I’m enjoying the long range focused content, but are there plans to branch out into other areas: LPVOs, Dot Optics, Prisms, Weapon Mounted Lights (rifle and pistol), Handgun Optics, etc? If so any ideas on testing criteria?
Thanks for the like and comment. I definitely plan to branch into the other areas you listed. I havent completely thought through how testing on those will go just yet but I am open to suggestions.
Are you drinking disarrono? Also do you have any thoughts on SWFA optics? From what I can tell, it does not have the industry standard, unconditional warranty but curious if you have any thoughts?
I personally like SWFA. I did reach out to them when I was looking for optics to test but wasn't able to get a response, so I don't know if they did actually get my request because I would've loved to have included them in the optics testing. Per their website, they have what they call the "4-Life Warranty" which covers the optic regardless if you have the receipt and never expires. It's also transferable, and if they can't fix it then they'll replace it. Is there any particular one of their optics you were looking at? Have you dealt with SWFA before?
Interesting. Last time I looked at them, albeit quite a while ago, the warranty was 30 day manufacturer defects only and had to be unused unmounted etc... Glad they seem to have changed that! Too bad they didn't reach back out to you. I have used 2 of ther scopes and they kinda fell into the category this scope did for you. It works, but not something I want on a top precision long range setup
SWFA has more than enough customers for their own in house SS brand of Japanese made scopes. I doubt they need to send out any more free scopes after so many years of periods being sold out. $299 for their fixed power SS scopes and were all $199 on sale just recently can't beat them and Japan made old school type scopes. They don't have zero stops but tract perfectly and their 3-15x42 is a scope I used to buy until I purchased my first Tract Toric which is night and difference in comparison that has better turrets, illumination, a zero stop with noticeably better glass quality. This is for the 4-20x50 and 4.5-30x56. Their 2.5-15x and 3-15x models are cheaper and have the same quality glass. The image quality for the Torics are unbelievable. I was going to buy the $559 Tekoa 4-16x50 currently on sale with zero stop turrets upgrade and sunshade package is another I planned to buy next for hunting which the owner (one of the two Dan's there) said used Schott glass as well.
I have owned several SWFA scopes for 8 - 10 years and never needed to send any in for warranty. The 3-15x42 is no longer a good buy at $699 since no zero stop no illumination and Tract Optics and the Chinese made Athlon Ares BTR and ETR are better IMHO.
That is about the fanciest box I gave seen yet for these scopes. With that being said do you feel that with these being midrange scopes that they are packaged to the same level as higher end scopes? Also, of these scopes how many can you go into a traditional brick and mortar store to hold and look through to see if you like them?
Thank you for the comment. Unfortunately, I have not seen any of these scopes being sold in any brick and mortar, so you're probably not going to be able to walk in any (well, at least most) places to actually get a hands on look before buying. As far as the packaging goes, they've all been very on par, and in some cases exceeding, the packaging you find in your higher end optics. I recently was going through some $5k schmidt and bender scopes and the packaging they came in was less than all the optics I received for testing.
Very thorough and honest review. I agree with you that Hawke Optics might just not being very sensitive to the market right now giving the fact like lots other ppl had commented: Athlon, Arken and some other competitors and came up with better scope for about 1/2 of the MSRP of this one. Keep up the good work and I really think your channel will do really well in future !
Another great honest review. The Hawke Sidewinders and Frontiers aren't worth the money they charge for Chinese scopes with no zero stop for such an expensive Sidewinder with mediocre glass at best. The Frontiers on the other hand have decent glass but most models have a very limited range of elevation adjustment and not just overpriced, their ridiculously overpriced. The Athlon Ares BTR and ETR and even their cheaper Midas line are far superior scopes for the same prices if not cheaper. Unfortunately I bought some of the Frontiers based on the hype and they aren't made in the UK but China and Athlon is king of the best top of the line models regarding Chinese scopes.
