Scope Comparisons

I haven't bought a new scope since 1994. Bounced my old Burris Black Diamond off four wheelers, dropped it out of trees, and beat back briars with it. Neither end is still completely round. So, what is the best scope you experts recommend? Budget is around $1500. My first glance choice is the Swaro Z5 5-25x BT Plex, undecided on the illuminated version or not. What else do I need to look at before making up my mind? I like the idea of the BT so when I go out west I can dial up for the longer shots. Checking with the experts before making up my mind.

Hunting only? Longest shot you'll be taking?

A Swarovski 3.5x18x44mm is a more versatile scope IMHO. Lower power setting gives larger field of view for woods hunting and 18X is plenty of magnification for long shots to 500 yards and beyond. If you don't practice shooting and know your ballistics very well you have no business taking a shot at an animal at those ranges anyhow.

Illuminated reticles have never done much for me. At last light they wash out the target even on the lowest setting. If I can't see the reticle, it's too late to be shootin.

i suggest having a roll cage built around your new scope

I love my Meopta scopes. Best low light scopes I ever had.
I can't offer advice on Swarovski or Schmidt because I don't want to mortgage a scope.

Bought my last Schmidt for $600. You can find deals.

To Wade. You would do well with a nightforce. Seeing as how rough you are on glass 😂😂😂

I'll throw another vote for the Swarovski Z5.

Used Swarovski PV scopes and some S&B would be well under your budget, and are outstanding glass. Not likely to have an exposed turret, though. We have a number of Swarovski and Schmidt-Bender, but have only bought two new, both for my wife.

This ^^^. There’s one in the classifieds at nice price, NIB.



Also..... THIS ^^^^.

leupold.....either VX6 2-12x42 firedot or your choice of variable and objective with heavy duplex.

Love my schmidt. Best scope I have ever owned

Had many different scopes but not Schmidt or swaro - they prob at top from why read and heard but for the money - meopta makes very good scope - excellent at bringing in light

The new leupold vx5 or vx6 HD's are awesome

Huck and I both have tested a bunch of scopes over the years. Swarovskis and S&B top the list for hunting rifles imo. I think I’ve got 6 rifles now with either of those two manufacturers for glass. All those rifles utilize MPBR or ballistics reticles for distance. My two long range rifles (1K yards) Have Zeiss and Burris XTR scopes as they are better suited for dialing. No one makes a good aftermarket turret for Swarovskis and I’m not a fan of their ballistic turrets. They are repeatable and accurate but not quick like the Burris Turret. My S&B is a 2-6x42 sitting on a .444 marlin. It’s probably one of the best low light s op I’ve ever used and with the heavy post reticle I could shoot accurately at midnight lol.

If you ever decide to part with that S&B, I'm your man. 😀

The 30mm 4-16 viper linked in the general forum for $300 is hard to beat ..

Sorry buddy by I don’t sell. I only buy 😂

S&B Klassik at a good price and within your budget.

https://www.eurooptic.com/schmidt-bender-classic-3-12x50-l3-illuminated-rifle-scope.aspx

Buy the Swarovski in the classifieds.

Don’t worry about the BT because under 95% of hunting situations the standard plex reticle will be fine.

Wes, if I ever find another one, I'll call you first.

Only scopes I own that are in the same league as S&B or Swarovski are older Kahles Helia and any older Zeiss Diavari from West Germany with the T* coatings. I have a Kahles Helia S 3-12 x 56 that is so old that it has a blued steel tube. I have killed pigs with it over an hour after sundown.

I’m a big fan of the Older Swarovski Habicht series. For the money there’s not much out there better I have 5 total

I've got a couple of those old Zeiss scopes and they are great in low light.

One time I took two rifles to a stand, one with a Zeiss conquest 4.5x14x44 and one with an old 3x9x36. I shot one doe and stayed in the stand until another group came into the field at last light. Tried to see them with the conquest but could barely see their shape so grabbed the other gun and could still see clearly.

Yup. I have to set an alarm on my phone to let me know when legal shooting hours are. I killed a 7 point at 125 yards within a few seconds of legal hours 2 years ago on a solid cloudy evening in January. The two guys I was with had left their fields because they couldn't see any longer.

highly recommend the 30mm tube

I gots me one of them scopes on one of my guns! I like it.

I agree with the recommendation of the Swaro PV series scopes; great glass with lifetime warranty. I have a PV 4-16x50 on my 270 Wby Mag. Bought a Z6 to replace it; but actually preferred the PV; other than not having side focus. Sold the Z6 and put $800 back in my pocket. Try to find a later production model for best coatings; mine is 2008.

Any thing over $350 and you're wasting money IMO with the legal
Hunting hours the way it is .

I'd do what BGH said and buy the Swaro in the classifieds.

I’ve got several variations of the Z5. My favorite is the 44 mm. The 5-25x52 is awesome but. In most hunting situations I prefer the 44

I have a Leupold fire dot VX5HD 3x15x44 just bought this year. Lite weight and bright. I went to Mark's outdoors to compare scopes just by looking through them in the store the vx5 was a lot Better than a vx3 50mm and Better than a Zeiss to me. I didn't buy the scope there Sport optics out of Louisiana had a sale with free shipping. Got it cheaper than Mark's before taxes.