Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting How far will a Swaro Z5 turret get me with a 24" 270 Win?

I'm down to 2 choices to scope my Forbes 270 Win.I'm highly considering the 3.5-18X44 Swaro Z5 with a turret and 4w reticle. I'm mounting it in Talley lightweight lows (hopefully) or mediums if necessary. I have a 20moa rail but rather not add the weight of rail and rings. Approx. how far will the Z5 turret take me with a 270 140 Bt? I haven't worked up a load yet,just played with some factory ammo and borrowed scope to test initial accuracy.

If anyone is interested, the other scope in the running is a VX6 HD 2-12 with the TMOA reticle. I've got to play with the ejection angle of the rifle first though to see if even the low profile windage turret of the VX6 HD will work on the Forbes.The SWFA SS wouldn't work on the rifle and even some capped turret scopes I had on hand would get in the way of ejection. It worked perfectly on a borrowed VX2 4-12 though with its very low capped windage adjustment.

Based on Swaro's Ballistic Calculator, 140AB @ 2950, 100yd zero, will get you to 600yds. YMMV depending on actual muzzle velocity and site in distance.

http://ballisticprograms.swarovskioptik.com/Ballistic-Program

I've cranked my 6.5-284, shooting 140 gr. VLD's at 3K fps, out to 600 yds and it wasn't at it's limit. Not sure how much twist was left, probably not a lot.

DF

VX-6 is 30mm vs. Z5, 1".

Larger tubes can have more adjustment than 1". I have a couple of VX-6 2-12c42's, neither yet outfitted with CDS.

I don't know how much elevation one get get out of a VX-6.

Here's a Z5 3.5-18x44 BT.

DF

DF

I have that exact scope on a .300 Win mag. 175 LRX @ 3100, 200 zero I can get to 650.

Have one on my .260 with 129 ABLR @2800, 200 yd zero, to 600.

I like the scopes a lot good, easy to get behind and so far no issues.

Left C

I've thought about that LRX in my .300WM. What's your best load and how does it work on game?

DF

When I had my 6.5RUMLN I ran the 127 LRX about 3,350 feet per second. I took three deer, two pigs, and one pronghorn. One deer was 252 yards, the other two were about fifty yards. The pronghorn was 420 and the two pigs were no more than maybe twenty to thirty yards. All bullets left two holes. One pig was the only one with an angle to it. The bullet went in near the diaphragm and exited in the front part of the off shoulder.

Just for the sake of comparison, here is the VX6 CDS on my Tikka 695 7Mag. It is setup for a 160AB @ 3100fps, 100 yd zero, maxes out a smidge over 900 yds.

[img:left][/img]

Are you going to shoot it that far?

In my 26 Nosler, the 127 gr. LRX wasn't quite as accurate as the 120 gr. TTSX, and 120 gr. E-Tip, both near half MOA.

The 127 gr. LRX was slightly under MOA, the 129 gr. ABLR was slightly over MOA, all at 400 yds. powered by US869.

DF

I've got to do some work on my Forbes to see if I can get the ejection not quite as steep. I'm concerned the windage turret and cap sticks out farther on the Leupold than on the Swaro and may give me some issues if I don't correct the ejection.

The Forbes ejected great with a VX2 4-12 I had on hand but hit a couple other scopes with larger windage adjustments.If I can get that straightened out I may go for a new VX6 HD 2-12 with TMOA reticle.

I do like the Swaro though and 500 would be my absolute max hunting if even that.

He could and I wouldn't bet against him popping a target, steel or furry...

My kinda hunters, and I'm sure JG would agree, don't snipe at game at 900 yds. But, it's nice to know what your equipment can/will do.

Just 'cause...

Now, a nasty hog way out there across a big field, that's different, not game to me, just a pest/target of opportunity.

So, the 30mm VX-6 has a LOT more elevation than the 1" Z5.

I have a couple of VX-6 2-12x42's, just haven't yet set them up with the CDS.

DF

BTW, welcome to the Fire...

DF

Now, if you want to spend even more, how about an Outdoorsmans custom turret for you new Z5...

DF

Or, mark the aluminum discs with a Sharpie, like this Z3, where I positioned the dots at 400, 500 and 600 yds, filled in the voids with Sharpie marks, which can be removed with acetone.

I find it hard, covering 400+ yards in 50 yd. increments with three plastic dots...

DF

Outdoorsmans also offers a turret marked in 1 MOA increments.

There's also this.

The Z5 3-18 has 58MOA of elevation travel compared with the 5-25 with 43MOA. That said a Z5 with the BT option has a removable zero stop that when installed limits rotation to just under one revolution (14MOA).

The VX-6 is designed to have 70 MOA, 75 MOA, and 68 MOA in the 2-12x, 3-18x, and 4-24x respectively.

Thanks for that info.

DF

How much importance do you place in the parallax adjustment on the Z5 or lack of it on the VX6 2-12? Maybe not much at 200-300 yards,but what about 400-500 or even beyond since the VX6 should dial to 800-1000?

Not at animals, but I have blasted some rocks before, when the wind cooperated of course.

I don't miss the parallax adjustment with the 2-12. To me it's a hunting scope, not a LR target scope.

