" that also shot deer. I have alot of swfa scopes and they all are exactly what they claim. The HD glass they have is quality.
I regularly recommend the 3-15x Mil-Quad ffp. It's a great scope for the price. However the vortex Diamondback tactical ffp look very promising for a budget scope.

Imo the ss 20x isn't worth it because of glass quality on such a high magnification.

 

[rimfire22lr]

I have the 12x and the 16x, both mil/mil. The 12x is quite good for anything I need to do out to 500 meters, including 25-300 yards on a 22lr. The 16x is handy for when I know I won't be shooting closer than 200 yards and the targets are static. Just makes ranging and spotting hits easier. Glass is fine on both -- better than expected for the price.

 

[Artemis444]

I think im gong to settle on a 12x. From what ive seen here and heard other places it sounds like the best all around for what im planing on doing. Thanks guys!

 

[Bender]

I know a guy who usually shoots competitions with his USO set on 12x for the whole match.