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Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question #6175634 02/09/16 02:35 PM
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Elkhunter49 Offline OP
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I'm looking for some of you guy's opnion's on the Swaro BT. I'm thinking of getting a 3.5x18x44 Z5 with the ballistic turret. I've watched the video on them and they seem simple to set up but I'm worndering if some of you that own the scopes are happy with them and would buy them again. Thanks, Elk

Last edited by Elkhunter49; 02/09/16 04:21 PM.

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Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: Elkhunter49] #6176168 02/09/16 07:15 PM
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I have a Z6i with BT and love it except that if you get the model with BT it reduces the elevation you have. Can only reach out to 6-700 yards with it on my 6.5CM.

It's nice when you're out hunting to not have to remember holds or dial in your phone etc.

And yes, setup is super simple.

Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: Elkhunter49] #6176186 02/09/16 07:30 PM
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I've broken 2 of the Swarovski scopes that have the turrets to dial. The internal components is the weak link in these scopes. Another main issue with the Swarovski dialing is the lack of available internal adjustment. Most shooters get them to shoot long range, and these simply can not get out that far.

Also, if you plan to shoot past about 400 yards, the ballistic turrets become unreliable. When you shoot in various conditions (i.e.-temps, elevations, humidity, and pressures), than what the turret was programmed for a certain condition can easily cause misses, due to the different conditions. It is not as simple as dialing to 6 for a 600 yard shot. My recommendation is to learn moa or mils, if you plan to dial.

Sure, Swarovski has great glass. But if the scope can not take normal use, what good is it. I'm not a fan of them, especially the ballistic turrets on these scopes.


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Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: Elkhunter49] #6176188 02/09/16 07:31 PM
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I have the exact model you are asking about, and yes, super simple to set up. I have yet to use it on a deer as all the animals I have shot at distance were coyotes and quick ranging guesses were made since they typically don't hold still very long.
I did have one coyote I was able to range and get dialed in for, and hit that one. I also played with the turret with some targets at distance on the lease and it worked then too, so I know it works, just haven't had the opportunity as much to use it.

Match it with the 4W reticle and you should be pretty good to go...

Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: Elkhunter49] #6176191 02/09/16 07:35 PM
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Works great for its intended use!



Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: ChadTRG42] #6176255 02/09/16 08:15 PM
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Originally Posted By: ChadTRG42
My recommendation is to learn mils, if you plan to dial.


^^This^^


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Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: Elkhunter49] #6176341 02/09/16 09:13 PM
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As Chad and Fireman have eluded, there are different scopes for different purposes. For a hunter who will occasionally dial a distance to a respectable shooting distance of 3-400 yards, the swaro is a good option.

For bench shooters who dial distance all the time, or folks who need to dial in extreme distances for prairie dogs or other such long distance game, the swaro BT's are probably not best suited.

The OP's intended purpose was not explicitly stated and thus the reason you are getting differing opinions. Truth be told, my scope stays at the 100 yard zero 90-95% of the time I am hunting, but I like the flexibility to be able to dial a distance when needed up to 400 yards (where I made my last stop) since I probably wouldn't shoot anything out past that, especially if it were a trophy animal. As Chad said, too many variables for the average joe shooter. Not saying there aren't people willing to take that shot, just not me right now.

So, maybe the OP could clarify what the intended scopes purpose would be and see if the scope fits...

Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: Elkhunter49] #6176345 02/09/16 09:17 PM
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Originally Posted By: Elkhunter49
I'm looking for some of you guy's opnion's on the Swaro BT. I'm thinking of getting a 3.5x18x44 Z5 with the ballistic turret. I've watched the video on them and they seem simple to set up but I'm worndering if some of you that own the scopes are happy with them and would buy them again. Thanks, Elk


If your going to keep shots under 500. Rock on works great.

Like any turrets it's only as good as your input variables though


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Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: Elkhunter49] #6176348 02/09/16 09:24 PM
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Thanks for the responses guys, all good points. I'm a hunter and not a paper puncher so I think the scope would work for me. I'm not capable of making an ethical shot out past 400 yards anymore given my vision even though I've got a rifle capable of much more than that. As Buckeye and others have stated it sounds like it's not the right tool for long rang shooting but for distances up to 400 or so it sounds like it would cover my needs.

Chad will you elaborate on what caused yours to break. I'm not hard on my equipment but if it's a manufacturing defect then I'd just as soon stay away from it. Thanks again, Elk


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Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: Elkhunter49] #6176404 02/09/16 10:02 PM
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Originally Posted By: Elkhunter49
Chad will you elaborate on what caused yours to break. I'm not hard on my equipment but if it's a manufacturing defect then I'd just as soon stay away from it. Thanks again, Elk


Sure. Both failures were the same thing. Some of the scopes have as little as 40-45 moa of internal elevation (how much you can dial up or down). A lot of the rifles sent to me have the scopes already set up and mounted. Shooters will put a 20 moa base on it since that's what they think they need for long range shooting. With a scope that has 45 moa of elevation, with a 0 moa base (perfectly level base), it puts you in the middle of the internal elevation, about 22.5 moa (half of the 45 moa available). Add a 20 moa base, and now you are at 2.5 moa from the bottom (20 moa minus the 22.5 moa available), and technically 42.5 moa up. But that's if everything lines up perfect. Often times the set up between the top of the action, your bases, rings, and scope mounting, it is not that precise. So, that planned 2.5 moa clearance is not there, and you do not have enough down elevation travel to get a 100 yard zero (and that's if you are perfectly in line with the windage, and no right or left windage is dialed). What happens is you dial the turret too low (or high), and it strips out the internal screws and/or screw holes that the reticle housing sits in. It causes the reticle housing to come loose, and now is not attached and floats inside the tube. The turrets are no help, and the scope has to be sent back for repair.