This one either just came off sale $459 (paying $799 or $899 for this Hawke is total insanity especially with no zero stop) or it might have a day or 2 left for the sale. Wasn't interested in buying another Sidewinder even on sale they're still not worth it IMHO. What I feel is good is the Hawke Sidewinder 30s' and Frontiers' exterior fit and finish are outstanding. Glass in the Frontiers are great but doesn't justify their ridiculous prices. Just the Burris Signature HD (Chinese).
You can buy better quality Japan made scopes for the same price if not cheaper too. Get their flagship Frontier 34mn in their highest magnification. I think it's $1400 and like to see a comparison to the Arhlon Ares ETR 4.5-30x56 34mm $1250. Both are the most expensive Chinese scopes on the market. The Ares ETR is the best Chinese scope I know of that most favorably compares to Japanese scopes that are priced a little higher.
Thank you for the comment! I really don't think it's a bad scope and it was rather nice and I actually have it on my hunting rifle right now. But as I said in the video, I do feel it is overpriced for what you're getting, and for the money their are much better options on the market to include the options you mentioned.
@@TheThinkingShooter Especially when paying such high prices (for Chinese made scopes) and they don't even have zero stops. The Frontier line have zero stops and have much better glass. I do admire the much better than average quality in their fit and finish and they normally include a sunshade and very nice aluminum flip up lens covers.
Hi great blog but here in the uk you get more it comes in a case you get a get flip-up covers be hive grill tube shade a 3 different parallax size ujustment .a zero stop just us you brans numbers it's made sort to mid range the USA have all was hated hawk back in my day you had a scope hawk was our daddy of the dayyou had no chance qffording or getting on like t see that i want to get a arken gen 2 been best scose for a while the was oovlr some kbo
I’m enjoying the long range focused content, but are there plans to branch out into other areas: LPVOs, Dot Optics, Prisms, Weapon Mounted Lights (rifle and pistol), Handgun Optics, etc? If so any ideas on testing criteria?
Thanks for the like and comment. I definitely plan to branch into the other areas you listed. I havent completely thought through how testing on those will go just yet but I am open to suggestions.
Are you drinking disarrono?
Also do you have any thoughts on SWFA optics? From what I can tell, it does not have the industry standard, unconditional warranty but curious if you have any thoughts?
I personally like SWFA. I did reach out to them when I was looking for optics to test but wasn't able to get a response, so I don't know if they did actually get my request because I would've loved to have included them in the optics testing. Per their website, they have what they call the "4-Life Warranty" which covers the optic regardless if you have the receipt and never expires. It's also transferable, and if they can't fix it then they'll replace it. Is there any particular one of their optics you were looking at? Have you dealt with SWFA before?
Interesting. Last time I looked at them, albeit quite a while ago, the warranty was 30 day manufacturer defects only and had to be unused unmounted etc... Glad they seem to have changed that! Too bad they didn't reach back out to you. I have used 2 of ther scopes and they kinda fell into the category this scope did for you. It works, but not something I want on a top precision long range setup
SWFA has more than enough customers for their own in house SS brand of Japanese made scopes. I doubt they need to send out any more free scopes after so many years of periods being sold out. $299 for their fixed power SS scopes and were all $199 on sale just recently can't beat them and Japan made old school type scopes. They don't have zero stops but tract perfectly and their 3-15x42 is a scope I used to buy until I purchased my first Tract Toric which is night and difference in comparison that has better turrets, illumination, a zero stop with noticeably better glass quality. This is for the 4-20x50 and 4.5-30x56. Their 2.5-15x and 3-15x models are cheaper and have the same quality glass. The image quality for the Torics are unbelievable. I was going to buy the $559 Tekoa 4-16x50 currently on sale with zero stop turrets upgrade and sunshade package is another I planned to buy next for hunting which the owner (one of the two Dan's there) said used Schott glass as well.
