Wanted: Sturdy long range scope for mountain hunts
- Thread starter Highseater
- Start date
Hard to quantify , but not sure you can compare a Swarovski to scopes supplied to military around the world, like S&B and Nightforce, but your compromise is usually extra weight.
Saying that, unless you want to beat your scope against a rock, I’m sure a Swaro can stand up to any abuse a rugged hunting trip can deal out.
That’s a fair one
Swarovski is more than up to the role in my opinion
I have a
1-6x20 EE
Z8i 1-8x20
Z8i 2-16x 50
I’d happily take any of those on a hunting trip
They’d not fail
Yes exactly my thoughts, i have a number of Z8’s as per previous post that have been hunting in Namibia, SA, Croatia, Turkey, Scotland and England in all sorts of terrain and weather and never had an issue. Still not seen any “Facts” regarding them being more fragile than other high end glass
I've a Z6 and a Z6i. I have no issues with their robustness. Both scopes have the BRH reticle. The Z6 is my go to scope on my 260 Rem and it's a rare week it's not out at least once. I do keep a Butler Creek scope cover body on the bell of each scope to protect the bell from knocks.
Regards
JCS
Search the Rokslide drop test.
A mountain hunt on pony is a different level of toughness. The guide will probably lower the rifle by the sling onto the ground or scope first. You sleep with it in your tiny tent with all your gear. No padded slip.He carries it with all his other gear on the pony so it bangs against this as the pony bucks, rears etc.
Probably as important are mounts
Did a search on Rokslide re Swarovski it came back with nothing
Rifle Scope Field Evaluations
rokslide.com
There was talk of a table but I don’t think it’s happened
shootonsight
Well-Known Member
Check out the kahles 3-18x50 k318i
Muntybuck5803
Well-Known Member
There’s already been some good recommendations here. My personal recommendation for that application would be a S&B 3-12x42 Klassik with ballistic turrets and the P3 reticle.
Nice and light for a mountain rifle, and able to mount low, with more than enough long range capability out to any range you could realistically shoot an animal. Low profile single turn turrets will get you to 500/600 with most cartridges, and the FFP P3 reticle gives more capability still should it be required, whilst probably being the best hunting/long range cross over reticle ever made.
Nice and light for a mountain rifle, and able to mount low, with more than enough long range capability out to any range you could realistically shoot an animal. Low profile single turn turrets will get you to 500/600 with most cartridges, and the FFP P3 reticle gives more capability still should it be required, whilst probably being the best hunting/long range cross over reticle ever made.
billy_boyle_2010
Well-Known Member
The S&B Meta 3-18x42 looks pretty lovely.
Probably unnecessary mag range. And I wish it was a light 1" tube. But I would kill for one!
Probably unnecessary mag range. And I wish it was a light 1" tube. But I would kill for one!
Highseater
Well-Known Member
Thanks for all your insights and recommendations, lads. No need to convince me about S&B anymore. Just wondering if anyone has any experience with the Steiner M7Xi series?
Steiner is well liked on Snipershide. They don’t have a huge market share in the U.K.
I have had a few different scopes over the years including several PM11’s which I still have a couple on target oriented rifles. I am left with three Minox ZP5 3-15X50’s on the rifles I stalk with. These are the German made models as Minox’s lower end models are not. Minox is now under the Blaser family and support is great.
Schmidt is the go to though. A well known brand that certainly make robust scopes. If you are worried about mounting on a Blaser there are picatinny rails that work well. I used a steel rail which was excellent and lower profile than the blaser factory model. A simple well made Schmidt would be a 3-20X50 ultra short with P5FL reticle. 14 mil low profile locking turrets the actual designation escapes me. No nonsense KISS.
I have had a few different scopes over the years including several PM11’s which I still have a couple on target oriented rifles. I am left with three Minox ZP5 3-15X50’s on the rifles I stalk with. These are the German made models as Minox’s lower end models are not. Minox is now under the Blaser family and support is great.
Schmidt is the go to though. A well known brand that certainly make robust scopes. If you are worried about mounting on a Blaser there are picatinny rails that work well. I used a steel rail which was excellent and lower profile than the blaser factory model. A simple well made Schmidt would be a 3-20X50 ultra short with P5FL reticle. 14 mil low profile locking turrets the actual designation escapes me. No nonsense KISS.
