Rifle Scopes Minox ZP5 and scope tracking in general

[LA260]

By the end of the year or so I will be buying a new scope. It's either going to be Minox ZP5 w/MR4 or Kahles k525i SKMR3. While researching the Minox I came acreoss this video on youtube. The guy is saying (starts 15:20) that while testing the tracking at 100meters Minox dialed up to 9.8mils when it was supposed to be 10mils. He contacted Minox and per Minox being off at 100meters is normal since when you dial very high at a short distance a percentage of error is fine and that the scope will be perfect at the proper distance. In other words dialing up 10mils at 100meters will be off but at 1000meters it will be perfect. Something to do with he way lights comes in through parallax.

This goes against what I have seen here and other places when it comes to tracking tests. If some error is expected at 100meters then what's the point of doing any test at 100meters? How would you know what % of error is ok? But at the same time after hearing the explanation from Minox it sort of makes sense? Idk much about this and I'm hopping some of the experts here would shed some light.

 

[koshkin]

I am not sure who told him that and why, but the only way it may make sense is if at close focusing distances, the effective focal length of the objective is different, so the image size created by the objective is different. In principle, this kind of stuff can happen at very close distances (i.e. where the distance to the object is not too much longer than the focal length of the objective).

At 100meters, it should not be happening. If he said 10 or 20 meters, I would be more inclined to believe the explanation.

The 3-15x50 Minox I had tested did not exhibit this. I am sure there are a bunch of people here with 5-25x56 ZP5 who can check theirs.

ILya

 

[rlbreakfield]

I saw that same review and it made me Leary of purchasing one. But I looked and asked and heard absolutely no other comments to elude to the issue he describes. Either way, I bought the 3-15x50 ZP5 and love it!

 

[Threadcutter308]

By the end of the year or so I will be buying a new scope. It's either going to be Minox ZP5 w/MR4 or Kahles k525i SKMR3. While researching the Minox I came acreoss this video on youtube. The guy is saying (starts 15:20) that while testing the tracking at 100meters Minox dialed up to 9.8mils when it was supposed to be 10mils. He contacted Minox and per Minox being off at 100meters is normal since when you dial very high at a short distance a percentage of error is fine and that the scope will be perfect at the proper distance. In other words dialing up 10mils at 100meters will be off but at 1000meters it will be perfect. Something to do with he way lights comes in through parallax.

This goes against what I have seen here and other places when it comes to tracking tests. If some error is expected at 100meters then what's the point of doing any test at 100meters? How would you know what % of error is ok? But at the same time after hearing the explanation from Minox it sort of makes sense? Idk much about this and I'm hopping some of the experts here would shed some light.

I have multiple ZP5's and love them. In particular, the glass is outstanding. Keep in mind that the (implied) error is 2%. While the number is small, I do understand that when you are looking for every advantage, it isn't such a small number any longer. I would also caution you to take most Youtube reviews with a grain of salt. I think most of us have seen reviews where the reviewer "got it wrong", but the negative statement takes on a life of it's own and refuses to die. That situation is unfair to the manufacturer as well as present and potential new customers of the product. I am not saying that is the case here, but I would suggest some skepticism until more is known about the reviewer's testing methods.

 

[LA260]

To be honest i wouldn't pay much attention to what the reviewer was saying since who knows what methods he used to do the test. But what caught my attention was what Minox told him assuming there were no miscommunication/misunderstading on anyone's part.

 

[Dlwheel]

The glass is outstanding on both of my ZP5’s. I’ve tested them to 14mil elev. and 4mil r/l at 100yds. They both test within 1/2moa. The only complaint I’ve heard is the transition into the 2nd rev on the elev turret. I’ve found it to be a non issue.

 

[NoggieRed]

Hi guys! New to the forum, but have been reading here for quite some time.

Just want to share this as it seems this fellow countryman of mine has developed a new reticle for the ZP5 called “Hybrid”. Have anyone had a chance to play with it yet? I was set on getting this scope with the MR4 when I came across this video. Now I’m having a second guess.

 

[Jayjay1]

Seems to be kind of a copy what Schmidt & Bender brought out (last year?).

LRR-Mil or somewhat, LRR stands for Long Range Reticle, I guess:
http://www.eurooptic.com/blog/post/2017/03/15/sneak-peek-schmidt-bender-lrr-mil-reticle

Especially starting fat lines on the outside and then getting slimer to the centre.

 

[gamewarden]

This is Thomas Hauglands new reticle. I like really like it, very intuitive. Saying it's a copy is laughable...watch the videos.

https://vertebrae.no/int/thlr-zp5

 

[NoggieRed]

Not comparable to anything I’ve seen elsewhere included S&Bs reticles as mentioned above. If anyone has tested it I would really appreciate some feedback. I’m confident it will be a brilliant reticle choice with regards to hunting, but I’m curious how easy it is shooting 600-1500 yards with this.

 

[LA260]

Interesting reticle and seems like you could do a lot with it. Better than MR4 for low power/hunting scenarios since the MR4 disappears on low power like most FFP thin/fine reticles. I would consider it if it was for a hunting rifle but for target shooting it's MR4 for me.

 

[Dthomas3523]

Seems to be kind of a copy what Schmidt & Bender brought out (last year?).

LRR-Mil or somewhat, LRR stands for Long Range Reticle, I guess:
http://www.eurooptic.com/blog/post/2017/03/15/sneak-peek-schmidt-bender-lrr-mil-reticle

Especially starting fat lines on the outside and then getting slimer to the centre.

Can’t find a single thing that compares with the LRR except they are both reticles.

 

[rlbreakfield]

Really like your setup bro!

 

[Yerman]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but any updates on the ZP5s tracking ability. I heard they had some issues initially but not sure how accurate the rumors are and/or if it’s something that has been sorted. Thanks.

