NorfolkPoacher Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 hi all, with a budget of £1300 possibly a little more, im looking at variable premium rifle scopes with around a 5.5-22x50mm or 56mm but anything considered im buying new so im not looking for "for sale" items, Schmidt and bender, carl zeiss, swarovski and nightforce seem to be the ones to watch, any useful comments or personal reviews greatly appreciated its to go on a .243. i need to decide sharpish, thanks, Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 (edited) Go and look through some would be my advice... Why not get along to the shooting show at the end of the month and see them in the flesh? I prefer Swarovski, and have a PVI-2 6-24 x 50 on my 243, which is great for foxing. Watch the comments re: Nightforce... they are American made (like leupold) and Americans.. like American things Also have a good look at Kahles. Edited February 7, 2011 by garyb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swiss.tony Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 there is a nightforce scope in sale section just under 900 quid dont think you go far wrong with them check it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkPoacher Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 Go and look through some would be my advice... Why not get along to the shooting show at the end of the month and see them in the flesh? I prefer Swarovski, and have a PVI-2 6-24 x 50 on my 243, which is great for foxing. Watch the comments re: Nightforce... they are American made (like leupold) and Americans.. like American things Also have a good look at Kahles. cheers fella, ive noticed prices rising lately which is a pain, i have been looking at the swarovski like yours, hows the clarity at 300yards under the lamp? cheers. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkPoacher Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 there is a nightforce scope in sale section just under 900 quid dont think you go far wrong with them check it out cheers tony, will have a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 I haven't had it long enough to offer a fair review as yet... The longest shot in the past 3-4 weeks has been a Fox of about 160 yards Image clarity at normal ranges is very good (but then all Swarovski's are!), and I really like the TDS-4i ret... as it has the illuminated centre dot, meaning it's just put the dot on the chest and shoot! It come's with a calculator to work out the elevation and windage lines for your chosen cartridge - see http://ballisticprograms.swarovskioptik.com/tds-4_en.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkPoacher Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 I haven't had it long enough to offer a fair review as yet... The longest shot in the past 3-4 weeks has been a Fox of about 160 yards Image clarity at normal ranges is very good (but then all Swarovski's are!), and I really like the TDS-4i ret... as it has the illuminated centre dot, meaning it's just put the dot on the chest and shoot! It come's with a calculator to work out the elevation and windage lines for your chosen cartridge - see http://ballisticprograms.swarovskioptik.com/tds-4_en.html you sure your not a swarovski salesman?lol cheers for info and really like that reticle. its certainly a strong contender!! the Schmidt line up wont offer much change from 2k for the mag im after! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 (edited) Depends on what you want to use the scope / rifle for? 90% fox and 10% Deer?, or the otherway round? The Police marksman range S&B's are very good, but like you say... quite a lot of money! I've got / had both S&B and Swaro optics, and there is nothing in it opticaly - the higher resale value of the Swaro won it for me. Another question is, wether you will be dialling in for these long range shots, or will be more likely to point and shoot? You can get a swarovski PVS which has target turrets if you so wish.... but it's more geared toward target shooting. Edited February 7, 2011 by garyb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 i have the Swaro AV 6-18x50 TDS4 ret (wish mine was illuminated) on my .223 and it really is superb for foxing. i take it that's your main use for it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stalker58 Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 Is the scope just for fox work,or for deer as well.if just fox, twilight quality is not so essential because you will be getting your light from your lamp.but 7mm is optimum exit for human eye in twilight conditions for deer work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 I beg to differ... Last light performance in a foxing scope is an absolute must have! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkPoacher Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 Cheers Gary and NB, yeah mainly foxes about 90% with a bit of paper punching and a few deer when the freezer gets empty. i would like to dial in and check me and my set-ups limitations for lang range occasionally and for the rest of the time have a 300 yard crystal clear foxing set up, my current scope blurrs a bit past 250 yards at night and low light. plus i want to buy once and keep for ever instead of chopping and changing sub £500 scopes. cheers again, Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 You will notice that not many high end Euro scopes have target style turrets... There are a few about, but most are closer to £2k... the likes of S&B PM2 and Zeiss Victory This might make the Nightforce / Leupold more attractive to you? But from what I've been told by friends that have / had them (having never owned one myself) what you gain in toys (Turrets, IR etc) you loose in clarity over a Euro offering. Like I said, you really do need to look down a few of them if your looking to spend that sort of money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 having been on the receiving end of Garys dilema scope wise there is nothing similar to that swaro in terms of money and performance. I have a similar not illuminated one and that is the only reason I would change it, If you would contemplate good second hand / ex demo scopes then have a look at Mcleods website Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stalker58 Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 I am sorry,thought he was shooting after dark! