Nice collection of scopes. There is only one problem with those high end scopes and that is when you buy one and get used to it there is no way of getting back on cheeper scopes.

Thank you! I requested a blog on scopes (Sept 2018), not knowing you had already posted this!

Indeed a collection of top tier optics. Originally I was drawn to the Schmidt & Bender PS II but was absolutely blindsided by the light transmission quality of the Steiner military 4-12 X 50 so that’s what I’m using on the.30 caliber. I was so impressed by its overall quality that I purchased one of their P4Xi scopes in 1-4 X 24 for the 5.56 and .308 gas guns. I must say that though the old adage is true(“but once-cry once”) the lasting satisfaction of having a top tier optic atop ones rifle make the purchase that much sweeter. Cheers

Thank you very very much SIR for the video it's really means allot to me to get help from person like your Calibre and really appreciate your help again thanks allot for the video

I can definately vouch for the Zeiss conquest line. I own a 3-9x40 conquest (assembled in USA) and I did own a Conquest DL 3-12x50 illuminated (updated version of Duralyt) for a time. Both are great. The duralyt/DL is just incredible. You can easily shoot at high magnification up to and beyond the end of legal shooting hours for hunting. Although I think most fully multi-coated scopes these days can achieve that. I recommend Meopta also. They built the conquest line for Zeiss, and continue to offer basically the same line as the 'MeoPro'. They are just a spectacular value, especially if you can find them on sale in the $400 range. Noticeably better than the Leupold vx-3i IMO, albeit for slightly more money. If you're worried about weight without sacrificing optical quality, then I don't think you can beat the Leupold vx-3i series, unless you wanna pony up 2x the coin for Swarovski z3. Just one idiots 2c. Cheers.

I have a Swarovski Habicht 3-10x42 and the only reason I have it is i got it for almost 1/4 of the original price. It's a $1,600 scope but my brother let me have it for $450. Very nice and clear scope. I absolutely love it.

Awesome! I'm starting scope shopping soon.

Great video! I've seen so many people buy somewhat pricey rifles and then go cheap on glass... My wife has a Kahles on her Steyr and she loves it. I tend to stay with Leupold scopes on my Winchesters because of their warranty and customer service, excellent! I'm in agreement that the German/Austrian scopes are a step above the majority of others but you'll need to open your wallet or be patient and grab one when it pops up at a great price. Good glass is well worth the money, you can't hit what you can't see clearly.

Magnificent optic.. Got one myself on my primary hunting rifle. Great value for money. Greetings from Denmark

Nice collection of scopes you have there! My favorites in my collection are my Kahles Helia CSX 3-12x56, Helia 5 2.4-12x56, Swarovski Z6i G2 2.5-15x56 and the Zeiss Victory HT 3-12x56, because they are great for low-light conditions. The best on the market, Schmidt & Bender Polar has the best light transmission on the market, with 96%. Victory HT 3-12x56 is at 95%, the Kahles Helia CSX/CBX 93,9%! The Swarovski is about the same! It really is great to see an American citizen to find the greatness and beauty (except the price) of European scopes!

Excellent

😀😎👍🏼 Nice Choices

For an R8 there would be the option of getting a Zeiss with IC (Illumination Control) that couples the reticle illumination to the cocking lever of the gun. Optically speaking: You can't go wrong with a good Zeiss, Swarovski or Schmidt&Bender.

Schmidt & Bender, highest quality components, hand made. All good brands though!

The thing is a lot of the glass that most major optics manufacturers use comes from Asia this is especially true with Zeiss and Leupold. Lower end zeiss scopes like the conquest series the new V4's and Zeiss Terra series use Japanese Glass. NightForce scopes are actually made in Japan but their quality control is done here in the US. There are only a handful of companies that actually produce their own glass, Schmidt and Bender is one of them. IOR Valdada does use German Schott glass. Grinding and polishing glass is extremely expensive to do. That's why most optics manufacturers out source their glass from Asia. When you buy a higher end scope you are mainly paying for that quality control. Higher end manufacturers severely vett their glass and contract them to use their own coatings. Out sourcing keeps costs down but you still are getting quality products.

I like the video. The Leupold vx2 and vx3 are great scopes. Great for the money. I would like a fair comparison in price range for Leupold. The European scopes are high end and expensive. Meaning you’ll get better glass typically. The Vx2 and Vx3 I wouldn’t consider high end. So I’m sure a high end Leupold with equal value of the European scopes chosen can easily match with clarity and light gathering

Zeiss, they own the only private crystal quartz mine. All others are lead crystal, and inferior. Now I only have two zeiss, a USA conquest 3-9x40 rapid z 600, and a recently acquired HD5 3-15x42 German made, rapid z 800 reticle. Love the rapid z reticles, they need to bring them back, quick, usefully accurate and visually appealing.

