Zeiss Conquest HD5 5-25x50?

[HTSmith]

Anyone have any experience with this scope that they would share? They are beginning to close them out at decent prices. I have the older model Conquest in 6.5-20 and it has served me very well. I'm most curious about the image quality at high power (25X) and the reliability of the adjustments. Thanks for any feedback.

 

[jsthntn247]

They are good scopes. I've got the 6.5-20 and two 5-25 HD5's. The 5-25 is a better scope and has lockable turrets. Sad thing for me is one of mine has never been opened and I'd planned to sale it (not building the rifle anymore I was going to put it on) but will never be able to get near my money back for it now that they are on close out everywhere.

 

[nmkid]

I was planning on getting one some time back. But I kept reading many stories(Internet lore?) about their slooow time on repairs. So, I got spooked, with my luck.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

They are good scopes. Ive owned 2 of the 5-25x50 HD5, still have one of them.

Glass is nothing spectacular, but it's good. The older Conquest non-HD glass made by Meopta for Zeiss is just as good, if not better than the new HD5 stuff. Don't know who's making the Conquest scopes now, but it is no longer Meopta. 25X gets a very slight milky look and is useless in low light, but in normal light it is nice and clear. Overall low light performance is nothing to write home about. I just purchased a 6-24x50 Nikon Black X1000 for half the price (non-hd glass) and it performs better in low light.

Tracking is solid and you get 18 MOA per turn with the target turret models. I like the turret locking feature. The zero stop is worthless unless you only want to be able to dial up 18 MOA because it only allows one revolution. Took the zero stop screw out of the turret and never put it back in. Total elevation of about 65 MOA which is pretty amazing for a 1" tube with that level of magnification.

Most of the 5-25x50 models are found second hand in new condition for $850 or less. I feel they are a good bit overpriced with the normal $1150-$1200 retail price tag.

Bought my first 5-25x50 HD5 used for $750 shipped. I paid $800 for my last 5-25 HD5 (brand new) during a veterans day sale locally that gave me dealer cost pricing. I personally would not pay more than that for one. The brand new one I bought had worse glass than the used one I bought so I no longer own the one I purchased new.

So basically, they are nice solid and reliable scopes, but for $1000-$1200 price range, I feel there are better choices out there.
IF you can find one used and in really good condition for $700-$800, I would say buy it.

 

[hillbill]

I have owned a few but eventually sold them all after replacement, I was using them on Smokeless Muzzleloaders and they just couldn't take the harsh recoil, I know of several others that died quickly on the same platform. On a CF rifle? likely they would be fine but personally I liked the old Conquest line better.

 

[rcol317]

I've had three and still have two. 5X25 X50 HD5's one the 1000 reticle and one 800 reticle. I agree with the other posts the only thing to add is the retiles are VERY HEAVY which is tough for accuracy @ long distance. Have the 800 reticle on a 6mm AI and recently found the reticle completely covered the prairie dogs on my long distance shots. Other than that I think an OK glass for the money. As was mentioned a bit over priced new but all mine came second hand.

 

[HTSmith]

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'm going to pass on this one for now. What do you think would be a good scope that went up to 24 or 25X, with bright optics and rock solid adjustments? I had a Weaver T24 that had great adjustments, but not the best resolution.

 

[boltfluter]

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'm going to pass on this one for now. What do you think would be a good scope that went up to 24 or 25X, with bright optics and rock solid adjustments? I had a Weaver T24 that had great adjustments, but not the best resolution.

I would check out the Sightron line of scopes. Good glass and rock solid turrets. Good luck and keep us posted.

Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[rifleman700]

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'm going to pass on this one for now. What do you think would be a good scope that went up to 24 or 25X, with bright optics and rock solid adjustments? I had a Weaver T24 that had great adjustments, but not the best resolution.

They are good scopes with excellent glass. I wouldn't let a couple of negative, non fact based comments sway you. I have seen these scopes on rifles that recoil more than muzzleloaders with no problems.

There is a shooting school in TX that teaches shooting for African big game and long range and they use these scopes exclusively. They are a very well respected school and I don't think they would be using junk on their class rifles.

 

[rifleman700]

As far as reticles there is a trade off that has to be decided upon. For example, I have two identical Leupold scopes with the only difference being the reticle. One has a Darrel Holland reticle and the other has the Leupold TS reticle. Both reticles are designed to be used the same way which is a combination of hold and dial elevation and hold windage. The Holland reticle is thicker and is only just ok for varmints but excellent for low light big game scenarios where the reticle stands out. The TS reticle is kind of in the middle. It can sometimes get lost in low light big game scenarios with dark backgrounds because its so thin but works great on varmints and other scenarios 95% of the time. No reticle is perfect. That is why the duplex is offered in heavy, normal, fine and actually some others that are a hybrid of the original.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

They are good scopes with excellent glass. I wouldn't let a couple of negative, non fact based comments sway you. I have seen these scopes on rifles that recoil more than muzzleloaders with no problems.

