Q&A for ZCO 4-20x50mm Field Eval

[4th_point]

Here's an idea...

Get Jeff Huber, Formi, Ryan, and Unknown Guy on the podcast. If possible, add someone knowledgeable about actual scope design and limitations.

 

[Formidilosus]

I mostly see ZCO on low recoil, heavy rifles where they seem to do fine. The parallax issue seems to be more than a fluke though. The Spuhr issue seems to affect ZCO as well, but can affect other scopes too. I have been told that they do not do well on hunting rifles with moderate recoil, but in general are OK for competition, from one dealer.

Horses for courses? Gucci scopes may suit certain people. Hey, if they sell good for them! They have plenty of fans. Just sucks if you expect no compromises.

There are a lot of scopes like that now. Historically people weren’t concerned with “durability” and legit zero retention with hard field use, they just wanted the “tracking” and RTZ to be usable. 10-15 years ago, the hard part was finding scopes that just semi held zero and would dial correctly and RTZ with just pure range use. That has been addressed by most, and now there are lots of scopes that adjust correctly and consistently and generally do fine in low recoil, flat range use.
Consequently when it comes to “working”, for a large part of the scope world it is relatively even- from $500 Chinese scopes to $4000 European scopes, the all work about the same for most uses. But- they aren’t the same when actually used hard and continuously checked.

 

[Formidilosus]

Updated with a zero check.

 

[zr600]

So what’s the update? Where is this update?

 

[kkp005]

So what’s the update? Where is this update?

ZCO 4-20x50mm Field Evaluation

This will be a field evaluation of the Zero Compromise Optic 4-20x50mm with MPCT 1 reticle. This scope was purchased by Ryan for this evaluation. The ammunition used was Hornady Black 155gr AMAX personably purchased by Ryan. 2x10 round groups with it at 100 yards were 1.3 and 1.4 inch. The...

rokslide.com

 

[zr600]

She checked the zero was the rifle ridding in the truck? Any rough abuse? Or just pulled out of safe and went to range and shot it? What are your thoughts on the zco currently?

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

She checked the zero was the rifle ridding in the truck? Any rough abuse? Or just pulled out of safe and went to range and shot it? What are your thoughts on the zco currently?

I've fired Almost 800 rounds through my match rifle that wears a ZCO 5-27×56 in the past 4 months and have yet to experience zero shift. It's been banged around on shooting props and knocked over multiple times at NRL and PRS matches

Probably driven over a thousand miles now with it bouncing around in the back of a 24 year old 4runner too.
If you own a 24 YO 4runner you know how shitty they ride.

 

[Formidilosus]

She checked the zero was the rifle ridding in the truck? Any rough abuse? Or just pulled out of safe and went to range and shot it?

As it was stated in the last update, it rode in the truck for about 50 miles- 6’ish on FS roads.

What are your thoughts on the zco currently?

About the same as in the initial eval. It loses zero with drops- anything after that has little value to me. Even still, it is heavy, has a reticle
not suitable for general hunting, is expensive and there is nothing dramatic about the “glass” that I can see- it is good for sure, but so are a bunch of other scopes.
I have had a quite a few people shoot with and look through it, and the general statement has been “looks fine”, not one person initially has thought the glass or image was anything other than good- like other high end scopes.

 

[Formidilosus]

Scope was swapped to another rifle and zeroed. See eval thread.

 

[Formidilosus]

Short update, zero check.

 

[rbutcher1234]

I still find this quite disheartening that the ring switch did not change anything

 

[Gstew1930]

I had one of these and a tangent theta. I would have saved a shit ton of money if I found rokslide sooner

 

[rbutcher1234]

I have a ZCO 527, so this test does not give me much hope lol. Seems like nothing to be done except get a different optic

 

[zr600]

I wouldn’t be going and selling your zco because of one test. They have amazing glass and plenty of guys are running them without issues. I have been running a Leupold for 5 years with multiple kills and dialed a fair amount shooting a few deer and coyotes and never had an issue either.

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

I have a ZCO 527, so this test does not give me much hope lol. Seems like nothing to be done except get a different optic

You're going to give up on your 527 cuz one guy tested one scope that isn't even the same model as yours?

Run it through the ringer and make a determination based on that

 

[freddyG]

You're going to give up on your 527 cuz one guy tested one scope that isn't even the same model as yours?

Run it through the ringer and make a determination based on that

Once a seed of doubt is planted, it only goes downhill from there.

One failed scope might not be a trend, but why chance it when there are reliable options available?

 

[EmanP223]

Then I will trade you my superior 7-35 ATACR for your inferior 527 ZCO.

 

[rbutcher1234]

Once a seed of doubt is planted, it only goes downhill from there.

One failed scope might not be a trend, but why chance it when there are reliable options available?

This

 

[huntnful]

This

If it makes you feel better, I've had two ZCO's with failed parralax adjustments, and one with oil inside the lense after shooting it a few times after I got it back from repair. I have a trijicon tenmile on that gun now and couldn't care less about the slight decrease in imagine. It holds zero, tracks well, has a better reticle for hunting and has had zero issues whatsoever. I just want shit that works now lol. The ZCO's are pleasant to look through though.