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SWFA vs Vortex #5675377 03/30/15 03:10 AM
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slayer12 Offline OP
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I am not sure if this has been brought up or not but I am thinking about buyng one of these two scopes and would like to know yalls opinions.

I am looking at the
Vortex Viper PST FFP 6-24
And the SWFA 5-20 HD

Does anyone now the glass difference between the two?
Also who makes the SWFA?
It will be for Long range target shooting but plan on hunting wit it as well.

Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: slayer12] #5675411 03/30/15 03:33 AM
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Ive got the vortex viper pst 6x24FFP EBR1 MRAD and love it. New they're 949$ plus tax but they're listed here on the forum off and on between 700-800$. Its super clear day and night. For under 1000$ its hard to beat.


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Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: slayer12] #5675460 03/30/15 04:39 AM
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SWFA hands down. Glass isn't even close.


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Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: slayer12] #5675532 03/30/15 11:55 AM
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I have both. The SS has much better glass and ten mils per rev.


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Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: slayer12] #5675754 03/30/15 02:25 PM
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dee Offline
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Swfa is hands down better glass than the pst. Euro optic had gen 1 razor marked down to the 1300 range which is right there with the swfa. You also have the xtr ii by burris in the same price range as well as one or two bushnell elite models.

Last edited by dee; 03/30/15 02:25 PM.

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Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: slayer12] #5679953 04/01/15 08:42 PM
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I have several Vortex, and a couple of SWFA's, plus I have shot a whole bunch more of the Vortex Vipers including the PST. I think the clarity of the SWFA is better. I have a 3-15x42 SS and it beats my bosses new Viper hands down, across the board in all categories. I would by the SS over the PST any day.

Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: slayer12] #5680165 04/01/15 11:22 PM
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I've had an SWFA 3-9x42 for right on a year now. The only complaint I could make was opting for the SS 3-9x42 instead of the 3-15. Really, it has exceeded my expectations for the price point. If you go for this range of scope, spend the extra $100 and get the 3-15.

OTOH, I have a Vortex hunting scope on order and hope to take delivery at the end of next week. It has a simple duplex reticle and is 4-16x50.

I will compare the two, but it'll be a bit apples to oranges. The SWFA is FFP Mil/Mil and the Vortex is MOA Duplex. SWFA exposed tacticle turrets and the Vortex turrets are capped. Really, two different scopes for different applications. I will be able to compare glass, tracking, light gathering, and quality though.

Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: slayer12] #5681750 04/02/15 11:03 PM
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Swfa is so freaking clear and crisp. I have a pst on 300 win mag and swfa 5.20 hd on my 338 and you can tell a big difference. Pretty soon my win mag will wear a swfa.

12x swfa on my 6.5
3x15 swfa on my ar
5x20 on my 338

Soon all my rifles will have the swfa


"From my cold dead hands"

"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do."

Benjamin Franklin

Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: slayer12] #5682157 04/03/15 02:36 AM
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I have the Vortex PST 6-24x50, SWFA 3-9x42 HD and the SWFA 3-15x42. I used both the SWFA scopes side by side this weekend with the following observations:

- Vortex PST 6-24 is very good glass with great mechanicals. As stated previously, it is a very good sub $1K scope. I like it and it will likely be moved from a 6.5 Creedmoor target rifle to a 22-250.

- SWFA 3-15 is good glass with great mechanicals. The price and magnification range are very good. I have 2 of these scopes and they reside on AR10s in 260 and 308. I like the turrets on the Vortex PST a bit better.

- SWFA 3-9 is great glass with great mechanicals. I really like this scope and the clarity of the image is better than the Vortex PST and much better than the SWFA 3-15. I currently have this on another AR10 in 308. I still like the turrets on the Vortex PST a bit better.

Note, all the above input is from a knuckle-dragger with limited experience with target/tactical type scopes. Take it for what it's worth.

I also have a Bushnell Elite Tactical 3.5-21x50 but waiting for a new rifle to give it a try. I am very optimistic about this scope and like the glass and mechanicals but need to put it through its paces to really rate it. Stay tuned...


Originally Posted by onlysmith&wesson
I was wrong...on anything technical.

Originally Posted by Sailor
Fitz............. is right, ya know............
Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: slayer12] #5682589 04/03/15 02:35 PM
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Just an FYI, on the website it doesn't say if the item is backordered or not.

