Has anybody had much experience here or seen any information on an extensive review/torture testing?
A couple years back I purchased a Swarovski z5 5-25X52, a Nightforce 12-42X56, and a Bushnell 6500 4 1/2-30X50. I checked them, or compared them, side by side at various ranges out to over 700 yards. I will give just one range since it is typical: At 721 yards to clearly see the chart's lines the Swarovski needed 16 1/2X, the Bushnell required 15 1/2X, with the Nightforce was barely off of 12X at maybe 12 1/4X.
In low light the Nightforce lasted seven to eight minutes more than the Swarovski and the Swarovski lasted about six to seven minutes longer than the Bushnell. I returned the Swarovski because I expected it to be better. The next two were no better than the Bushnell in low light and they went down the road. The forth is the one I have now. It is about as good as the first one in day and low light. That is it is about 1X behind the Bushnell during normal day light and way better in low light.
Now for the review. The first time I took it to the range to sight it in the windage did not move when adjusted. I adjusted for 3" at 100 yards. Nothing. I adjusted again and nothing. So I adjusted again and it went way to the other side where it should be based on the number of clicks I gave it. After that it was okay. It is a Ballistic Turret model. Within 200 rounds it would not return to "zero" but rather went too far
! The hawk flew off in recoil and hit me stinging my sissy boy face.
Once it was dialed in I took it hunting. On it first hunt I accidentally knocked it over. The bell has a very small ding. I took it to the range to check its sighting: Perfect
! I took three deer with it that year.
The next year I practiced from the prone a lot out to 600 yards twisting the turrets. The day before I went on a sheep hunt the turret was off
! I checked the 300 yard "zero" and it was fine.
After the sheep hunt I redid the turret out to 600 yards and practiced more. The day before leaving for my caribou hunt the turrets were off again. Again the 300 yard zero was fine.
When I returned from the hunt I again fooled with the turret and practiced some more. The day before deer season I checked the turret again and again it was off. By checking I mean I actually fired at the distances I expected to hit. Again the 300 yard zero was fine.
I went to the range the other day and the turret is still on from the last shooting session. The scope will go on my new 6.5SLR.
I like the very thin reticle. I have not seen the new reticle.
