Rifle Scopes SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

[Das Capitolin]

I received my SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD rifle scope a few weeks back, and have mounted it to a Savage 11 Long Range Hunter with a 20 MOA base. After sending about 100 rounds downrange (100~600 yards), I've had enough time to make my initial impression.

Lens glass: it's very clear and light is efficiently used at every power. I was able to clearly read small text on a small sign at 300 yards. As a side note, however, I purchased a $300 Nikko Sterling Targetmaster (SFP) scope that arrived around the same time, and it's Japanese A+ glass with ETE Mirolux coating exactly matches the clarity.

Turrets: adjustments are not very crisp and feel a bit mushy. They're also somewhat quiet with each movement; with a faint click sound (may not be an issue for some shooters). The big downside: the painted center placement hash does not match up to the painted turret hashes. On the scope I received, the turret hashes fall about 2/5 between each mark, which is very frustrating.

Elevation Turret:

Windage Turret:

Lens caps: the SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD does not come with lens caps (or sunshade), so I ordered my scope with the Butler Creek lens cap option. The ocular bell cap stays put, but the objective bell cap fits loosely and pulls off before the cap can be opened. This could be a Butler Creek QC issue, but SWFA really should include some type of lens cap for $1500.

Durability: while I think that this area is best left to .50 BMG shooters, the SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD has stood up to 100 rounds of 260 Remington with repeatable adjustments. I feel confident that my 1st round will match my 1000th round, with adjustments in-between.

Overall I'm satisfied with the product, but not completely thrilled with the small problems I've seen in my SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD scope. It's very possible that because there was huge amount of hype generated from members with the group buy that I raised my expectations, but the scope delivered lacked the polish I was expecting. Your mileage may vary.

Please keep discussion on-topic.

UPDATE: I've contacted SWFA about the mis-aligned turrets asking for advice on how to fix this issue, and they offered an exchange because mine is outside of normal adjustment. Since they don't have any more SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD scopes coming until September, I asked to wait until all orders were filled before we exchange the scope. They agreed.

 

[Tactical]

Re: SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

My impressions are way different than yours. I really like the scope

Now you say the scope should come with covers. Agreed but in defense, up until very recently everyone just threw covers supplied away and bought Butler Creek Covers. Now BC makes crappy covers that either break or wont stay shut. I bet they did not plan on Buttler Creek going to crap. I would like to see a simple bungee type bikini cover sent with this scope as well

The clicks on my 5-20 are anything but mushy/soft or less than very good.

On glass quality sound like you got lucky with your 300.00 scope but I bet a year from now, if you use it on a sniper rifles, it is either broke or tracks like a drunk on sat night.

The glass quality on my 5-20 is very high. It is nothing to complain about and seems more like 2500.00 rifle glass to me.

 

[madAB]

Re: SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tactical</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My impressions are way different than yours. I really like the scope

Now you say the scope should come with covers. Agreed but in defense, up until very recently everyone just threw covers supplied away and bought Butler Creek Covers. Now BC makes crappy covers that either break or wont stay shut. I bet they did not plan on Buttler Creek going to crap. I would like to see a simple bungee type bikini cover sent with this scope as well

The clicks on my 5-20 are anything but mushy/soft or less than very good.

On glass quality sound like you got lucky with your 300.00 scope but I bet a year from now, if you use it on a sniper rifles, it is either broke or tracks like a drunk on sat night.

The glass quality on my 5-20 is very high. It is nothing to complain about and seems more like 2500.00 rifle glass to me. </div></div>

Just out of curiosity, after zeroing, do your hash marks link up on your turrets?

 

[Das Capitolin]

Re: SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tactical</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My impressions are way different than yours. I really like the scope

Now you say the scope should come with covers. Agreed but in defense, up until very recently everyone just threw covers supplied away and bought Butler Creek Covers. Now BC makes crappy covers that either break or wont stay shut. I bet they did not plan on Buttler Creek going to crap. I would like to see a simple bungee type bikini cover sent with this scope as well

The clicks on my 5-20 are anything but mushy/soft or less than very good.

On glass quality sound like you got lucky with your 300.00 scope but I bet a year from now, if you use it on a sniper rifles, it is either broke or tracks like a drunk on sat night.

