Swarovski scopes

[redneck2]

By middle grade, I mean $500-$1000 binos.

I've got some 10x50 Leupold Mojave-3's. Guess I have a hard time thinking of them as low end of mid grade, as they are Leupold's best. In any event, they are superb.

As for Nikon Monarch, I was thinking that was pretty much the top of the line for Nikon. If so, they ought to be pretty good.

As noted several times, gotta take the date of manufacture into account.

 

[Savage99]

"It's not about the cost....it's about the performance. Once you've experienced the quality of the glass, everything else is a disappointment. Fox hunting in the snow is a good example.....with most glass you can pick out the animal, with Swarovski you see the brilliant red color of the pelt stand out. This aids in scanning long distances for a glimpse of elusive game that may be obscured by brush or foliage. No more eye strain when glassing 6-8 hours straight."

I find the above quote difficult to accept.

My comparison of a Swarovski scope is above also.

I will compare them again at some time.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

if I could afford some, I would get one, would rather have lots of quality rifles with proven, low priced optics like Leupold, weaver, redfield. Burriss. if you got the money spend it, somoe of my Leupolds would probably outshoot ya. spend money and good luck.

 

[dubbleA]

"It's not about the cost....it's about the performance. Once you've experienced the quality of the glass, everything else is a disappointment. Fox hunting in the snow is a good example.....with most glass you can pick out the animal, with Swarovski you see the brilliant red color of the pelt stand out. This aids in scanning long distances for a glimpse of elusive game that may be obscured by brush or foliage. No more eye strain when glassing 6-8 hours straight."

I find the above quote difficult to accept.

My comparison of a Swarovski scope is above also.

I will compare them again at some time.

That statement does not really pertain to the original post but more toward binoculars and spotting scopes. Glassing for hours at a time with great quality glass is head and shoulders better than doing it with lesser glass. It doesnt cause stain and headaches. Resolution and contrast come into play big time here. It's not like taking some scoped rifles out for a short time and looking into the woods.

I agree with Rembrandt on this one.

 

[X-Rap]

I have noticed on many occasions the difference in quality of glass between my Binos(Swarovski) and my rifle scope(more often than not a Leupold VXIII) that in the dim light of mornings and evenings I can often see deer/elk and make out the one that I would shoot with the binos only to not at times even be able to see the animal in my scope.
I can't say a better rifle scope would ever equal my 10x50 binos because of other factors but I can say there is a big difference. The same would go when comparing binoculars, I have not seen an equal to Swarorvski binos in optical quality as well as durability, they are made to last.

 

[MCMXI]

A few years ago I had problems with a 30mm Professional Hunter scope so I called their USA customer service dept. I explained the problem and the time constraint I was under as I was leaving the country on a hunting trip in a couple weeks. I followed their instuctions and the scope was sent, repaired and returned within 7 days. There was no charge and they even paid return shipping. To me that tells me they care about their customers.

I had a similar experience with my Swarovski Laser Guide. I took it up to 11,000 feet elevation and the button stuck in the down (on) position. I called Swarovski and they told me that it would have to go back to Germany for about three months. They shipped me a loaner to use in the interim. That's good service!!

 

[Rembrandt]

Double A is correct, my comments were in reference to the binoculars and spotting scopes.

Last year while hunting Iowa whitetails, one of our party hit a buck in the hind quarter near the tail.......as the deer ran off he couldn't tell what direction the buck went or if he had hit it at all. Using 10 X 42 Swarovski binocs, began scanning a group of deer running at over a 1/2 mile away....I could clearly see the red blood soaked tail, indicating he had hit his target. Other hunters in the party were dumbfounded that you could see that detail at those distances.

Biggest argument I hear concerning Swarovski is price, rarely hear dissatisfaction in performance. Unfortunately, with the Federal Reserve printing devalued money has made the exchange rate unfavorable for Swarovski Optic.....it now takes more devalued dollars to buy it.

