This Is What American Hunters Want In A Riflescope
Swarovski’s New, Affordable Scopes Made For US Market Only
By John Geiger
Safari Club International
Swarovski Optik asked American hunters what features they wanted in a riflescope.
The answer? More elevation adjustment. Second focal planes. And an affordable price.
Swarovski took that info and built the new Z5+ line, three 5X-magnification scopes with several reticle and illumination options.
And the MSRP’s start at just $1,600 for a Swaro scope! This is big news.
There are three magnifications: 2-10×42, 3.5x18x50 and 5-25×56. The 2-10×42 has three reticle options. The two other have four reticle options, illuminated or nonilluminated. Each comes with two turret options: one has color-coded rings that you can set in advance to certain yardages; the other is a 1/4-MOA turret. You can also order a custom turret ring — called a Personalized Ballistic Ring — based on your own rifle, bullet, cartridge and other factors.
Swarvoski’s new Z5i+ 5-25x56mm would be a fine scope on top of a rifle you might take for sheep. mountain goats or extreme distance shooting for coyotes. The 5-25x56mm is the top of the new Z5+ line yet tops out at $2,269 with all the bells and whistles.
Swarvoski’s new Z5i+ 3.5-18x50mm might be the right choice for Western hunters who need to reach out farther for antelope, mule deer and elk.
Swarvoski’s new Z5i+ 2-10x42mm will be a popular scope for whitetail hunters across the South, East and Midwest. It does not have a parallax adjustment, which keeps the price down. The scope has an MSRP of $1,600.
MORE ELEVATION ADJUSTMENT
Most scopes made for U.S. hunters are 1-inch in diameter. That’s what they’re used to and they are fine. You would think a scope made with the American market in mind would also have 1-inch tubes. But not this one.
According to Evan Dextraze of Swarovski, MOA adjustment is more important to these hunters than having a 1-inch pipe. With a wider tube, Swarovski increased the elevation adjustment so shooters can dial up 40 MOA.
“They want to be able to shoot farther, and we don’t want to limit the elevation they can dial to,” Dextraze told me between shots at a range. “They might not be shooting game at 800 or 1,000 yards, but they want to be able to practice and shoot those distances at their range.”
With the new Z5+ ballistic turret, I was able to dial to 39.5 on the ballistic turret and shoot MOA groups at just under 1,175 yards with a 143-grain 6.5 Creedmoor ELD-X.
Hunters and shooters will notice new features in the new Z5+ line, such as 30mm tubes, second focal plane construction and more MOA elevation on the turret.
SECOND FOCAL PLANES
In a second-focal plane scope, the crosshairs are behind the magnification lens, so they do not change in size as the magnification is increased or decreased. This is the way American hunters have preferred their reticles. Conversely, American precision shooters generally prefer first focal-plane scopes.
Are there disadvantages to a second-focal plane? For one, if you’re using a drop-compensating reticle, you’ll have to dial to a certain magnification setting, usually the highest magnification, for the hash marks to be accurate on the target.
“You can argue which is better, first or second, but when it comes to American hunters, there is no debate,” said Dextraze on the popularity of the second-focal plane reticle.
All new Z5+ scopes are second-focal plane.
“With the new Z5+ ballistic turret, I was able to dial to 39.5 on the ballistic turret and shoot MOA groups at just under 1,175 yards with a 143-grain 6.5 Creedmoor ELD-X.”—John Geiger
HIGH-END PRODUCT, MID-TIER PRICING
It’s no secret Swarovski scopes, binos and spotting scopes are high-dollar gear. For example, the Swaro dS Gen. II 5-25×52 P riflescope costs over $5,000.
The quality of glass and durability the Austrian company produces is indisputable.
However, this Z5+ line is much closer to the price many North American hunters spend on a riflescope. Hunters can pick up a Z5+ or Z5i+ for about $1,600. The line tops out at $2,269.
The 2-10×42 has an MSRP of $1,600; the 3.5x18x50, $1,800; and the 5-25×56, $1,900. Your choice of illumination and turret will affect the pricing. These Swaros are priced mid-tier in the crowded optics market.
According to Swarovski, the coatings are the same in the Z5+ as compared to the current Z5 line or any of the other lines. The erectors are no different, either.
One of the scopes — the 2-10×42 does not have parallax adjustment. Also, the illuminated versions do not have Swarolight (a system that turns the illumination on and off when they are at rest or moved). But they do have an on-off switch and a three-hour auto-shutoff.
But other than that, there’s not much difference between these new Z5s and other Swaro scopes.
The Z5+ scopes come out of the box with the 4 color-coded rings. A typical set-up scenario would be to use the Swaro ballistic calculator or Hunting App, zero at 100 yards, and use the green for 200, yellow for 300, red for 400 and white for 500 yards. You also get an MOA ring in the box if you prefer to dial.
A “Personalized Ballistic Ring” can be cut to virtually any factory load or handload in 25 or 50 yard increments. It will take the place of the four colored rings or the MOA ring. This is an optional accessory available from us for the Z5+ for $109.
How did Swaro trim the price in this line? It’s in the design and manufacturing, said Dextraze.
In the past, Swarovski made scopes unique from each other, even if they were in the same line. Now, they’ve designed all Z5+ scopes in a similar way with similar parts throughout. This simplifies design as well as construction without compromising quality. These scopes have come to market faster than any other Swarovski has, and the price will be lower than most.
People who really want to get a Swaro but balk at the more expensive Z8 or Z6 option will love the Z5+.
“There will be a lot more Swarovski Optik shooters in 2025,” said Dextraze.
Evan Dextrose of Swarovski Optik checks targets as shooters zeroed their rifles while testing out the new Swarovski Z5+ line at Prairie Fire shooting range in the desert near the Nevada-California state line.
