I am familiar with Leupold VX 5 HD and Vortex Razor HD, both priced just over $1K, and that is the most money I have ever spent on an optic.
Now I have an opportunity to pick up a steeply discounted Sako 90 Varmint (for varmint hunting and other long-range fun), and I want to pair this with some nicer glass that is well suited to these tasks. I very much dislike FFP; I prefer second focal plane and a very simple duplex-like reticle (I know, all you long range nerds feel the opposite but whatever). I plan to dial for elevation and just estimate wind hold the old-school way (or if the reticle has some hash marks for windage that’s fine, as long as there is no crazy “Christmas tree” nonsense going on).
I am looking at the Zeiss Conquest series, the Steiner Predator series, and Swarovski Z5 (so far comparing these only on paper, and I haven’t been into a store to peer through them yet in person).
Does anyone have experience with any of these higher end optics, and can they comment on differences, etc.? Or is there another I should look at?
Have owned, and continue to own several models of the conquest series as well as the Z5 series. I’ve owned some Steiners in the past, but not that particular model. Nothing wrong with them but I ended up getting rid of those particular rifles and it’s hard to sell a rifle without a scope on it these days.
Yes, I can tell the difference between it and say a Leupold VX. Between the three I tend to gravitate towards the Swarovski. To me it feels like I’m looking at a more high-definition picture that’s easier to see and easier on my eyes to work with. However, that’s extremely subjective. I can’t promise that it improves something by 60% or gives a reduction of something else by 10% or anything like that. Swarovski also is almost completely second focal plane and has very basic reticles which I like also.
Which of course is the big problem with these high-end scopes. You really need to look yourself and see what you think because everyone has different opinions as to what looks great and not. Yet it’s hard to find good examples of these things that most local stores.
Another one to consider would be Nightforce at that price range. However most of their Scopes are first focal plane and have more Target competition shooting oriented reticles. But there are some out there that are second focal plane and have better reticles. Night Force tends to be considered a more robust system than many others, but again that’s subjective also.
Close to 1,000.00, but less are the VX 3HD line of scopes. 4.5x14x40 or the 6.5x20x40 or 50mm. I have had for going on 15 years a 6.5x20 and the older VX3 4.5x14x40mm Boone and Crocket reticle.
4 years ago I got a 6.5x20x50 Varmint reticle with capped turret adjustments. I shoot and like drop reticles through 600, and if you do the work to match the rounds ballistics to the reticles, there is no reason to dial for adjustments through the range of the reticle. So, shooting prairie dogs, crows, coyotes, the reticle is plenty accurate.
4.5x14 has really become the level of magnification I have settled on for a shooting/hunting optic.
The one I pasted has a silhouette reticle diamond, which may not be what you are used to seeing, but I bought that exact scope 2 years ago, and use it on my .308 to hunt everything. You will need to pick the heaviness of the reticle line in a model; I shoot fine line in mine, have bad eyes, but do not experience difficulty shooting the optic until it gets to the point where seeing an animal is challenging anyway due to limited light.
To each his own, but the glass is good, the turret adjustments are excellent, and they do not cost quite as much as some of the ones you are considering.
But, comes down to what you like and what you intend to do with the weapon.