Thread: Seeking feedback about the NZ rifle scope market/product offerings

Originally Posted by Nick.m

They look good but looks like they are all 30mm tubes and 100grams heavier then thr current z5?

your right however still a shade lighter than a vx6 and a few hundred cheaper.i dont think there is another scope in that class/spec that is lighter that I have seen.

Originally Posted by whanahuia

For my part, I figured you were wanting to know what people are looking for. The scope described is a good all rounder. Capable from close too reasonably long range. Simple and efficient to use.

Thanks, it’s very much appreciated.
Even if people already have their dream scope, it’s nice to get it put into the survey as it makes it much easier to compare against others feedback.

I’m thinking I’ll keep the surveys up for about a week before trying to interpret the feedback.
I wont publish the raw data but will post the basics trends that I see, if people are interested.

Originally Posted by Yesmate

I think the new swaro Z5+ 3.5-18 BT might be close to the perfect hunting scope.High quality,dialing turret, low weight,plenty of mag for longer range if needed,reasonble price.

They are pretty close z8 glass is still better

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Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

They are pretty close z8 glass is still better

Sent from my CPH2531 using Tapatalk

Z8 is a $5000+ scope, certainly not a reasonable price for most people. I think even the Z5+ at $3000ish is getting a bit rich for most people.

VX5hd seems to be the best bang for the buck still.
I had always wanted FFP and Mil versions but the new Mark 4hd line basically does that.
Although the 4.5-18x52 should've been a 4-16 in a 30mm tube IMO, 27.5oz is getting a bit heavy for a hunting scope.

Originally Posted by Yesmate

your right however still a shade lighter than a vx6 and a few hundred cheaper.i dont think there is another scope in that class/spec that is lighter that I have seen.

Yeap. I personally don't know of any comparable scopes to the swaro z5 for both weight and clarity? Everything else weighs 100 grams ±. Other options in that class of rifle scope I feel is what is missing from the market.

Just compiled a few of the weights for interests sake.
VX6HD gen 2 (new for 2025) 3-18x44: 626grams
VX6HD 3-18x44: 612grams
VX5HD 3-15x44: 558grams
Z5 3.5-18x44: 450grams
Z5i+ 3.5-18x44: 561grams
Z6 2.5-15x44: 575 grams

Hi , I think there are two types of scopes used by the New Zealand hunter:
There is a light, close to mid range bush gun scope, for shooting from 0 to 300 +/- on a shortish barrel rifle .
The typical scope would be :
Leupold vx3 2.5-8 or more common 3.5x10 with 1 inch tube and cds turret, swaroski 3x10 ( I wish it had come with a turret, that would have made almost the perfect scope), the vx5 2-10 and vx 6 2-12 ( although a bit over kill for a light rifle), the nightforce 2-10, and to larger extend the Burris signature 3-15 .

Then there are the longer range guns , used a bit more on the tops and for the longer distances . For these the typical scopes are:
Leupold vx5 or 6 3-15 / 3-18, swaroski z5/z6/z8, your bigger and heavier nightforce (2.5x20 …etc) .



What the market is missing is a lightweight first focal plane rifle scope. A few candidates that are almost there are ( or were):
The bushnell 3-12 LRHS and 4.5-18 LRHS, although a little bit heavy, they have a low turret , ( important when you are bush bashing to not get caught in the vegetation and to not brake it during a fall). They also had a very nice reticle https://www.bushnell.com/dw/image/v2...&sh=800&sm=fit

The new leupold mark 4 scope are good except that the 2-5x 10 model does not have a parallax adjustment ( not important for me but some prefer that option) and the 4.5-18 comes in a 34mm tube which is too big and too heavy. And we don’t need to have 120 Moa of verticale adjustment ( We are hunters ,not extreme long range shooters).
The Burris veracity in 2-10 is also a good ffp scope , a bit heavy though. They had a good reticle which was thick on the sides , going thinner toward the middle, which mean that at high magnification you have a clear view without to much obstruction, but at close range and low magnification, you have thicker reticle that you can see and place on that deer that just popped up at 20m on the last light.
Another very good reticle is this one:

https://images.eurooptic.com/images/...mx-reticle.jpg

As you can see, as you increase the magnification,the thick bars would disappear leaving a clearer view in the middle for the longer shots and you can still compensate for drop using the reticle if necessary, and at any magnification since it s ffp.

A current scope which is almost there is the new gpo 4-16-44 centuri ffp. It is ultra compact, has a double turn turret in mills with a zero stop ( zero stop is very important on any turret scope). It is fairly light for its magnification range. But the threes things wrong with it are, a poor reticle with no numbers on it , the illumination is only from 0 to 11 with no cut off in between each adjustments and the eye relief is such that the scope is set really back of any gun , and therefore has to be sitting ver high other wise the front objective bell is touching the front bridge of most receiver actions.