The glass quality on my 5-20 is very high. It is nothing to complain about and seems more like 2500.00 rifle glass to me. </div></div>

As I mention, the glass on this scope is great, but I am told (quite often it seems) that fitting really good glass isn't the benchmark for a scope since so many use the same sources now. That's why I look at the other factors. The eye box seems very flexible at lower power, but becomes much more strict as you climb to 20x. This is about par with some of the others of similar power, so no surprises here. The turret stiffness can be a subjective matter. They're certainly as good or better than the Leopold Mark IV, but not nearly as crisp and defined as the Nikko Sterling Targetmaster. I pointed out the lens caps simply because they're included with some scopes, and a few of the bundled scope caps are actually quite good (ie. Nikko Sterling Targetmaster, which are BC clones and fit snug). I think that with a bit more production polish, this scope could easily qualify as a great. Time will tell, and hopefully the issues I've seen are not widespread.

 

[fdkay]

Re: SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

Do you mean to say that the hash marks on the caps are not evenly spaced so that some of the index marks line up and some don't?
If so, i'm sure a simple call to SWFA will have replacements on the way.

As far as the "mushy" adjustments, that may simply be a sloppy application of too much grease on the o rings in the caps.

By a can of silicone spray lube at the local hardware or automotive store, remove the caps, spray them out with the silicone, wipe them out. Reapply a small amount of the spray inside the caps. Spray the Orings, wipe them off. Repply a small amount of spray. remount your caps, apply slight downward pressure as you snug the screws. Make sure you have the zero lined up when you do this.

Please report back to see if this remedied the feel of the adjustments.

It worked absolute wonders on my Menace.

Make absolutely sure you use silicone spray. WD 40 or any other petroleum based oil will destroy the o rings.

 

[Rancid Coolaid]

Re: SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

SS scopes have historically required a little turret-spinning to get the grease well distributed. I have owned many over the years and a few had mushy turrets out of the box. Spin the turrets through their full range 10 or so times ant the clicks will become tactile and audible.

That said, I have 2 of the new 5-20s, both came out of the box clicking well.


After a few rounds through both of mine, my singular issue is cheek weld at 20X, if you are off by even a little, you're SOL. Then again, every single 20X I have ever used had the same issue, so maybe it's me and not the scope.

To the OP, spin the turrets for awhile, see if that helps.

 

[steelcomp]

Re: SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Das Capitolin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

The big downside: the painted center placement hash does not match up to the painted turret hashes. On the scope I received, the turret hashes fall about 2/5 between each mark, which is very frustrating.

</div></div>
It's a simple adjustment:

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2732049#Post2732049

 

[Das Capitolin]

Re: SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

Presuming you are correct about the spline count, SWFA designed their mil-mil scope using a shaft with MOA-engineered splines. It would seem that their engineers chould have anticipated something like this, and used a different shaft design. I realize that it's more cost-effective to use a pre-existing shaft part, but if they had used a 100-spline shaft imagine how much more credibility they would earn.

 

[hydro556]

Re: SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

All makers have bad ones get out. I have not seen one of the SWFA scopes, but many seem to like them, perhaps you just got a bad one.

Have you asked them about swapping it out?

 

[Aubie]

Re: SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rancid Coolaid</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
After a few rounds through both of mine, my singular issue is cheek weld at 20X, if you are off by even a little, you're SOL. Then again, every single 20X I have ever used had the same issue, so maybe it's me and not the scope.
</div></div>

Other than the non-existent illumination, this is the most striking problem I have experienced with the 5-20. I have never owned a scope that has this large of a magnification so I would love to hear other people weigh in here. Is it normal for a 20x scope to be so unforgiving with respect to the cheek weld?

 

[2Shots]

Re: SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

The eye boxes in some scopes are less forgiving and are pickey about eye placement, and the higher you crank the worse they get. It's all in the design. Unfortunately it seems the more you pay the better they are, surprise surprise! I shot my SS 5x20 today, I've probably shot it 4 or 5 times now, it may have a couple of dislikes but it aint no 3k scope, for the money its the best thing going! I paid almost as much for two pst's, waited a year and there is no comparison.

 

[GasLight]

Re: SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

My nightforce did the exact same mis-alignment that you are showing in your picture. That was not on the scope, but on my alighnment when I was zeroing the turrets. Does your scope come up the same on every setting? I am guessing this can be resolved by different turret alignment while zeroing... I could be wrong, but I have never seen quite the outcry this scope is causing...

