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SWFA SS HD 3-9x42 Tactical Questions??

Printed From: OpticsTalk by SWFA, Inc.
Category: Scopes
Forum Name: Tactical Scopes
Forum Description: Police and military tools of the trade
URL: http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=43556
Printed Date: March/29/2024 at 05:33
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Topic: SWFA SS HD 3-9x42 Tactical Questions??
Posted By: tomhall1776
Subject: SWFA SS HD 3-9x42 Tactical Questions??
Date Posted: November/08/2016 at 13:43
I'm new here so hopefully this is the right forum for this.

I am building a SPR/DMR rifle and am having a tough time choosing between the SWFA SS HD 3-9x42 or the SWFA SS 3-15x42.

I have a couple questions on the SS HD 3-9x42.
  1. Is the glass actually HD quality?
  2. Is the power/magnification ring threaded to accept a throw lever?

I appreciate the help and if you have any suggestions in choosing between these two scoped I welcome it.

Thanks




Replies:
Posted By: Rancid Coolaid
Date Posted: November/08/2016 at 14:24
Yes on the glass, no on the threading. Mine rides an 18" barrel AR with a side mounted RMR, awesome scope in the application.
I wish it were illuminated, then I'd have 5 of them!

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Freedom is something you take.
Respect is something you earn.
Equality is something you whine about not being given.


Posted By: Urimaginaryfrnd
Date Posted: November/08/2016 at 14:59
I much prefer the 3-9 using a single screw with gear teeth between the knob and post it joins this makes it so much less annoying than the three screw system


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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do".
Bobby Paul Doherty
Texas Ranger


Posted By: cheaptrick
Date Posted: November/08/2016 at 15:02
IMO, it depends on how far you and at what you are going to be shooting 90% of the time. 

I can only comment on the 3-9x, which was intially developed to be a DMR/SPR optic. There's an excellent article written by Mike Miller around here praising the SS 3-9x. I'll see if I can find it and post it for you.    

I initially procured mine (#021) due to the fact that I was such a fan of the SS line and that I wanted a "jack of all trades" scopes to pull duty between an AR and a .308 bolt gun.

I run mine solely now on my beloved Rem .308 bolt rifle and I LOVE it. The "clicks" are dead nuts I think people are surprised by how good the glass is on these. I've said here many times that the SS 3-9x is a STEAL and everybody that dabbles in the "tactical" arena, needs one of these. 

Welcome to Optics Talk.   


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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.


Posted By: tomhall1776
Date Posted: November/08/2016 at 15:56
Thanks for the replies! I would like the rifle to be capable of anything between 0-600 yards. Primarily it will shoot 100-600 yards.


Posted By: Rancid Coolaid
Date Posted: November/08/2016 at 16:42
The scope is capable of 600, not sure a common 223/5.56 is.

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Freedom is something you take.
Respect is something you earn.
Equality is something you whine about not being given.


Posted By: cheaptrick
Date Posted: November/09/2016 at 04:25
Originally posted by Rancid Coolaid Rancid Coolaid wrote:

The scope is capable of 600, not sure a common 223/5.56 is.

This...


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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.


Posted By: jonoMT
Date Posted: November/09/2016 at 09:13
Sometimes the extra magnification makes the 3-15 preferable, although in this case the rifle may not need it. I do like the way low adjustable parallax for indoor dry firing. That said, my next scope will be the 3-9. I need to put one on a 6.8 SPC AR which will never be shot at game past 300 yards and welcome having 5 fewer ounces to tote around all day.

As for glass, I appreciate the HD but have never suffered looking through the 3-15!


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Reaction time is a factor...


Posted By: Rancid Coolaid
Date Posted: November/09/2016 at 12:18
Even if only for the turrets, get the 3-9. If you are only using at 6.8 ranges, definitely the 3-9.

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Freedom is something you take.
Respect is something you earn.
Equality is something you whine about not being given.


