We were skeptical of the merits of this extravagantly expensive rangefinding riflescope. The Swarovski ATX/STX/BTX system, with its vast range of objectives, still is at the top of the heap in terms of flexibility and its ability to be whatever scope you need for any type of hunt, assuming you can afford to add the necessary accompaniments. Zeiss Conquest Rifle scopes 5-2550 Black Rapid Z 1000 On average, this particular scope runs around $1100. Crimson Traces freshman effort in magnified optics does have some hits. Leupold. Are you a newly appointed police officer? But if you have the time and patience to get the system dialed in, and know not only precisely where your bullet hits at the color-coded stops but at the steps on either side of them, then the Z5 is a smart, light, and priced-right hunting tool. This rifle comes with 4-14x magnification, and it is equipped with a 44 millimeter objective lens. The 6-24x50mm offers big zoom, an illuminate reticle, a 30mm tube, and is First Focal Plane. I use even my hunting rifles a lot at the range and greatly prefer exposed turrets, zero-stop turrets, first focal plane and lots of magnification. We loved the weight26 ouncesand the 12-inch length for mounting on a variety of platforms. When adjusting the magnification of your scope, your field of view will be adjusted. The MOA-based reticle has an illuminated center dot. Sometimes more magnification is not what's best? When using a rifle scope, one thing should come to mind: simplicity. Once you feed the specifics of your load into a mobile app and then into the scopes brain, hitting targets out to 1,000 yards is as simple as pushing the rangefinding button, placing the illuminated holdover on your target, and shooting. There are many scopes on the market from many different reputable manufacturers, so choosing the best one is a daunting task. We liked the LevelPlex cant indicator, excellent zero stop, and ample mounting dimensions of its 34mm tube. The X scope is truly modular in that you can purchase an angled eyepiece or straight eyepiece assembly, either of them for a 65mm, 85mm or 95mm objective lens assembly. We never sell our emails and value your trust. Best Selling in Rifle Scopes. We had only two gripes. But a reliable scope will cost. Slim, sturdy, reliable rifle scope which stands out for its lightweight design and incredible optics. You need to decide if you want to have exposed turrets or a sleeker capped turret scope. The heart of the scope is the first-plane MIL-C milling reticle thats built for Precision Rifle Series shooters. It's built around an 85mm objective lens, which offers a tremendous amount of light transmission, but the drawback is the weight such a hefty piece of glass requires. For the rifles that have a harsh recoil, this scope has a 3.5 inch eye relief in order to help protect the shooters face from the rifles recoil. VX6 HD in whatever power/ configuration! The oddball objective diameter (52mm) has a purpose. Or 3-18 thanks . Other considerations are batteries, warranties and size options. Are you looking for superior precision in your next rifle scope? As stated earlier, Athlon is one of the top brands on the market for making high quality rifle scopes, and this particular rifle scope is just one of the mid price range examples of why they made it to the top brand list. You'd have more glass than you could ever appreciate and an extra thousand or more in your pocket if you just picked up a VX6 HD in 3-18x50 with a TMOA or B&C Reticle illuminated model. But since 1949, Swarovski Optik , headquartered in Absam, Austria, has specialized in the manufacturing of optical instruments. They overbuilt the BTX into a super durable single focal length dual eyepiece, making 30x magnification on the 65mm and 85mm objectives while bumping up to 35X on the 95mm objective. During the Civil War, sharpshooters began to use scope-sighted rifles for correlative long distances. Money back on investment, maybe step up to . Objective lens: 80mm It is a functional, capable confluence of optical and electronic engineering. . This will be a high-demand product and it will likely take a while to fill the pipeline, so get you name on the list. This photo shows 1) the major difference in sizes (65mm vs. 95mm) and 2) the digiscoping setup all ready to go. The new Swarovski ATX (angled) and STX (straight), hereby known at the X-Series Swarovski Spotting Scopes, are that revolutionary. I frequent that site and some of the people there have tens of thousands of dollars in optics. With Swarovski optics, youll never have to strain when lining up the shot. I hope to bring along the most salient practical points that I've learnt along the way keeping in mind that spotting scopes are a significant investment ranging from $1k to over $6k in different formats and setups. Best Traditional Hunting Scope: MeoSport R 3-1550 RD SFP . Comparing my 3-10X42 Z3 to my 1.7-10X42 Z6i, the Z6 to my eyes has a tiny bit better resolution. I tend not to care for scopes over 20x because of mirage issues. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Once the MRAD clicks are engaged, theyre spongy and less tactile than weve come to expect from the brand. