Hello,

Camera land has the Swarovski Optik Z3 3-10x42 for $729. Is this a good scope for the price point? Any feedback from someone who owns one? Thanks.

I have one and for the $$, its, to me, the best buy, especially for this price.

Get the 4a reticle. Truly sets this scope apart from other comparable offerings

+1

The std duplex is sorta fine, although useable. The 4a is better, IMO

Great glass, not that heavy. 1”, slim profile. Good CS.

DF

Forgot to ask, how does it track?

My experience with the Z5 and Z3 has been good; both are elevation turret models.

DF

+1000 on the 4a reticle.......no tracking issues from my side.

I have a few of these scopes, all with the 4A reticle, and think they are a good value. Never had an issue with any of them and all track well.

I don't have to have it right now, is $729 a good price? Do they ever go on sale?

I have one on a Nula .308. Probably at least a 1000 rnds. It is pretty much a set and forget scope as I have shot the .308 a good bit and pretty much familiar with the hold over in the .308. It has held zero after being in and out of a saddle scabbard, 4 wheelers, and back packing

. The NULA is under 6 lbs and pretty snappy with max 165loads that I shoot.

To my eyes it has excellent glass especially low light.


Lefty

They're never cheap, just have to shop for special deals.

I don't see them in the classifieds very often. A good used one, if you can find one, may be OK.

I guess people tend to hang onto them. I know I do.

DF

I'll keep a lookout for sales over the next few months and I'll try the 4A reticle. I'm a pretty simple guy, always used duplex reticles, nothing fancy, no BDC, no extra reticles lines, no lighted reticles, no twist this or twist that...I'm 53 and have only missed 2 deer and no elk with simple guns and scopes.

Have the 3-6x36 4A on my Kimber Montana 358 win and really like that scope.

I have several 3.5-10x42 BRH scopes on other guns and they are great scopes and to me worth the $$$.

As a set and forget, mine have been great. I have nothing good to say about the 4x12x50 BT I have. It never tracked or held zero. Sent it back for repair...and it’s acting up again. Although I love glass, I would never rely on a Z3 or Z5 for dialing....

Great scope, set and forget as everyone else has said. I prefer the BRH reticle.
Mine is on a 5lb3.5oz mountain rifle in .308 shooting 178gr bullets. Zero issues so far.

Yep, one of my top scope picks and heck yes on the 4a, my favorite reticle of any scope.

Agree with others about be sure to get the 4a reticle. I believe the price you posted is good, but I would pass on the scope if the 4a reticle was not available at that price.

I have the smaller 3-9 Sawro. It's been mounted for years on my 270 Win and I've never had any problems with the scope. It's held zero and I have no problem seeing the reticle even at the end or typically past legal shooting limit.

Curious about folks who have or are using the plex in the Z3s, has it cost you a shot opportunity in the field?

I have the regular plex/Z3 on my 300 H&H and it has worked pretty well, but given the choice the 4a shows up much better and at least for me help get on target if things happen quick.

My Z3 has unusually great glass for the price. Super light too. To my eyes, except for fov, it edges out the Leica Magnus in optical performance.

Sleek, light, one inch tube with premium glass, they’re hard to beat. And they’re long enough to not present a mounting problem with LA rifles.

DF

I found a Z3 WITH THE BRX reticle. Thinking of putting it on a Montana XAR 308. Anyone use this reticle?

I have both BRX and BRH.

I prefer the BRH, but have no problem with the BRX.

These are set and forget scopes, not intended to be dialed. If you are looking for something to twist turrets on, this is not the scope for you.

This!
BRX reticke is pretty fairly fine. Have the BRH and pretty easy to use for my old eyes.

This!
BRX reticke is pretty fairly fine. Have the BRH and pretty easy to use for my old eyes.

Yes 729.00 is a pretty good price with the 4A which I like as well. I bought one on Natchez if I remember correctly for 699.00 3 years ago maybe demo can't remember. Getting a good used one for 500 on ebay etc is rare. Lifetime guarantee is hard to beat with all its other features.

