Is there better way to go other than a SWFA fixed power?

Fixed power SWFA or Variable power

  • SWFA 16x

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • SWFA 20x

    Votes: 2 15.4%
  • Variable power/other

    Votes: 11 84.6%

  • Total voters
    13
  • Poll closed .
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Wreck-n-Crew

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I have done a lot of searching and price checking. Read and watched reviews on many scopes. Right now I am budgeted and have the need for a scope soon for my Savage 12FV sitting on a MBT Stealth chassis. I have a buttstock upgrade in the mix as well as a new single stage press, etc.

The plans for this rifle is a target/long range rifle. The scope I have on is okay at 100 yards but its a cheap knockoff. Variable power 5-24x50 with a sunshade (more like a 3-15x50). So far it has served me well for working up loads and I have manages some pretty good groups. I have 1 load that produced a .58", .65", and .75" groups. My smallest group was with another load at .36". I am confident in the gun but not in the scope for long range.

Intended max distance is 1,000 shooting steel plates. I prefer good magnification somewhere in the 15-20 range. I am sure most shoots will be @ 100.

Okay so, SWFA. I am hard pressed to find a better scope for $300 and fixed power is not the worst thing in the world. Although I know I will have to deal with other issues like mirage. Which brings me to a question: is there a better alternative for a high magnification scope that fits my needs in the same price range? I don't mind the buy once cry once but I am trying to see if I can still keep this build closer to the near future than saving more and buying later.

A lot of people like fixed power and I have yet to dial mine back. This rifle is a bench/prone gun and I figured a fixed power is a good idea. So for those shooting long range, do any of you use a fixed power? Anyone run the SWFA for that purpose?
 
They have MOA and Mil reticles, and I assume these days no one mixes them on one scope anymore, but I could be wrong. I would just have to read all of them to be sure, but I am fairly sure the Vortex scopes match on the adjustments vs reticle. I had an older on and it did, mil reticle, mil adjustments.
 
I’m with @taliv - I’d spend more time not shooting, saving for a more appropriate scope, instead of pushing a fixed power scope onto my LRP rifles. I didn’t even like using fixed power scopes for fixed distance shooting like benchrest or F-class.
 
I guess I would be better off with an adjustable the longer I think about it. Stay with what I have and upgrade the scope base. The eye relief brings me in too close to the scope and that just makes thinks worse. And the butt stock on the BA Stealth chassis needs replaced bad. Thanks for the input guys!
 
i love my ss 10 and i use it for every kind of shooting you can think off. never once did i feel i needed a power ring, but just for 100 yards to shoot for groups the 20 would be better, you can find one of those fixed high power weaver scopes, some one on here posted one on sale recently.
 
I’m with @taliv - I’d spend more time not shooting, saving for a more appropriate scope, instead of pushing a fixed power scope onto my LRP rifles. I didn’t even like using fixed power scopes for fixed distance shooting like benchrest or F-class.
I would not even consider a fixed power scope for long range target. Wrong tool for the job


Why is a fixed power a poor choice for the job?
 
Why is a fixed power a poor choice for the job?

I can't speak for everyone, but here are my ramblings on the issue:

Simply put, the fact I turn my power rings far too often to neglect how important they are to my shooting. It sounds like the OP is planning some varied shooting, which kicks any single magnification into the waste bin for me.

For fixed distance shooting on what I call "BFT's" - Big "Friendly" Targets - low powered fixies are servicable, but still far from ideal. For variable distances on irregular target sizes, having more or less zoom gives you flexibility to view the targets differently based on changing lighting conditions. My home range includes a lot of IPSC targets, if I'm shooting 1200yrds on an 18" wide IPSC, I want a little more than 10x. Frankly, I usually want more than 10x most of the time - I usually run between 10 and 20x on most stages.

Lighting conditions make a huge difference in what you see in the scope - on beautiful, clear days, without mirage, a guy can crank in and see bullet splatters on targets out past 800, even past 1000 in great glass, and zooming in to 20-25x can be a blessing. On other days, mirage will have your eyes falling out if you zoom in to 18x.

