Swarovski DS

[topscots1]

Correct, it is an 'easy button' of sorts.

I am sure it is not as fast as a competent shooter using an 'Xmas tree' reticle for holdovers.

I would say that it is likely faster, the only variable would be the use of an LRF of some description, or the reticle or range card to work out range and holdover, if this was the case I think the DS may be quicker.I am not a fan of Xmas tree reticles, I can see a place for them in completion and real world applications. Just not for me I have tried, I am happy to dial out to 6-800metres using the old German post reticles and a 6x42 scope Trialled it a couple of years back with a 7.62 AI against the 338 and the 5-25 PM 2.

Out to 800 easily kept up. After that the 338 proved its worth.

Stalking I’m happy with a simple reticle. Although my 7mm currently wears a ZCO 4-20 MPCT 1 reticle. A little information to adjust POI but not overwhelming.

The way I see it as long as people are out shooting they can and should use whatever works for them.

There are a few videos of yanks comparing dialling to the DS online unfortunately the real test would be an unknown distance shoot.

 

[User00040]

There are a few videos of yanks comparing dialling to the DS online unfortunately the real test would be an unknown distance shoot.

All good until the DS runs out of battery or has an error.

Then you have a pointlessly heavy scope.

 

[243ack]

All good until the DS runs out of battery or has an error.

Then you have a pointlessly heavy scope.

Can't beat a club or a big stane.

 

[buck52]

Thought I would add to my earlier posts after reading others sort of suggesting dial-up may be better.
Picture this:
Spot a deer, grab your rangefinder & ping it, refer to drop chart for click values, go to scope click, click, click, back to deer, oh bugger its moved further away, grab your rangefinder & ping it again, refer to drop chart for click values, go to scope click, click, click again, back tp deer, oh bugger its moved further away. Swarovski DS, ping deer through scope, pull the trigger, go and get your deer, by the time you have pinged, clicked your dial-up you would be on your way to retrieve your culled deer, get my drift?
I've had it since they were available, about 2018-19, its been back to Swarovski once for a zeroing problem, BUT, so have other Swarovski scopes I've had in addition to a Zeiss V8 which went back due to zero problem.
Its a superb piece of kit and I wouldn't be without it.

 

[buck52]

All good until the DS runs out of battery or has an error.

Then you have a pointlessly heavy scope.

Carrying a spare battery is lighter than a rangefinder tho! and all scopes are pointless when they develop errors

 

[Sakoodin1]

Your rf bino’s or thermal will use battery’s faster than a ds I by rule change my battery’s every 10 months on the ds’s and my bins then I know I am good for another 10 months.and the thermal is daily

 

[User00040]

Carrying a spare battery is lighter than a rangefinder tho! and all scopes are pointless when they develop errors

Your rf bino’s or thermal will use battery’s faster than a ds I by rule change my battery’s every 10 months on the ds’s and my bins then I know I am good for another 10 months.and the thermal is daily

I don't need a DS for shots out to 300m, and if you are taking shots on deer at 300m+ on a regular basis it does not hold up to the job either.

Better to spend the money on a dial scope that will hold zero and track properly along with a Leica RF unit or bins.

If the DS was perfect, why did they make a Gen 2?

 

[User00040]

Thought I would add to my earlier posts after reading others sort of suggesting dial-up may be better.
Picture this:
Spot a deer, grab your rangefinder & ping it, refer to drop chart for click values, go to scope click, click, click, back to deer, oh bugger its moved further away, grab your rangefinder & ping it again, refer to drop chart for click values, go to scope click, click, click again, back tp deer, oh bugger its moved further away. Swarovski DS, ping deer through scope, pull the trigger, go and get your deer, by the time you have pinged, clicked your dial-up you would be on your way to retrieve your culled deer, get my drift?
I've had it since they were available, about 2018-19, its been back to Swarovski once for a zeroing problem, BUT, so have other Swarovski scopes I've had in addition to a Zeiss V8 which went back due to zero problem.
Its a superb piece of kit and I wouldn't be without it.

If you need a rangefinder to shoot deer under 200m, you are in the wrong game...

 

[buck52]

If you need a rangefinder to shoot deer under 200m, you are in the wrong game...

Who mentioned 200m?
And this comment "If the DS was perfect, why did they make a Gen 2?" So they never upgraded Leica, or Swarovski bins, all manufacturers upgrade, look at the car trade!
And I didnt say it was perfect, I said it was "superb" which is my opinion from experience of using it.

 

[NullMac]

relatively poor light transmission

Bollocks as far as I can see. No pun intended.

dS version 2.

Super fast, gives confidence.

You have to take the time to set it up properly to get the best out of it. Chrony the ammo. Get a decent approximation for the bullet bc (not vital for hunting but we are all going to shoot paper or steel out there, that's part of the fun.)

At its best for hind cull where you need to take multiple shots in quick succession at varying ranges.

Do you really need it? Probably not, stalking ranges are short really. But, it makes for very confident, fast shots. Shot accuracy seems to be better as well giving more consistent poi.