Posted By: Alan Robertson
Date Posted: November/09/2016 at 15:53
My 3-9 is a bit older model; mildot with HD turrets, but not HD glass. I've no clue as to the glass in current models. The scope has traveled between several rifles including AR, but I'm very happy how it lets me stretch the legs on the .30-06 where it currently resides.
The paint is getting worn off the knobs and here and there, as if I care. It works so well and is generally acclaimed for being tough and reliable, that I don't worry about it failing me when I'm hunting.
I developed a distrust of scopes over the years, having had exactly too many of them fail, including at least one (unnamed) Alpha model. In fairness, that Alpha had probably suffered through too many air miles and the oscillating vibrations of jets are known to unscrew things, or screw them, depending on how you'd call it.

On the other hand, I've learned that there isn't a watch or smartphone made, that I can't destroy at inopportune moments. Same might apply to scopes, beats me (or them.) And yes, I've broken vises and an anvil, but leave me alone. I might be sensitive.

Ps "Even if only for the turrets, get the 3-9. If you are only using at 6.8 ranges, definitely the 3-9."
What he said.


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"Garg'n uair dhuisgear"


Posted By: cheaptrick
Date Posted: November/09/2016 at 16:10
There's an "UN-HD" SS 3-9x, Alan? Mine is #021 and is HD glass. I thought we covered this.     

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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.


Posted By: jonoMT
Date Posted: November/09/2016 at 20:40
I think there was an earlier version that wasn't HD. The HD glass is easily the equal or slightly better than when I compared it side-by-side at the range with a NF 2.5-10x32. Not that NF scopes like that are known for awesome glass. Point is, it was 2.5X more $$$.

The 3-9 turrets are better. I've never really had a problem with the higher 3-15 turrets snagging on anything or moving. But lower is better. When I see something like the EREK turret I get kind of quiet and my mouth goes dry.


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Reaction time is a factor...


Posted By: Rancid Coolaid
Date Posted: November/09/2016 at 21:47
For clarity: 3-9 and 3-15 have very, very accurate turrets; however, feel and ease of use make the 3-9 my choice. Perfect tracking is perfect tracking, and both for me have had perfect tracking. I like the 3-9 design for ease-of-use, nothing to do with perfection of tracking at usable ranges.

I like the ease to get behind the 3-9 at all ranges. The 3-15 is a great scope and a great value, just not as great.

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Freedom is something you take.
Respect is something you earn.
Equality is something you whine about not being given.


Posted By: BeltFed
Date Posted: November/10/2016 at 06:44
Get the 3-9. You don't have to worry about the parallax adjustment under any kind of stress or time limit. I use one of the older 3-9 SS scopes with the mil dot reticle. I have no complaints with it.
I also use the SS 3-15, and there have been times when I forgot to readjust the parallax when changing ranges, and it has caused some issues.


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Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.


Posted By: Alan Robertson
Date Posted: November/10/2016 at 11:59
Originally posted by cheaptrick cheaptrick wrote:

There's an "UN-HD" SS 3-9x, Alan? Mine is #021 and is HD glass. I thought we covered this.     

Ok, I'll take your word on this (and just about anything else.) I learn something every day and then forget 4 other things.

Thought for sure they weren't HD glass, just HD turrets. I'm often wrong.
Mine's the same model as yours, by serial numbers.


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"Garg'n uair dhuisgear"


Posted By: cheaptrick
Date Posted: November/10/2016 at 16:04
Originally posted by Alan Robertson Alan Robertson wrote:

Originally posted by cheaptrick cheaptrick wrote:

There's an "UN-HD" SS 3-9x, Alan? Mine is #021 and is HD glass. I thought we covered this.     

Ok, I'll take your word on this (and just about anything else.) I learn something every day and then forget 4 other things.

Thought for sure they weren't HD glass, just HD turrets. I'm often wrong.
Mine's the same model as yours, by serial numbers.

Well, don't take my word on anything, but I'm fairly sure the 3-9x SS and has always been HD, per our discussions here.   


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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.



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