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This gal needs Help with purchasing zeiss conquest |
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Military high heels
Optics GrassHopper Joined: December/18/2012 Location: Ms Status: Offline Points: 2 |
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Posted: December/19/2012 at 00:08 |
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Okay guys- I'm a wife who needs help -
My husband has been wanting a zeiss conquest riflescope - the problem is for me to find this out I had to dig a little For that perfect Xmas gift and while I was able to find out that this is pretty much the only thing he wants, my digging didn't tell me exactly which one. I'm in the military plus I also hunt ( since being introduced to it through my marriage) so I am not just a complete idiot or totally lost on what I am looking at and reading but I was hoping to get a little advice to if I'm on the correct page or absolutely wrong. We live in mississippi so whitetail is what we have - we both have 7 mag but he also has a trillion rifles and such. He is young (30) with great eyes so everything is pretty basic there in not needing extra for sight. I do know that hunting 30 min pre dawn after dusk is a big deal for him. So am I on the right page looking at the model 3-9x50mm? I know nothing about the mounting part so are they universal? Lol? (Don't laugh :)) The more magnification you have the less light you get to your eyepiece - right!? Or again am I completely ass backwards here? Anyway - I need help is pretty much it- I want to get the best for the biggest pain in my ass :) JK Money is no issue here and I'm up for all advice and tips - thanks - kris |
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stickbow46
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/07/2009 Location: Benton, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4678 |
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Welcome to the OT Kris!
Thank you for your service & happy hollidays Most of your questions can be answered by our of our resident guru's Ilya Koshkin on his site Optic Thoughts .com As far as mounting goes the company many of us go to is Talley one piece rings.These rings screw right onto the rifle no rail needed & they are strong enough to handle recoil past the 7mm.These rings can be purchased right on the SWFA site as with just about any scope you might be interested in purchasing. Their customer service is second to none & they will answer any question you might have.They also have a very liberal return policy & stand behind all their products. Yes a 50mm scope does allow or grab some additional light during the dark hours,thats the simple answer,but it comes at a price,it's heavier,more expensive & can catch onto bushes & twigs while walking or aiming.Again there is a ratio to the amount of light the eye can see even with young eyes. If you know what distance your husband normaly shoots that would be very helpful in giving you a recommendation also there is a great Zeiss conquest sale going on at the SWFA site. As I said check out Ilya's site,the man has forgotten more than most of us know about glass & optics.Good luck with your gift hunting & your husband has got to be one of the luckiest guys on the planet to have married such a carring person......Ernie
Edited by stickbow46 - December/19/2012 at 05:43 |
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Pearls of Wisdom are Heard not Spoken
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bugsNbows
Optics God bowsNbugs Joined: March/10/2008 Location: North Georgia Status: Online Points: 11201 |
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Welcome to the OT forums AND what a great gift for your husband. Choosing the right scope can be a daunting task to be sure. The Zeiss Conquest is a great scope, but there are others also. One must consider variables such as typical shot distances and terrain types, eye relief (more critical on some hard kicking rifles than others), exit pupil (EP), lens coatings and optical quality, reticle choices, scope size (weight, length, 30mm vs. 1 inch tube), budget constraints, on and on and on. For general purpose hunting the 3-9 X 40 (or similar) is the norm. The Conquest 3-9 X 40 with a standard duplex reticle is the starting point. In low light this reticle is fine as is the #4 reticle. There are some great prices on these now. If you step up to the 50mm objective, both price and weight jump accordingly. This may or may not be an issue. If you really want to impress the hubby, I'd suggest checking out the Swarovski Z3 in 3-10 X 42 with the plex or 4a reticle. This is a wonderful all-around scope that's a step up from the Conquest line...of course it costs more too (sorry). Lets see what other thoughts show up. Anyway, good luck and Merry Christmas to you and your husband.
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magshooter1
Optics Professional Joined: August/27/2008 Location: El Dorado, AR Status: Offline Points: 827 |
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Welcome to the OT Kris.