Swaro seems to me to only have one concern with their rifle scopes your satisfaction IMO. They haven't changed the Z3 since forever the newer HABICHT AV is the same and repairs are not a problem. I have 4, 2 3-9 and 2 3-10. All have been great scopes one went back I bought it used and it had internal problems after remounting and subsequent firing. They sent it back to me with free Swaro scope caps

Make sure to spend the extra time mounting and extra on a good mounting system.. I think they will send you a link to video. I check out a lot of optics and the only one I have thought was a better deal recently were the Zeiss conquest line discontinued 5 or 6 years ago not HD5 but its predecessor.

Good luck and shoot straight y'all.

I have one with a 4a reticle. Great scope. Best in it's class in many ways.

All I've Used For The Last 15+ Years. Ive Had Well Over 50 Over The Years . And To .Me The 3-10-42 With A4 Is The Perfect Scope.. All My Main Hunt Rigs Wears This Same Glass..And I Perfer The AV's To The Z-3's..I Have Plenty Of Both.. The Av's Retical.Does Not Seem To Wash Out With The Sun Light To Your Back.. I've Got a Very Clean Demo AV In Plex I'd Like To Trade For Another 4A..

MOW - you are going to have to look long and hard to find a better price. And then, after all that delay and effort, you won't beat it by much.

Even if you decide to go used, you won't save much because people like their Swarovskis so much.

And, while the Z3 and Z5 have great optics, they are not especially known as (nor were designed to be) dialing scopes, especially the Z3.

Always our pleasure to assist the members here. Give a call and let's discuss what you're interested in

Swarovski Z3 with 4A is a great scope.

Saw a youtube side by side review with those including Leupold VX3. They called it at the VX3 beating the Z3 for low light. I'd order both and send the loser back. Try not to let the lower price influence your vision.

I have several Z3's and a couple VX 3 /VX3i's to my eyes they aren't even close to the Z3 in low light.

Ive Handed Dozens Of People My Swarovskis's To Look Through. I've Never Had One Say a Leupold Was Even Close.. Only Thing That Has Put The Swarovskis in Their Place Was The Three S&B I Own..Their Brighter And Clear Edge To Edge. But I Do Loose The Crosshairs Earlier Than The Swarovski..Guess Everyone's Eye Are Different..

I paid $800 last year for my 13 ounces Swarovski Optik Z3 3-10 x 42 BRH .

I sighted it in and shot a deer with it in Oct 2020.

I am very pleased with that scope.

It’s what I’m going back to, traded the NF SHV in for a Z3 3-10x42 with 4A reticle.

Sako264 - NICE Rifle, love to hear the details, looks like a custom stock, front sight, and more....can PM if you want. Thanks for your post.

Found video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLX8r_BH0cA

Hard to believe, except for the Terra, but that's why you gotta see for yourself.

can u get a elevation turret thru kenton or sportsmans for z3?

Interesting video above, the Terra seems to be a huge failure for Zeiss to have put their name on.

I’m also interested in the idea of turrets on a Z3.

Every honest review of the Terra I've read indicates it sucks, Zeiss tarnished its name by putting that POS product on the market.

Strange. I have a z3 4-12x50 with the ballistic turret. It dials in perfectly. Mind you, the max range I use it for is 450 yrds. But, out to 450 I can bang the gong all day at any ranges in between. I find it especially good in low light. My son uses his Z5 out to 600 yrds..... Works perfect.

I had a 4-12 with plex reticle and wasnt that impressed. Sleek scope but i did not care for the plex reticle. Bought a meopta meopro with the #4 instead. If u can get the 4a reticle i would maybe consider it

Op, one thing to consider is the z3 line isnt made to take heavy recoil according to swaro. That being said i had many rounds down range with a z3 on a very light 300 wsm and never had an issue. Swaro glass is simply the best to my eyes. I have z5s as well and honestly, the z3 glass is just as good. Z5 is just a more robust scope