You may recall that we recently had exclusive early information about the Swampfox Optics Patriot line of affordable precision rifle optics. The wait is now over. The Patriot 4-16×44 and 6-24×50 scopes are now available.
You may recall our recent post about Swampfox Optics and their unique approach in a market swimming with OEM rifle scopes. They are set to grow their line in a big way in the near future to include a new line of optics for precision shooters called the Patriot series.
Swampfox Optics has teased the first two scopes in the line: 4-16×44 and 6-24×50. Both will have non-illuminated reticles and adjustable parallax that can be focused close enough for .22LR shooters (20 yards for the 4-16×44 and 10 yards for the 6-24×50).
According to Swampfox Optics’ Marketing Director, Mike Branson:
The Patriot is going to be a value leader. Really nice glass, impressive eyebox, smart MOA and MIL/MRAD reticles in first focal plane, and zero-resettable (not zero stop) turrets that track correctly. The 4-16×44 will be $369 MSRP and the 6-24×50 will be $429 MSRP. And, there’s a neat little touch that comes right in the box, just a little “hey neato of them to include this” which I’m not going to give away yet.
Swampfox Optics has also teased a few new scopes that we can expect sometime after the release of the Patriot line included illuminated reticle options in the Patriot line and more premium precision optics called the Warhawk and Kentucky Long. Mike Branson states, “Warhawk has a 34mm main tube, Kentucky Long a 30mm main tube. We will have a variety of magnifications available from 2-12x44mm all the way up to a monster 5-30x56mm.”
The Patriot Line should be available soon. Stay tuned for release information.
It looks like there is a new affordable optic company in town but this one is a little different than most. The market is full of affordable optics that are produced on an OEM basis in Asia to US based resellers’ specs. Swampfox Optics is different in that they are owned by an American that founded an OEM optics factory in China. Marketing director Mike Branson states that, “Swampfox is a separate business [from the optics factory], but has the advantages of a vertical operation, from design & manufacturing through to sales & distribution here in the US.”
The factory direct model is not the only difference. Typically, these OEM factories develop a new optic and shop it around with various resellers. If one passes or needs too many changes, they offer it to the next reseller. The factories themselves are the ones driving the engineering and design. Swampfox, however, has direct control over all of the processes and has a USA based design team that is committed to developing optics for the US market.
Their initial offerings include the Kingslayer and Liberator, an MRDS and red dot sight respectively, along with the Tomahawk series of low power variable magnification optics. The Tomahawk series includes a 1-4x, 1-6x, and 1-8x with Swampfox Optic’s seemingly well designed Guerilla series of reticles and illumination that is supposedly brighter than others in this market space.
There is also a line of precision optics planned for future release. That line will include first focal plane reticle options.
I know nothing of this company beyond what I have read online and have not been in contact with them. I do however find the honesty and transparency of their marketing manager refreshing to include being very candid about how their optics compare to others (and it isn’t always favorable) and their limitations. You can read some of what I am referring to here: Swampfox Optics thread on AR15.com