Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Swarovski 3.5-18x44

I’ve been thinking about the Swarovski 3.5-18x44 for my .30-06 but it doesn’t seem exceptionally durable from what I’m reading. I don’t really want a 30mm tube but I could live with it. Zeiss makes a similar scope in Japan. Leupold makes the VX5 & 6. Just a plex reticle and turrets. Not Illuminated. Are there any I’m missing
?

After doing quite a bit of research, I think I’m going with the Zeiss V4 4-16x44 in medium Warne rings.

I had a couple of Swaro scopes. A Z3 and the Z5 that you're considering. I liked the Z5 3.5-18x44, but never loved it. I'm now using a couple of Trac Torics in 3-15x42 with the T-Plex reticle. I do love these scopes so far. I haven't wrung them out really, but tracking so far has been excellent. Clarity is at least as good as the Z5 and a good bit better, to me, than the Z3.

I'd consider them before making a decision. This maintains the 1" tube as well.

Thanks so many scopes today have complicated reticle or are illuminated that don’t have many choices.

ret·i·cule
NOUN
historical
a woman's small handbag, originally netted and typically having a drawstring and decorated with embroidery or beading.


reticle
noun
Optics.
a network of fine lines, wires, or the like placed in the focus of the eyepiece of an optical instrument.

I have 2 of the Z5, they are a very good scope.

It’s never “not funny” to listen to the lack of experience that gets accepted on this site. Don’t be afraid of the Swarovski Z5 3.5-18X44 scope. I have dozens and they work…

They are mechanically compromised tender pieces of fhuqking schit. Hint………….

Spelling never was my strong suit.

I was going on the failures I’ve been reading about off this site. Fogging and failure to adjust.

I have several 30-06 rifles, all sporter weight, and for the life of me can’t understand why someone needs 18 power magnification on one. I do understand it on a colony varmint rifle but an ‘06?
Please enlighten me.
Rick

Mountains in Hawaii

I have the 3.5-18x44 on a .257 WBY. I like the clarity and it has tracked well in the 3 years I have had it. I also like the V4 I have. I don't think you can go wrong with either.

Thanks

3 of the 5 Swaro scopes I owned failed in some way. Optically beautiful and lightweight, but egg shell fragile. Thin tubes and plastic turrets. Hard pass if you value durability.

I like mine. I did have to send it back once when I broke a plastic retaining piece messing with the elevation turret.

Otherwise it's a good scope and has good glass.

This one is on a pre-64, Krieger 6.5-284 in a Jon Sundra Boyd Classic stock, Jewell trigger.

DF

DF, what is that? About a 1955 rifle with a transition style safety? Surprised you are running windage adjustable mounts on that one too..

My buddy has 2 of these scopes. Both on 300WSM's. One on a Winchester model 70 Extreme Weather, and the other on a Sako Finlight. He's been having issues with that damn Finlight though. The scope was slipping in the rings. He tried to blame it on the "slickness" of the scope tube. I think the problem is someone previously lapped the rings, and probably took out too much material. Plus the recoil of the light rifle is causing some issues. As for the scopes, he says he loves them. He claims that his eyes are "old", and they help him to see better. He said he "has to have quality glass".. A logical excuse? Maybe. Anyway, I'm always leery of Swaro because I've had one that puked on me. At the time, it was the most expensive scope I had bought. I keep an eye on my buddies Z5's, and they are still working. I had the opportunity to buy a used Z5 3.5-18x44 last year for $800.00, but passed.

My buddy bought the one with the weird ballistic turret:


He's had the scopes for about 4 years now, and the last time I asked him if he's figured out that turret, he said no. To each their own...

I love my Z5 for very early and very late deer hunting......Mine has never been a problem.

You can mark that turret with a Sharpie, erase with acetone.

I set the dots at 300, 400, 500, wrote in between numbers with the Sharpie. Zero at 200.

Works for me.

The left knob is parallax, not windage. I don’t mess with windage. Generally not real windy where I hunt.

To me drop is physics, windage clicking entails a lot more snake oil. I haven’t had enough practice to go there.

DF

I have two Z5 3.5-18x44 scopes. Hands down my favorite, have taken them hunting everywhere and in all sorts of crazy conditions, and they have yet to let me down. I replaced the turrets with numbered MOA turrets from Swarovski, why they don’t come this way from the factory instead of the dot thing baffles me.