German Scopes The Big Three

[Beno]

I am looking at replacing my 8x56 S&B on my 243 I am looking at

 

S&B Zenith 3–12 x 50 Flash Dot. Like the scope but it’s only a 50 objective lens which kind of puts my off as I want the same light gathering ability as my current scope.

 

Ziess Victory Varipoint 3-12 x 56. Never had any experience with Ziess scopes but herd reports about them being better at light gathering the S&B?

 

Swarovski Z6i 2.5-15x56 BT 4Ai. The thing putting me off about this scope is the warranty they only give you 2 years on the ir and 10 for the rest of it in my opinion that not very good when you’re paying nearly 2k for a scope you want a life time warranty, also the parlex puts me off as I've never used a scope with it before so don’t know if it would help me or would be another **** you don’t really need? The BT seams a great idea.

 

The main use for the scope would be foxing and deer stalking with more to the foxing side of things, that’s why I want that bit more mag than I've got.

Anyone that owns any of the above scope it would be great to hear your reports on how they perform.

 

Thanks

 

Ben

[Beardo]

i honest don't think it makes a lot of difference between 50 and 56mm objectives.

I can only speak from my personal scope - but i've got an older Zeiss Diatal Z MC 8x56 and it's definitely not as good at gathering light as my S&B.

I wouldn't worry about Parallax adjust on high end scopes - they're such good quality that i never need to adjust them on my Swarovskis - they're all set at 100 yards and never change.

[docholiday]

Swarovski Z6i 2.5-15x56 BT

though I would go without the BT, I have it on mine and have never used it.

[Raja Clavata]

There's no such thing as "light gathering" in the context of these scopes!?

 

On the S&B I think I read that the 3-12 x 50 has a better twilight factor than the comparable x 56?

 

What sort of ranges you looking at shooting?

 

If you are serious about the Z6i then why not consider a S&B PMII?

 

You get more lenses in a variable mag scope than a fixed mag one so it would seem logical that the fixed would have better light transmission properties than a variable (regardless of the quality of the glass). I think you need to decide which is of greatest importance to you - mag or clarity as with all things there is a trade-off.

 

Personally for fox and deer I can't see the need for anything bigger than x8 mag. Is there any way you can try one of these scopes out before committing to buy and avoid the risk of making an expensive mistake?

[mick miller]

Personally for fox and deer I can't see the need for anything bigger than x8 mag. Is there any way you can try one of these scopes out before committing to buy and avoid the risk of making an expensive mistake?

 

 

What if it was a really, really ickle deer?

[kent]

My thoughts are the only advantage of a zoom when hunting this type of quarry is tha ability to turn the mag down from 8x. No difference in light on this sort of quality. Personally like S+bender realy tough scopes in the field some of mine have gone to hell and back

[Raja Clavata]

What if it was a really, really ickle deer?

 

Just get a ickle bit closer

[skinny]

If you do sell your S&B 8x56 ben i might like to buy it for my new .243 foxing rifle.

 

cheers

[Beno]

Some one must have one of the above scopes that could tell me about there expericence with it?

[Paddy Galore!]

Some one must have one of the above scopes that could tell me about there expericence with it?

just been playing with a swaro 3-12x56 habitch with 30mm tube which came in the shop today, my leupold seems much clearer.

it has a really thick band of black around the occular lens when looking through it, which closes down the field of view, also, when i increased the mag the crosshairs got good and thick, not impressed really

[Mungler]

They are all pretty good. I was surprised by how much I like my Leupold - not bad value for money.

 

The only advice I would offer is stay away from Zeiss - it's a personal thing, but I just don't get on with them (or rather the ones I have had). I think the eye relief is awful.

 

Any of the top end S&B's and Swaros are good, and yes, you would need the eyes of an Eagle to notice any material difference between a 50mm or 56mm objective. Mind you, if you are patient and want a x56 scope then wait and hang out for one. They pop up every now and again, but regularly nonetheless.

[JRDS]

Having had all three, S & B for me every time. You won't need the warranty.

[jamie g]

Ziess Victory Varipoint 3-12 x 56 for me. superb foxer and deer scope. great in low light and on the lamp and very wide field of view.

looked through some s&b and they are superb. but the crosshairs are very thick on some of the recticals they offer.

 

ok if you are shooting deer i guess but long range vermin might get covered up. the zeiss 60 ret is a beauty for all styles of shooting with a ir dot in the middle.

Edited August 25, 2010 by jamie g

[kent]

just been playing with a swaro 3-12x56 habitch with 30mm tube which came in the shop today, my leupold seems much clearer.

it has a really thick band of black around the occular lens when looking through it, which closes down the field of view, also, when i increased the mag the crosshairs got good and thick, not impressed really :(

 

You aint set it up right, thats all

[Paddy Galore!]

You aint set it up right, thats all

How are you supposed to "set up" a scope then? there's me thinking you just mount it on the rifle with the correct eye relief and look through it. There's no p/a on this baby, just mag, windage, and elevation.

[kent]

How are you supposed to "set up" a scope then? there's me thinking you just mount it on the rifle with the correct eye relief and look through it. There's no p/a on this baby, just mag, windage, and elevation.

 

You ain't got the eye relief correct if you see a black ring Gram71, you might need also to re- focus a bit to get it there. Move the scope forwards and back in the mounts until the complete lot is clear when you mount the gun. Nowt to do with paralax error

[Paddy Galore!]

You ain't got the eye relief correct if you see a black ring Gram71, you might need also to re- focus a bit to get it there. Move the scope forwards and back in the mounts until the complete lot is clear when you mount the gun. Nowt to do with paralax error

oh realllly? then all the scopes on my other rifles might be wrong too, funny that, i'll just go and check they're on the right way round while i'm at it.

[rjimmer]

You could always go Austrian, just over the border from Germany, and get a Kahles. http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews160067.html

 

OR have a look at Docter, made in one of the old Zeiss factories at Jena.

Read what Froderik has to say here. http://www.opticstalk.com/topic105_post361.html#361

[kent]

oh realllly? then all the scopes on my other rifles might be wrong too, funny that, i'll just go and check they're on the right way round while i'm at it.

 

Hey you can lead a horse, take you outfit to someone who knows how to set a gun up if you won't listen