Target size is a huge influencer for me. I'm stuck shooting 4x at 600yrds in Service Rifle matches, and were it not for the HUGE targets, it wouldn't be fun at all. I shoot PRS club matches which has a TYL rack at 800, the largest target is 12", smallest is 4" - I'm not messing around with 10x when I'm leveling at that 4", you might imagine. On the same day, I might shoot a stage where I have to transition on 8 different targets, of relatively generous sizes, from 400-800yrds, all within a minute, and I park my scope at about 15x for the whole shebang. Being stuck at 10x would be a joke for that 4" target at 800, and being stuck at 20x would be a hindrance running quick transitions on the very next stage.

So there's really not a single magnification I can say I'm happy with for 100-1000yrd shooting at variable size targets, so I'd never cut off my nose to spite my face by buying a fixie for such application.
 
To add to what varmint said look at the specs for field of view at different magnifications.

Also it’s not just about seeing your targets but also seeing the little splotch of paint you knocked off the steel or the bit of dirt that your bullet kicked up when you missed

And if you’re like me you’ll spend more time spotting for friends and new shooters than you do shooting.
 
Long ago fixed scopes were more dependable, but that is no longer true (Not for a long time) and variables are so much more versatile.
 
As far as the 100 yard shooting I like a lot of magnification to see the tiny movements and correct them or minimize them. I still pull a few shots some times and I know it even before I see the actual hit. Surprisingly the shot mostly ends up making the group only .5" -.75" larger. I guess that is why I like the high magnification at 100. Not sure if I am looking at it the wrong way but it seems like it helps. My intended goal for the gun is shooting of a bench or prone long distance.

There is nothing like more time behind the trigger of the gun I am going to be shooting as far as getting myself where I need to be. I think I am " good enough " with this gun as is. To be honest I have enough magnification and maybe clarity with this scope to get there. The glass is surprisingly clear for a cheap scope at longer ranges. I have checked it out to 600 in different light and weather conditions several times without shooting it that far. .But that doesn't necessarily mean I am good to go.

The truth is I am wanting to have what I need to get there when I do go. All packaged up with nothing but me in the way. I also know to get better glass I have to go over $200 easy which I am more than willing to do. However I don't want to end up spending over $500 and being disappointed in the jump from the glass I have to the Glass I buy as far as Clarity and function.

Function (or tracking to be precise) thing I don't trust about the glass I have. I don't think it is as good as it needs it to be. I know I can compensate. I know I could still get there, but it is not in my goal to have to adjust to the flaws in the scope when I do stretch it out.

I have seen the glass on the Viper linked above and it is clear enough and tracks well enough for me. But the one (I had to check with a buddy) I have handled and shot had a Mildot reticle and MOA Adjustments. A feature that is not totally uncommon but I would much rather have them the same for gauging distance and adjusting. It is my understanding the MOA version is both MOA so if I go with a variable I think that is the way to go.
 
Thanks for the enlightenment on the fixed powers, I appreciate it. I've neve owned anything over a 6 fixed power, and never did the kind of shooting you guys do.


On the cheaper side.....

https://cameralandny.com/mobile/spe...uids][0]=64a0bbf0-9f98-0135-0380-00163ecd2826

I don't know if that's enough magnification for you, but
I have one of those and am very happy with it.

I was actually going to buy a second one for my 7mm, but decided it was more weight than the gun is set up for right now, and I wanted to try one of the new GP optic
 
After some deep consideration and browsing I went with a Vortex Diamondback Tactical FFP 6-24x50mm . $ 375 to my door. Considering I may need to upgrade in the future I can always set this one on another rifle. I know its a step up from what I have now and in the conditions I plan to be shooting in.

To be honest I would have loved to swing the Viper PST. But I will save that thought for the future.

Thanks guys!
 
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I had a 10x SS on a M1A on a hunt in Texas about a decade ago. We were riding around looking for Nilgai and we turned a corner and one was about 70 yards in front of us. Big bull nilgai. Couldn't get on him with that fixed ten before he ran off. The scope was sold shortly after. Not great for rapid target acquisition or moving animals... Plus, those things are heavy.

Mark
 
I'm a dinosaur, I still use fixed power scopes for long range. Still use Leupold M8 24x target and Weaver T24 target scopes for long range shooting.
 
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