Swarovski z5i+ 3.5-18 x 50 testing

[SDHNTR]

I'd find a scope in MOA with 2 MOA Windage holds until the new scope is added to your app

Isn’t that exactly what the 4w reticle is? 2moa hashes?

Why on earth does SMOA even exist? It’s completely unnecessary.

 

[repins05]

I shoot a 300rum and prefer 15x-20x power out at 400-500 yards. I am able to spot my hits easily. I also prefer 15x and higher at that range. Just like everything else on these forums...there are a lot of factors involved and it can be different from hunter to hunter.

 

[SDHNTR]

I shoot a 300rum and prefer 15x-20x power out at 400-500 yards. I am able to spot my hits easily. I also prefer 15x and higher at that range. Just like everything else on these forums...there are a lot of factors involved and it can be different from hunter to hunter.

What does your rifle weigh? And what stock is on it?

 

[repins05]

Mcmillan game warden LR in CF. 10.3 lbs. Not trying to start a debate. I agree that there are advantages with decreased scope power at 10x etc like field of view and so on. I prefer the higher power with low light conditions. I usually dial the magnification to what is comfortable at the moment without knowing the actual magnification. It seems I usually fall somewhere between 15x-20x power in general when I check. If I was to encounter a problem during a hunt with not being able to keep my scope on target etc, I would reassess how I shoot.

The MB's on my rifles do seem to be very efficient with helping to reduce recoil and keeping it very manageable.

 

[SomeJackassOnAForum]

Isn’t that exactly what the 4w reticle is? 2moa hashes?

Why on earth does SMOA even exist? It’s completely unnecessary.

That is exactly what the 4W reticle is, but the turret values he's getting are wrong.

SMOA was in older scope designs that adjusted 1/4" @ 100 yds instead of in 1/4 MOA. (π/12 in @ 100 yds.

 

[SDHNTR]

Mcmillan game warden LR in CF. 10.3 lbs. Not trying to start a debate. I agree that there are advantages with decreased scope power at 10x etc like field of view and so on. I prefer the higher power with low light conditions. I usually dial the magnification to what is comfortable at the moment without knowing the actual magnification. It seems I usually fall somewhere between 15x-20x power in general when I check. If I was to encounter a problem during a hunt with not being able to keep my scope on target etc, I would reassess how I shoot.

The MB's on my rifles do seem to be very efficient with helping to reduce recoil and keeping it very manageable.

Interesting. I have a couple of those exact same stocks on long range set ups. With muzzle brakes also. Although I will say my rifles are generally about 8 1/2 to 9 pounds including scope/mounts. At 4 or 500 yds, about 10X is my sweet spot. Unless my rest is perfect, and/or I’m shooting something mild like my 260 or 6GT.

 

[Dave Chilson]

Have fired 550+ rounds with the scope, tracking/return to zero has been great. Setting the turret so that tightening only the two screws indicated in the instructions to secure the turret had no impact on the zero. I’ve backed the third screw out so it has no impact on the turret.

Clarity and eye relief are excellent and the illumination of the reticle works well. Having the on off switch on the ocular eyepiece seemed different at first, but now I’m liking it.

I can turn it on with my right hand while leaving my left hand on the stock. I am most familiar with the on/off switch being on the parallax adjustment knob and turning it on/adjusting brightness with my left.

Can best describe the battery compartment on the ocular lens as bulbous. The illumination will stay on approximately 3 hours before shutting down automatically.

Have a Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2 3-18 x 56 coming next week. Will run 500+ rounds through that one to check the tracking also. Setting up a dual scope mount so I can attach it to a tripod and compare which one can see the best at the end of legal shooting light.

I realize the Swarovski is 50mm versus 56mm for the Leupold but I would really like to test it for myself to see how much/if any it really matters.

I’ll start a new thread when I start running the comparison.
Have a great weekend!
Dave

 

[WMDM]

Thanks taking the time and sharing the information!

 

[Creditman]

Have fired 550+ rounds with the scope, tracking/return to zero has been great. Setting the turret so that tightening only the two screws indicated in the instructions to secure the turret had no impact on the zero. I’ve backed the third screw out so it has no impact on the turret.

Clarity and eye relief are excellent and the illumination of the reticle works well. Having the on off switch on the ocular eyepiece seemed different at first, but now I’m liking it.

I can turn it on with my right hand while leaving my left hand on the stock. I am most familiar with the on/off switch being on the parallax adjustment knob and turning it on/adjusting brightness with my left.

Can best describe the battery compartment on the ocular lens as bulbous. The illumination will stay on approximately 3 hours before shutting down automatically.

Have a Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2 3-18 x 56 coming next week. Will run 500+ rounds through that one to check the tracking also. Setting up a dual scope mount so I can attach it to a tripod and compare which one can see the best at the end of legal shooting light.

I realize the Swarovski is 50mm versus 56mm for the Leupold but I would really like to test it for myself to see how much/if any it really matters.

I’ll start a new thread when I start running the comparison.
Have a great weekend!
Dave

Did you ever start a new thread comparing the Swarovski to the Leupold? Or maybe I missed it. Mainly interested in optical clarity and low light performance between the two.

 

[Dave Chilson]

Did you ever start a new thread comparing the Swarovski to the Leupold? Or maybe I missed it. Mainly interested in optical clarity and low light performance between the two.

Optical clarity on both are great, the Swarovski holds colors a little better in the lowest light. The Leupold washes out a tiny bit, but both scopes easily let me make it to the end of legal shooting hours. You would never notice if you didn’t have them both side by side.

Really like the Twilight reticle in low light on the Leupold but with both being illuminated with red dots, it’s a moot point. Both red dots don’t flare for me as some other scopes I’ve owned, I do have a slight astigmatism in my right eye.

The Leupold has a 56mm objective lens vs 50mm on the Swarovski but offers no real benefit that I can tell.

Also like the level and automatic on/off features of the reticle on the Leupold and it’s easier to see the magnification number of the scope without raising your head. Due to the illumination bump on the ocular lens of the Swarovski, you need to raise your head a little to see it.

 

[Creditman]

Thanks for the comparison.