Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Zeiss HD5 3-15x42 w/ TT vs Leupold VX6 3-18x44 CDS ?

Anybody have a chance to compare these two first hand? I've read positive reviews of both, interested in any 1st hand comparisons.

Thanks,

David

And maybe throw the other contender into the mix - Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44 BT?

Anybody?

Too soon?

David

I know the CDS and Swarovski BT are desigined to be caliber specific. The BT is changable depending on conditions and CDS requires different turrents when changing conditions or caliber. The Zeiss turrent to me would be just like any other target turrent and you would have to know the dope on your rifle.

Pretty sure the OP is interested in optics, adjustments, user friendliness, etc, etc, etc, not how turrets work.

You should be happy either way you go optically. Nobody here has the Zeiss in stock yet but if the vx-6 is close to the vx-7 then it will be real nice. I have read reviews that said the Swarovski was brighter and clearer during low light than the Leupold.

'zactly....

Swaro's not on my list - too many reliability issues.

This scope is going on a medium light hunting rifle (~7.25 pounds w/ scope) that will be shot a lot. Turrets will be twisted frequently. Repeatable, reliable turrets are #1 priority. CDS is nice, not mandatory. Ballistic reticle is nice, not mandatory (looks like Zeiss is not available w/ reticle and turrets?). I assume the glass at this level is going to be more than adequate for my needs regardless of which I choose, but obviously optics will be deciding factor if all else is equal.


David

I'd like to hear of said issues. I have a couple and haven't heard anything bad about them.

I'd be surprised if Zeiss made the "adjustments" worse on the new fancypants Conquests. They are very solid on the original ones. They go where pointed.

I must have the one good Swaro... lol... mine is great. I twist the turret all over; it just keeps hitting stuff.

Gotta agree with this too. My Conquests have all had great tracking, which is one reason why i'm so interested in the HD Conquest.

Maybe I've been lucky but my z3 and z5 have been great. Best lowlight scope I own and no issues with the BT tracking. I twist it all the time.
Love to hear your horror story as well!!

Your only decision you have to make is, do you want 1" tube or 30mm.....

I have a new Zeiss Conquest HD5 5-25x50 very nice scope, turrets click very nice,they also lock, more elevation than before 65 moa now, 45 moa on original conquest. Scope is 1.5 inches shorter than before. Also the scope feels more stoutly constructed, weighs a little more. I have shot clear to 1400 yards with several conquest and they always tracked extremely well

I also have. Hd5 5-25. It is a very nice scope. Tracks very well and has great glass. Very comparable to the swaro z5.

I own neither the Zeiss HD5 or the VX-6 the OP is questioning. I have however, had the opportunity to look thru both. Not sure that either has an edge over the other optically. To my eyes, the heavier reticle in the Zeiss HD puts it a small step ahead.

I will say that of all the brands I've looked through for a hunting scope the zeiss has the best reticle

The VX-6 is not the same glass as the VX-7 The VX 7 used the same Schott glass that is used in the top of the line zeiss and other euro optics. It was the only scope that leupold produced so far with that level of glass. I had a VX-7 and it was amazing glass, but I sold it as it was BIG and bulky and felt it should have had an etched glass reticle instead of shiny gold wire crosshairs. So I'm thinking the ziess will still have slightly better glass than the VX-6 but otherwise it's probably a tossup as far as reliability,function, ect...

The swarovski is 150% more cost than the ones the poster was interested in

Where did you get your information about VX6 versus VX7 glass?

From Leupold. I called and asked because I was on the fence between the VX-6, with it's wide magnification range, and the VX-7 because it was supposed to have Leupold's best glass yet.

They said the VX-6 is not the same glass but is still very good glass. I'm sure you probably wouldn't tell much difference until magnification got high and light went to dark

I'd be interested for Mule Deer to post his testing results of the VX6 and VX7. I'd guess, and it would purely be a guess, that the VX6 and Conquest HD5 would be a neck and neck horserace based on what I've seen with mine.