There is a shooting school in TX that teaches shooting for African big game and long range and they use these scopes exclusively. They are a very well respected school and I don't think they would be using junk on their class rifles.

Not trying to be an a**, but hear me out as to why I don't think your comments hold any weight on this subject

All of us that have owned or still own HD5 scopes seem to be in agreement with each other. They are good scopes, but not great, and a bit overpriced for what you get. Most of us, like myself, have owned more than one HD5 as well. So these are not opinions formed from one experience. And as I recall, there wasn't any comments where we referred to the HD5 as "junk", unless you are refering to my comment about their design on the zero stop. But that's all that comment was referring to.

There is no basis for your opinion or input on the HD5 scopes just because you saw them on a couple rifles at the range and some unnamed school you respect, for whatever reason, uses them on their training rifles to teach city-slickers how to hunt and shoot.

Reticle taste is purely a personal preference so there's no point in arguing that subject about any optic. The HD5 glass is good, but nothing that i think any of us with actual experience using them would call "excellent" when considering the price tag. There are definitely more affordable scopes available with equal or better glass.

So if you're the only one here in disagreement on the general opinion of the HD5 and you're also the only one who hasn't actually owned one, well...

 

[rifleman700]

My opinion is also from personal experience with these scopes and like others here just my opinion. These scopes for their price range are very good performers and track well. They are not my first choice in this prices range but that is neither here nor there. The OP asked for opinion on a particular scope and that is what I gave him, my opinion on that scope.

None of my above comments above other than the muzzleloader comment were pointed at anyone directly. If you thought so you were reading too much into it.

 

[hillbill]

install one on a hard kicker and see what happens, when these hit the market 3 years ago I was all in, I bought two, several friends bought them, every single one failed within 100 shots. on a lighter recoiling gun?

yes they have good glass, good features and on a normal Cf might be fine, just not on hard kickers.
take all this for what it's worth but I have had a LOT of experience with this specific scope.

As far as the muzzleloader comment, obviously you have not shot or even seen what I'm shooting, this is no blackhorn 209 gun or a modified break action.

By the way we are pushing 300-325 grain bullets in excess of 2700fps in most and in some cases over 3000 so this is magnum + recoil, I only speak from experience and don't blow smoke when I do speak, only facts.

 

[deadeye4]

http://hanksmessageboard.freeforums.net/thread/1328/cyclops-eyed-monster

don't doubt brother bill,he is one fine shot with a lot of gun/optic experience also!

 

[mikea5232]

If hunting in cold weather (20°or less) the magnification adjustments are pretty hard to turn. And get much harder as you get colder. If going on a warm weather gun. You won't have that problem. I sold mine because of that. But i wish i would have kept it for pd hunting. Mine tracked great and glass was pretty good. My older conquest had better glass.

 

[Art Dirindin]

install one on a hard kicker and see what happens, when these hit the market 3 years ago I was all in, I bought two, several friends bought them, every single one failed within 100 shots. on a lighter recoiling gun?

yes they have good glass, good features and on a normal Cf might be fine, just not on hard kickers.
take all this for what it's worth but I have had a LOT of experience with this specific scope.

As far as the muzzleloader comment, obviously you have not shot or even seen what I'm shooting, this is no blackhorn 209 gun or a modified break action.

By the way we are pushing 300-325 grain bullets in excess of 2700fps in most and in some cases over 3000 so this is magnum + recoil, I only speak from experience and don't blow smoke when I do speak, only facts.

I would be interested in what scope(s) you have on your muzzleloader that has withstood the test of recoil. I own two Savage 10ML-II smokeless muzzleloaders. My Stainless laminate has about 1700 rounds through it of which +/- 75% consisted of pushing 290-325 grain projectiles at a MV between 2450 and 2600fps and the rest were 245-250 grain projectiles at a MV of 2600-2800fps and the scope that has withstood all that considerable punishment and is still going strong is a $300 plane Jane Weaver GS. Second 10ML-II the blued version has about 1100 rounds through it of 60-65% 290-300 grain projectiles at the same MV as above the rest again 245-250 grain bullets same MV as above with about 100 rounds pushed to +/- 2950 MV and a $200 (on close out) Bushnell Elite 3200, is what sits atop it, again still going strong.