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. and was well worth the money. This category was a hard choice to make. Also Leupold moved to a dual erector doing setup to help eliminate the problem they were having on the vx-5 and vx-6 series scope. After all, thats how much a gun or bow costs! It may not display this or other websites correctly. You must log in or register to reply here. Its a military snipers optic with a few nods to civilian shooters. It has most of what youll need for most shoots: a first-plane milling reticle with a satisfying number of references, a solid zero stop on the elevation turret, enough internal adjustment (32 mils for both elevation and windage turrets) to get you on targets out to nearly a mile. Optical magicians, one might say as hunters and shooters worldwide will attest to this. While there are literally hundreds of competitive, durable water bottles on the market, Nalgene was there first. An off-shoot from their traditional hunting packs, the Boulder 30 was designed with your daily lifestyle in mind. Its not intended to. Pragmatic design and state of the art technology that you can feel. Andrew McKean I understand this is an old thread, but want to reply anyway. And the test team gave the Riton Mod 5 good price/value scores. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); In the late 1850s/early 1860s, Morgan James, a competitive rifle shooter, built the first telescopic sight. Its been hard to keep track of Nikons updates to the capable Prostaff line the last few years, but the Prostaff 5 checks nearly all the boxes wed expect for a crossover hunting and target scope. The better the coating, the less eyestrain youll endure. If you're also curious to know why a Swarovski glass costs so much and whether or not it's worth saving for, keep reading, and I'll try to clarify your doubts! It may not display this or other websites correctly. This classy second-plane scope bucks a significant trend in sports optics. In a test full of multi-thousand-dollar riflescopes, it would be easy to dismiss the $90 Simmons (its likely to retail for closer to $70) as dim, cheap, and flimsy. When talking about eye relief in regards to rifle scopes, eye relief is the distance that your eye can be away from the ocular lens of the scope and still provide a full and clear picture of your target. The Japanese glass inside this billyclub of a 30mm scope is quite good. The new TLS is specifically for digital SLR cameras and could revolutionize wildlife photography and videography. We hope the glass matches the technology in future iterations of this smart idea. They are the big kahuna in the optics world. The Kahles scopes I've used are very impressive. Accuracy at its best! Nightforce NXS Rifle Scope 30mm Tube 5.5-22x 56MM Hi-Speed The Nightforce NXS Rifle Scope is a high speed scope that could not be ignored for the unlimited budget best category. Have a look at the meopta meostar first focal plane scopes also, I have the Leupold vx3, vx6, and vx5. Some versions of this scope will also be available with Meoptas slick new dichroic reticle technology, which can best be described as battery-free illumination. Leupold Vs. Swarovski..Yeah, another one. If you want to see your hunt story in an issue, send it over. The first time I shot a rifle I was aiming at a row of tin cans lined on a fence. Below are just a few of the unique features that this scope has to offer someone. If youre paying over $2,500 for a riflescope, you have a right to expect extremely precise controls, a sweet and crisp image, and a reticle that deprives you of an excuse to ever miss again. Dive in. Your emails are safe with us. Well I am thinking of going all out on a new spotting scope. Swarovskis 1-inch Z5 scope has been on the market since 2009, but the Austrian company is relaunching it this year in hopes it catches the fancy of the American whitetail hunter. Both the Z3 and Z5 are lightweight, durable and sturdy. So, is $650 a bargain for this scope? In general, if you are a deer hunter, using anything over a 3-9x or 4-12x scope on your rifle would be overkill, and it could actually hinder you in the long run. Or you can remove the turret caps and dial the shooting solution with sharp, positive adjustments. Its extremely versatile and designed for better low light visibility in big game hunting. But if you're looking for the very best in optics and accuracy, then a Swarovski scope is definitely worth the money. Swarovski Spotting Scopes ATX & STX Review, Swarovski dS 5-25x52 Smart Riflescope Review, How To Glass Without Using The Grid Technique. The illuminated MOA turret is useful for hunting or target shooting, the 4X16X magnification range covers most uses, and the glass is bright and crisp. It was a Swaro, was the problem. They have been in business for over 65 years, and they pride themselves on providing only the best quality to their customers. JavaScript is disabled. Spotting scope specifications: Swarovski's high-contrast HD spotting scopes are ideal for color-rich digital photography. Its optics are disappointingly dark. It features state-of-the-art technology and is there when you need it the most-especially for that long range shot. Their shotgun scopes are also among the best. When apart, protective caps are provided for the exposed lenses and the connection points. It has a robust, one piece tube that is built to stand some of the worst recoils even on extremely demanding terrains. People who use them swear they are better than the Swarovskis. Testers consensus complaint is that the pull-to-turn elevation turret turnsalbeit hesitantlywithout being pulled. Probably in the $1500+ range & spend the extra on bino/ spotter! Honestly I have zero experience with the Z6. There is a lot of incredible information informative there, but it might take you a while to digest, depending on your knowledge and experience. Nightforce throws in a smaller second reticle in one quadrant of the field of view, an inverted-T ranging scale that shooters can use to measure the size or distance of their targets. A family owned company since its founding in 1907, Leupold & Stevens is without one of the