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkPoacher Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 cheers for that alex, im buying through a work account set up at my RFD so im only buying new. Garry, my main requirement is enough mag i.e 24x ive been used to this on low end scopes so im really just trying to gain visual quality and something that can put up with wet muddy foxing hikes or spending the majority of the night in the buck of my pickup. toys are ok but like you say its usually at a price! turrets would be good but not essential, the only aspects of tactical scopes i like is mag and ruggedness, as oppose to bench rest scopes. cheers, dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 there is no comparison between 24x on low end scopes and on the higher end stuff, my swaro you can use it surprisingly late on high mag as you can under the lamp. the nice thing is back it to 6x at last light and make the most of the light gathering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deerstalkerlunt Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 I have S&B's but If I had the cash I would always go Night force from now on. They are far superior, tube is four times as thick really sturdy. My friend who's a keeper had one on his .308 and rolled his truck, rifle and scope banged about all over the cab. He said it shot in same hole didn't even have to re-zero and very rarely has too. He always checks it but he said it never moves. Im getting one next time, may be bit costly but you will save on ammunition from not having to re-zero a lot. Plus Im sure you have seen the night force advertisement of the US marine who's scope was shot and still maintained zero only thing wrong was the magnification ring wouldn't go up or down so was stuck on 9. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkPoacher Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 I have S&B's but If I had the cash I would always go Night force from now on. They are far superior, tube is four times as thick really sturdy. My friend who's a keeper had one on his .308 and rolled his truck, rifle and scope banged about all over the cab. He said it shot in same hole didn't even have to re-zero and very rarely has too. He always checks it but he said it never moves. Im getting one next time, may be bit costly but you will save on ammunition from not having to re-zero a lot. Plus Im sure you have seen the night force advertisement of the US marine who's scope was shot and still maintained zero only thing wrong was the magnification ring wouldn't go up or down so was stuck on 9. along with Swarovski, Nightforce seems to be the top runner, i too saw the advert, my rifle either clamps in my ATV or in the buck of my truck in all weathers so being tough is important to me along with retaining zero, i worry that the euro scopes in my budget may offer superb optics but are delicate. for the mag they seem better priced then S&B or ZEISS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 But is the glass as good as the Euro offerings? I hear so many mixed reports.... not from Internet wannabe's but from people I know / trust who say they are dull and milky at high mag or under a lamp. The last time I was in the market, a friend of mine caught up with me to make sure I hadn't bought one... and if I had he was prepared to come round and give me a good kicking (in his words..) having owned an NXS before his current Z6i... Great for the benchrest boys though If anyone in Herts has one, I'd be happy to do a low light comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkPoacher Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 But is the glass as good as the Euro offerings? I hear so many mixed reports.... not from Internet wannabe's but from people I know / trust who say they are dull and milky at high mag or under a lamp. The last time I was in the market, a friend of mine caught up with me to make sure I hadn't bought one... and if I had he was prepared to come round and give me a good kicking (in his words..) having owned an NXS before his current Z6i... Great for the benchrest boys though If anyone in Herts has one, I'd be happy to do a low light comparison. like you say i should test them side by side, the only prob is its a pain to get a RFD to lend me a 1500 quid scope to test in the pooring rain at foxes around the 300yard mark!! the glass sounds (from many reviews) superior on the Swaro but i like the ruggedness of the NF, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 This is why i think you should get along the shooting show at the end of the month, and get a look at ALL the offerings side by side.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkPoacher Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 if im not working i will try and head up. its just the long range lamping test they wont be able to cater for. Is the z6i really worth the £600 extra over the z6? im guessing only difference is the I.R?? cheers. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 (edited) I can't remember what their priced at.... check that the more expensive model dosen't also have the BT (ballistic turret) option as that will put the price up too ? For what it's worth, none of the S&B's or Swaro's that I've owned have ever lost zero after a "bump" Edited February 7, 2011 by garyb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkPoacher Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 I can't remember what their priced at.... check that the more expensive model dosen't also have the BT (ballistic turret) option as that will put the price up too ? ok, i think the z6 is around £1400 and the z6i more like £1900 the BT adds £150 to these prices thats for the 5-30x50 model. which one did you get again mate and rough price (if you mrs isn't looking!!!) ta, Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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