What are your go to scope rings?

I was very fortunate to have an opportunity to work in the outfitting/guide industry for a few seasons. Foreign hunters tend to place expensive high end scopes atop their expensive high end rifles. I have seen how most of those named here stack up in the field, in sunrise and sunset situations. The best color diff. and brightness AND reliability was...Swarovski. The Zeiss were nice to look through, certainly, in good light, but the reports I overheard were that after appx 1000 rounds atop a magnum rifle, the Zeiss turned into a baby rattle. A fact most of the German hunters despised. at last light, I compared a 3x18x56 (30mm tube) swaro to a Bushnell elite 3200 3x9x40, the Swarovski provided a 20 minute extension of usable hunting light.I hunt with the 3200 elite to this day, as I have not yet purchased that winning lottery ticket.

Thanks for the scope video. Much appreciated. One thing I’ve never focused on much, until recently, is the different types of rifling. I know marlin has their micro-groove, which is different, but I haven’t studied the other profiles much. I have an FX airgun that is smooth for most of the barrel with a twist only on the last couple inches near the muzzle (extremely accurate by the way). Maybe you could do a video explaining some of the different profiles and the supposed advantages/disadvantages of each (standard/5R/Polygon/ratchet/etc). Thanks

I had a Redfield 2x7 wide angle kind of oval shaped scope in the 1970's due to my neglect I damaged the rear lens I sent it back to Redfield I think in Texas with a $ 10 bill they sent it back promptly completely restored. Redfield also had a rangefinder built into their scopes which was I think was up to 700 yards a small bar popped up showing the range based on where the reticle and target was aligned I'm not sure how it worked but interesting.

Hensoldt, Leica, IOR Valdada, Kahles, Schmidt & Bender, Zeiss, Swarovski, Steiner are all top of the heap of great scopes but, March scopes are the absolute best! 💯 It's hard to beat a company's product where the world's best optical engineers are its owners.

The Zeiss DL is awesome. They changed the finish from your's and mine. I'm guessing to prevent slipping in rings. On that note, I wish eu makers would sell the integral rail versions here . Thanks as always.

anyone out there with the Minox 1-8x or Delta 3-24x or Kahles 6-24x?

Z3/Z5 Swarovski’s are assembled in USA, but parts are from Austria. The rest of their line is made and assembled in Austria. I love their glass! I love Night Force’s durability though. They are tough, especially the BEAST!

Very informative reviews and advice Appreciate your unbiased reviews Any chance you could review the Meopta optika6 hi mag range

Any chance you know the manufacture of the rings on the Duralyte Zeiss or the Bender 3-12 at the beginning? I believe they are Alan Rhone? I am absolutely fascinated by the design and the return to zero. I have a Tikka T3 Hunter from Alberts GMBH Germany with the iron sights you never see here in the US and the previous owner set it up with those mounts and a Trijicon 2.5-10x56. Awesome package. Also have an old IOR 8x56 I’m going to play with, supposed to have Zeiss glass in it

Love your videos keep it up. I shoot a lot all year round. I use inexpensive scopes that work well I am talking $130 and $140 dollar scopes. I studied and searched to find low dollar scopes that work. I shoot ground squirrels with both air rifles and long range powder burners .204 Ruger's. Squirrels blend in to the terrain you have to pick them out I can shoot 500 yards a nicer scope would be nice. Scoping a dozen rifles gets expensive. I use power full tactical scopes 6x24x44 or 50mm this helps a lot. Pick a good rifle and a good scope they go together.

IOR Valdada is my favorite, and far better than Nightforce, I have compared them side by side on the range and IOR is FAR SUPERIOR, and IOR is a bargain compared to the Sawrovski and Schmidt and higher end Zeiss. For under 500 I prefer the Leupold or the Sig Sauer. My favorite scope specifically is the IOR 3-18 x42.