Am I totally convinced. Not yet, have not been behind it long enough

 

[NullMac]

I am sure it is not as fast as a competent shooter using an 'Xmas tree' reticle for holdovers.

Nope. Review

Oh you probably mean some guy who get the range within 10m just by looking at it and can remember his drops to 0.5moa.

Bit of a hater on the dS aren't you ?? Hard to tell

 

[Sakoodin1]

If the DS was perfect, why did they make a Gen 2?

I have a gen 2 as well as a gen 1 the only difference really is reticle choices and a level guide,and more info on the screen if wanted but apart from that it does the same job. I can only speak from my experience in fox work especially but they are great out to 750 yards if you get your wind right, it just saves you getting off your rifle to rangefinder then back on again to take the shot. I like my atacrs mind and if I am in a place where it’s a big open face and you can see them coming and have time to get the kestrel out they are hard to beat to be honest but for fast accurate shots the ds has a place and is a big player. As far as deer work it’s just confidence in the exact range to shoot without having to think about range at all and the drop between 200-300 can be a fair bit and needs a thought where as the ds takes a step out of the job for you. Just my findings though

 

[griff]

I do not have a DS, but I do work with 3 fellow workmates that do, between them they are shooting 2500-3000 deer a year, so their input about the qualities of the DS I think is fairly broad and accurate.
All three have said that the lowlight qualities are not up there with the main scope manufacturers, 1 has had nothing but problems his and has been back 3 maybe 4 times in the last 2 years.
One thing is for sure it is stunning for night shooting, quick and simple, one improvement could be a remote switch(wi-fi).
Will I buy one, no, I like to range and dial (o'l school), seems so satisfying.However If I was contracting to the extent of my fellow workmates, yes I would get one tomorrow,not having one probably loses me about 15% of my cull, hey ho.

 

[User00040]

Bollocks as far as I can see. No pun intended.

dS version 2.

Super fast, gives confidence.

You have to take the time to set it up properly to get the best out of it. Chrony the ammo. Get a decent approximation for the bullet bc (not vital for hunting but we are all going to shoot paper or steel out there, that's part of the fun.)

At its best for hind cull where you need to take multiple shots in quick succession at varying ranges.

Do you really need it? Probably not, stalking ranges are short really. But, it makes for very confident, fast shots. Shot accuracy seems to be better as well giving more consistent poi.

Am I totally convinced. Not yet, have not been behind it long enough

Based on your reasoning, the Swaro dS should be winning PRS competitions and be used by every competitor, yet all of them choose analog scopes like the Kahles K525.

Hope you don't regret selling yours for the dS

 

[User00040]

However If I was contracting to the extent of my fellow workmates, yes I would get one tomorrow,not having one probably loses me about 15% of my cull, hey ho.

Considering that only a few contractors will be VAT registered, it's not like they can write off such a purchase under expenses.

Not sure how spending £3.5k on a scope would make up for 15% of your cull unless you were really shooting 3,000 deer a year.

That's a lot of time spent walking out to pick them up, gralloch, carry back to the truck/Argo/quad (assuming you shot it off the bonnet/wingmirror) and then more time in the larder.

Must have a good team of assistants (or fairies morelike...)

 

[User00040]

I have a gen 2 as well as a gen 1 the only difference really is reticle choices and a level guide,and more info on the screen if wanted but apart from that it does the same job. I can only speak from my experience in fox work especially but they are great out to 750 yards if you get your wind right, it just saves you getting off your rifle to rangefinder then back on again to take the shot. I like my atacrs mind and if I am in a place where it’s a big open face and you can see them coming and have time to get the kestrel out they are hard to beat to be honest but for fast accurate shots the ds has a place and is a big player. As far as deer work it’s just confidence in the exact range to shoot without having to think about range at all and the drop between 200-300 can be a fair bit and needs a thought where as the ds takes a step out of the job for you. Just my findings though

What cartridge is the rifle chambered in?

 

[camodog]

A friend of mine has one. He regularly shoots 10 - 12 roe per year........in woodland........he swears by it !...

 

[Sakoodin1]

What cartridge is the rifle chambered in?

One in .270 and one in 7mm rem mag

 

[Sakoodin1]

The gen 2 is on the .270 and gen 1 on the 7mm

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

I don't need a DS for shots out to 300m, and if you are taking shots on deer at 300m+ on a regular basis it does not hold up to the job either.

Better to spend the money on a dial scope that will hold zero and track properly along with a Leica RF unit or bins.

If the DS was perfect, why did they make a Gen 2?

To sell more DS scopes……

Better choice of reticules

For fast ranging and taking multiple shots on a herd that moves and stops, moves and stops they work extremely well.

The only way to do this with a manual dial scope and a rangefinder is to build a mental range card of numerous geographical points that deer may move to once you shoot the first target.
Night shooting is also an area they excel

When set up properly they work very well
Anything with batteries can go flat
Prepare better if that is a concern