highest quality optic manufacturers in the world. The Austrian manufacturer, Swarovski is considered by some critics as the world's best when it comes to scopes. Depending on what the rifle scope is being used for, you can sometimes get away with or at least get the same results with a cheaper scope that you could do with a higher end one. The lens here are really what make the Z3 one of the most popular picks. If it is a full moon and clear skies I can see better with my Swar binos than a PVS14. Get a free shipping code when you sign up for our newsletter. This scope generally runs anywhere from $2,250 to $2,500. It offers a lot of quality features, and has a sterling reputation with thousands of online reviews. People who are older will experience smaller dilation than someone of a younger age. The idea is to use the turrets to dial your shooting solution, rather than rely on hold-over. You also need to figure in what kinds of shots you are planning on having to take. When youre staring down your target at dusk or dawn you need a clear, crisp and concise view. Pay for what you get!if you pay for a good good one, then it is good good. The heart of the Z5 is a second-plane plex reticle that has windage hashes but no elevation references. Consider SIGs excellent DEV-L Christmas-tree-type reticle in the Tango6 if you desire more windage references for way-out-there shooting. Thanks everyone for the replies. I do like the idea of an illuminated reticle but I've never had one in the field so I'm not sure how beneficial it would be. Below are just a few of the many features that makes this rifle scope stick out among all of the other unlimited budget scopes on the market today. Click here to learn more and see its price. Our sample came with the good second-plane SHR holdover reticle; you can also choose a standard duplex. Swarovski Hunting Rifle Scopes Best Selling Swarovski Z5 2.4-12x50mm Hunting Scope - Black (59768) $1,299.00 New Swarovski dS Gen. II 5-25x52 P 4A-I Digital Rifle Scope (71002) $4,999.00 New Swarovski SLP Objective Scope Lens Protector (z6 Z5 44 Mm) 44344 $130.00 New Swarovski 2.3-18x56 Z8i P L Riflescope - 68401 (2) $3,799.00 New When most people think of the best brands, they think about the brands that the majority of people who buy a product actually purchase. This is evidenced by the excellent first-plane reticle: the MSR2, or Multipurpose Sniper Reticle, with a bonus reticle in the image plane thats used to range distant targets. Mar 03, 2023 (The Expresswire) -- The . We know that animals move a lot at first light and at last light. Or 3-18 thanks. Need more target practice? Other controls are very good and precise, including the reticle illumination, resettable-zero system, side parallax, and uncapped windage turret. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Gun News Daily is the longest running gun news website in the US. The scope received high marks for its solid zero stop, magnification throw lever, and appealing price. The difference is a hunter replaces his bow every few years. Overall Best Value: Sig Sauer Buckmasters 3-9X40mm Combo Kit. The Swarovski HD ATS-65mm features a 65mm objective lens using BaK-4 prism glass and fluoride-containing HD lenses to minimize chromatic aberrations. As a matter of fact, the larger the objective lens on a rifle scope is, the harder it is to be able to hold your rifle properly. You should always think about what is economically sound for you to spend on a scope, because a some scopes that are $100 might be all you need, and you can save money by purchasing these scopes instead of getting the highest quality scope that really doesnt improve your chances anymore than the cheaper one. If you had only one shot to secure your target, what scope would you choose? Their motto is No Excuses, and they offer a full lifetime warranty to their customers on all of their non-electronic products like their rifle scopes. With the 65mm scope, the power runs from 25x-60x; on the 95mm, it goes from 30x up to a whopping 70x. I will be using it for mainly hunting big game in Colorado and I will not be back packing. However, Redfield is still currently one of the top manufacturers of rifle scopes on the market. Did we lead with the price, and try to assess whether scopes in the $2,000 range are really three times as good? I have used it for a few years now and love it. We like this scopepart of a new lineup of affordable glass from the Czech optics makerfor its potential as much as we do for its actual performance. Contrary from what you might know from Swarovski Optik scopes, it's not just a hollow plastic straw, but contains some optics and a sun-shaped target. Cheap glass often doesnt have good eye relief and hunters often end up with a headache. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. But this new configuration improves on the platform. Seeing them in low light conditions can be difficult, especially when using cheap glass. The result is an everyday use pack focused on comfort, accessibility, and organization. You are using an out of date browser. I dont have the experience with the class of optics your inquiring about, but I would either ask this on AR15.com or google AR15.com (your topic here) and find threads that pertain to this. What this means is the field of view is the amount that you are actually able to see from right to left at a distance through your scope. Will this scope place bullets with precision at great distances? Verified purchase: No. The first is that the glass, while adequate, isnt on par with other scopes in its price range. The NXS Rifle Scope has a exit pupil diameter of 10.2 to 2.5 millimeters, and the scope weighs