How many of you have had failures on a Swarovski Z3 scope? I've seen a few reports (more so with the AV predecessor) on various forums and it's got me a bit concerned about their "ruggedness" as a scope. I usually try to have backup scope available in the event of a fall that knock or breaks a scope, but the reports seem more related to recoil than anything; that they're a bit recoil sensitive.
I like the scope from a weight and clarity perspective, but reliability has me a bit nervous.
I've had the erectors take a sheit on both a 3-9x36mm and 3-10x42mm Z3
A couple friends had the 4-12x50mm Z3 with same malady.
None of the scopes were used for dialing. Simply "set and forget" for hunting. My Z3's were mounted on Kimber Montana/Classic with biggest being a .308 shooting 150gr. Nos AB
One of my friends was using a semi-custom Rem Sendero 7STW with his 4-12 Z3. That one crapped out while attempting to zero! lol
I just invested in a Z5 ... sure hope it doesn’t have these issues
Got an AV 4-12x50 on my Sako Model 75 Hunter Stainless, .270. Doubt I have had to adjust more than a couple of clicks in 12 years. Zero problems
I just invested in a Z5 ... sure hope it doesn’t have these issues
Hope in one hand, and chit in the other. See which one fills up first......
Between my kids and I we own a bunch of them and as set and forget scopes we've been pretty happy with them, great clarity and love the 4A reticle.
Over The Years I've Had or Have 50+. AV's ,PH, Z-3-5-6;s. Only Two Have Been Sent Back. One a AV 4-12 With Parallax Issue. Quickly Fixed And Returned Free Of Charge..The Other Was Strapped To a Four Wheeler That Went 1200 Yds Off a Side of The Mountain.. The AV 3-10 42 Took A Beating,{Broken Into 3 Pc} Swarovski Replaced It With Another For $300 Cant Ask For Better Service, The Couple Of Times I've Used Them, They've Done Me Right.. All I Use Now Days..
Between my kids and I we own a bunch of them and as set and forget scopes we've been pretty happy with them, great clarity and love the 4A reticle.
Me too. I bought a 3-9x36 and ordered the 4A reticle to try it and really like it. I just bought another over the internet and was dithering and when the seller said it had the 4A I bought it.
I just invested in a Z5 ... sure hope it doesn’t have these issues
The Z5 is a better scope. Swarovski uses "coil springs" for the erector on Z5 and up models vs "leaf springs" for the Z3.
I have been running Z3's on all my deer rifles for several years now with zero issues, But I am no turret twister, mine have been set and forget scopes mounted mostly on lightweight .300 Win's and Short Magnums ( Tikka T3x superlites and Kimber Montana's and Subalpine models).....I really like the optics on these scopes 👍.....Good luck...Hb
The only 1" tube Swaro I've ever owned took a dump, while attempting to kill a big mule deer. Swaro fixed it, I sold it.
I just invested in a Z5 ... sure hope it doesn’t have these issues
The Z5 is a better scope. Swarovski uses "coil springs" for the erector on Z5 and up models vs "leaf springs" for the Z3.
I used my z5 for dialing. In a couple years it went back twice. Both times the note told me they replaced the erector. I sure liked the lightness, but don't use it anymore.
I've had the erectors take a sheit on both a 3-9x36mm and 3-10x42mm Z3
A couple friends had the 4-12x50mm Z3 with same malady.
None of the scopes were used for dialing. Simply "set and forget" for hunting. My Z3's were mounted on Kimber Montana/Classic with biggest being a .308 shooting 150gr. Nos AB
One of my friends was using a semi-custom Rem Sendero 7STW with his 4-12 Z3. That one crapped out while attempting to zero! lol
Friend sent his 4-12x50 Z3 to Mr. Forbes to be mounted on his new NULA. It crapped out while Mr. Forbes was test-firing. The scope had been mounted on a 700 BDL wood/blued 270Win previously for ~2-3 seasons.
No I don't. Which is a bit of a problem as I tend to buy on impulse and then pay the credit card off later.
I have been using Swarovski rifle scopes since the mid 90's and no issues with the older A Series fixed 4x, 1.25 - 4.5x and 3-9x36 (Austrian mfg.), AV 3-9x36; and so far several Z3 3-9x36 and 3-10x42 have been trouble free on rifles ranging from a 222 Rem. up to a 375 H&H. I use these as "set and forget" on hunting rifles.
I do know of one issue first hand with an AV 3-9x36 that was on the top of friend's Weatherby Mark V in 340 Weatherby that did not fare well at all; that scope was returned to RI several times for repair. That 340 Weatherby is now downloaded a bit and it sports a Burris FFII 3-9x40 that's had no issues. The repaired AV 3-9x36 lives on a Mauser sporter in 7x64 now.
Obviously YMMV.
StarchedCover
I thought it was only Leupolds that went belly up????
I thought it was only Leupolds that went belly up????
These may be worst...I'll bet they sell 1/100 the amount of scopes
Have purchased several AV's & a couple of Z3's from the Campfire. I have one AV & one Z5 I purchased new.
Total, I own 8 Swarovski's & have sent one AV in for service in the last 20 years.
There might be more then a few factors that make a Swarovski fail. I thought I had it all covered. good rings, relatively low recoiling cartridges. I was using Talley Vertical rings in all of them except a Sako 75 300 WSM.