Super Sniper, Rebirth Of The Original
If you are like me, you try most everything that comes out for sniping. I did this when the Super Sniper scope came out from Tasco over ten years ago. This scope was purposely designed to compete in the military market as a real world sniper scope. I purchased a 10x power side focus model. This is the model the Navy had purchased as possible less expensive replacements for the Leupold Ultra series of scopes. After testing, the Navy stayed with Leupold and the Super Snipers found their way to the US shooting market. Rumor is the Super Sniper worked well but the Ultra’s where better.
Like I said before I bought one back then, mostly as a lark, because lets face it, no one would have used a Tasco for sniping. Well let me tell you, that first scope I had was fantastic. Frankly it was only slightly less than my Leupold Ultra was in quality. I mean slightly. Well I liked that scope so much I competed in several shooting events with it. It never failed me. It saw its share of good finishes and lived on one of my rifles for many years. Then the unthinkable happened, a friend who was moving away came over and fell in love with it. I gave it to him, knowing I could buy another. I went out and bought another. Little did I know Tasco had fallen on tough times and the Super Snipers of that time where in short…..CRAP! Four scopes later I gave up and said I would never use one again. It went on that way for several years and I made it clear to everyone I saw not to buy the Tasco and used the term "Trashco" often.
Then I met up with Chris Farris of S.W.F.A., Inc. and was told they had bought the rights to the Super Snipers and under their supervision the scopes where being made to the original specifications again. Chris told me the scopes where just like the originals I had used before. He asked if I would test and write about one. I was torn between my good and bad experiences in the past, but all my dealings with S.W.F.A. had been great, so on Chris’ word I said I would test one. A few days later a 10x42 side focus, with 30mm tube arrived (first impressions where great). The glass was very clear and the clicks where crisp. It was too nice for a $399. scope. I put it aside wondering if I got a hand picked scope. A few days later I called and ordered a 16x42 rear focus 30mm tube (retail $299.) and asked for overnight shipment knowing it would be impossible to hand pick that scope. It arrived as promised and was also perfect looking out of the box.
Well enough of fondling the scope. I took them out and ran some tests. Lets face it this series of scopes is either loved or hated so I knew my tests had better be just plain harsh before I said anything about the scopes. People would talk either way. It was going to be a dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t article, so once again test, test and more tests where done. I wanted to be so clean on this anyone questioning would have no ammunition to send my way. Either good or bad my article would be backed with hard data!
The box test was standard 20 moa in all directions for a 40 moa by 40 moa square. Both scopes worked perfectly so I ran the test six times with the same perfect results. Then I cranked each knob for about an hour each, constantly going all the way in one direction and then in the other (that is thousands of clicks). Then I ran the box tests twice more, all results where the same...perfect. I cranked in 20 moa and the change made was 20 moa. The clicks are truly .25 moa each. Both scopes had over 100 moa of actual travel, so they won’t run out of elevation adjustment under most any condition or range. Heck lets face it you have enough travel to send a .338 Lapua over 1,500 yards.
The optics where not as clear as U.S. Optics, Nightforce, Nikon Tactical or Leupold Mark 4’s, but not bad. Remember these are $300-$400. scopes not $1,250. plus! The optics where better than anything I have used under $500. I would have no problem taking this out for "F Class" shooting at 1,000 yards.
The toughness will not be an issue. I subjected both of these scopes to the following recoil tests:
100 rounds of 300 grain .338 Lapua ammunition at 2850 fps and in a 13 lb. G.A. Precision Built rifle. I took the very good Badger brake off and made a “nice to shoot” rifle kick harder than any rifle I have ever used before. This rifle has broken more than one reticle. Basically the bull no one can ride (without the Badger brake). Well the scopes rode this bull as many times as I would pull the trigger.
400 rounds of .308 118LR ammunition, through a NorCal Precision built .308, constantly cranking the turrets and focus knobs. If you do this test, it only truly works with rifles like the GA Precision and NorCal Precision built ones, as the test is dependant on the rifles ability to put them all in one hole. A trick if your rifle is not as accurate is to fire larger groups and take the center of the group. I used 3 shot groups as they all touched in both the GA Precision and the NorCal Precision rifle. You may need to use five or more rounds to be able to count out fliers.
Dropping from three feet to the ground, I have seen scopes costing over $1200. fail this test. The Super Snipers passed without a shift in zero.
Reticle accuracy…..lets face it, more and more companies are having trouble with scopes who’s reticles are not right. The Super Sniper has .25 mil dots spaced 1 mil apart. Hey! Someone got it right and did it in a $300. scope!
For the just plain abuse test I just treated these scopes like crap, dragging when I should have carried, not cleaning the dirt off, etc. Field testing like I didn’t own them. What can I say, they stood up to the test of a guy wanting to see if they could take it.
Now for the nice things. When S.W.F.A. brought these back, they came out with a Tenebraex Kill Flash that screws into the objective and keeps the bells size the same outside diameter. This is one nice little tool. Same with the sunshade, it does not change the size of the objective. Now that may not mean much to you, but I for one only carry one flip up objective cover in the field and if it does not fit the sunshade the sunshade gets tossed! Frankly with the Tenebraex Kill Flash you don’t need the sunshade any way. I have to tell you before this Tenebraex I used the Butler Creek version and the Tenebraex is so much better, I am changing all my scopes over.
Now the question I kept asking and you will probably ask also is "How does S.W.F.A. keep the price down"? Chris explained they own the rights and have them shipped direct to them, no middle men to add on a percentage for saying hello and sending them to you. As explained, if put them into a normal retail channel these scopes would retail for $800.
I put the SWFA Super Snipers in a class of scopes for the guy who wants to shoot a bunch for fun, does not have to have the absolute best, but wants equipment that will work great for as little money as possible. The scopes work well and are the best deals going in the price range. I am keeping the two I have. The 16x will ride the old bull .338 Lapua and the 10x is working dandy on a nice little NorCal Precision Built .308.
I am back to saying, “Hell yes, get one and have fun!"
Mike Miller
SWAT/Tactical Team Sergeant
Sniper Instructor for the American Shooting Academy
Guest Instructor, USMC Scout Sniper School
Guest Instructor, US Army National Guard
United States Marksmanship Academy
Firearms/Tactics Instructor
http://www.tacticalintervention.com
Contact us Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm CST at:
1-972-SCOPE-IT (726-7348)
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