If price is the same which is the more durable, most clear optic? The SWFA SS HD 1-4x24 Tactical 30mm Riflescope, or the Leupold 1.5-5x20 Mark 4 MR/T 30mm Riflescope? I can get them new for about the same price (leupold a little cheaper).
Now I’m also looking at these scopes:
Leupold 1-6x24 VX-6
Leupold 1.5-5x20 Mark 4 MR/T
Leupold 1.25-4x20 VX-R Patrol
SWFA SS HD 1-4x24
SWFA SS HD 1-6x24
Meopta 1-4x22 ZD Tactical
Meopta 1-4x22 Meostar R1
Honestly, I’d put the cash away, save another couple hundred, and go with the SWFA 1-6 when it finally ships (hopefully friggin’ soon!). Unless there’s some time limitation on it, I’d just wait.
I wouldn’t consider any product in this industry until it is on the shelf and ready to sell.
For the money you’re looking at, the VX-6 Multigun or standard illuminated VX-6 is in tune with your budget, you just need to shop around. I owned the Leupold 1.5-5x, and the VX-6 is superior in many ways.
Good advice here. The 1-4x ss has good glass, I don’t know that your gaining much in going for the new 1-6 . Plus its costly. You can get excellent deals on the existing model on swfa’s sample list from time to time.
In just about every thread in which the 1.5-5x was discussed I expressed how disappointed I was with it. For a more detailed response you can search around.
The VX-6 Multigun takes the SPR Firedot reticle and places it into the VX-6 tube. While the exit pupil of the VX-6 on x6 is limited, as all 1-6 scopes will be, the eye box is pretty forgiving. The illumination and eye box of the 1.5-5x was horrible on both accounts, and I definately did not like the CMR2 reticle.
My only gripe is that the multigun’s reticle is too bold, but there are advantages and disadvantages to this. The most similar scope to it on the market is probably the Z6i, which is roughly $2k more.
I have two Mk 4 1.5x5, I have the SPR reticle in both. I had one on an 18 inch upper and one on a 16 inch upper. I was disappointed in the long range use I took them both to 600M with decent results, but wish I had a little more power.
I felt the same on the low end the 1.5 is just not 1x. I will be looking at a 1x6 to replace both 1.5x5’s
don’t count out the Bushnell 1-6.5x24 They have been listening to the shooters and stepping up their game in the tactical optics division. they are in the 1200 range for ffp but another option.
As far as the SWFA 1-6 goes, it’s more so the reticle design and how the magnification takes care of it than just the extra 2x. It’s got a (supposed at this point although apparently the first have just cleared, or are sitting in US customs) daylight visible donut with mil-dot in the middle at 1x, and since it’s FFP, at 6x it’s a usable mil-dot.
I’d say consider the Bushnell too, but it’s even further beyond the $800 range.
Doh. Saw you “added” another $200, but realistically the “answer” to the question in that case is keep adding $200 at a time until you’re in the USO DFP range at a couple thousand.
The Leupy Mk4 1.5-6x was an attractive solution before good 1.1-N options were readily available.
Anymore, I’m just waiting for somebody to finally figure out a reticle/illumination system on a 1-6x system that is decent. I don’t care about price, just haven’t seen one yet that strikes me as 'right. SWFA, Vortex, Leupold - all capable of dropping a worldbeating optic, but it just hasn’t happened yet.
I’d be all for an SFP unit to help with cost or reticle illumination, I don’t see why so many are insisting on adding the weight, cost, and complexity of FFP on a low powered variable. I’m equally lost on why the norm is to illuminate tons of the reticle, or at least a huge central area. I just want a flashdot or something similar with a normal boring dot that can be daytime bright, and somewhere I can zero it for 200-225yds. Bullet drop or mil-dot reticle is fine during the day, but it seems they’re trying to hard to make that stuff capable seeming in low light - when I’m looking at a 24mm or smaller objective optic and wondering why the hell I’d have it on anything higher than 2x magnification once the light is low, and even more lost why I’d be trying to take otherwise unaided shots past 300.
I was in the same price range boat, and gave up. Went and got a Trijicon 1-4x TR24RT and I’m extremely happy with it. Very fast up close, effective out to 250m before the reticle starts to feel in the way, and mostly the illumination is really impressive, until you’re looking outside into bright light from inside a structure (then it’s outright bad).
I have one and while I was disappointed in how thin (and bunched up) the 2 MOA hash marks are - there is really not enough room in a 1-4 - it’s really very good for close range and decent to mid range (~300 Meters).
Any optic with a center black dot (instead of a bold cross-hair) is difficult/slower to use at distance against black targets or targets in the shade.
Excellent eye box and the segmented circle is very fast up close. Just as fast at 1x as a RD in my timed drills, but I’m left eye dominate and will involuntarily squint the left (off) eye when in pucker mode.
I would consider it a very good entry level 3-Gun optic. I don’t plan to get rid of mine. The mil/mil variant might be the better choice since the separation between hash marks would be better.
Everyone has varying opinions regarding optics. I personally place more of an emphasis on durability and reliability.
Of some of the scopes you mentioned, I would select the Leupold VXR 1-4 Patrol or the Trijicon. If it is within your budget, I would pick the TRG-24 because the scope is more forgiving of eye position and does not require batteries.
I cannot offer any opinions regarding SWFA or the Meopta because I have no experience with them, however if you check through some other 1-4x threads you will find some information.
I did not catch what your intended use or anticipated range would be but for a Recce type rifle out to 300-400 yards a quality 1-4 scope is pretty versatile.
Personally, I would wait for a good deal on the scope you really want then buy it.