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SWFA SS 3-9x42 vs Vortex 2.5-10x44 |
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Rhyno37
Optics GrassHopper Joined: March/20/2012 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 2 |
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Posted: March/20/2012 at 13:58 |
I'm getting a Steven's 200 in .223 to start a rifle build, and obviously need to put some glass on it. I shoot anywhere from 100yds to 300yds, sometimes even 500yds if able. After reading reviews, and with a limit of $600, I've narrowed it down to these 2 variable power scopes and a fixed power. Looking for an input on these 3 scopes, I am not too knowledgeable when it comes to optics.
The SS 6x42 would obviously be my cheapest option, but I figure a variable scope would be better for different ranges. Any and all help is appreciated!
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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SS 3-9 and don't look back. probably my favorite scope I've ever owned.
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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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3-9 SS.
Great scope for the money.
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Freedom is something you take.
Respect is something you earn. Equality is something you whine about not being given. |
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Hokie1850
Optics GrassHopper Joined: February/21/2011 Status: Offline Points: 47 |
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I can't say enough good things about the SS 3-9. Being a FFP design so at the low end of magnification the reticle resembles a standard duplex. At the high end - a mil dot. No parallax adjustment, robust design, excellent quality...there isn't much to say other than "go get one!"
Here's mine atop the AR10: |
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billyburl2
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/08/2009 Location: Cottonwood, AZ Status: Offline Points: 4015 |
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SS
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If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
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FireEMT5
Optics Journeyman Joined: September/07/2010 Location: S.E. Minnesota Status: Offline Points: 317 |
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Another vote for the SS! If you don't mind getting the older Mil-Dot model with the same matching reticle and turrets, you'll find a couple of those for $499 right now on the Sample List.
To echo what's been said above, you will be hard pressed to find a better scope for the money backed by a great lifetime warranty. Plenty of scope for the ranges you plan on shooting. Good luck with your build and welcome to Optics Talk. Stick around here and enjoy the forum - great place, great people, and lots of great info! By the way, don't overlook a quality base and set of rings for your build.
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6.5x47
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/17/2012 Status: Offline Points: 50 |
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You guys may disagree, but having already owned a 33 3-9, I would look elsewhere. For that power range, I wouldn't mind giving the vortex pst or vx-r patrol a try. Having said that I have no experience with either the pst or vx-r.
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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????
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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billyburl2
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/08/2009 Location: Cottonwood, AZ Status: Offline Points: 4015 |
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What was your problem with the SS?
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If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
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6.5x47
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/17/2012 Status: Offline Points: 50 |
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A few observations of my ss 3-9 after shooting it for a few years.
They completely missed the boat on the magnification ring. Why would you make it, the exact same size as the eyepiece, and then later on design a switchview? This seems to be a trend even with the 5-20, 1-4, 1-6 too. Also my mag ring froze up to the point you could not turn it without two hands on either the scope or the rifle and scope. Also, I feel the scope is too large, and would have been better sized in the 11-12 inch range. Focus was a constant issue, as mine simply would not hold focus over a range session. Both the elevation and windage knob indicator rings came loose after a few range trips, and I ended up supergluing them back down. The rings I'm talking about are the ones that have the dash to line up your zero.
I will say this, the scope never failed a box test. That is always a good sign. SWFA did end up replacing the scope for these issues, but even the new scope didn't have a smooth mag ring adjustment. Sorry about the whole 33 ss post above. I can't seem to edit that out. And finally some proof that I did actually own and use this scope. |
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6.5x47
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/17/2012 Status: Offline Points: 50 |
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Sorry about the sausage in the above post. It's the only pic of my old ss, that I had handy.
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Your experience with the 3-9x SS is completely, 180 degrees, opposite of mine....other than the box test.
I couldn't be happier with mine. I don't need a Switch View for my power ring, as it moves smoothly.
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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Swamptoplains
Optics GrassHopper Joined: February/05/2012 Location: Louisiana Status: Offline Points: 4 |
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Mmmmmm sausage!
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billyburl2
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/08/2009 Location: Cottonwood, AZ Status: Offline Points: 4015 |
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6.5 yours is actually the first complaint I have ever heard of a 3-9 SS having anything wrong with it.
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If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
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6.5x47
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/17/2012 Status: Offline Points: 50 |
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Maybe I received a rare lemon scope, but surely we can all agree that mag ring design is flawed at best. And maybe, just maybe, the scope is to large for a simple 3-9.
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Uh....nope. I'm well pleased with the scope.
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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While I am a big fan of SWFA scopes, and I think every prospective buyer needs to realize that unit variation and lemons occur with all scope lines and models, I appreciate 6.5 sharing his experience and opinion.
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-Matt
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Me too. Ice cream makers make chocolate, vanilla, and tooty fruity because folks like different flavors. I just respectfully disagree that we all have to agree with his findings/opinions, Matt. You agree?
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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I'm pretty sure we don't have to agree with anyone else's opinions. I just appreciate him posting his take on it, and the account of his experience with it. There could be a buyer that wouldn't like the mag ring configured like it is on the SS, and they could save themselves some trouble. I like hearing the good, the bad, and the ugly.
I haven't had a chance to try the SS 3-9 myself, although I really like the features for the price.
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-Matt
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Matt, this is what I take exception to. No...we don't HAVE to agree the mag ring is flawed. I don't feel it is. I just went back to my gun safe and pulled out mine and twisted the hell out of it. Works for me. If he feels it's flawed, then he's certainly entitled to his opinion, I just don't concur. The SS is "to large for a simple 3-9x". Zeiss Conquest 3-9x is a little longer and the Meopta 3-9x is a lot longer than the SS. My Leupold VX-R 3-9x is a 1/2" shorter than the SS and the Swaro's are around an inch shorter. Again, not really a game changer for me, but OK. The SS does weigh more than most. Maybe he was referring to that. MR. 6.5 doesn't HAVE to agree with most here that the SS is a great scope and I don't HAVE to agree it's flawed. He put his money down and feels the SS came up short and I'm sorry to hear that. Leave it at that.
Edited by cheaptrick - April/22/2012 at 16:54 |
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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