 

[Sun Tzu warrior]

What Rembrant says is very true! I deal in forign machinery, not because I want to, but because this type of machinery is no longer made in the US. The exchange rates are brutal! Bernanke's printing money, doesn't seem to affect domestic goods, as much, as goods from abroad. I'm just grateful that anyone will exchange goods and services for federal reserve notes!

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

imagine they are nice scopes, grew up shooting medium price Leupolds....still do. my 59 year old eyes do a helluva job with Leupolds, Nikons and Weaver Grand slams and save my money for other stuff. most of the people I see using swaroski are being sponsored by them. guess high dollar scopes are nice, but the common man's scopes work just as good.

 

[03Shadowbob]

All my FIL puts on his rifles are Swarovski or zeiss. After having to hunt with his rifles a couple times I will definitely say if I had the cash, I'd follow suit.

 

[rayatphonix]

YZ, you didn't say what you use your rifle for, or if you did I missed it. I have scopes from Nikon (Monarchs), Leupold (older models), Minox (ZA5), Vortex (PST), Trijicon and Swarovski. For hunting at dusk and dawn my favorite is the Trijicon by a wide margin. The fiber optic dot in the reticle is a huge help at first or last light. My Swarovski is my second choice. You asked the question about comparing the Swarvo and Trijicon and nobody else had responded.

 

[rayatphonix]

Texas makes a good point about "common man's scopes" working just as well. Most medium quality and higher scopes today will hold zero and return to zero after adjustment. I dropped my rifle while climbing down from a stand last year and my Monarch was fine. I'm embarrassed to say how far it fell, but I was expecting to have to repair or replace it.

Higher end scopes do provide better clarity, less distortion and better light transmission. There's no comparison between my Monarch and Swarovski or Trijicon. I usually head to the range with several rifles and the difference in optical quality is apparent when switching between rifles. It just depends on what's important to you.

 

[stubbicatt]

There is a difference in glass to be sure. I have a Nikon on my 243 which is plenty clear. I notice that if I should shoot that rifle first, and then change over to my IOR glassed 308, the latter is just so much easier to look through.

--Perhaps I need to work on the focus or something on the Nikon. Or perhaps the IOR is 3x more expensive than the Nikon and that difference is apparent.

 

[YZ]

Rayatphonix-
Good question! I don't stalk deer. I shoot mostly for sports. Occasionally at sunset or in the winter overcast. You said it. Trijicon!

 

[Savage99]

dubbleA,

This is also part of the post:

"with most glass you can pick out the animal, with Swarovski you see the brilliant red color of the pelt stand out. This aids in scanning long distances for a glimpse of elusive game that may be obscured by brush or foliage. "

I does matter, to me, if I can see the quarry in my rifle scope!

I want my scopes to be the best.

you see the brilliant red color of the pelt stand out.

 

[SabbathWolf]

There is a difference in glass to be sure. I have a Nikon on my 243 which is plenty clear. I notice that if I should shoot that rifle first, and then change over to my IOR glassed 308, the latter is just so much easier to look through.

--Perhaps I need to work on the focus or something on the Nikon. Or perhaps the IOR is 3x more expensive than the Nikon and that difference is apparent.

Did somebody mention an IOR glassed 308?

My IOR is my most favorite scope I've ever had.

 

[Girodin]

I REALLY notice the difference between an OK scope (leupold etc) and the higher end (Swarovski, S&B, etc) optics in low light. There is just a world of difference in low light conditions. The difference in easily ascertainable in other conditions as well, but in low light its immense.

High end optics are like a lot of other things in life, its easy to get by with less while when you don't know what you are missing. After you experience the good stuff there is no going back. I certainly appreciate that not everyone can or wants to spend a couple grand on a scope. I will tell you that, from a performance perspective, I would rather have something like a stevens with awesome glass than a $1500 rifle with a $600 scope. I'd also rather have one really good scope that I had to move between rifles than 4 $500 scopes on 4 rifles.