Don't ask often, but please help me decide...

[mikecr]

Well, there is the dark scenario, and the resolution to discern a rabbit from a groundhog at distance.
But it's still function that puts a bullet on em.
This is where you might as well put a Swarovski back under it's most lasting glass (the counter).

 

[dkhunt14]

Well, there is the dark scenario, and the resolution to discern a rabbit from a groundhog at distance.
But it's still function that puts a bullet on em.
This is where you might as well put a Swarovski back under it's most lasting glass (the counter).

I know of a few IBS 1000 yard nationals that were won with Swarovski scopes. They have 4 coil springs holding the erector assembly. I don't own one but know a few competitors that did. I do own there binoculars and they are good glass. Matt

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Not considering Swarovski at this time. Have to spend a lot of.money to get into the 5X or 6X range with adequate elevation adjistment. Just not worth the extra cost to me.

Nightforce or March doesn't meet the criteria I like for hunting with most of their models when considering weight and magnification levels.

Tho the NF SHV 5-20x56 was a thought. Still a consideration. But the 5-25x56 Leica has the same base power with a little extra top end magnification for about the same price. I have looked through the SHVs and they have good glass, but not what i would call 'phenomenal'. The Leica glass is bound to give a little better low light performance.

In low light, Japanese glass will never compare with top European glass given the same objective sizes and set on identical magnification levels. Just ain't gonna happen. Leica, Swarovski, Zeiss, and Meopta 'OWN' the low light game with their excellent glass and and masterful coating technologies. As far as I can tell, nobody will be interfering with that anytime soon either.

Starting to lean towards the Leica now. Really not worried about funtional reliability. Leica always makes a solid product.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I was just looking at the Swarovski Z5 5-25x52. For some reason I always thought that scope was around $2500. Guess I was mistaking it with the Z6. Anyhow, it priced right in there with the Leica. With a weight at only 17.5 oz, and of course some of the best glass in the business, I'm gonna throw that one in the pot as well and do some research. Might be able to get my hands on one of those back home. Only concern would be the 43 MOA of elevation. Really like to have at least 50 in my scopes.

 

[Matt in Virginia]

fwiw,
This WAS my thing... I trust Schmidt Bender & Nightforce...

Too many inaccuracies to address.

Regards, Matt.

 

[jsthntn247]

Friends don't let friends shoot Leupolds.

 

[butchlambert]

Too bad that the March is out of your price range.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Too bad that the March is out of your price range.

Yeah ive heard great things about them.

For hunting, there comes a point where you are just throwing money down the drain. I spend hours upon hours behind a spotting scope and binoculars to find animals so that's where I don't mind spending a lot of money. For a rifle scope, I just need it to be reliable and have decent glass for that short period where I am taking the shot. Doesn't need to be some $3K+ optic. Kind of a waste on a hunting rifle.

 

[butchlambert]

The 2.5X25 power March with the 52MM objective is $2200 and the same with 42MM objective is less than $2,000. If you qualify for a20% discount, you are really good to go. Nobody else does a 10X power range. I have Swarovski binos and a decent Leupold spotting scope, but I had rather have my money in my rifle scope.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

The 2.5X25 power March with the 52MM objective is $2200 and the same with 42MM objective is less than $2,000. If you qualify for a20% discount, you are really good to go. Nobody else does a 10X power range. I have Swarovski binos and a decent Leupold spotting scope, but I had rather have my money in my rifle scope.

That's not too bad a price for an optic with that much range. How much elevation adjustment in the 2.5-25x52mm? I may have to take a closer look at March as well. I will admit, March is one of the optic brands I know very little about.

Hunting in the high country mountains is a little different and I like putting most of my money into glassing optics.. The toughest obstacle you face is finding the animals. The Swarovski binos are some of the best optics for any type of country. I usually get to a high vantage point where I can see very long distances in as many directions as possible. Sometimes I am glassing at 2 or 3 miles away. So for spotting scopes, I strongly prefer using top European HD glass. I'm never glassing through a riflescope. Only need it to make the shot.

 

[butchlambert]

March uses ED glass. They have 100MOA of vertical and horizontal adjustment.
http://marchscopes.com/index.html
The Tactical model has 120 MOA of vertical.

 

[ragsflh]

its like chevy vs ford.if you can try them its your choice.

 

[butchlambert]

its like chevy vs ford.if you can try them its your choice.

How about Rolls vs Chebby

 

[butchlambert]

ragsflh,
You have a PM.

 

[Nature Boy]

Kahles 624i

I love the left side windage adjustment. Makes me wonder why they all aren't that way.

Since I got one I throw rocks at all the other scopes I've had and have

 

[Opticspecialist]

trust your own eyes. lots of opinions all over, but optics are subjective. look through and play with both, go with what you like best.

 

[Hal]

Some of the guys with a fair amount of coin like the S&B 5-25 for their high end long range coyote rifles.



Hal

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Yeah the hardest part is finding the scopes suggested in stock anywhere locally. I guess I'll wait to get my hands on them somewhere in my travels. For now, the rifle is wearing a new Nikon Black X1000 6-24x50 I picked up a couple months back. Actually a really nice optic for the money. Glass is by no means on par with top European HD glass, but it's nice and clear all the way to 24X, performs well in low light, and the adjustments are solid and true

 

[onelastshot]

Many years ago I sent my Leupold in for service. Long story short they shipped it back to me, I never got it. They advised me that they had verification of delivery, It didn't help because no one signed for the scope.

It wrote to Mr Leupold and explained the dilemma I was a customer without a scope, a customer who had no proof of shipping the product or its return. A week later I had a brand new scope courtesy of Mr Leupold. Over the past thirty years I've bought a lot of scopes, everyone being a leupold. I've never lost sleep over service or product quality. You can argue the details of product quality ad nauseum. At the end of the day the scopes we are comparing are all excellent products each piece of glass has its own merits and strong points. At the end of the day though no company backs their product better than Leupold.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Many years ago I sent my Leupold in for service. Long story short they shipped it back to me, I never got it. They advised me that they had verification of delivery, It didn't help because no one signed for the scope.

It wrote to Mr Leupold and explained the dilemma I was a customer without a scope, a customer who had no proof of shipping the product or its return. A week later I had a brand new scope courtesy of Mr Leupold. Over the past thirty years I've bought a lot of scopes, everyone being a leupold. I've never lost sleep over service or product quality. You can argue the details of product quality ad nauseum. At the end of the day the scopes we are comparing are all excellent products each piece of glass has its own merits and strong points. At the end of the day though no company backs their product better than Leupold.

Well...that used to be true. I'd wager a large sum that Vortex now wears the crown when it comes to customer service. I wouldnt be surprised if they replaced an optic for a customer that purposely smashed it with a hammer right in front of a Vortex Optics representative. Lol. Just too bad their new PST Gen 2 scopes are FFP and their Razor scopes each weigh more than the Hubble telescope

Guys out there playing "GI Joe wanna-be military sniper" are starting to turn the optics world in their favor. I wish all the R&D still went into SFP scopes. Every time I see a company come out with a new riflescope I get excited right up to the point I see the dreaded "FFP" in the description...