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Conquest vs Swar American |
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outdoorAg
Optics GrassHopper Joined: February/16/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 65 |
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Posted: March/20/2007 at 15:13 |
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I'm looking to buy one of these from the sample list. I'll either take the Conquest in 4.5-14 or the Swarovski American in 6-18. Couple of questions for you guys:
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Personally, I think the Swaro AV is considerably better optically than the Zeiss Conquest series. Whether or not it is worth $400 extra is debatable. To me it is. I think the Swaro AV is a better scope overall than the Conquest, which, along with the higher magnification, accounts for its higher price. I've never tested Zeiss CS, but Swaro's CS is excellent. I don't know offhand what the difference in warranties are, as warranty has never been a concern for me personally when selecting any high end quality scope. I doubt you'd have any problems with either, and if you did, you would probably notice it very soon after purchase.
On the difference @ high end magnification between 14 and 18, yes you will notice that 18 produces a larger target image than 14. However, the real question is, do you really need that much magnification? If this is for the deer rifle you discussed in another thread, I personally cannot visualize a situation where you really "need" even 14X, and you have to keep in mind that you'll probably eventually want sufficiently low power on the low end for close shots. |
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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outdoorAg
Optics GrassHopper Joined: February/16/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 65 |
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Thanks rifle dude. This is going on a 257wby - more of a varmint and small/medium game rifle for long shots. 300-500 yards.
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Even so, 12X is plenty of high end magnification. I seldom use more magnification than this even when I'm shooting at prairie dogs beyond 700 yards. 14X is certainly enough on the upper end. I believe you're almost always better off spending extra money on better optical quality than more magnification. However, since you stated this is for a varmint rifle, 6X is o.k. on the low end in most situations, so the 6-18 would be a good scope. I've compared the AV head to head with the Conquest several times and to me, the AV is worth the extra $.
Edited by RifleDude |
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Zeiss CS is good to great. I know from experience.
I say go for a top shelf scope like a Zeiss VM/V or S&B rather than pay $400 more for a Swaro American. In for a penny, in for a pound.
Or get the Conquest and save some cash.
The Swaro kind of falls between the cracks with the advent of the Conquest.
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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I certainly agree that beyond a certain price point, one would be better off just spending a little extra for the best, except for a couple factors:
1. I bought my Swaro AV scopes off the Sample List, which saved me considerable $ to make the improvements over the Conquest class of scope worthwhile. 2. For his stated use as a varmint hunting scope, I personally believe a SFP reticle is a better choice than a FFP reticle. For big game hunting, I would agree the FFP reticle is better. |
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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outdoorAg
Optics GrassHopper Joined: February/16/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 65 |
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Just to clarify RifleDude - when say 'AV' - you mean the Swar American Light 1" scope line, correct?
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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How much more is the Sample List Swaro compared to the Conquest the original poster mentioned?? I thought it was $400.
I agree the Swaro is better optically, just not $400 more. As you said RD, it's debatable.
Good point about the SFP reticle too. |
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Yes. |
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Yes, correct. I was really speaking in generalities, because there was also a significant magnification difference between the two scopes which also contributes to the increased cost of the Swaro. For me, a lot of the decision centers around the reticle choices, FOV specs, and physical dimensions of the scopes being considered as well. At full retail, the Swaro AV line is starting to get within reach of the flagship model Euro scopes and the Kahles KX series starts making more sense from a performance: value standpoint. |
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Good copy. Excellent points. (I'd still go for the Conquest.)
We are very lucky to have you at The OT, Rifle Dude.
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Thanx buddy! I really appreciate that, especially coming from you!
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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Cajun Hunter
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/20/2007 Status: Offline Points: 58 |
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Do you guys think that the Kahles KX is a better scope than the Swaro AV line?
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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I don't know. I've never used the new KX. In addition to owning a Kahles binocular, I'm basing my conclusion on the fact I own the now discontinued Kahles AH series scopes and am very impressed with them, and the KX is supposed to be an improvement over the AH. I own 2 Swaro AV scopes and I think they are slightly better than the Kahles AH. Owners of both the Swaro AH and the new Kahles 1" (CL & KX)scopes say they are pretty much equivalent, which would seem to make the KX a better value, being less expensive.
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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Obi Wan Kenobi
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/21/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 188 |
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Its probably better than both the Swaro AV line & the Conquest line simply because the Kahles KX is made & assembled in Austria at the Kahles factory.
The Conquest & Swaro AV lines aren't. |
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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The Conquest is assembled in the US from German components, but you are incorrect about the Swaro AV line. They are assembled in Austria, same as Swaro's 30mm scopes. The "American" designation only refers to the 1" tube, not origin of manufacture. |
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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Obi Wan Kenobi
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/21/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 188 |
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My mistake I was under the impression the Swaro line was shipped here to the USA also like the Zeiss conquest materials. |
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outdoorAg
Optics GrassHopper Joined: February/16/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 65 |
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Anyone had to use the Swar customer service?? Just looking to see what I might be getting myself into if I were to have any problems.
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jonbravado
Optics Master Joined: October/05/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1131 |
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+1 on the kahles KX - it beats em both -
i would even choose meopta meostar over the afformentioned scopes for the money - super scopes.
if you are stuck on zeiss conquest or swaro american - i would give the best value to conquest.
ALL fine scopes, though.
+1 on cheap's comment - the zeiss diavaris are DISGUSTINGLY good. But the kahles KX isn't far behind.
J |
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pooreyes
Optics GrassHopper Joined: October/08/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 27 |
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I have I couldnt have asked for anything better. Hats off to Rob and the rest of the gang. They treated me better then anyone else has. The turn around time was unreal less then two weeks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Edited by pooreyes |
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