Thread: Swarovski Z3

As a pure hunting scope with no dialing expectations etc
Is the Swarovski Z3 any good for the price point Hunting and Fishing has them at , or would I be just as well off with a VX3.
Cheers

Vx 3, the Z3 isn't really a Swarovski it just carries there price tag


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Thanks Brads I wondered what the deal is with them

I would comfortably rate my Z3 over my vx3 for glass quality.

I have to respectfully disagree and go for the Z3. I was able to go into hunting and fishing in town here and try a Z3,vx3 and zeiss hd5 on dark and the Z3 still won. Great glass.
I tested the 4-12x50. The 50mm objective let an amazing amount of light in. However HnF prices are pretty high. Mainly hunting have them cheaper and if you play hard ball with HnF they will be able to work something out. Also give shooters supplies in chch a call. I have heard they can under cut anybody on those scopes.

I’ve got a Z3 on my .223. I really rate it. I dial it from time to time and it works a treat.

+1 for shooters supplies. Will help you out at better than hunt fish prices if you ask nicely

Thanks Chaps,
I will email Shooters for a price.

Z3 good scope mate old man has 4 to 12 x50 was good but vx6 3 18 x 44 was better light gatherer z3 be better than vx3

Originally Posted by BRADS

Vx 3, the Z3 isn't really a Swarovski it just carries there price tag


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BS BS BS. The Z3 is made in the USA but is Swaro Austrian glass.

I have a Z3i - with BRX recticle. The glass is VX6 quality for much better price. Myself and buddy who has VX3 with B&C recticle compared the two at low light levels and midday levels Sept last year. The Swaro had the edge everytime. Early morning, he spots a young fallow hind 230m away and tells me to take it, I look through my swaro and pick out the two tiny pedicles and didn't take the shot. His scope didn't see them.

I bought mine overseas and hand carried it in. $700 cheaper than anyone over here. There are US dealers who will ship to NZ and you'll save heaps.

The BRX recticle is brilliant.



No comparison.

Originally Posted by scottrods

BS BS BS. The Z3 is made in the USA but is Swaro Austrian glass.

I have a Z3i - with BRX recticle. The glass is VX6 quality for much better price. Myself and buddy who has VX3 with B&C recticle compared the two at low light levels and midday levels Sept last year. The Swaro had the edge everytime. Early morning, he spots a young fallow hind 230m away and tells me to take it, I look through my swaro and pick out the two tiny pedicles and didn't take the shot. His scope didn't see them.

I bought mine overseas and hand carried it in. $700 cheaper than anyone over here. There are US dealers who will ship to NZ and you'll save heaps.

The BRX recticle is brilliant.

Attachment 25123

No comparison.

As you said its made in the US its not a proper swaro
Jakewire just asked for our thoughts mate, I was just giving mine
Ive had 2 Z3s and 2 Z5s I thought that made my feedback worth putting up, there glass is great but........
don't attack me they brake, there is lots of evidence of this on this forum alone.
Ill stick to my shitty old vx 3s and vx 6s just my opinion

Correct , people opinion was what I was wanting, and cheers all for your opinions.

Originally Posted by BRADS

As you said its made in the US its not a proper swaro
Jakewire just asked for our thoughts mate, I was just giving mine
Ive had 2 Z3s and 2 Z5s I thought that made my feedback worth putting up, there glass is great but........
don't attack me they brake, there is lots of evidence of this on this forum alone.
Ill stick to my shitty old vx 3s and vx 6s just my opinion

All good mate. Not being shitty actually. All the fine tuned stuff is fickle. Everything breaks. Z3's are made at a swaro factory in US, so it's a Swaro. But I suppose it's like Guiness brewed at DB here compared to Dublin.

Still when buying a Z3 for $800 landed it was a good deal. Though when faced with lots of Leupys it's still tempting to melt the plastic.

My 2cents FWIW

I know a guy that got a brand new Z5

He loved that scope, the rifle he put it on not so much, so he sold that rifle & got another one.

A new Mauser 12 or something, after much swearing & load development with many different projectiles & powders he decided he still liked the Swarovski & really disliked the Mauser, it wouldn't group so sold it, losing quite a bit of $$$ in the process.

So he bought Kimber 84L in 280ai, stuck the Swarovski on & away he went

Once again lots & lots of projectiles & powders down the bore to no avail again....

He was getting pretty annoyed by this stage....

He got a VX6, stuck on the Kimber and what do you know his group size basically halved.......

The Swarovski is away getting fixed, it is a Very expensive scope ....

Anything manufactured can have issues,

I'm not sure that the Z3 & Z5 are as we'll made as the German Swarovskis much like the Conquests aren't as good as the Davaris

They are assembled in the States to make them price competitive over there because they don't suffer from tariffs to protect the local Scope manufactures.

Cheaper isn't always better

Leupy have just as many manufacturing faults if not more.. The Swaro above is no more expensive than any other faulty scope that he failed to identify early enough ... his next one will be cheaper whatever brand it is...

I have had Z3's for 10+ years... haven't yet seen another scope which provides brightness & light, glass quality, function and light weight in a package that compares. I have had 2 x 3-9's and 1 x 3-10 but settled on a 4A reticle 3-9 which I consider to be the best all around light weight scope that I am yet to see. The Leupy VX-3 in 2.5-8 is dark in comparison. The 3.5-10 is dark, not low enough powered for an all-round heavier and bigger. VX-6s are bigger heavier, more expensive and no brighter.

I have a Z6 1.7-10, which I really rate, but it is bigger and heavier than my Z3.

For shorter range bush work, I run a Leupy VX-3 1.5-5 with german No 4 reticle, because Swaro don't produce low power light weight options.

There is no significant evidence that USA manufactured Swaros are suffering lower quality production than the german produced ones... they are however a lower spec of product. Producing in the US is as pointed out an effort to attract more US market exposure by removing import tariffs and increasing market acceptance by becoming more local. That is also a benefit to us in terms of cost.

Less than US$800 retail for a 3-9, you should be able to get something local $1200-$1300..?