I placed an order for an SWFA SS 10x42 and an American Defense mount, order went through and I received an email a few hours later saying the scope was on backorder. So you might want to call first just to make sure they have the model you're looking for if you don't want to wait.

Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: Big Fitz] #5682926 04/03/15 06:10 PM
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[quote=Big I like the turrets on the Vortex PST a bit better.



I must say I agree with that!


"From my cold dead hands"

"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do."

Benjamin Franklin

Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: daniel1381] #5688708 04/07/15 07:16 PM
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As has been said already, the SWFA SS, no question. SWFA doesn't reveal who builds the SS scopes for them, but it is a very prominent, very well respected optics manufacturer in Japan.

If you were comparing it to the Vortex Razor Gen2, it would be a very close comparison, but not to the PST.


Ted
Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: RifleDude] #5689073 04/07/15 11:47 PM
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Originally Posted By: RifleDude

If you were comparing it to the Vortex Razor Gen2, it would be a very close comparison


Sarcasm doesn't translate well over forums. Surely you were joking?

Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: 6.5x47Lapua] #5689665 04/08/15 11:31 AM
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Originally Posted By: 6.5x47Lapua
Originally Posted By: RifleDude

If you were comparing it to the Vortex Razor Gen2, it would be a very close comparison


Sarcasm doesn't translate well over forums. Surely you were joking?


No kidding. I glanced and thought it said gen 1 which is comparable but the gen 2 is in a different league.


"A vote is like a rifle; it's usefulness depends on the character of the user" Theodore Roosevelt
Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: slayer12] #5689684 04/08/15 11:49 AM
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Isn't there a real difference in price? Especially, for law enforcement guys who can get the top vortex for $649 or so(with the new reticle) vs $1300.00+ on the other. You could almost get 2 of the vortex. Or you could say add the difference to the vortex price, which takes you to mark 4 Leopold prices or other scopes, which to many would be better scopes.

Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: 6.5x47Lapua] #5689816 04/08/15 01:48 PM
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Originally Posted By: 6.5x47Lapua
Originally Posted By: RifleDude

If you were comparing it to the Vortex Razor Gen2, it would be a very close comparison


Sarcasm doesn't translate well over forums. Surely you were joking?


No sir; not joking at all! I've played with both scopes -- both the pre-production prototypes and final production versions of both scopes. Both are very nice, each with pros and cons over the other.

Optically, they are very comparable. View them side by side and see if you can see a significant difference. If you're not too far from Midlothian, you can do so at SWFA's showroom. Mechanically, I like the feel of the Razor Gen2 W/E adjustments and their low profile "EREK type" knobs better. Reticles are a wash, but I love the SS Mil Quad, and I think I prefer it over Vortex's EBR. The Vortex Razor is EXTREMELY heavy and has a 34mm main tube, which could be a positive or a negative depending on your perspective. To me, the enormous mass is a negative of the Razor Gen2, though I have no doubt it's very rugged. Then again, so is the SS.

The SWFA SS HD series scopes are fully comparable to stuff costing $500 more IMHO, and part of that is because SWFA doesn't have a "middle man" distributor involved to drive up the price. They deal directly with the manufacturer.


Ted
Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: RifleDude] #5689859 04/08/15 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted By: RifleDude
Originally Posted By: 6.5x47Lapua
Originally Posted By: RifleDude

If you were comparing it to the Vortex Razor Gen2, it would be a very close comparison


Sarcasm doesn't translate well over forums. Surely you were joking?


No sir; not joking at all! I've played with both scopes -- both the pre-production prototypes and final production versions of both scopes. Both are very nice, each with pros and cons over the other.

Optically, they are very comparable. View them side by side and see if you can see a significant difference. If you're not too far from Midlothian, you can do so at SWFA's showroom. Mechanically, I like the feel of the Razor Gen2 W/E adjustments and their low profile "EREK type" knobs better. Reticles are a wash, but I love the SS Mil Quad, and I think I prefer it over Vortex's EBR. The Vortex Razor is EXTREMELY heavy and has a 34mm main tube, which could be a positive or a negative depending on your perspective. To me, the enormous mass is a negative of the Razor Gen2, though I have no doubt it's very rugged. Then again, so is the SS.

