Vortex Viper HS-T 4-16x44 or Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x50 AO MC

[ShowMeShooter]

I've been looking into these two scopes, for my .270 to shoot 400-500 yards max for now. Can someone shine some light on these two rigs in repeatability of the turrets and glass clarity comparison? Both are very close in price. I plan to shoot varmints, deer and work my way out to longer effective range as my ability allows. Right now this rifle doesn't have a scope on it. So I'm trying to get it back up and running, without breaking the bank or rushing into a bad buy.

 

[Iclimb]

I may be wrong but I believe the zeiss only gives one rotation past the zero stop, something like 16 moa. If that is the case I would go with the vortex hands down. I've not looked through that particular zeiss, I know they usually have great glass, my eye likes the vortex glass very much.

Like I said I might be wrong. I've been wondering about the zeiss, I did just buy an HS-t.

 

[Metzger]

I have the zeiss conquest 4.5-14 it's good glass for the price. accurate as far as repeatability. I really do not like the fact it doesn't have a zero stop which I thought wouldn't bother me but is now important to me. If you have any question pm me

 

[Iclimb]

I have the zeiss conquest 4.5-14 it's good glass for the price. accurate as far as repeatability. I really do not like the fact it doesn't have a zero stop which I thought wouldn't bother me but is now important to me. If you have any question pm me

I thought it had a zero stop. It doesn't huh, is there a similar zeiss that does? That'd make up my mind right there...

 

[Jluck]

Are both of you talking about the Zeiss HD5 or original Conquest?

 

[IdahoCTD]

The original conquest doesn't have a zero stop, only the HD5. It is limited in travel too (around 42" of total travel at 100yds). I had one with the Z-1000 reticle that wouldn't get to 1000yds (about 850yds was max) without a 20moa rail. The glass is better in the Zeiss. I'm not sure about the Vortex, as far as the turrets are concerned, because I have very little experience with them.

I have several of the 4.5x14 Conquest and think they are hard to beat for the price. The down side is the turrets turn the opposite direction of all the other scopes I've used and own.

 

[ShowMeShooter]

The down side is the turrets turn the opposite direction of all the other scopes I've used and own.

this might be a deal breaker for me....not sure I want to try to remember that too..Do you have trouble keeping adjustments straight? from brand to brand?

thanks for the heads-up fellas....

 

[IdahoCTD]

Not really. I have a few Leupolds on my lighter sporter/sendero barreled guns but most are all Zeiss now. For my other "bench" type guns I use Nightforce, Leupold, and a Zeiss HD5 which all turn the same direction. So when I'm hunting I general know which way to turn the turrets. Shooting long range I rarely feel rushed so I can double check the turret and the direction it turns. A person could always tape a big arrow for the up direction on the side of the turret too. There is already one on the top of the turret. I think it's a deal breaker for many people though. If the HD5's were a little lighter in 5x25 I would probably upgrade my 4.5x14's to them because of the additional power range. They are almost 1/2lb heavier.

 

[ShowMeShooter]

That doesn't sound so bad. I do have a couple more questions now that I have done some more poking around.

1) I see this Zeiss doesn't have the zero stop option. Is this something I can do without as I'm learning to extend my range? Or is it necessary, from the beginning for a new long range shooter?

2) I have a windage base on this rifle now and I see it is subject to alignment issues. In the article I just read Leveling the Scope Reticle for Long Range Rifles they say that picatiny rails also present this same issue, to some degree. Can someone recommend a good base and rings that won't give as much fit, tall enough for the 50mm glass. This is going on a Rem700 in .270win

3) Also are these turrets lockable? I hunt in central Missouri. Some of the farms I hunt are bean and corn fields where 500-600 yards can happen, some are woods and ceder thickets where 60-100 might be max. I'm concerned with having the turrets move and not noticing this until the shot has missed on a quick shot.

