Now don't take this wrong but my point is here that there is no point in discussing the Z8 with someone who has not owned one. You just don't know what you're missing. Let me tell you it so so good that if I broke it I would immediately replace it with a new one. If you found something that was 10x better than anything else on the market, that you could see things you'd never seen before through a scope, would you take some rando's online advice and sell your optics and buy something different?
These discussion are fairly regular here and I just wish yall knew how terribly ignorant you are of the subject you wish to speak on.
If you have not used a Swarovski Z8 you don't know what is truly available in scopes today!
Ignorant? Interesting approach. You know zero of my background. I know zero of yours other than the presumptuous arrogance you are displaying.
Serious question - Is the Z8 constructed more robustly than all other Swaro scopes including the 1-6 EE?
You are discussing optical quality, but omitting discussion of reliability in your recommendation. Please tell us how the scope is working after it has at least a few thousand rounds on it or even 1,000. How many rounds have been fired under the Z8 you are using? That would be informative and helpful to evaluate it.
My point is very simple, reliability is critical, but is being omitted in your recommendation based on optical quality without consideration of reliability.
fwiw - I’ve shot pigs by moonlight with Nightforce, S&B, and Aimpoints. Is that good enough optical performance? How does the Z8 compare to a S&B Polar? Have you fired rounds in low light or moonlight without external illumination under one of those? How many rounds have you fired using a S&B PMII, Nightforce NXS, NX8, or ATACR?
You are discussing glass quality, but omitting discussion of reliability or other companies that deliver both.
If you want to toss around inflammatory slurs, please share with us your round count fired from centerfire rifles. How many barrels have you shot out in a year? Rounds fired is what has caused every optical failure I have encountered, except for one that happened due to a rifle knocked out of a truck. I did have a Nightforce survive being knocked off a bench and landing with the scope hitting concrete.
While I’ve slowed down as years add up on my hide, there was a time I was going through a barrel every two months and two cases/drums or more of powder a year. Firing rounds day after day in heat in temps over 110f to well below freezing tends to reveal weaknesses in scopes. While I am working on a ranch this weekend, I still will make time to shoot at least 50 rounds of .308 for practice and to evaluate velocity and DOPE of a load in temps over 100f, more likely over 105f. That heat also bakes scopes sitting in a drag bag in a buggy, so it is evaluating the scope, rifle, and load combination in the heat. I fully expect a scope, rifle, and ammo to be able to operate correctly and easily last exposed to that heat day after day and year after year.
fwiw - I have used, not owned, Hensoldt mil scopes that cost $12,000+, 20 years ago, in the short time they were offered to the civilian market. I could readily read newspaper headlines tacked to a target holder at 400 yards despite summer mirage. It combined robust mil grade durability with exceptional glass. It remains the best scope glass I have ever looked through combined with durability and reliability. It was at least as good or better than a Leica spotting scope next to it. Have you used a Hensoldt mil scope?
