Swarvoski z3 vs nightforce svh

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brybenn

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southern ontario
For those who have these which has the clearer crisper glass for color and detail? I cant find them locally so i may risk mail ordering one after i swap barrels

Im thinking 3-12 or 4.5-14 range. It will be for a hunting and range toy type rifle. Its currently a 223 but will eventually be rebarreled to a 20 cal. Most concerned about low light hunting coyotes. Would like a variable with a low end setting for close running shots and be able to have clarity at a higher level magnification for shooting across open farmland.
The nightforce is a few hundred more

Other features id like are side parallax and possibly illuminated reticle. However id like to stay under $1500 after tax. Less is always a bonus but clarity and sharpness in the first and last moments of legal light is my main concern
 
I'm not familiar with with either specially but I've never not been impressed with Swarovski glass. That said I went the much cheaper route and got all the features your looking for on my x1000. Glass is so so, but still excellent for the price.
 
No experience with Swarovski but I do have a shv 3-10x42. I like the fine reticle and the crisp clear glass. However when shooting gophers I use Leica binoculars for spotting gophers, when switching to the shv to take the shot I find it doesn't make the gophers brown fur "pop" like the Lieca glass does.
 
I second the opinion that Z3 glass is does not match the hype. LOVED nightforce scopes but its like having a brick strapped to your hunting rifle. I have had both (nxs not shv) but the Z3 was not illuminated. I chose my scope for the exact reasons you are listing, with similar specifications. in my opinion, I think you are overlooking Leupold VX5 and VX6 scopes. I have a VX6 3-18 that was around your budget. The new HD versions are a little more but you should be able to get into a VX5 3-15 with firedot for around your budget. The benefits of the leupold are:
1) lightweight - lighter than an illuminated Swaro or NF of the same magnification range
2) alumina caps - best thing since sliced bread
3) firedot - has motion on off, turns itself off after 5 mins of sitting still, comes back on when you pick it up, greatly increases battery life
4) 30mm tube - I did not like the 1" tube on the Z3

for the parameters you are looking for, even try a VXR 4-12. You will not find a similarly equipped scope in the 14 ounce range. It does not have parallax though...
 
Weight isnt a concern. Auto on and off based on motion is a useless feature to me.

Im leaning towards the nf shv 3-10x42 illuminated moar. Little lower on magnification than i wanted originally but i think i can get by with 10x what im looking for
Not having any local shops that carry either really sucks
 
walterklassen said:
No experience with Swarovski but I do have a shv 3-10x42. I like the fine reticle and the crisp clear glass. However when shooting gophers I use Leica binoculars for spotting gophers, when switching to the shv to take the shot I find it doesn't make the gophers brown fur "pop" like the Lieca glass does.
Click to expand...

How is the shv in twilight hours?
 
I have a Nightforce NXS 2.5x10x32 with MOAR reticle. I'd be more than willing to meet you at a range for you to have a look see. That is if your southern Ontario is close to mine. It's not a SHV but it's damn close to what you're looking for. I have it mounted on a rem 7 in 7mm08.
I would absolutely buy another but I've never owned a Swaro to compare it to.
 
I have 2-Z3's (4-12x50, 3-10x42) on hunting rifles, a Z5 (5-25x52) on a varmint gun and a SHV 4-14x56 on a benchrest.
First, the SHV is on the benchrest gun because it is as was mentioned before a brick. A nicely done brick but hefty. I have seen the videos of the abuse of the Nightforce and believe they can take the abuse.
The Z's are light and bright and likely would not take extreme abuse that the NF would, not that anyone wants that to happen to their scopes anyways.
In comparing the Z5 and the SHV they are quite close both in price and in brightness. The SHV has the 56mm versus the Z5 at 52mm so very slight edge to the SHV.
But really, depends on the percentage of hunting to range. More hunting, lean to the Swarovski. Range, I would go to the SHV.
 
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