The SWFA SS HD series scopes are fully comparable to stuff costing $500 more IMHO, and part of that is because SWFA doesn't have a "middle man" distributor involved to drive up the price. They deal directly with the manufacturer.


I will respectfully disagree that they are of the same pedigree.


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Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: dee] #5689885 04/08/15 02:34 PM
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No problem. We all have different preferences and priorities and see things differently. Our eyes work differently and perceive color and contrast differently. This is why there is never universal agreement over any comparison of any 2 optics (or any other goods for that matter) remotely close to comparable quality.


Ted
Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: RifleDude] #5689889 04/08/15 02:38 PM
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Just to be clear, I am talking about the SS 5-20X50 HD, which is in a different class altogether optically and mechanically vs. the early fixed power SS scopes.


Ted
Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: RifleDude] #5689929 04/08/15 03:01 PM
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Good reading here:

http://opticsthoughts.com/?page_id=145

Above comparison includes the Gen 1 Razor.

This includes Gen 2

http://opticsthoughts.com/?page_id=1313

Again, it's all a matter of your preferences and priorities, as both scopes have pros and cons.


Ted
Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: RifleDude] #5689968 04/08/15 03:31 PM
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Originally Posted By: RifleDude
Good reading here:

http://opticsthoughts.com/?page_id=145

Above comparison includes the Gen 1 Razor.

This includes Gen 2

http://opticsthoughts.com/?page_id=1313

Again, it's all a matter of your preferences and priorities, as both scopes have pros and cons.


His reviews seem to echo what 6.5 and I said. The gen1 and ss are very comparable while the gen 2 is very comparable to the best of the best.


"A vote is like a rifle; it's usefulness depends on the character of the user" Theodore Roosevelt
Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: dee] #5689988 04/08/15 03:45 PM
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Originally Posted By: dee

His reviews seem to echo what 6.5 and I said. The gen1 and ss are very comparable while the gen 2 is very comparable to the best of the best.


Absolutely. But it depends on what aspect of the scope you're comparing. Keep in mind, Ilya is comparing scopes based on price class, and the SS competes with scopes above its price point very well.

Mechanically, the Gen2 is superb, and I think it has an edge over the SS in that regard. However, the SS doesn't take a back seat to any scope in terms of tracking, handling recoil, and maintaining POI. Optically, the Razor Gen2 is superb, but the SS 5-20X50 is neck and neck with it in terms of raw image quality. The Vortex has a zero stop, the SS doesn't. The Vortex is also extremely heavy, even by tactical scope standards, which might be an issue to some. A lot obviously depends on the eye of the beholder, but I don't think it's unfair to compare these two scopes at all. I do believe the Razor Gen2 edges the SS by a slight margin, but it's also considerably more expensive. When you consider price, I think the SS is a way better value, and yet it still stacks up very well against the Razor Gen2 IMHO.


Ted
Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: slayer12] #5690474 04/08/15 08:03 PM
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By your analogy there are several scopes that are just as good as the 3500 options.


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Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: slayer12] #5690537 04/08/15 08:28 PM
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I'm firmly in the SWFA SS camp. I've never had a problem with the SS scopes (6x42/10x42/3-15x42) POA/POI, but have had wonkey erectors and tracking issues with Vortex.

YMMV

Re: SWFA vs Vortex [Re: dee] #5690624 04/08/15 09:21 PM
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Originally Posted By: dee
By your analogy there are several scopes that are just as good as the 3500 options.


No sir, not at all, and I'm making no analogies, I'm speaking of specifics, comparing these two scopes only here.

Have you compared these two exact scopes side by side? I have.

This isn't a slam on the Vortex, it's praise for the SS 5-20. I would be very surprised if one did an honest side by side comparison and didn't arrive at the conclusion that the SS 5-20X50 is fully worthy of being in the same discussion as the Razor Gen2, even if one doesn't prefer it over the Razor.

Granted others will have different opinions of this than me, and that's o.k., but I'm not saying any of this in abstract. In the end, this is all opinion, and mine is no more worthy than someone else's, but it is an informed opinion based on actual hands-on. I'm not trying to butt heads with anyone who has a different opinion of this, but I felt I needed to respond to the "sarcasm" comment, as I'm absolutely serious.


Ted
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