I do adjust the Z5 parallax at the range, otherwise set it at 200 yds and hunt with it. Now, if I was going to make a 5-600 yd. shot, I'd adjust it.

I don't do much 900-1000 yd. shooting.

DF

I've looked into these. Pricey to say the least and no option for the Z3. Z3 definitely uses a different set of rings than the Z5/Z6. Likewise, I did not find a US source, only European, so one would have to deal with a trans-Atlantic transaction.

I don't do much long range shooting at all,just don't need it where I usually hunt.I would like to set up the Forbes for distance up to 500 yards to practice and possibly take a longer shot should the opportunity arise to hunt where it is possible?

Would you rather have adjustable parallax on a 500 yard gun or is it a non issue for hunting?

Not a big deal to me at that range. I did take a 600 yd shot at a hog with the Z5 and did adjust the parallax. I would have been as well served with the VX-6, as I shot over the hog..😀

Seriously, the VX-6 2-12x42 is great and unless one is into very long range work, it's all you need, IMO.

DF

When you say "it's all you need" is that a comment based on the price difference of the discounted VX6's? In other words,which would you choose if they were exactly the same price?

For my use, I'll stick with the answer, price notwithstanding.

The VX-6 3-18x44 has adjustable parallax, but is heavier than the 2-12x42. Everything is a compromise one way or the other. For general hunting the 2-12x42 is about all I need. Others may have different needs, desires.

DF

If I may pick your brain one more time,what things do you prefer about the VX6 2-12 over the Z5? The 3-18 VX6 is getting on the heavy side of what I want for the Forbes.

I like the eyebox, although the Z5 is OK, the VX-6 is outstanding.

It's very fast to get behind, very forgiving, even as you crank up the power. The glass is as good as the Z5, the reticle is better, in fact, I like that duplex as well as any in the industry and I do have some Alpha Euros.

And, I like the CDS, although I haven't yet put CDS dials on either scope. From what JGRaider posted, you have more elevation with the VX-6 than the Z5. Although I don't do a lot of ultra long range shooting, it's still pretty cool to be able to crank out to 900-1000 yds.

And, although the Z5 isn't heavy, the VX-6 2-12x42 isn't heavy, either and it's more compact, not as long. .

I think the 2-12 will look better on your Forbes than the Z5 and should serve you well.

DF

I'm may buy one of the VX6 HD's. I like the hydro coatings, the alumni covers they come with,locking turrets,canted reticle indication,and better glass.

I also think I might like the new reticle offering of the TMOA in the 2-12 VX6HD. I can get a deal where it will be $100 less than the Z5.

I've just got to get my high ejection issue worked out first or neither VX6 may work. I'm pretty sure the Z5 windage cap sticks out less than the one on VX6. I know it does on the VX6HD.

Couple things...

-Be sure to check the Swaro for tracking plumb relative to the vertical stadia of the reticle. My 3-10 AV veers off from plumb when dialed.

-After much dicking around I have come to the conclusion that if you are gonna dial a scope, thereby introducing the variables of mechanical repeatability and precision, a guy should just cut straight to the chase and buy a scope from a maker who has a great reputation in that regard. At least consider the NF SHV line, for instance.

-As for your ejection issue, there's a legendarily skilled member of the forum who goes by Big Stick or Boxer who recommends rolling the scope 45 degrees to port in the rings to get the windage turret out of the way. He's never wrong so he must be right. As an added bonus your windage and elevation turrets will then form a sort of buckhorn backup sight! Good stuff.

Jeff
I have a spring and extractor ordered from Melvin along with some suggestions to try concerning the steep ejection.I won't be rolling my scope.

I've thought about just getting the NXS 2.5-10X42 but I'm not sure I want to add the weight of scope plus rings and rail. I know I would need the rail because of the ER on the NF. My original plan was SWFA 3X9 in Talley Lightweights but the ejection prevented that.

I don't think any true dialing scope is an option unless I get the ejection worked out.

What's the deal on the high ejecting Forbes?

Nightforce is a nice scope, but it's heavy. For a dedicated LR rifle, that's fine.

But for your Forbes, a 20 oz target scope is a bit much and a rail would not be my choice for a sleek, light rifle.

DF

Don't really know what the deal is yet. I bought it used. It's a really early model,one of the first 50. Everything I've shot so far,admittedly only about 6 or 8 groups of 3-5,but everything was less than 1/2- to just under 3/4 MOA.

The ejection is very high.I couldn't use the SWFA 3X9 I planned to use.It would even hit a Kahles 3-10 I had with covered finger adjustable turrets.The brass didn't fall back into the port with the Kahles but it was hitting. I stole my VX2 4-12 AO that was on my Annie rimfire just to see if it would work and it ejects fine with that scope.That's the one I shot the groups with just to see if it would be worth keeping.

I have a good shooting 7-08 Kimber Montana set up with a Vortex razor HD LH 1.5-8X32 for close shots in the woods. My plan was to use the Forbes when I hunted somewhere longer shots were possible. It's an easier gun to shoot well. Even though my Kimber shoots,the Forbes may be just heavier enough to make things less sensitive,plus it fits me better.

Has to do with the extractor position and ejector placement, a lot of custom action makers have a different ejector position when using a sako type extractor!