I too hunt in MS. Wife is from up around Houston, MS in Chickasaw County. I have found the 3-9x40 Conquest with the #4 reticle to be more than adequate for hunting the 30 before sunrise to the 30 minutes after sunset that MS law allows. The 3-9x50 would be a llittle brighter but, also heavier and it would have to be mounted higher as well as being more expensive. Since you said money wasn't a problem I would consider the 3.5-10x44 with either a #20 or #4 reticle as the 44mm would allow more light than the 40 but wouldn't be as big as a 50mm. If you/he hunt big fields or powerline ROW's then I would look hard at the 4.5-14x44 for the increased magnification for longer shots. Just my $0.02.
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Some people are educated BEYOND their intelligence.
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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HE"S GONNA LOVE YOU!!!!! thats all you need to know. thanks for your service!!!
on a side note, if money is really not an issue why not step up and get one of these?? http://swfa.com/Zeiss-25-10x50-Victory-Diavari-30mm-Rifle-Scope-P7727.aspx he'd tip over on christmas morning if he opened that box up. Edited by pyro6999 - December/19/2012 at 08:05 |
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Great gift! I need to somehow get my wife to teleconference with you!
Of the Conquests, I would get the 3.5-10X44 with Z-Plex if it were me. To my way of thinking, this scope strikes the best balance of magnification range, weight, length, and objective diameter for hunting of all the Conquest scopes (of those still in production). I've always felt the other Conquests, while outstanding, are all a bit too large and heavy for their magnification ranges, compared to what's available in competing scopes in the same power range. Optical quality is outstanding, as you'd expect from any Conquest. If you want to save a bit extra $, you can never go wrong with the 3-9X40 Conquest, but it's really long for a 3-9X40. I think the 3.5-10X44 is more size-efficient, and I really like the 44mm objective size on this scope - large enough for that little bit of extra light transmission, yet not so large that you have to get high rings to mount it. I own and use both scopes extensively, so I speak from first-hand experience when I say your husband will love either one! I like the 4.5-14X44 as well, but this scope has more magnification than I'd ever need on a deer rifle, so I'd rather save the $ and have a more compact scope. I've never seen a big game hunting situation where 10X wasn't enough magnification to make a shot. If his rifle doubles as a varmint hunting rifle, then I'd opt for the 4.5-14X44. Welcome to OT, and thanks very much for your service!!! Merry Christmas to you and yours! |
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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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seawolf
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/11/2008 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 109 |
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Kris.
Where I live (Norway), low light and night hunting over moonlit fields is the norm hunting deer, and legal as well.
That means I have a bit experience regarding low light hunting (no expert, but experienced ). First of all, quality glass is the no1 rule which in my book says Zeiss, Zwarovski, Smith & Bender, Meopta and Leica.
All European, and all a bit on the expencive side, but remeber, Europeans have a long tradition for low light / night hunting. For a scope suiting the kind of use you describe, I would go for a 2,5-10x50 Zeiss Victory with eighter reticle # 4, or illuminated reticle # 40.
This scope is not bulky, has exellent glass and will suit all the needs of a hunter. It is a great scope for daylight hunting, and double up as a top notch low light sope as well.
I have that spesific scope on my Kimber Montana with reticle #4, and it is an exellent piece.
Lots of other scopes my qualify, but as money is no issue, I would pick from the top shelf and he Zeiss Victory mentioned would be my first pick base on my own expeience for the use you describe.
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Seawolf
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Dyelynn
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/07/2011 Location: Washington Status: Offline Points: 231 |
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Hell Kris,
as others have suggested, you're on the right track for grabbing wife of the year award :) I too hunt with a 7mag and this past year upgraded from a vortex 2-7x33 to a conquest 3-9x40. I had no issues with low light use over the past hunting season, and while the standard plex reticle may have been a little more difficult to pick up, the glass is clear as a bell. If I had any gripe with the conquest, it would be the eye releif. It's actually a bit too long for me and the rifle i have it setup on. For reference, i'm about 5'10", 240 and the scope is mounted on a sako a7 with talley lightweights. I actually bought a spacer to put between the stock and the recoil pad to back me off a little more and that helps. At some point, i plan on upgrading once again to a swarovski, but unfortunately, money is an object for me :) If money isn't an object, I'd follow the above suggestions about the 2.5-10x50 victory(http://swfa.com/Zeiss-Victory-Non-Illuminated-Diavari-Rifle-Scopes-C3031.aspx), or maybe a swarovski z3 in 3-10x42 (http://swfa.com/Swarovski-Z3-Riflescopes-C1808.aspx). When you get ready to buy the scope, if you decide to order from the site that sponsors this forum, www.swfa.com, you can simply call them, tell them what rifle you want to mount the scope on and they'll help you with the mounts that would be appropriate, and anything else you might need. Also, as a couple others have suggested, you will learn more than you want to know by spending a little time reading opticsthoughts.com (http://opticsthoughts.com/index.php/rifle-scopes), and the gentleman responsible for that site and the information there-in is a member here. |
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MC Escher
Optics Apprentice Joined: September/25/2012 Location: Ohio Status: Offline Points: 121 |
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Ummm..... Got any sisters?