I also have a older VariX-II 2-7x32mm shot gun scope that has withstood 1000++ 12ga magnum slugs and at least 1500 max loads out of my Encore 209x50 Magnum ML and it's also going strong on my sons 12ga 3.5" turkey gun.

My point being is I admit I'm FAR from being an optics expert but if these scopes which I don't think are in the same class as the HD5 in terms of manufacturing precision or technological advancement can withstand enormous numbers of very hard recoiling rounds I find it bewildering that a scope like a Zeiss HD5 fails after a 100 or less events of heavy recoil.

No offence meant but I am utterly perplexed if scopes costing $300 and less can handle 1000's or rounds of punishing recoil and a $1000+ HD5 can not.

 

[HTSmith]

Well if it matters this scope will go on a fire breathing, boulder busting---------260 Remington

 

[hillbill]

Nightforce, Sightron and Burris Tactical scopes have held up well.
keep in mind I'm talking higher power scopes with parallax adjustment and I'm also talking high power loads with heavy bullets.
All I can tell you is the experience I have had with this particular scope and I've had plenty, heavy duty it's not.
put one on a regular CF and it might be fine. I'm not peeing on someones leg when I tell you every one I know of has failed on these MLs.

put one on your MLII and it will fail.

 

[Art Dirindin]

Nightforce, Sightron and Burris Tactical scopes have held up well.
keep in mind I'm talking higher power scopes with parallax adjustment and I'm also talking high power loads with heavy bullets.
All I can tell you is the experience I have had with this particular scope and I've had plenty, heavy duty it's not.
put one on a regular CF and it might be fine. I'm not peeing on someones leg when I tell you every one I know of has failed on these MLs.

put one on your MLII and it will fail.

Well the only explanation I can guess at for an HD5 failing when scopes that cost 1/4 as much don't must be a flaw or weakness in the internal workings of the scope, either a part or parts used in the scope internals is fatally flawed by design or is made from substandard materials.

Again I'm somewhat guessing here but I think it's reasonably safe while sitting atop my ML-II's my 4.5-14x40 Weaver GS W/AO and Bushnell 4-14x40 3200 were subjected to recoil equivalent to that of a .375 H&H magnum, a legitimate elephant/ DG round and as I said both still are going strong.

I forgot to add I also own a break breach single shot NEF 920 12ga slug gun which because of the design of a break breach the scopes sit directly above the chamber is notorious for eating scopes and I have a older long discontinued VariX-II 3-9x40 on it and I shot well over 100 Lightfield IDS 12ga 3" magnum 1.25oz slugs at a MV of IIRC, +/-1400fps and about 100 12ga 3" magnum 1.375oz Lightfield IDS Commander at a MV again if IIRC of 1800fps, and again it's also still performing wonderfully. AS a side not Lightfield IDS slugs are utterly devastating on deer and only SLIGHTLY less unfriendly to the guy behind the trigger.

So one can understand my complete perplexity of $200 and $300 scopes holding up drastically better than a $1000-$1200 Zeiss. Were you or your friends able to pin point the weakness in the Zeiss HD5's that was causing a 100% failure rate? Did any of you contact Zeiss's CS Dept and inform them one of their most popular scopes can not handle recoil and was suffering a 100% rate of failure, and if yes what if any thing did Zeiss say to explain this obviously very serious problem?

I'm not trying to be argumentative and as I have previously stated I an certainly no optics expert, but I have never heard of or read anywhere of any high quality rifle scope from a world famous manufacturer suffering a 100% rate of failure, and there is no other piece of hunting/shooting equipment I research more exhaustively than optics as I feel optics are actually much more important than ANY other piece of hunting equipment including your firearm, EXCEP for your boots. Your boots again IMHO are the only piece of equipment more important than your optics because they protect the most important piece of hunting equipment, your feet. But I'm getting off topic.

Were you or anyone you know of able to determine a cause for the Zeiss HD5's failing to withstand heavy recoil?

 

[hillbill]

I talked to Zeiss about it and they had no explanation, I talked to my friends Zeiss rep and he was aware of the problem but getting them to admit a flaw is like getting health care reform through the Senate.

I am in no way knocking Zeiss scopes, I have had many but I must say I have also sent several back for an exchange.
I ran the 4.5x14 Conquests on several of these Muzzleloaders and they held up for a while, I just sent my last two back earlier this year, one the parallex knob was free wheeling and the other would no longer hold zero. they sent me two new 3x15x50 HD-5s, I just sold one and put the other on a 6.5 creed, no more hard kickers for these scopes.

As far as cost being a determining factor to whether a scope will hold up? I have killed more expensive scopes than these.