This is what I'm talking about for durability. Nightforce and Vortex (Vortex uses the same internal construction as NF) use a system that has a stop washer in place to prevent the turret from being turned too far. When you reach max on a NF or Vortex, the turret simply stops, and can not be turned any further. On certain scopes that allow you to turn the turrets until you feel the squishy stop, that's the reticle hitting the side of the scope tube, and screws putting pressure on the reticle housing. This is where most scopes will break or cause wear leading to the reticle coming out of place. One of the avid hunters I load for also used his fancy Swarovski scope as a tactical scope for dialing, and he detached the reticle from the housing also. This is the weak link in these scopes. Sure, they have great glass. But it's not for me. I need more than just great glass. I use my gear and use it a lot. I need something that will allow me to have repeatability and hold up to use.


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Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: Elkhunter49] #6176454 02/09/16 10:37 PM
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Originally Posted By: Elkhunter49
Thanks for the responses guys, all good points. I'm a hunter and not a paper puncher so I think the scope would work for me. I'm not capable of making an ethical shot out past 400 yards anymore given my vision even though I've got a rifle capable of much more than that. As Buckeye and others have stated it sounds like it's not the right tool for long rang shooting but for distances up to 400 or so it sounds like it would cover my needs.

Chad will you elaborate on what caused yours to break. I'm not hard on my equipment but if it's a manufacturing defect then I'd just as soon stay away from it. Thanks again, Elk


Then it will work great. Exactly what it was designed for.


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Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: Elkhunter49] #6176677 02/10/16 01:09 AM
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What does the reticle in this scope do to address wind holds?


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Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: Elkhunter49] #6176750 02/10/16 01:45 AM
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Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: J.G.] #6176927 02/10/16 03:06 AM
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Originally Posted By: FiremanJG
What does the reticle in this scope do to address wind holds?


There is a 4W reticle that has wind age holds for 5,10, and I think 20 mph wind or movement or combo. It isn't perfect, but it does the job well enough in a hunting situation where might not be enough time to get a perfect dope. Movement of deer/hog/coyote as you know is different from bulls on a target up

I am pretty sure the other reticles don't have any way to adjust for wind.

Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: J.G.] #6177600 02/10/16 05:19 PM
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Originally Posted By: FiremanJG
What does the reticle in this scope do to address wind holds?


4w with MOA holds. Not FFP so needs to be at max power


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Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: Texas buckeye] #6179834 02/12/16 02:33 AM
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Originally Posted By: Texas buckeye
Originally Posted By: FiremanJG
What does the reticle in this scope do to address wind holds?


There is a 4W reticle that has wind age holds for 5,10, and I think 20 mph wind or movement or combo. It isn't perfect, but it does the job well enough in a hunting situation where might not be enough time to get a perfect dope. Movement of deer/hog/coyote as you know is different from bulls on a target up

I am pretty sure the other reticles don't have any way to adjust for wind.


I think you got out of your depth with that one.


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Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: BOBO the Clown] #6179838 02/12/16 02:34 AM
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Originally Posted By: BOBO the Clown
Originally Posted By: FiremanJG
What does the reticle in this scope do to address wind holds?


4w with MOA holds. Not FFP so needs to be at max power


I looked it up. MOA is at least something to work with...


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Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: Elkhunter49] #6183253 02/14/16 09:39 PM
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Im a hunter, not a super sniper.
I have had 3 of them for 4-5 years on hunting rifles.
They all work great. Awesome gladd. Never an issue and extremely reliable.
Elk in montana to deer in mexico.
Will you be capable of being a 1000 yd world class shooter, no.
But ive been on a range out to 750 and rang the gong sitting next to long range shooters with long range rigs. Would I ever win competitions? Heck no.
But not what I bought my scopes for.

Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: Elkhunter49] #6190288 02/19/16 05:08 AM
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there is an app for that. I have 2 of them. Enter in your bc and fps etc. and it will give you the holds via your hash marks and wind etc. I have been wanting to test out past 500 yards but have yet to. While in washington on a mule deer hunt I could not confirm the size of a mule deer at 690 yards and would not shoot, but in all white tail deer up to 400 yrds it has been dead on.


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Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: Elkhunter49] #6190370 02/19/16 11:41 AM
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Thanks for all the reply's and info sharing folks. Very helpful! up


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Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: J.G.] #6191568 02/20/16 03:41 AM
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Originally Posted By: FiremanJG
Originally Posted By: Texas buckeye
Originally Posted By: FiremanJG
What does the reticle in this scope do to address wind holds?


There is a 4W reticle that has wind age holds for 5,10, and I think 20 mph wind or movement or combo. It isn't perfect, but it does the job well enough in a hunting situation where might not be enough time to get a perfect dope. Movement of deer/hog/coyote as you know is different from bulls on a target up

I am pretty sure the other reticles don't have any way to adjust for wind.


I think you got out of your depth with that one.


Ha, this is what happens when you reply to a post after operating all day and not thinking straight....thankfully the operations were done and I didn't have such a brain fart on my patients!

I think BOBO covered It enough, or maybe my brain dead response led to you looking it up.

Either way, not typical for my responses, usually thought through well enough but this time hammer bang

Last edited by Texas buckeye; 02/20/16 03:42 AM.
Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: Texas buckeye] #6191792 02/20/16 01:48 PM
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Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: Elkhunter49] #6195652 02/23/16 03:41 PM
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Well guys in a few weeks I'll give you a report on this scope. If I don't find a good deal on a lightly used one I've got a decent deal on a new one that I'll pull the trigger on this Friday. Thanks for all the reply's folks!


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Re: Swaro Z5 ballistic turret Question [Re: Elkhunter49] #6198158 02/25/16 03:32 AM
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I love mine


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