Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Minox ZA3 3 X 9 X 40 BDC

6 or 7 years ago I bought quite a few Minox ZA3 3 X 9 X 40 Put most of them on 17 HMR rifles for family for Sage Rat hunting in Oregon bought a couple for spares. Been trouble-free and hold there zero. Have one on my sons AR 10 and it held up so far. Any one else still using them is so any issues?

I own a couple of them. I have them on a couple of smokeless muzzleloaders. They've held up so far. They remind me of Zeiss Conquests. For what I paid for them, they're a great value.

I have (2). One was used on a 7mm08 for a couple of years successfully. When I was moving it to another rifle I dropped it on concrete from about 4' and it wouldn't hold zero afterward. Minox/Blaser sent me a replacement. I recently purchased another here on the 'Fire. Both will be going on .17 HMRs where I expect they will remain for a long time.

Ive got one on a Tikka .223 Absolutely one of my favorite scopes ever.

I have three and wished I had got a couple more. No problems with 243 & 270 WSM recoil. Apparently I missed the batch that had an ocular defect. Optics are very close to the original Conquest. I get a smile every time I look through one and think what I paid for them. They could go tits up anytime and I would still think it wasn't a bad purchase. Not sure I would buy a used one as no idea of which lots had problems. Good to know the warranty is still honored.

Had one of the early ones that had a loose occular Minox fixed. I must have bought 6 or 7 thinking I would need a spare or 2. Have used them on a couple of AR,s for load work up. Have 2 of them on Savage A 17,s which should test them.

I have 1 3x-9x and 2 of the 4.5x-14x. Great little scopes.

I have two of the ZA3 3-9x40's that I got from Doug @ CL awhile back , one with a "plex" reticle and the other with the BDC.
One is on a Savage/Anschutz M64 Sporter in 22WMR and the other is a spare at the moment.
They have given good service, money well spent.

StarchedCover

Bought 4 during the sale, mounted three and they puked. Sold the 4th because I knew what was coming. 15 lbs/sq in ring torque rating on the tube and made in china. Keep them on light kicking rifles and they may survive a few years. Pure junk in my opinion.

Not a ZA3 3x9 ....but right now I'm using a ZA3 4.5x14 on a NIB Marlin XL 7 SS 270 I'd been saving back for the last 3+ years as my go anywhere bad weather shooter and am getting reliable +/- 1" groups with Federal bluebox ammo. At 75 that's about what I can expect after not shooting at all for the last 3-4 years until I can wear some more of the rust off Not a lot rounds shot under the package so far, mebbe 90/100+, but based on this one's performance so far shame on me for not buying several on Doug's closeout sale. I had bought a ZA3 3x9x50 1st, then sent it along to a 'fire & THF guy in Belton TX for his kid's 1st rifle when the 4.5x14's became available. Never heard any complaints either.
Ron

Not a ZA3 3x9 ....but right now I'm using a ZA3 4.5x14 on a NIB Marlin XL 7 SS 270 I'd been saving back for the last 3+ years as my go anywhere bad weather shooter and am getting reliable +/- 1" groups with Federal bluebox ammo. At a little past 75 that's about as good as I can expect after not shooting at all for the last 3-4 years until I can wear some more of the rust off Not a lot rounds shot under the package so far, mebbe 90/100+, but based on this one's performance so far shame on me for not buying several on Doug's closeout sale. I had bought a ZA3 3x9x50 1st, then sent it along to a 'fire & THF guy in Belton TX for his kid's 1st rifle when the 4.5x14's became available. Never heard any complaints either.
Ron

I think they are a great scope for the money, tubes are soft would not torque them past 13 inch pounds . Have a 4.5 X 14 on an accurate 25-06 that is an exceptional scope.

I bought one and liked it until it crapped the bed. It failed on a RAR 22lr lol. Just this past summer my son and I were shooting with it and it was way off zero, which is unusual for that rifle and scope. I found it was shooting about 6" off zero at only 40yds. The reticle would not move until I maxed it out in both directions multiple times and then only moved partially. I finally played with it enough that day to get him on a 4" gong at 40, but pulled it the next week and replaced it with a $100 Athlon. The Athlon is a much better scope both optically and mechanically IMO. With the Minox being a $100 scope I'm not really surprised at the outcome, but sure thought it would be ok on a 22.

I have on in the 3-9x40 w/ #4 reticle. It’s on the .243 my sons shoot and it has never lost zero even after some drops and other misuse.