 

[Tikkaguy]

Had another guy have one that tracks like complete ass. Enough to scare me away from one. Especially given they don’t do a lifetime warranty on a 3k scope.

 

[LA260]

Interesting review. I haven't done a tracking test on my ZP5 so I can't comment on its tracking. Had it for lil more than 3 years and haven't noticed any issues but maybe I can blame some of my misses on tracking now.
Two things that are 100% opposite on my scope at least are the parallax and the ease of getting behind it.
There are basically two parallax setting on mine. Under 350yds and above 350. I've never had to play around with it to get it perfect, and as far as how easy it is to get behind at 25X the ZP5 is better than S&B 5-25, ATACR 5-25, Trijicon 4.5-30, and HD Gen2 and felt almost as good as TT 5-25. I'm not a pro and this is only my opinion before the ATACR mafia comes after me..

 

[Tikkaguy]

Interesting review. I haven't done a tracking test on my ZP5 so I can't comment on its tracking. Had it for lil more than 3 years and haven't noticed any issues but maybe I can blame some of my misses on tracking now.
Two things that are 100% opposite on my scope at least are the parallax and the ease of getting behind it.
There are basically two parallax setting on mine. Under 350yds and above 350. I've never had to play around with it to get it perfect, and as far as how easy it is to get behind at 25X the ZP5 is better than S&B 5-25, ATACR 5-25, Trijicon 4.5-30, and HD Gen2 and felt almost as good as TT 5-25. I'm not a pro and this is only my opinion before the ATACR mafia comes after me..

Yes I would assume he just got a bad one and hopefully the warranty repair takes care of it. I would have a hard time believing that ur average zp5 would have over 1.5% of error or so. I know the people who designed it were also part of the team who made the pmii. Which is supposed to have a error % of around .5%. As far as I know that is. For 3 grand I would hope it would be around that. Being how many scopes under 1k now can do that. Optically I’ve heard the zp5 is amazing . I have no doubts there. Im trying to save up for steiner m7 as I am a steiner fanboy hands down. And yes the nightforce guys will cry. They make a good scope too. But it’s not flawless. Besides the 7-35 atacr I’ve never seen one get a 100% tracking error in testing online with some pretty serious guys. But most people with the zp5 love there’s, if the tracking thing was resolved was resolved for this guy I would think about one. Just not having a lifetime of backing a product so pricy doesn’t sit well with me. I know that’s kind of a common thing in Europe but. Eh

 

[Neurotic]

Doesn't BigJimFish's review talk about Minox tracking issues related to "slop" in their adjusting mechanism? I wonder if that's the main issue with the C_Does review.

Minox ZP5 5-25x56 Rifle Scope and THLR Reticle Review

BigJimFish reviews the Minox ZP5 5-25x56 rifle scope and the THLR reticle.

www.snipershide.com

 

[Tikkaguy]

Yeah that could be slop in the errector. Didn’t c does have the windage move upon adjusting the elevation? Either way I think I’m going to try and get a m7 4-28 pretty close in performance with a solid track record. Not to say the minox is bad

 

[BLKWLFK9]

Even though i haven't personally done a tracking test on my ZP5, i have had 0 issues down range in a couple of matches and a bunch of range time with 3 different barrels/calibers. Everything hits where its suppose to and dope lines up 100%

 

[Tikkaguy]

I'm half tempted to save up on one and give it a try because of all the good reviews and it was supposed to be a little better than the m7xi optically but I'm a little hesitant being how i know the Steiner have almost .5% error and more fov.

 

[LA260]

I'm half tempted to save up on one and give it a try because of all the good reviews and it was supposed to be a little better than the m7xi optically but I'm a little hesitant being how i know the Steiner have almost .5% error and more fov.

You should get the m7xi

 

[Tikkaguy]

Most likely I’ll go that route

 

[260284]

I just sent one of my ZP5 back to Blaser for tracking issues. Checked zero at 100, dialed 1.5 mils for a 392 yard target, put 3 on a small coyote plate in the head area, shot a leftover pumpkin below the plate, dialed an additional .2 mils for a 419 yard 12" plate and ended up an additional 1.7 mils high. Returned to my 100 yard zero and was 1.5 mils high at 100. Re-zeroed at 100, held over for the 392 and 419 plates and hit them both. Dialed for the 419 plate and was high again. This has been on a 223 Tikka Varmint for almost 2 years. They should get it in San Antonio today, will see how long it takes to get it back. I took the other ZP5 off my match rifle for now. Wanting to try the 223 and 75gr ELDM on a doe this year.

 

[Tikkaguy]

Sad to keep hearing these stories, most people say 6 months or so I think for repair work. Has to be some sort of qc problem here and there with the errector tube assembley I would imagine. Not sure

 

[Jack's Dad]

Gosh. Between all the scope malfunctions and those Hornady elds exploding mid flight, I'm surprised that targets ever need repainting!

 

[boomslang]

I can’t count the ZP5 out yet. I’d still like to try one out, but that 6 month wait for repairs….

 

[LA260]

Something else to keep in mind is that Minox offers 30yr warranty for ZP scopes for the original owners as long as the scope is registered with Minox within 90 days of the purchase. The second owner gets 15 year total warranty.

 

[Tikkaguy]

Something else to keep in mind is that Minox offers 30yr warranty for ZP scopes for the original owners as long as the scope is registered with Minox within 90 days of the purchase. The second owner gets 15 year total warranty.

That’s good to hear I suppose didn’t know the second owner got anything, few used come up here and there.

 

[Dobermann]

Here's another long-term review: https://www.rokslide.com/forums/threads/minox-zp5-5-25x56mm-thlr-field-evaluation.253283/