So I was lucky enough to win a raffle for both a Swaro Z5 (3.5-18) and a Tikka T3X Stainless in 6.5 Creedmoor. Picking them up when I get back in town this weekend.

I have three Swarovski products (SLC 10x, SLC 15x, STX 65/95) and absolutely love them. However, I have never looked at Swarovski riflescopes.

How is the Z5? Clarity? Reliability? Is it worthwhile to keep and pair with the Tikka? Or should I just sell it and use the proceeds for a different scope?

It's intended use will be for hunting and occasional range sessions (20 rounds or less). I will be dialing for distance while hunting (hopefully 1 shot) and at the range (20 times or less per session).

I've had a couple of the Z5 5-25X52 Swarovski scopes. The glass is great, clarity is exceptional. I liked the hold over reticle (TDS I think it was called) the best. In my experience with them, their turret twisting models do not have a great adjustment range. This is especially true when going on a rifle with proprietary rings such as the rugers and sakos. On my ruger, the turret range was limited to 450 yards before all of the adjustment range was used up. Similar when put on my sako rifle. I really don't need to twist turrets when shooting at 450 yards and under.

That said, with a rifle that had a 20 or 30 MOA rail available they might have been okay.

Great scope with a holdover reticle. If I planned to twist the turrets, I would look for something different.

I hope this helps.

Scott

^^This

Quite typical of Swaro rifle scopes, they suck at dialing, and can even be tough to just get zeroed. Been that way for a long time.

Swaro rep engaged me in a conversation at a rifle match. He asked for an assessment and he got one. I said "yall make some of the finest glass, and best observation optics in the world, but you're no good at making scope turrets, and have limitations on scope reticles." He said "I know".

This was 2016, I have not looked into their rifle scopes since then.

I have a Z6 2-15 that has been on the Cooper 6.5-24 since 2011 that has never given an issue. Now that I have loads worked up for it I shoot it about 40 to 50 times a year and no problems what so ever so far. Dialing out to 800 yards and returning to zero. But I do not use it that much for dialing to be honest. love the glass and so far no issues dialing. these days I shoot it about 40 rounds a year.

I think for the hunter/shooter it has done fine for me. If I were one to dial often it would have a night Force on it but wanting that optical quality the Z6 has worked very well for me so far.

Really appreciate the feedback.

When I get home this weekend, and after I pick up the scope and rifle, I'll compare the Z5 to my other scopes, as well as my SLC 10s, under various lighting conditions. I am very curious to see how the glass is.

I will be mounting the scope on a 20 MOA base and see how much usable elevation I wind up with. Hopefully there'll be enough usable elevation to get me to 800 yards (absolute maximum distance I'd shoot a Coues with this caliber). If there is not enough usable elevation, I will sell the Z5 and pick up a better suited scope.

There's a possibility that on a 20 MOA rail, it won't let you dial down to a 100 yard zero. That has been the case, with Swaro rifle scopes in the past. So, just be looking for it.

If its got a BDC turret NO PROBLEM

If Not, I have to agree with Jason 100% above

also if you want a ELR scope, look at the ATACR Nightforce

The ballistic turret on the z5 is limited to one turn, which I think equates to roughly ~13 MOA of travel. So depending on your cartridge choice you will be limited to between 600 and 800 yards with a 200 yard zero. With the 6.5cm I think you'll max the turret around 650.

Great scopes for hunting with fast, flat cartridges... not so much for long range.

I love my Z5 5-25 so if you consider giving yours up give me a shout!

Here is a quick update:

Glass Comparison: The Z5 rocks in low light. Was able to see detail at 100 yards 3 minutes longer in the Z5 compared to the Vortex Razor LH. Both scopes went over 30 minutes past sunset. However, my SLC 10s beat them both.

I mounted the Z5 on the Tikka T3X in 6.5 Creedmoor. I used DNZ Game Reaper 20 MOA.


The Z5 has awesome clarity throughout its magnification range. Very impressed with it to this point. After some user error (should have ready the Z5 manual), I got everything zeroed at 200 yards. Re-assembled the turret and set the markers to 300, 400, and 500 yards. The range I was at only allowed me to shoot to 300 yards but the turret setting was on at that distance.

This combo is accurate. Here is a 5 shot group at 200 yards. I took my time on this group and gave it 3 minutes between shots. I did pull the one on the right. Actually had very favorable shooting conditions for a change.



After all is said and done, the one major drawback (like others have said) is the limited travel with the BT. I can only dial to 625 yards. While that is a good distance out there, I am leaving some serious deer-killing distance on the table. I can remove the zero stop and free up more travel, however, the exposed turrets then become the liability.

Now I get to figure out what to do, if anything, with this scope.