Got mine mounted on my shorter BBL 308 folder this weekend but didn't make it to the range.. Review is comming
Rifle Scopes SWFA SS ~ 3-15x42 ~ Some initial impressions and pictures
- Thread starter jasonk
- Start date
My New Savage 10FCP .308
22 Inch Heavy Fluted Barrel
Brown Digital Stock with Dual Pillar Bedding
Adjustable Accu-Trigger
Oversized Bolt Handle (Sharpshooters Supply Tactical Black Bolt Handle on Backorder)
SWFA SS 3-15X42 with Butler Creek Caps
EGW Tactical Picatinny Rail 0 MOA Scope Mount
Warne 30mm Low Quick Detach Rings
US Optics Anti-Cant Picatinny Rail Mount Swivel Bubble Level
Sharpshooters Supply High Capacity 9 Round DBM Magazine
Harris Ultralight S-LM Swivel Bipod 9"-13" with Micro Stainless Steel Pod-Loc Handle
Accu-Shot BT04 Locking Monopod
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SS 3-15x42 on budget .223
I'm very pleased with my 3-15x42; getting 1/2 minute @ 200yds. Turret adjustments have been consistent when returning to zero. great scope for budget rifle.
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I'm very pleased with my 3-15x42; getting 1/2 minute @ 200yds. Turret adjustments have been consistent when returning to zero. great scope for budget rifle.
<a href="http://s220.photobucket.com/user/jc6781/media/null-3.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd286/jc6781/null-3.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo null-3.jpg"/></a><a href="http://s220.photobucket.com/user/jc6781/media/null-4.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd286/jc6781/null-4.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo null-4.jpg"/></a><a href="http://s220.photobucket.com/user/jc6781/media/null.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd286/jc6781/null.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo null.jpg"/></a><a href="http://s220.photobucket.com/user/jc6781/media/null-1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd286/jc6781/null-1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo null-1.jpg"/></a><a href="http://s220.photobucket.com/user/jc6781/media/null-2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd286/jc6781/null-2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo null-2.jpg"/></a>
Yes, I like the idea of the cattail lever as well. I noticed that this little part is a $60 accessory on the SS 3-9x42 Tactical scope; it should be $10 at the very most.
Mounted a SS 3-15 on a buddies Savage 10PC today using a Seekins 20 MOA base and Seekins/Vortex matched low rings. Due to the large knob on the Savage 10PC's bolt handle, will be unable to use the screw in throw lever. Kind of a bummer, but not the end of the world. Sorry, don't have pictures. I tried it a number of times and if a person was manipulating the bolt with a purpose, it would hit the screw in cat tail lever. It's a good idea, but it either needs to be moved, or 1 or more holes need to be drilled to give the end user options as far as where to install it. It will be interesting to hear how many others have the same issue?
Interesting. Funny that nobody else had noticed this issue, but I'm guessing it's only on low power that probably won't get used much. Luckily, mine is going on an auto loader when it gets here.
Yes, it's primarily when the scope is on 3X. When carefully manipulating the bolt, you can clear the cat tail lever - as long as you remember to be careful. If one was taking a followup shot at a buck and racked the bolt with purpose, you most certainly would hit. This is due to the slop of the Savage bolt as it moves about as you pull it back, and is also probably due to the bolt handle geometry of the Savage 10PC. I have no way of knowing if this is or will be a problem for the Remmy's or even other Savage's. I just wanted to report what I ran into with this new scope and the Savage 10PC so others know in advance and are not surprised. I know it would add cost, but adding another hole 1/4' or so away would give users an option. I think adding the screw in cat tail stud is a pretty good idea, but as I found out it will not work on every rifle. This is an instance where having a seperate cat tail would be a nice option such as for the SS 1-4 or SS 5-20. Personally I've never had or used any cat tail on any of my SS scopes, so I don't really care one way or another. Since this scope only started shipping a week or two ago, I'm sure more instances of this may arise as more people mount them up. Time will tell.
I hope it will really focus down to 6m. Previous SWFA scopes were advertised as able to focus down to 10m and simply didn't.
Scot_E, Moving the lever to 4X cleared the bolt handle. I need to claify that it wasn't the bolt knob, but more the handle between the end knob and where it connects to the bolt. The geometry of the whole bolt handle would appear to be the issue here. Other Savages or other brands of guns with different size and shaped bolt handles may very well not have this problem. Hopefully other owners will chime in once more of these get out there and installed?
My buddy is planning on using this gun for deer hunting where he states that 300 yds would be max. He hunts in the U.P. of Michigan and gets into some thick brush and woods from time to time, so low end is important to him for his application. He's just gonna run it without the cat tail stud installed. No harm, no foul here. I was just meaning to point out that this scope on this particular gun model set up in a Seekins 20 MOA base and Seekins/Vortex Matched low rings is a no go for the cat tail stud/lever.
Other than that minor issue, I liked the short time I had with the scope. I bore sighted it at 100 yds and thought the glass was nice and clear. I didn't compare it side by side with my SS 3-9 or 5-20 - just didn't think of doing it while I had the rifle. I certainly don't think the glass is poor or even less than my 3-9, but again, I did not do a side by side and I'm no optics anaylist.
