In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

Swavorski (sp) Scopes

rscoleman88rscoleman88 Member Posts: 4,250
edited June 2002 in Ask the Experts
Saw some in the gun shop yesterday. I was impressed, but the salesman was a good talker. What are your opinions on these scopes? I'm thinking of putting one on a model 7 .308 for long range groundhog doom.

Respect those who protect us now just as you would those who died for us in the past.

Comments

  • cbxjeffcbxjeff Member Posts: 17,603 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Reputed to be one of, if not the best on the market. I can't afford one myself!

    cbxjeffIt's too late for me, save yourself.
    It's too late for me, save yourself.
  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    They are among the top 4 or 5 scopes made in the world. A little heavy (and for my taste a little klunky) and spendy. Here is the best prices I can find you: www.bearbasin.com
  • bullelkbullelk Member Posts: 679 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    rs,
    They are a damn good scope. In my opnion, the following scopes are the best European scopes in the world, in the order I rank them. Someone else might change it around a little, but the difference is extremely difficult to notice.

    ZEISS VM/V series
    SCHMIDT & BENDER- Hunter/Varmit series (These scopes are mostly mfg by hand, and under rigid controls)
    SWAROVSKI- Professional Hunter series
    LEICA - I'm not sure if they still mfg scopes

    I'm not going to tell you to shop around, that will only make your decision harder to pick one out. But I still prefer the Zeiss or the Schmidt & Bender. I think that the Zeiss VM/V series are the lightest and have the larger field of view.

    Hope I don't confuse you. Good luck with your new purchase, and welcome to the field of the big spenders. Thank God for finance companies.



    bullelk

    "If All Else Fails, Read The Direction"
  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Swarovski is VERY NICE.

    So are
    Schmidt & Bender
    Leupold Mark IV 10x or 16x
    Nightforce extreme ( illuminated as well as range finding recticles)
    Zeiss

    Any choice among these scopes will serve you well for a long time.



    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.
  • bullelkbullelk Member Posts: 679 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    JustC,
    In your opinion, which of those scopes you listed would you consider to be the best, and if you can't pick one only, which two?

    I take it you've had some experience with them, and I would appreciate your output.
    I've used many different brands of scopes in my years, and sold quite a few when I had my gunshop open. The lower end scopes will most always to the job for most hunters and shooters. It's when you've had a lot of experience with them is when you can start telling the difference on clarity, brightness, sharpness, etc. Although in a lot of cases, it's pretty tough.

    You might say I'm bias toward the high end scopes, but you should know the reason for that. I still deal in them, and always try to steer my customers towards them if they can afford it. The new Zeiss Conquest is becoming quite a good seller, and is in a good price range.

    bullelk

    "If All Else Fails, Read The Directions"

    By The Way, I just picked up your response from the other post.
    The retail price on the Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x44 w/Z Plex reticle is $749.99. They also have a target version w/ ZRF reticle for $849.99.
    There isn't much of a markup in these scopes, but you can do better than retail. You could probably save around a $100 - 150 bucks or so.

    Edited by - bullelk on 06/19/2002 21:22:04
  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    That's a sweet price bullelk. I have mostly experience with leupold MK IV's. I still have several in the safe. My personal preference, is the adjustment turrets with the external markings and no caps to keep track of. My 280AI has a 10X on it, and as I am still quite new at learning the gun's balistics, I am trying to determine the balistics table for it. My friend who built it and never even took time to break the barrel in, knew I had to have it, and offered it to me when he just had to build a big 30 rifle.

    I have used his and one other persons nightforce extreme scopes, and man were they something!

    The zeiss and schmidt and bender lenses are super bright and sharp.

    The swarovski ai also very crisp and reliable for long periods.

    My answer may not be what you are looking for, but I will try. My preference for the external or "tactical" scopes is because I shoot a lot of crop damage permits during the year over open fields, which gives me long distance shots at multiple distances. Therefore, I am trying to train myself to estimate distances by eye, and KNOW MY CLICKS for those distances. I like the big knobs and markings that I can look at if I have to, and not keep track of caps. I also, take 300+ yd shots at dusk and dark on these permits. Therefore, I like some illumination of my recticle as well.

    I don't own one, but WILL soon enough (nightforce extreme). That scope, for my purposes, will probably be the perfect one. Time will tell, I could be wrong, but the leupold MK IV and even the schmidt and benders with tactical knobs don't have the illumination. I became a beleiver of that right from the first day I hunted a permit with it. Now, the other scopes are just as clear as far as I can tell, it's just the features that sell me on it. The schmidt and bender I shot with, on a friends rifle and the zeiss, are super clear. I am just trying to train myself to be able to take my clicks and shoot, that is why I would name the MK IV and Nightforce as both being the best (for me). One would be hard pressed to find a flaw in the others as far as optical and zero rataining issues are concerned. If I were going for just straight-up hunting trips, and occasionaly out west, and wanted a great optical product, and I didn't mind shooting different distances with holdover of the scope, I would buy a zeiss/swarovski/S&B, with no target style adjustment. My rifles are mostly in the bull bag when I shoot the permits, therefore weight and scope knob size don't matter. My meat guns have regular knobs and I hold over, but the long range stuff is target/tactical style scopes. So, now that I rambled, did I answer any part of your question??????

    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.

    Edited by - JustC on 06/19/2002 23:19:51
  • bullelkbullelk Member Posts: 679 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    JustC,
    Yes you did. You know, I think it would be pretty interesting if we brought this subject on General Discussion someday. I imagine it could get lively as hell.

    I have no experience with the NightForce scopes, but I understand they are damn good. I will talk to you more about this soon, especially the turret adjustments. And I would like to talk to you more about the permit hunting. Thanks.

    Gino
Sign In or Register to comment.