Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Minox ZV-3 3-9

Does anyone own one of there rifle scopes, and if so how do you like it. I ask, as I have found a good deal on one, and yes I know they shifted production to China when they dropped the ZA-3 line. Should I save my pennies for something better, or take a chance?

I have had 2 and both went down the road. They both were like looking thru a straw. If they have that eye box problem fixed I may take another look.

That might explain why the deal is good on them. One of my issues, is that the deal is online and I am unable to look at one in person as I have yet to find one locally.

I've got a zv and think the eyebox and clarity are great for a sub $150 scope.
Eye relief is phenominal even at full 9x.
That said...I am worried a bit about future durability! Been alot of negative feedback on pretty much all minox scopes in all price ranges.

I haven't seen much negative about the ZA line, but ZV seems to be mixed. I don't know, I still may take a chance with one. I was talking scopes at work last week, and did not find one Leupold fan in my work center. After one guy told me Pentax over Leupold, I quit listening to him. LOL.

I have the ZA3 mounted on 7mm-08. Optics are great. I took a buck at dusk last year and visability was very clear. The only other scopes on my rifles that would permit that clear a view would be the Sightron Big Sky. The only question I have is whether the reticule adjustments knobs will hold up over years of changes for various bullet trajectories and changes for different zero for different hunting distances. Some weeks I hunt wooded areas and other times it is in open fields where I want a zero at further distance. I prefer to change the zero on the scope rather than try to remember varing holdover calculations. The adjustment dials are resettable by loosening and retightning screws in the adjustment dials. So far the scope has held up for 2 years of hunting and practice. As I said optics are very good. The instructions for the BDC reticule are inadequate and can be confusing. That is not the fault of scope but the manufacturer's assumption of the purchasers experience with the reticule. I had to shoot at set distance to be sure I understood the drop and windage marks correctly.
I used Minox AV-3 sells between $200 and $275 in this area.

Minox and fragile are often heard together.....

I bought a Minox 3-15X and let the fact that it did not have AO bother me. Minox took it back with a prompt refund.

Another reason is that their name's letters are so big on the objective bell of the scope that I did not like the look of it.

The scope was clear, sharp and the rifle shot well with it.

I have a 3-9x50 Za 3 and a 3-15x50 ZA5. They are both awesome scopes, big and bright fov. The 3-15 is bright and clear all the way through to 15 power and don't even get me started on eye relief, it's long and doesn't change through the magnification range. I'm actually looking to buy another 3-15 as we speak.

FYI. I hated looking through the 2-10x50 though. It was like looking through a straw. Not sure why so much difference.

I gots a ZA3 3-9x42. Its OK I guess, the focus turns too easy for my taste, the eyebox is less than what I am used too, seems more critical of eye position even at 3X. If they moved production to China you can find a lot of other good chinese scopes out there to compare them too, bushnell would be a good place to look.

I forgot to mention that I have a Bushnell Elite 3200 and a 6500 and both my Minox absolutely trounce the 3200 for clarity, resolution and brightness. The 6500 hangs with the Minox in all regards except low light resolution, the Minox gets the nod. The Elites feel a bit tougher though.

Thanks for all the inputs guys. I think I am going to take a chance and order one. I need to get two more scopes to replace some questionable ones that I have, and get everything sighted back in. I have never had so many guns not sighted in due to scope issues, as I have in the last year.

Well, I am going to pass on the Minox. I just ordered a Vortex Viper 3-9x40 for $209.98. I didn't figure I could pass that up, so Happy Valentine's Day to me!

Wish you luck. You should be fine.