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The older I get, the better I feel about tearing up parking tickets and cheating on my taxes.
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Kris,
If money is truly not an issue, the Zeiss Victory 2.5-10X50 as per Seawolf's recommendation is an optically superior scope to the Conquest series, but that optical superiority comes at a steep $ premium. Since you said your husband requested a Conquest by name, I was under the assumption that's because he either prefers a 1" tube scope or doesn't want the Victory price tag. I mention this only because you need to know if he already has 1" rings, you'll need to get 30mm rings if you elect to step up to the Zeiss Victory, which has a 30mm main tube. |
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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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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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You all received plenty of good advice here from people who have a lot of experience.
For the money your best bet is Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40: http://swfa.com/Zeiss-3-9x40-Conquest-Rifle-Scope-P5400.aspx The best rounded Conquest scope is probably the 3.5-10x44. If money is truly no object, I would be looking at a couple of additional scopes as well: Swarovski Z3 3-10x40 for the best lightweight option: http://swfa.com/Swarovski-3-10x42-Z3-Riflescope-P40816.aspx Kahles KXi 3.5-10x50 for what is likely the best hunting scope out there with a 1" tube: http://swfa.com/Kahles-35-10x50-Helia-KXi-Riflescope-P60695.aspx ILya
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rustic
Optics Master Joined: September/30/2011 Status: Offline Points: 1461 |
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I agree. I would NOT get this one. Stock # - ZEI5214919920 Matte Z-Plex 1" Side Focus Hunting Turrets Etched Glass 2nd Plane Specifications 20.45 Weight (oz): 14.02 Length (in): 3.34 Eye Relief (in): 25.5 - 8.84 Field of View@ 100yds (ft): 10.8 - 3.6 Exit Pupil (mm): 1/4 MOA: Multi-Coated Lens Coating: Lifetime Warranty: I have this one it has been a disappointment from the start nothing really wrong but also nothing really right...just kinda there. I have it on a rifle that I never shoot(mark v .257 Wby) the rifle and scope look good but, thats about it conversation piece I guess. |
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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If he has already mentioned a Conquest I would pick one of these. My personal preference is to go with the more expensive 4.5-14 but I have both models and very much enjoy them.
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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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Another thing he could probably get a lot of use out of is a small spotting scope with a light tripod.
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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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Just in case you want some options I will mention a couple of my other favorite scopes, but I tend toward tactical scopes where one can dial in correction. These are true tactical scopes
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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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I am also very fond of the tritium + fiber optic illumination in the Trijicon scopes.
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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
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338LAPUASLAP
Optics Master Scope Swapper Joined: October/17/2009 Status: Offline Points: 2596 |
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The scopes he said are the best for your application. The Swarovski is the scope that is really really hard to beat at the price point and is sure to get his attention... The Kahles he suggested is the absolute creme dela creme. |
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No one
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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The scope you are talking about has not been mentioned by anyone else in this thread. While it is a very nice scope, it clearly does not suit you which has been suitably documented in a considerable number of threads. Is there a particular reason you brought it up again? Or are you just stirring the pot trying to get into argument (as usual)? ILya
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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Kris,
Unless your husband prefers to do some very esoteric hunting ultra long range or something along those lines) stick to moderately sized high quality hunting scopes, like the Swarovski, Kahles, Zeiss Conquest and a variety of others. ILya
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rustic
Optics Master Joined: September/30/2011 Status: Offline Points: 1461 |
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To the contrary. Just an suggestion from experience. 4.5x14 was was mentioned before and since my post. IMHO noticeably better choices for less, around the same, or slightly more $'s. Like a z3, vx3, other conquest's, etc. Edited by rustic - December/19/2012 at 18:33 |
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