08-18-2020, 11:34 PM
I have the discontinued SFP model with the diamond reticle, which is great for my uses: mostly target shooting, and future plans to hunt (hog, deer, coyote). I was initially looking for the FFP version, but I found a used SFP at a price that was too good to pass up. The glass is good for the money, it tracks true, and I have 100% confidence in the scope's durability. I feel like it's an easy recommendation for a starter/midrange scope, because you get something that just plain works, and you're not paying for a bunch of extra features that don't really matter for most practical shooting.
If you can find them used under $600 (samplelist.com had tons, pre-COVID), they're great deals. At $700 for a new one, you might want to consider stepping up to the $800+ range with a Burris XTR 2, Viper PST G2, Athlon Ares BTR/ETR, or Meopta Optika6 for some more modern features like illumination, zero stops, tree reticles, etc. (if that's important to you).
For what it's worth, I appreciate the simplicity of the SWFA reticles and don't feel limited in any way by the lack of those "modern" features. If a utilitarian optic suits you, you'll be pretty happy with an SWFA.
If you can find them used under $600 (samplelist.com had tons, pre-COVID), they're great deals. At $700 for a new one, you might want to consider stepping up to the $800+ range with a Burris XTR 2, Viper PST G2, Athlon Ares BTR/ETR, or Meopta Optika6 for some more modern features like illumination, zero stops, tree reticles, etc. (if that's important to you).
For what it's worth, I appreciate the simplicity of the SWFA reticles and don't feel limited in any way by the lack of those "modern" features. If a utilitarian optic suits you, you'll be pretty happy with an SWFA.