I have owned several SWFA scopes for 8 - 10 years and never needed to send any in for warranty. The 3-15x42 is no longer a good buy at $699 since no zero stop no illumination and Tract Optics and the Chinese made Athlon Ares BTR and ETR are better IMHO.
That is about the fanciest box I gave seen yet for these scopes. With that being said do you feel that with these being midrange scopes that they are packaged to the same level as higher end scopes? Also, of these scopes how many can you go into a traditional brick and mortar store to hold and look through to see if you like them?
Thank you for the comment. Unfortunately, I have not seen any of these scopes being sold in any brick and mortar, so you're probably not going to be able to walk in any (well, at least most) places to actually get a hands on look before buying. As far as the packaging goes, they've all been very on par, and in some cases exceeding, the packaging you find in your higher end optics. I recently was going through some $5k schmidt and bender scopes and the packaging they came in was less than all the optics I received for testing.
Very thorough and honest review. I agree with you that Hawke Optics might just not being very sensitive to the market right now giving the fact like lots other ppl had commented: Athlon, Arken and some other competitors and came up with better scope for about 1/2 of the MSRP of this one. Keep up the good work and I really think your channel will do really well in future !
Well said! Thank you!
None of those scopes you mentioned come anywhere close to the Hawke Sidewinder.
Nice scope . Life time guarantee in uk
Watching from southeast Oklahoma
Thank you for watching from the great state of Oklahoma!
Another great honest review. The Hawke Sidewinders and Frontiers aren't worth the money they charge for Chinese scopes with no zero stop for such an expensive Sidewinder with mediocre glass at best. The Frontiers on the other hand have decent glass but most models have a very limited range of elevation adjustment and not just overpriced, their ridiculously overpriced. The Athlon Ares BTR and ETR and even their cheaper Midas line are far superior scopes for the same prices if not cheaper. Unfortunately I bought some of the Frontiers based on the hype and they aren't made in the UK but China and Athlon is king of the best top of the line models regarding Chinese scopes.
This one either just came off sale $459 (paying $799 or $899 for this Hawke is total insanity especially with no zero stop) or it might have a day or 2 left for the sale. Wasn't interested in buying another Sidewinder even on sale they're still not worth it IMHO. What I feel is good is the Hawke Sidewinder 30s' and Frontiers' exterior fit and finish are outstanding. Glass in the Frontiers are great but doesn't justify their ridiculous prices. Just the Burris Signature HD (Chinese).
You can buy better quality Japan made scopes for the same price if not cheaper too. Get their flagship Frontier 34mn in their highest magnification. I think it's $1400 and like to see a comparison to the Arhlon Ares ETR 4.5-30x56 34mm $1250. Both are the most expensive Chinese scopes on the market. The Ares ETR is the best Chinese scope I know of that most favorably compares to Japanese scopes that are priced a little higher.
Thank you for the comment! I really don't think it's a bad scope and it was rather nice and I actually have it on my hunting rifle right now. But as I said in the video, I do feel it is overpriced for what you're getting, and for the money their are much better options on the market to include the options you mentioned.
@@TheThinkingShooter Especially when paying such high prices (for Chinese made scopes) and they don't even have zero stops. The Frontier line have zero stops and have much better glass. I do admire the much better than average quality in their fit and finish and they normally include a sunshade and very nice aluminum flip up lens covers.
Who in the world needs a zero stop!?! Ridiculous!
I hope it’s brandy
Hi great blog but here in the uk you get more it comes in a case you get a get flip-up covers be hive grill tube shade a 3 different parallax size ujustment .a zero stop just us you brans numbers it's made sort to mid range the USA have all was hated hawk back in my day you had a scope hawk was our daddy of the dayyou had no chance qffording or getting on like t see that i want to get a arken gen 2 been best scose for a while the was oovlr some kbo
Hey! Thank you for the comment from the UK 🇬🇧
Appreciate the feedback. Stay tuned as I do have an Arken Gen II scope review coming out very soon
Boomer