Originally Posted by UncleHuck
Originally Posted by AU338MAG
Originally Posted by joshm28
Originally Posted by UncleHuck

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.


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. 😀


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'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.

Dying ain't much of a living boy...Josey Wales

Molon Labe