This was also the first time I personally handled a SS scope with the classic style 3 screw turrets. After bore sighting, I adjusted them to zero just to see what the process was all about. I must say that it is very easy to zero these turret caps. How well they hold I can't say. If it were my scope, I'd probably loctite them each time just for my own piece of mind, but there are plenty of classic style SS scopes out there and this system surely has been working for those who have them. I'm partial to the splined type caps that my 3 SS scopes have, but again that's due to what I have and what I'm used to.
At the end of the day, if I needed a SS 3-15 and had a gun to put it on, I'd probably buy one. If this scope had come out sooner, I'd already own one, but after getting in on the SS5-20 / SS 1-6 group buy and putting the 5-20 on my own 10PC, I doubt I'll be changing anything. 5X may bite me on my next deer hunt, but I certainly am enjoying the glass on the 5-20.
My buddy is planning on using this gun for deer hunting where he states that 300 yds would be max. He hunts in the U.P. of Michigan and gets into some thick brush and woods from time to time, so low end is important to him for his application. He's just gonna run it without the cat tail stud installed. No harm, no foul here. I was just meaning to point out that this scope on this particular gun model set up in a Seekins 20 MOA base and Seekins/Vortex Matched low rings is a no go for the cat tail stud/lever.
Other than that minor issue, I liked the short time I had with the scope. I bore sighted it at 100 yds and thought the glass was nice and clear. I didn't compare it side by side with my SS 3-9 or 5-20 - just didn't think of doing it while I had the rifle. I certainly don't think the glass is poor or even less than my 3-9, but again, I did not do a side by side and I'm no optics anaylist.
This was also the first time I personally handled a SS scope with the classic style 3 screw turrets. After bore sighting, I adjusted them to zero just to see what the process was all about. I must say that it is very easy to zero these turret caps. How well they hold I can't say. If it were my scope, I'd probably loctite them each time just for my own piece of mind, but there are plenty of classic style SS scopes out there and this system surely has been working for those who have them. I'm partial to the splined type caps that my 3 SS scopes have, but again that's due to what I have and what I'm used to.
At the end of the day, if I needed a SS 3-15 and had a gun to put it on, I'd probably buy one. If this scope had come out sooner, I'd already own one, but after getting in on the SS5-20 / SS 1-6 group buy and putting the 5-20 on my own 10PC, I doubt I'll be changing anything. 5X may bite me on my next deer hunt, but I certainly am enjoying the glass on the 5-20.
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Frank, You are correct. Sorry I didn't take pictures to post, but with the scope setup the way he wanted it, the lever ended up further back. He picked up the rifle earlier today or I'd take and post pictures. I'd venture at least an inch further back than in your picture, so that the cat tail lever is to the rear of the bolt when the bolt lever is locked down. So, when the bolt lever is in the raised position and pulled back it would certainly hit. I could finesse the bolt past and barely clear the cat tail stud, but if it were done in a hurry with force there could certainly be an issue of hitting it hard.
To all other SS 3-15 scope owners, let me clarify. If your scope ends up mounted and the cat tail stud ends up ahead of the pivot point on your bolt, you will be just fine as Frank's photos above show. If the cat tail ends up further back where a raised bolt handle could possibly interfere, make sure you check for proper clearance throughout the scopes magnification range.
Appologies if something I said came across wrong. Was in no way trying to bash the scope or SWFA in any way. My intention was only to point out a small issue we had on this gun and the way it was set up. If nothing else, hopefully others will make a mental note and consider double checking on their rigs.
To all other SS 3-15 scope owners, let me clarify. If your scope ends up mounted and the cat tail stud ends up ahead of the pivot point on your bolt, you will be just fine as Frank's photos above show. If the cat tail ends up further back where a raised bolt handle could possibly interfere, make sure you check for proper clearance throughout the scopes magnification range.
Appologies if something I said came across wrong. Was in no way trying to bash the scope or SWFA in any way. My intention was only to point out a small issue we had on this gun and the way it was set up. If nothing else, hopefully others will make a mental note and consider double checking on their rigs.
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Any more recent reviews of this optic?
I'm debating between this scope and a USO ST-10 fixed for a AR10 rifle. Just really really wish it had better turrets like my 5-20's & 1-6x do.
I'm debating between this scope and a USO ST-10 fixed for a AR10 rifle. Just really really wish it had better turrets like my 5-20's & 1-6x do.
I am finishing up my S&B 3-20x and NF 2.5-10x42 reviews and this is next up to be finalized.
Been crazy with a lot of stuff happening, between classes and videos, not to mention getting push back with Snow from March to May, weeks have been maxed out trying to keep up.
It's a solid sub $1k optic, SWFA has down a really good job gelling the line so the consistency is there. But you can't compare a $700 optic to a $1500 and expect it be the same point by point. These have a market niche and within that niche they are very well spec'd out.
Been crazy with a lot of stuff happening, between classes and videos, not to mention getting push back with Snow from March to May, weeks have been maxed out trying to keep up.
It's a solid sub $1k optic, SWFA has down a really good job gelling the line so the consistency is there. But you can't compare a $700 optic to a $1500 and expect it be the same point by point. These have a market niche and within that niche they are very well spec'd out.
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