Rifle Scopes Double Duty Scope Upgrade to the Big League - Z comp, Minox...

[Twentyguns]

Does anyone buy a 3k+ scope and mount it on a hunting rifle? I'm looking for a major glass upgrade to a titanium 7MM. It had an IOR Flea FFP on it for a long time and it was a great scope at the time, but sold it...and is now sporting Vortex HS SFP. I'd like to upgrade the glass and short of the Tangent, get the best glass, clarity/res, tracking, light gathering possible. Higher mag swing means I can pick out antler detail on a buck even if I left the spotter in camp.

I'm okay with FFP if, like the IOR, you can see your aim point at low mag, or if its illuminated. Primarily for western hunting deer and elk but like to practice out to and beyond 1.k at the range. Hard on gear and not enthused about carrying a cinder block made for the bench on my 6lb daily driver. But, aside from tapping steel, what are the thoughts on usefulness of maybe a ZC 4-20 or even their 5-27 since they are so close in weight for being at home on the range in the mountains?

Yep - did search but found little - given site title on dual application for the high enders.

Considered

Zero Comp 4-20 and the 5-27
Minox ZP5 5-25
March in ffp and sfp, similar power - was 3-27 I think
Kahles
S&B ultra short
and if I won the lotto - or was interested in Dead-vorce... the TT is what i would probably get.

Thinking ZC or Minox at the moment...

But if I'm going to spend more than 3k... buy once cry once thing for this one rifle... is anyone else crazy like me and thinking of putting all that PRS grade glass on a rifle that's going to wish it was punching paper? Running one of these higher end tubes for a hunting rig? I don't baby anything either.... it goes and gets used. Think they'll stand up... weather, over mountain - hill & dale or best left on the range rack?

 

[Covertnoob5]

I took my zco 420 hunting a couple weeks ago. No issues. Western hunting. Worked fine. I've taken s&b ultra short 520, TT525, NF735, and a range of other high end scopes hunting as well. No issues.

 

[Simia Dei]

I have a 3-20x on my hunting gun. I’m a massive fan, and the crosshair in the MSR reticle is more than enough when illuminated. Low light performance is good enough for what I need it for.

 

[RS14]

My zero comp hasn’t made it to me yet. So I can weigh in on if it’s the one you should get or not. But I personally don’t see a problem with using anything you listed for hunting. I’ve had a nightforce and a razor gen 2 in a treestand before. And like you mentioned. The higher magnification just allowed me to see more fine details to help me decide.

 

[bug_eyedmonster]

I don't have any of the high end scopes listed, but I recently put a Leupold Mark 5 on my 7 mag that I hunt with. I have two, actually, the .223 trainer has a 3.6-18, and the 7 mag has the 5-25. They are not so heavy that they become unbearable in the field. I previously hunted with a SFP VX-6, but did not like the fact that I was limited in mag range for using the reticle. I have the ZP5 on a different build, and it's heavier than the Mark 5. Clarity is there, quality is there, but because I hoof it in and out of the area I hunt, I did not want to risk not having locking turrets like the Mark 5. If I could have swung the cost of two ZCOs, one for the .223 and one for the 7 mag, I would have, but kids and dog need food, mortgage needs to be paid. The other factor that prevented me to buy the ZCO was timing. When my rifles were finished, the ZCOs were still unavailable. I was able to score the Mark 5s at a great deal, so it was a no-brainer for me.

The ZP5 I purchased was used from another Hide member, and came beat up, so I sent it to Minox/Blaser to have it looked over, and they sent it back with a clean bill of health. Their warranty is top notch based on this alone. But with that being said, I would rather not test it, as it does seem more fragile than the Mark 5, and obviously more fragile than the NFs I have. This, along with the locking turrets of the ZCO, I would say go with the ZCO.


Jerry

 

[CSTactical]

@Twentyguns I'd be happy to assist you in your decision on those two fantastic scopes, please give us a call at 916-670-1103

 

[Scotch_egg]

I have just swapped a Schmidt 5-20X50 ultra short for a March 3-24X52. Size wise the March is less than 10mm longer. Weight saved is 300g.

The March glass is excellent and I am happy with my decision.

 

[Powdermonkey4]

I am in a very similar space and had decided on a TT315M for weight, build / glass quality but after thinking long and hard I reckon I will be restricted by the 12mils of elevation at some stage. Therefore I will be picking up a ZCO420 later this year, the only theoretical negative is the weight but in the scheme of things my rifle is 4kgs (9lbs) including qd atlas and sling so the extra 200grams is not going to make any difference in the real world

 

[lancetkenyon]

Of course! Where is having alpha glass more important other than a service rifle?

All of my rifles are hunting purpose. All wear alpha glass.

Premier Heritage Light Tactical 3-15×50 on my varmint AR
Tangent Theta TT315M 3-15×50 on my 6CM
S&B PMII 3-20×50US on my 6.5SLR
S&B PMII 5-25×56 DT on my 6.5SS
March F 3-24×52 on lightweight .280AI
S&B PMII 3-20×50 on my 7RM
Premier Heritage 5-25×56 on my .300RUM

Just bought a S&B PMII 5-20×50US for my new 6.5SS that is being put together as we speak.

 

[Twentyguns]

I considered the March option for a good combo of clarity and light-weight given its power range. Great mag range starting low- but wanted to see the reticles to see if they are useful at low - or if I had to go with SFP, and have heard more about Minox in the light gathering and clarity categories comparatively. ZComp and Minox are still at the top. Need to make it over to CST to take a look.

 

[7WSMShooter]

You should also consider a Vortex AMG for a dedicated hunting scope. I Have Minox, Kahles, AMGs and had most everything except for TT and ZCO. But for Weight, performance and actual cost, sorry but AMG is gonna win hands down every time against TT and ZCO. I can get two AMGs for less than the cost of a Single ZCO and even though I’m sure it’s a minutely better scope, 5% better glass isn’t worth it on a hunting rifle when weight plays a part. I love the Alpha glass, and still wanna get a TT and a ZCO because I’m a glass whore as well, but my new Moon built Ti Mack EVO 7WSM with Proof CF will be wearing an AMG as soon as it gets here. IMHO, Hands down the best performance and lightest weight per dollar of any FFP scope on the planet.

 

[Rthur]

I'd think if you had a great scope it'd go with you when shot placement is even
more critical...

R

 

[FCrifles]

Swaro X5, pretty hard to beat for hunting. It is SFP