 

[GasLight]

Re: SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

Correction:

Irrational outcry

 

[Keyser Söze]

Re: SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

What outcry is that? People pointing out that the turrets don't align properly on their (expensive) scope is normal talk/complaint if it is about any other scope, but if it is about the new SS it is somehow "irrational outcry"?

People seem to be very emotionally invested in this particular scope...

 

[fireEMT5]

Re: SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

I had a similar problem on my SS3-9 with the caps hashes/marks not lining up with the hash mark on the scope. SWFA swapped me out with a brand new scope without any problems. The only bad part of whole experience was being without a scope for 3 weeks - the time it took for mine to get there and for my new replacement to get shipped back. Give SWFA's great customer service a chance - they will work with you.

I will concede that an improvement in quality control may be in order. The problem of caps being 1/2 a mark off seems to be becoming a fairly common problem, or maybe it's just because they've moved a ton of scopes lately and more people are speaking out.

Originally with my scope I had just asked for a replacement set of caps. I was told by SWFA that sometimes the caps get assembled/glued wrong, which results in them being a partial click off. They also stated that they do not keep spare caps on hand, and if I wished I could send my scope back for a brand new replacement scope, which is what I did. In the end it worked out just fine, but I'd have preferred that the defect had been caught before shipping out the original.

Even with this minor hiccup, I still love my SS and will buy another someday.

 

[Rancid Coolaid]

Re: SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Aubie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Other than the non-existent illumination, this is the most striking problem I have experienced with the 5-20. I have never owned a scope that has this large of a magnification so I would love to hear other people weigh in here. Is it normal for a 20x scope to be so unforgiving with respect to the cheek weld? </div></div>

My illumination ghosts the entire reticle (which isn't altogether terrible or great), but it does work. When I have needed it, it has functioned.

And, of the many 20+ magnification scopes I have used, all were much less forgiving than a good 3-12 or 3-15.

Personally, I shoot my 5-20SS much better at 10X or 15X than I do at 20X. It is entirely serviceable at 20X, and it is nice to have when needed, but max zoom isn't always the answer.

 

[GasLight]

Re: SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Keyser Söze</div><div class="ubbcode-body">People seem to be very emotionally invested in this particular scope...
</div></div>

This is what I was speaking about and what I am confused about.

 

[-=boone=-]

Re: SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

I have two 5-20 SS scopes but have only had the opportunity to mount and shoot with one. I like the scope.

We compared the SS to a NF 5.5-22 and this is what we found.

Turrets: The SS turrets were more audible and produced a more crisp tactile feel. The SS turrets however did not line up 100% but mine seem closer than some pictures I've seen.

Winner- SS

Parallax: The NF parallax adjustment did move a little more freely than the SS, that said I prefer the SS in this regard.

Winner- NF

Magnification Adjustment: Comparing the magnification ring to the NF took a little hindsight. On a NF you have a tendency to grasp the entire eye piece to increase the magnification. However if you adjust the NF with your thumb and index finger like you will with the SS it's a wash.

Winner- Tie

Illumination: I like the entire reticle illuminated I won’t lie. However with the ability to adjust the illumination on the fly we gave it to SS.

Winner- SS

Glass: We place both scopes on 16x and switched back and forth between them. We found the NF to be a little brighter. This took each of us 5-10 minutes to determine. I will say Brandon has a unusual clear NF. I say this because my NF was nowhere near as crisp as his. We will revisit this topic at the 2000 yard line.

We both have zero emotion based in grading this scope. It’s equipment it either works or it doesn’t.

 

[CopperCreekAmmo]

Re: SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: boone</div><div class="ubbcode-body">On a NF you have a tendency to grasp the entire eye piece to increase the magnification.
</div></div>

that's how the nightforce works. you grasp the entire ocular and adjust the magnification as necessary.

 

[Das Capitolin]

Re: SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD Scope Initial Impressions

Some follow-up: I've contacted SWFA about the mis-aligned turrets asking for advice on how to fix this issue, and they offered an exchange because mine is outside of normal adjustment. Since they don't have any more SWFA SS 5-20x50 HD scopes coming until September, I asked to wait until all orders were filled before we exchange the scope. They agreed.