Another scope would be this one :

https://marchscopes.com/scopes/d15v42ti/ But this one is sfp.
And this one:

https://marchscopes.com/scopes/d15v42fdimlx/

If they had made it in 30mm tube instead, that would have been perfect.

And last, I have an old pride Fowler scope, with a 1 inch tube, in 2x7x32mm with a first focal plan reticle. So yes, 1inch lightweightness in ffp can be done.

I hope that gives you a better understanding, don’t hesitate to come back to me if you want more ideas.

My wish list
2 -3 x at bottom end
15-18x top end
44mm objective
Excellent glass = clarity, sharpness & low light performance
Firedot, windplex or similar reticle. Or firedot with Z-moa set up to provide windage & elevation hold over.
SFP
Moa zero lock turrets, with at least 20 moa come up.
Light weight & not too big & bulky
30 or 25mm tube. NOT 34mm
Price $1k or there abouts. Won’t complain if it’s less

Originally Posted by Nick.m

Yeap. I personally don't know of any comparable scopes to the swaro z5 for both weight and clarity? Everything else weighs 100 grams ±. Other options in that class of rifle scope I feel is what is missing from the market.

Just compiled a few of the weights for interests sake.
VX6HD gen 2 (new for 2025) 3-18x44: 626grams
VX6HD 3-18x44: 612grams
VX5HD 3-15x44: 558grams
Z5 3.5-18x44: 450grams
Z5i+ 3.5-18x44: 561grams
Z6 2.5-15x44: 575 grams

I wish the new Z5+ was 44mm Nick! But bloody 50mm. Would put one on my long range gun and sell the Z8 tomorrow if they were 44mm. Would cut some weight & size and also get rid of the illuminated reticle that I've never used.

Originally Posted by Huntn

I wish the new Z5+ was 44mm Nick! But bloody 50mm. Would put one on my long range gun and sell the Z8 tomorrow if they were 44mm. Would cut some weight & size and also get rid of the illuminated reticle that I've never used.

Im looking for a scope for my long range rig as we speak and so far the original z5 is probably still winning. I hadn't picked up on that, I thought they were 44mm. Straight away for me that rules them out. I prefer my scopes to have a smaller objective lense and sit nice and close to the barrel.

My ideal scope would be a 3-18 vx6hd with a 3-9 vx freedom price tag

I think the March 3-24x42 F is the closest thing available to my ideal scope.

If someone took that and made:
- 2 models - 2x bottom end and 3x bottom end, 5x or 6x ratio - so 2-10 or 12, and 3-15 or 18 - it should be possible improve the finickiness of the optics (although it's never a problem in the real world, only scope reviews).

Parallax that adjusts down to 50m rather than 10m should help too.

Make the thin portions of the reticle 0.03mrad thicker.

Capped windage.

A more positive locking ring on the ocular.

Keep everything else the same - maybe a 36-40mm objective on the smaller model.

It would be perfect. And it is what is missing from the market.

This for me is close. 2.5-15 x 44. Good glass. Cross hair and dot (illuminated dot). Under $1,500. 30mm, I guess to fit the illumination in. Reliable (Brian and I have several Tracts - never a problem).
Would like the covered elevation turret to have a zero stop.

Personal preferences will always be the deciding factor in what we buy and there is no perfect do it all scope, everything is a compromise. Because 90% of my hunting is inside 500yds, when I'm in that mode, I don't need or want : side focus/paralx, a 50mm objective, a 30mm tube, exposed turrets or a cluttered up reticle.
I like a floating dot with some simple hold over points. Something like the G4 from vortex is perfect for my taste in a 2-10 or 2-12x 40
Longer range has a plethora of options as the market has driven manufactures in that direction but again the reticle options often let them down for me.

Originally Posted by Tahr

This for me is close. 2.5-15 x 44. Good glass. Cross hair and dot (illuminated dot). Under $1,500. 30mm, I guess to fit the illumination in. Reliable (Brian and I have several Tracts - never a problem).
Would like the covered elevation turret to have a zero stop.

Attachment 268094

Those and the GPO scopes have to be the best value on offer I think. Was stunned today to see these are now under a grand.

https://www.nzammo.co.nz/product/271...scope-g4i-drop

I would like the Swarovski z5 2.4-12 BT but with a 40mm objective and MOA dial that pops up to set like a Burris/Zeiss. No Parralax, mount nice and low and pretty light and simple