The closest I had to Swaro was a K624i Kahles tactical and it broke. I stay clear of these and now just about only use S&B scopes. My favourite is the 3-20 Ultra short with low turret. We have however also two 4-16x50PMII with single turn turrets that are fantastic and seem bullet proof. One can pick these up at reasonable price used. I'd prefer that used to many new fancy scopes from companies that come and go. If one is satisfied with max around 450m distance then a S&B 3-12x50 Zenith with single turn 32 clicks also works very well. In the last weeks we tested seven different scopes and rifles at our "dot of doom" which is a 3.5" dot on a rock at 442m across a valley. Normally a challenge due to wind. The seven rifles were 2x S&B 3-12x50 (one new and one maybe 15 years old), one 4-16x56 Polar, one 3-18x50 Leupold tactical?? one 4-16x50 PMII, one 6.5-20x50 Zeiss Conquest and my 3-20x50 US PMII. All of these except me with the 3-20 hit the dot with the first shot. I was an inch to the right and one click left put it into the centre. Cartridges were from tight twist 22-250, 2x 6.5CM, 2x 308, 7-08 and 7x64. Both 308's had a Zenith FD7. One 308 was a CTR with PSE stock, rest had custom barrels fitted and PSE stocks.
4 of the rifles used, this was last week. Astonishing is that it was Peters first shot with his new rifle.
Dot of doom, left side at arrow.
edi
4 of the rifles used, this was last week. Astonishing is that it was Peters first shot with his new rifle.
Dot of doom, left side at arrow.
edi
Curiously
Yesterday i dropped a rifle with a S and B 4-16x50 klassik on it
Scope was fine, however it would not zero - shooting 1m right at 100m on max adjustment of the windage
Turns out that the scope survived the knock; as did the mounts
It was the rail bolted to the action that took the impact and moved ( I much prefer rails milled as part if the action)
Lesson?
The weakest part of your system - what ever that might be - might fail in the event of a hard knock
Not necessarily the scope
Oh well
Yesterday i dropped a rifle with a S and B 4-16x50 klassik on it
Scope was fine, however it would not zero - shooting 1m right at 100m on max adjustment of the windage
Turns out that the scope survived the knock; as did the mounts
It was the rail bolted to the action that took the impact and moved ( I much prefer rails milled as part if the action)
Lesson?
The weakest part of your system - what ever that might be - might fail in the event of a hard knock
Not necessarily the scope
Oh well
Highseater
Well-Known Member
Thanks for sharing your experience, much appreciated. I have a S&B Meta 3-18x42 coming my way to fit on the 6.5CM barrel that will hopefully be delivered one day. This will be my set-up for chamois, mouflon… As to my 300WM, I am considering the Exos 3-21x50 as the new BDC turret is identical to the Meta’s. However, my only concern about the Exos is the limited space on the tube for scope rings. I’m not in favour of mounting a Picatinny rail on my Blaser.The closest I had to Swaro was a K624i Kahles tactical and it broke. I stay clear of these and now just about only use S&B scopes. My favourite is the 3-20 Ultra short with low turret. We have however also two 4-16x50PMII with single turn turrets that are fantastic and seem bullet proof. One can pick these up at reasonable price used. I'd prefer that used to many new fancy scopes from companies that come and go. If one is satisfied with max around 450m distance then a S&B 3-12x50 Zenith with single turn 32 clicks also works very well. In the last weeks we tested seven different scopes and rifles at our "dot of doom" which is a 3.5" dot on a rock at 442m across a valley. Normally a challenge due to wind. The seven rifles were 2x S&B 3-12x50 (one new and one maybe 15 years old), one 4-16x56 Polar, one 3-18x50 Leupold tactical?? one 4-16x50 PMII, one 6.5-20x50 Zeiss Conquest and my 3-20x50 US PMII. All of these except me with the 3-20 hit the dot with the first shot. I was an inch to the right and one click left put it into the centre. Cartridges were from tight twist 22-250, 2x 6.5CM, 2x 308, 7-08 and 7x64. Both 308's had a Zenith FD7. One 308 was a CTR with PSE stock, rest had custom barrels fitted and PSE stocks.
4 of the rifles used, this was last week. Astonishing is that it was Peters first shot with his new rifle.
Dot of doom, left side at arrow.
edi
@ejg i also have an old Schmidt PM11 4-16X50 with the single turn turrets. They are bomb proof as you say. Mine was made in 1999 according to the serial number. They are rather large when compared to the modern alternatives. The best part is it’s that old I am not precious about it. Currently on the Sako 6mm Creedmoor. It’s battered 
I forgot a special mention to ZCO. The 5-27x56 is quite small and has excellent glass. The turrets are precise with excellent detents. I prefer them to every Schmidt I’ve had.
I forgot a special mention to ZCO. The 5-27x56 is quite small and has excellent glass. The turrets are precise with excellent detents. I prefer them to every Schmidt I’ve had.
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Saracen666
Well-Known Member
I've a Swarovski 8x50 Illuminated, a MEOPTA ZF 3 - 12 x 50, Choice of three Nightforce scopes. Plus some 1.5 - 6 Zeiss.
07590420108 (no withelds please).
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