I got a Hawke 30 Side winder scope in 6x24x50 for my .22 LR Rifle

Kind of a disparate group of scopes from early 2000 era. There is a lot more involved in good optics than coatings - though those are important for contrast and transmission, but not for resolution or optical distortions. Since then, there have been many changes to the scope market. However, I will say the newer ones optically aren't noticeably better than those of a few years ago. My older 3-12x56 Zeiss Diavari optically looks just as good as their new (and very expensive) 2.5-20 x 60 Victory V8 series. And the new Leupold VX-6HD scopes optically don't look much better then the older Bushnell Elite 6500, or the older Vari-x IIIs when I put them side by side. Even so, one should be prepared to spend a minimum of about $800 to $1,000 on a rifle scope. And never put a cheap scope on any rifle (other than a rimfire possibly). Basically, it makes sense to put an expensive scope on a cheap rifle, but not the other way around. Another thing few hunters pay much attention to are binoculars. However, we should because we spend oodles more time looking through binoculars than rifle scopes, unless we're only shooting targets. Whereas poor image quality will make us leave mediocre binoculars at home after one or 2 uses, quality field glasses will always be at our side. You can get by with skimping somewhat on the price of a rifle scope, but not binoculars. You need to spend a minimum of just over $1,000 US to get quality binoculars. The Zeiss Conquest and the new Nikon HG series represent the minimum acceptable level of quality, in my opinion. But better if you can get one from the Swarovski EL, Zeiss SF or the Niikon EDG series. You will never regret the money spent or leave home without them. Incidentally, the 2 top scopes (FOR THAT PERIOD) - according to the SWF Optics Talk forums - was the Zeiss 3-12x56 Diavari and the Schmidt & Bender 3-12x50. Me and another guy spent an hour looking through both scopes from my balcony in low light. Not sure what to say: I thought optically the Zeiss had the edge; however, the other guy, who was younger and likely had better eyes, thought the Schmidt & Bender had the edge. Anyhow, both were really magnificent scopes.

Proper lens glass is i believe, difficult to make and is therefore expensive. The same with the coatings. With scopes, as with everything else in life, you get what you pay for. Pecar of Berlin were excellent scopes, but they could not compete with the larger brands. Leica are also truly excellent, but very expensive.

Leupold How can I order from Turkey I live in Turkey

I have a Zeiss Diavari 3-12x56 T, Shmidt and bender 2.5-10x56 Illuminated, Leica ER 3-15x56, Swarowvski 2.5-12x50 Illuminated, Swarovski 3-12x56 Habict Nova, Minox Zei 2-10x50 illuminated, for light gathering and shooting at dusk sure u cant beat shmidt and bender, The Minox ZEi series is an amazing scope and very quick just raise and shoot the focal is incredible on these scope dont underestimate them, I would honestly take a Leica ER series over a Swarovski scope anytime, Zeiss Diavari comes 2nd after shmidt and bender , and Im only missing a B Nickel Supra to add to my high end scopes,hopefully soon still shopping around

Are Steiner scopes any good? For example the GS3

Look for the scope with the best backup support... they all have failures sometimes.

Zeiss vs Swarovski?? Which is brighter and more distinguished colors? Which models have anyone compared? I'm new to higher end and lacking funding to try multiples. Also which would be best for a light mountain rifle? Any other brand that's light and as good optically? Any help is appreciated. Thanks

Can't go wrong with a Zeiss. I have 2.

Low end Zeiss kick high end Leupold into the ditch! Own Swarovski, Zeiss (6) , Nikon, leupold etc. base Zeiss at $600 kick ass!

I have an R8 with a Zeiss V8 1.1-8 👍

Good video the your 1 wood say that it good Quality and value kahles and Hardy and the leica but I can’t say fust had as never owned one but the Leica binoculars they own are good and the after service is great so I wood thank scop would be the same

I have never brought myself to buy those really expensive European scopes. Even my old Unertl’s are less that $1000. Maybe I will someday.

Once your better than sub-moa it's S+B scope and breathe control.. And I need at least 24x!!!a sniper scope should cost around the same as the rifle!!

Zvarowski Z8i is the best!

Nightforce is made in Japan.

Great place to spend big bucks. I think you should spend twice the value of your rifle on the scope. At least. And you will be rewarded handsomely.

IOR best scope

Element Nexus

To be honest none of Duralyt or Conquest is made in Germany. The Zeiss Conquest V6 is made in Germany though. If you want an amazing Zeiss scope go for a old Zeiss Diavari V or Zeiss V8. A 40 year old Zeiss is much clearer than a Duralyt. You know you've got the real deal if the Zeiss scopes are marked with "T*" I bought my 15 year old Zeiss Diavari V T* 3-12x56 for $1000 last year. Zeiss V8s costs around $2000-2500.

A KOM TE DREJT UNE ME BLE NJE KSO DYRBIJE NGA TI SE ME DUHET NJE1 DHE SA KUSHTON QMIMI I SAJ SE POM MPELQEN SHUM👍

1st. Lol!

Nightforce are Australian.

Leupold How can I order from Turkey I live in Turkey