The Swampfox Arrowhead is an excellent, cost-effective, Low-Power Variable Optic(LPVO) option for your rifle. It is well-thought-out and has everything you want and nothing you don’t. However, there are a few things that I found to be unfavorable.
The Swampfox Arrowhead LPVO is a great scope that is capable of shooting longer distances. It is a Second Focal Plane scope that is adjustable from 1-10x and is right at home on an AR-15-type platform. It is an extremely capable package.
Having taken my 5.56 out to 600 yards with this scope, I can say with certainty that this scope is a superb option for those looking for an LPVO.
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The Swampfox Arrowhead Overview
The Swampfox Arrowhead is available in three different magnification levels: 1-6x, 1-8x, and 1-10x. The Arrowhead is a 30mm tube with a 26mm objective lens diameter. It has a fixed parallax that is set for 100 yards and 12-position illumination settings. The 1/2 MOA adjustments give the shooter 100 MOA of adjustment in both elevation and windage.
If you are interested in reading more about the LPVO and how to use them, check out this article I wrote, The Rise of the LPVO: All You Need to Know & How To Use Them
The Arrowhead is a second focal plane optic, meaning that the reticle doesn’t change size when adjusting the magnification level. There are pros and cons to this focal plane. First, the drop compensation markings will not be accurate unless that scope is set at the highest power. For example, if you mistakenly set your scope to 7x instead of 10x, the reticle markings will be off.
I see the second focal plane as ideal for a scope of this kind. It provides a great sight picture on every power. I only use the bullet drop reticles when I’m at the highest power trying to shoot those ranges. Realistically, you don’t need to compensate for something like a 5.56 until pushing beyond 300 yards.
However, if you would rather have the first focal plane(FFP), Swampfox recently announced their new Warhorse FFP scope, which will be similar to the Arrowhead only with FFP features.
The Arrowhead has an illuminated reticle that has 12 brightness settings, the first two being for night vision. Both the windage and elevation turrets lock, preventing them from being bumped off of zero. The included throw lever makes changing magnification settings quick and easy.
The Swampfox Arrowhead utilizes an illuminated etched reticle that is available in three different styles. It has an illuminated reticle that uses dual LED emitters and has 12 brightness settings. The first two settings are for night vision, and the highest setting provides a daylight bright reticle.
What I Like About the Swampfox Arrowhead
My experience is with the 1-10x model, using a Guerilla DOT MOA Long reticle mounted on a 16″ Stag Arms AR-15. So far, I am extremely happy with the scope and have only a few complaints which I will cover later. Let’s talk about what I like about the scope.
First and foremost is the capability of this scope. While this applies to LPVOs across the board, having the capability to switch from 1x to 10x quickly is invaluable. Dialed back to 1x, your field of view is wide and perfect for those closer-range shots. At 10x, I was able to hit targets out to 500 yards with a 5.56 consistently, and I have no doubts that I could stretch that further with better ammunition.
Windage and Elevation Adjustments
The windage and elevation adjustments are solid. There is no mushiness, and the clicks are very distinguishable. To unlock and make an adjustment, pull the turret cap out and go to work. The turrets lock solidly and have the right amount of resistance that it won’t unlock without you wanting it to. Each click equals 1/2 MOA when paired with the Guerilla BDC Long Range and MOA Long range reticles. The Guerilla Dot MIL Long Range reticle is paired with 0.1 MIL per-click turrets.
Throw lever
The throw lever is well thought out and can be mounted in multiple places to avoid interference with things like a canted red dot. It has three mounting positions giving you plenty of versatility. The throw lever mounts using four tiny Allen head screws and includes extras if you drop one into the abyss under the bench.
Illumination Settings
The illumination settings on this scope are very well thought out and give you an off position in between each numerical setting. This makes it quick to turn on the last brightness setting you selected instead of having to run through all of the settings to get to the one you want.
Rifle Sight Height: Is It Really That Important?
Flip-up Lens Covers Included!
Lastly, I was really impressed with what the Arrowhead package included. Every tool you need to mount and adjust the scope(excluding levels) and a multi-tool that fits all of the adjustment screws. It’s extremely convenient to have those included. Also, it includes flip-up lens covers! This is a big win, in my opinion, as all of my scopes get them, and this saved me the time of trying to find one that would fit right. The front one wasn’t as snug as I like, but a simple layer of electrical tape made it a perfect fit. I wish more manufacturers would take note of including this simple add-on.
What I Dislike About the Swampfox Arrowhead
I don’t love everything about the Swampfox Arrowhead. Fortunately, none of these are real deal breakers for me.
Turret Zero Marking
This is my biggest complaint about this scope. The windage zero marking can’t be seen when in the shooting position. When the elevation turret is unlocked, it has a nice red triangle indicating where you are at on your adjustments. The windage doesn’t have anything but a really small white dot positioned almost a 1/4-inch away. Being positioned where it is, the scope rings block it, and you have to move your head pretty far to make it visible. Thankfully, this is a pretty easy fix, and you can make your own line to identify easier.
Use coupon code KTG10 to get 10% off your order of $150 or more at Brownells.
The Weight of the Swampfox Arrowhead
At 20.36 ounces, this scope adds a lot of weight to a rifle. However, compared to other optics in this same class, it is right on par. It weighs the same as the Sig Sauer Tango and only 3 ounces more than the Vortex Strike Eagle. This is me being really picky, as I wish that scopes in this class weighed less than a pound. This is really a non-issue and falls right in line with other manufacturers.
The Illumination Brightness
Lastly, the daylight reticle illumination brightness is a little lacking, in my opinion. When sunny and positioned at the full brightness setting (12), it is a faint glow. I haven’t tried it in the snow yet, but this leads me to believe it will be virtually invisible in such conditions. Luckily, the unilluminated reticle should be perfect in this scenario. The brightness issue again doesn’t bother me all that much as I tend only to use it in low light.
Final Thoughts on the Swampfox Arrowhead
I really like this scope. It seems well-built, and many of the features are very well thought out. Simply put, everything is where it should be. The three reticle options should fulfill everyone’s needs and allow users to get the most out of their rifles. I believe a scope in this class is perfect for a RECCE-type rifle. This is my first experience using Swampfox Optics, and I am impressed with their quality for the price point. As a die-hard Leupold guy, I can gladly say I’m happy I stepped out of my comfort zone for this one!
If you are interested in picking up a Swampfox Arrowhead, you can save 10% by using my code KTG10 at Brownells.com!
Written by: Kurt Martonik
Kurt is a Gunsmith, Reloader, Hunter, and Outdoorsman. He grew up in Elk County, Pennsylvania, where he became obsessed with the world of firearms. Following high school, Kurt enlisted in the United States Air Force as a Boom Operator, where he eventually rose to the position of Instructor. After his military service, he attended the Colorado School of Trades(CST) in Lakewood, CO for gunsmithing. Following graduation, he accepted a job at C. Sharps Arms in Montana, where he worked as a full time stockmaker and gunsmith.
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Thank you Kirk. Helped me make my decision. Gonna try it on 20″ 300 blackout. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Rick, I think it would be great on a 20″ Blackout!