Zeiss opinions

[gjk5]

I have finally stepped up to a true long range rifle (Weatherby Accumark .30-378). I have been hunting a long time and have lots of guns and scopes, but have never ventured into this price range before.

My upper end scopes start with VXII's and Monarch and end with VXIII's.

I am putting a Zeiss Conquest 6.5-20X on this rifle with a Kenton Ind. turret on it and planning to get rid of my current Bushnell rangefinder (I can only get to 512 with it and it's a 1000yd rangefinder) and buying a Zeiss PRF 1200 to replace it.

Any input or thoughts on the Zeiss products?

For anyone curious the rifle is putting OK loads (not finetuned yet) into a 1/2". 180gr bullet is doing 3450fps.

 

[Sully2]

If Zeiss optics arent top of the line.....they are so close to it that the difference dont matter. I used to think years ago that Redfield was best....then I looked thru a Leupold!!! When my smith finally got me to break loose with some $$ and get a couple of Conquests....I knew I had been lost for many a year!!

Are there better? Sure...go ahead and pay 3 times more $$$....

 

[adnick]

I have a Diavari T FL with the Rapid Z , and it is one of the best scopes I have used, it is heavy....

Also have a Conquest, very good scope for the money.

 

[jehu]

Nothing wrong with the Zeiss scopes but as far as the range finder goes I would advise you to get the Lieca 1600. Do some reaserch on this forum and look for the thread where user Broz tested all kinds of RF's and found the Lieca to be the best for under $800.

 

[rancilio]

Any input or thoughts on the Zeiss products?

While I have not used all optics out there, I will say that high-end Zeiss scopes and binos are quite amazing. A bit more costly than some others, yes, but if you value high quality imaging, I believe that Victory and Diavari cannot be beat. Find a friend who will let you look through and you will be amazed.

 

[Sully2]

While I have not used all optics out there, I will say that high-end Zeiss scopes and binos are quite amazing. A bit more costly than some others, yes, but if you value high quality imaging, I believe that Victory and Diavari cannot be beat. Find a friend who will let you look through and you will be amazed.

If I could afford either model you mentioned....I'd have it as fast as it could be shipped to me.

 

[britz]

pay attention to the amount of adjustment available. A friend of mine has one in 4-14 and it only has 40 moa adjustment... not nearly enough to reach out to extended ranges.

 

[marinetowgunner]

pay attention to the amount of adjustment available. A friend of mine has one in 4-14 and it only has 40 moa adjustment... not nearly enough to reach out to extended ranges.

That's what 20moa bases are for. With 40moa or total travel, that give you 20 up 20 down. It shouldn't take 10 moa to zero. So with 10moa left over and a 20moa base, that gives you 30moa. 30moa will get you pretty far. Just as an example, tht will get a 168gr 308 traveling at 2750fps out to 900yards.

If that isn't far enough, throw a 40moa base on it. Technology is grand

 

[gjk5]

I sent an email to the smith, I know several other folks he has done work for and does excellent work and know one other person he built the same rifle for (but with a Leupold) so I can't imagine he does not have that factored in. But yes, I checked and the Zeiss has 45.4 MOA range.

And again, it's 180gr @ 3450fps, should reach out there pretty well...

 

[bruce_ventura]

I agree that you have to spend a lot to beat a Zeiss Conquest. Good alternatives do exist at about the same price, but I would feel no compelling need to look elsewhere.

Assuming you're shooting a high BC hunting bullet, that MV should get you out to 1,200 yds on deer-size game (1,000 ft-lbs). Bullet drop is ~30 MOA, depending on altitude.

Until your smith mounts a scope with a centered reticle, you won't know the boresight alignment of your base and rings. Assuming your rings are within 10 MOA of the bore, you could need 52 moa of vertical adjustment using a 20 MOA base. The 45 MOA elevation adjustment of the Conquest 6.5-20X50 won't quite get you there if you want a 1,000-yd zero.

If your smith is willing to dial in the bias on the base, then the +/- 10 MOA boresight tolerance goes down to less than +/- 5 MOA, and that scope will get you to 30 MOA no problem. Otherwise, I would go with the 4.5-14X50, which has 68 MOA elevation adjustment.

If shots beyond 1,000 yds would be rare for you, then the 4.5-14X mag range should be sufficient. 4.5 mag gives you 44% more field of view for a quick short range shot. Glare performance would be better too.