Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Zeiss HD5 Scope 3-15x42 From Doug

A couple weeks ago I got one of these from Doug. I have had it to the range about 10 different days in temps from 12-50 degrees, sometimes with bad mirage sometimes not. Basically quite a few different conditions.

Overall I am thinking this is the best "hunting" scope I have owned but will wait til next winter to officially make that claim . The 3 power is wide enough for very close shots and I would think 15 power is good to 1000 yards or for small targets.

I have the locking turret version and I really like the turrets. They have positive clicks and they repeat everytime so far. They are also very accurate in the adjustment amount, 16 moa adjustment at 100 yards is just over 16" in POI.

There is a zero stop that is very easy to set up and use. Like the CDS it only goes one turn and stops in both directions (was hoping for unlimited upward travel). There is a total of 18 MOA per turn and 16.5 MOA between the stops.

All adjustments...parallex, eyepiece, power ring all move freely and precisely.

Scope weighs about 18 oz and has 70 MOA (mine actually has 78 moa)

The glass is bright, clear, has good contrast and not too much glare while looking toward the sun. I find it very easy to get behind even on 15 power, quite a bit more forgiving than the VX3 LR. It is not as sharp at long range as I would have thought. Basically just a little better than my vortex viper HS and not quite as good as my VX3 LR. Plenty good enough for hunting but at 400 yard targets I am not able to make out bullet holes in white paper which I can see with the VX3. The only complaint I have with the scope is sharpness at long range, and it really doesn't matter for hunting.

Overall I think these are going to be very popular due to the 1" tube, mid weight, nice size reticle (not too thin or too thick) and precise adjustments.

Thought a few of you would like to hear the thoughts of one sample. I would be happy to answer any questions I can.

Gary

Thanks for the review, I'm really jonesing for one of these.

Probably a stupid question on my part:

It has one rotation up and one rotation down?

16.5 MOA per full rotation?

Hpw do you get 78 MOA out of it?

Thanks.

Not a stupid question. With the zero stop you only get 16.5 MOA of total movement. With the zero stop removed you can dial a total of 70 MOA or 78 in my case. There are a total of 18 moa per turn but the zero stop is a post that limits movement in both directions. The thickness of the post eliminates 1.5 moa so you end up with 16.5 of upward movement after adjusting zero stop to your zero. Very similiar to a CDS type deal except the ZS in the zeiss is a horizontal and a verticle post that contact each other.

Gary

Great. Thanks.

Now, how well does the lock work? IMO you don't need a zero stop if your turret locks. Is it like the Diavari where it's spring loaded and you gotta pull it up to be able to rotate it?

It is not spring loaded just a rubber O ring that creates a bit of friction. Just pull it up, turn the turret and push it back down. It will stay up or down on its own, needs to be physically moved. I really like it.

I personally prefer a zero stop just in case I go over one full turn and forget where I am. I can get out 700 yards with my creedmoor at 16.5 MOA so not a big deal but thought it was worth mentioning.

Gary

Thanks the thread Gary. Any chance of some close up pics of the adjustments on the scope - power ring, parralex and elevation/windage?

This is the Zero Stop, the two bars (horizontal and verticle intersect to stop movement in both directions) The verticle post can be removed easily to disable the ZS

some more pics

Thanks for the details.....excellent stuff and great pics.

Thanks very much Gary. Looks like a really nice scope.

Gary:

Will you post the length of the objective bell, please? From the front back to the juncture with the 1" tube.

Thanks,
tom

Here you go. The end of the tape is even with the end of scope, although it doesn't look like it in the picture.

Gary

I like the peg board idea! I may have to steal that as I get tired of digging through a box for my cleaning apparati!

Thanks Gary.

At the juncture in the picture, the length of the objective appears to 4 1/2"...right?

Interesting the resolving comparison results at 400 yards against the VX3LR. Was that a 40mm Leup set at 14x for the comparison?

Yeah I got tired of digging them out also. I just used a piece of shelf board and laid out a grid and drilled holes at the intersections. Then I labeled the rows per caliber so it was easy to grab what I needed and put it back.


Right at 4 1/2 - 4 5/8 to the 1" section.

40 mm Leupy was on 14 and zeiss was on 15. I would not take anything away from the zeiss probably just my eyes. I am really liking the Zeiss, eye relief is better for me at max power as well as much easier to acquire target in scope. The adjustments have been very repeatable and precise. It is a little longer and has the larger eyepiece which may be a problem for 90* bolt lift. The rifle I have it on is 60* so no problems there.

Gary

Hey Gary,

What ring height are you running with this scope? It looks to be sitting nice and low. I really like the looks of these.

Thanks,

David

Do those target style turrets come standard? Or do you have to send it to Zeiss? I have found a few pics online, and most don't show those style turrets.

You can order them that way. No pic here, but it's in the description.

http://swfa.com/Zeiss-3-15x42-Conquest-HD5-Rifle-Scope-P60843.aspx

So, it doesn't hold up to the Leupie at long range? Have you tried looking at things even further out, say 600 or 800 yards? How does it compare?

Mine is on a Rem 700 and that's 90 degree bolt lift,I have no problem,plus scope is mounted as low as can be.