 

[Wachsmann]

I have both the Zeiss and the Vortex...Both scopes have there advantage and disadvantages...No zero stop on the conquest and if you are going to put an aftermarket turret on the elevation you have to get it sent to some shop or back to zeiss to get this changed out unless the newer one have all went to the upgraded turret. With that said the glass in the conquest is clearer hands down than the vortex. I am a firm believer of that. Also you cannot tell this in a store. Its when you are looking at 600 to 700 yards away. If I put both scopes side by side and place the vortex on 14 power and compare the two the image is crisper on the zeiss. The conquest is repeatable up and down the elevation so that good also. I have had my turret changed out and its nice to just dial and shoot. But what I like the best is the glass for a 14 power scope.. Also zeiss makes there on glass and there glass is used in the semiconductor industry were precision perfect glass free of any distortion or astigmatism is a must. I know this because I work in this industry and have seen some of the equiptment with the lens in them. In this industry you don't get into the tooling market with sub par glass. With that said the only 3 vendors I have ever seen in this industry is Zeiss, Nikon, and Leica ............On to the vortex...

The vortex I can say has a lot of good options right out of the box. It has a good zero stop...The glass is good but not as good as the conquest. Well I just seen that you are talking about the HS-T....I have the HS LR model...But I'll make the comparsion any way...The exposed turret has MOA numbers already on the turret so if U have a cheat sheet U don't need a yardage turret. The exposed turret has never had an issue moving around on me. The scope is able to hold its zero...and it has a huge amount of travel to shoot long range. With a 20MOA rail I think I can take my 300 ultra out to 1200 yards and still have some travel left. So the only thing I was not thrilled about on the HSLR was the 1/2 MOA adjustment on the elevation....I see the HS-T is a 1/4 elevation adjust and it has the same amount of travel as mine. So over all I think you would be happy with the Vortex...I like them both...I have the conquest on a 6.5x284 and I have the Vortex on a sendero 300 Ultra Mag..

 

[IdahoCTD]

On lightweight/shorter range rifles I usually use Talley lightweight ring/base combo's and lap them in. For the rest I use canted rails.

The Zeiss has exposed turrets so they are subject to moving if rubbed hard enough (they aren't as stiff to turn as some of the other scopes). If I was hunting in thick stuff a lot I would look for a covered turret like the new lower priced Nightforce or the Leupolds.

A zero stop can be built relatively easy with a lathe. The turret is removable so a small tube of plastic or aluminum can be made to go under the turret and limit the down travel. You can also paint it where the markings are to tell you when you get there or use some tape.

 

[ShowMeShooter]

So, I looked into a canted base. Most steel bases seem to be pretty expensive, so I want to be sure to get the right one. For my caliber (.270 Win maybe 280AI, if I get around to rebarreling) how far will this Zeiss take me in elevation adjustment before I need the canted base? Just looking for a ballpark idea here. I realize there are way too many unknown variables to give exact answers.

I think I can live without a Zero stop for now. The machinist at work says he can make me a spacer for it when I get ready and give him a measurement.

 

[FEENIX]

So, I looked into a canted base. Most steel bases seem to be pretty expensive, so I want to be sure to get the right one. For my caliber (.270 Win maybe 280AI, if I get around to rebarreling) how far will this Zeiss take me in elevation adjustment before I need the canted base? Just looking for a ballpark idea here. I realize there are way too many unknown variables to give exact answers.

I think I can live without a Zero stop for now. The machinist at work says he can make me a spacer for it when I get ready and give him a measurement.

Check out #6 of http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f18/20-moa-base-not-87412/ for excellent info on canted base.

 

[ShowMeShooter]

Check out #6 of http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f18/20-moa-base-not-87412/ for excellent info on canted base.

So basically, what I read there is with the canted base the sight picture will be clearer down range because of the alignment of the optics. right?

I have eliminated the Vortex scope for this rig, because I want the clearest optics I can get in this price range, and the Zeiss seems to be the one hands down. Unless someone knows of a better scope for $499 I'll be ordering this one within the next week or so.

On to the base and rings. So I go looking for a steel 20MOA canted base. Some are very pricy I see. They all look the same in on-line store pictures. I know there are some that are better than others. Will I be safe with say a Warne like this?
Warne Scope Mounts Tactical 1 Piece Base Matte 20 Moa Incline Rem Long Action M6

I like the recoil lug on the Nightforce. Better choice? who has it in stock?

I also found these?
http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/4530