around 32 oz. Click to see the price. None has glass as good as my 6500. Although never personally owned a Swaro or any other high end scopes (Leica, Zeiss) I would like to explore higher quality scopes around $3000 mark. Once you are rolling with this thing zeroed in and connected to the . The Prostaff 5 features capped turrets with a total of 40 MOA of internal adjustment. Then again, the benefit of changing . Its scopes are used by the United States Marine Corps and Navy SEALs, which definitely is a major vote of confidence in their design and manufacturing. Subscribe for 2 free episodes and receive exclusive giveaway opportunities and stay up-to-date on the latest articles, podcasts and more! Hes also OLs optics editor, helping readers to make informed buying decisions. We have updated our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy as of May 5th, 2020. . Great glass though. If you want a dependable choice, go with the Vortex Diamondback. In that application, it is obvious to me that the glass is simply superior to anything else, bar none, and was well worth the money. I agree with the vx-6hd or even the vx5hd. High quality glass outperforms inexpensive glass in lowlight conditions. They actually have a global customer base. There are a lot of different rifle scopes that you can get for under $100, many of which you probably want to avoid. There are many coatings available for optics. Ergonomics In the end, the scope you choose will largely come down to personal preference and your shooting needs. Its eye relief, especially at higher magnifications, is limited. It offers a variety of different features that makes it stand out more so than the others in this particular price range. Thats adequate, but not on par with scopes built on a 30mm or 34mm tube. Finally, each Swarovski scope boasts a rubber armoring that protects against shock and noise. All the optic brands we carry offer great warranties. However, the Z series of scopes just should be a turret style scope. Published Sep 4, 2019 5:50 PM EDT. I also have two pair of Swarovski binoculars (non ranging) and again, they are the best and it . These days, however, the opposite is true. If there is still a guarantee, I would insist on changing the rubber coating. Although my scope was missing (I didnt own one), I knew that my aim had to result in a crisp, accurate shot. With such high-end optics, a Swarovski scope can make all the difference in taking the perfect shot. In each issue of Western Hunter Magazine are feature stories written by passionate hunters from all over the country. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Mildot reticle with both red and green illumination. GND is community supported. The X scope is truly modular in that you can purchase an angled eyepiece or straight eyepiece assembly, either of them for a 65mm, 85mm or 95mm objective lens assembly. The color-coded BT (Ballistic Turret) knob that ships with the scope has colored references that represent different distances, so presumably moving your zero-hold from, say, 100 yards to 550 yards is as easy as turning the turret to the correct color. But testers concluded that while its very good controls and ample magnification range work well for either pursuit, the second-plane reticle holds it back from broader versatility. Every year when magazines do their optics tests, the companies that win the low light contests are companies that make high end optics. Five friends and I wrung out six of the new Swarovski dS wonder scopes at FTW shooting and hunter training ranch in Texas. One of the remarkable elements of this configuration is that the Vudus 1X magnification is truly 1-times magnification. The heart of the 30mm KonusPro is a second-plane reticle that has 10 iterations, ranging from duplex to milling reticles to variations on the center dot that you select by toggling through a menu. This will get you top the right place with the information I think you are looking for: The price you pay does NOT mean the scope is reliable. It has generous mounting dimensions along its 34mm tube, a very tactile elevation turret (our sample had the excellent SCR2 mRAD reticle) with .1 mRAD clicks, and an ample 35 mils (120 MOA) of elevation adjustment. There is a simple answer as to why that is. Lets take a closer look at how they function. One tester said the turrets felt a bit flinty, as though they might not hold up to harsh rotation. Z5 has MOA turrets and Z6 is mil. Whether you are a hunter, or you just enjoy shooting for sport, you know that choosing a scope for your rifle will be one of the biggest factors in determining how accurately youll be able to shoot. They can be combined as a variable scope or a fixed scope. Their products are very high quality, and generally are in the mid range in terms of price. The Tango6 doesnt fail on any basis. Waterproof? Click to see the price. If the price is a turnoff, consider that Steiner didnt really build this powerful, smart 34mm riflescope for you. The majority of their products are some of the more reliable and affordable hunting products, like rifle scopes on the market to date. But the scope didnt charm anyone. With a worldwide guarantee of quality and workmanship and an unparalleled aftercare system, there is no doubt that Swarovski rifle scopes are the best that money can buy. 2. The best way to answer this question is this. The company has correctly read the market, understanding that precision shooters require extremely tactile turrets tuned to reticles with abundant references, but that hunters want a second-plane reticle and a modest magnification range. And I personally like the vx5 the most out of the scopes I have.