I’m looking for a great hunting/match crossover optic. I’ve heard many good things about the Mark 5, and a lot of shooters I greatly respect use them (Caylen Woj, Chris Way etc.) I can get a great deal on the ZP5 3-15, but it’s only available with the Mil Dot and I am concerned that the Mil Dot reticle and 15x max magnification may seriously hinder me in a match. Any thoughts?
Rifle Scopes Minox ZP5 3-15 or Mark 5 3.6-18
- Thread starter Helislacker
- Start date
Minox ZP5 will have considerably better glass vs Mark 5. Outside of that, the Mark 5 is a solid scope if you like their reticles.
The Minox looks priced more in the ballpark of a Kahles or NF, how’d you say the glass compares to those? I only ask cause I have a Kahles but I did some researching on the Minox 3-15 and it looks nice I’ve just never seen one in person.
I did find an older thread on the ZP5 3-15 so I’m reading that now... probably of interest to the OP too
Optically, the ZP5 is usually considered closer to a ZCO than a Kahles or NF. But IMO things like reticle preference are going to be more important than the optical differences in that price range. You can see a good comparison video by ILya here:
Where are you getting this ZP5
There is a point of diminishing with high end optics.
While I have not looked through any minox optics they a great reputation for glass. I do not think that having awesome glass vs really good glass are going to make or break you at the end of the day.
The mk5's can be found for almost half of what the minox goes for, and by all accounts are solid performers.
The question one may want to ask is if the slight edge in optical performance is worth more to them than say more trigger time or shooting gear.
While I have not looked through any minox optics they a great reputation for glass. I do not think that having awesome glass vs really good glass are going to make or break you at the end of the day.
The mk5's can be found for almost half of what the minox goes for, and by all accounts are solid performers.
The question one may want to ask is if the slight edge in optical performance is worth more to them than say more trigger time or shooting gear.
I do not have experience with the Kahles K525i but only the Kahles K318i. My copy of the K318i had outstanding glass and mechanics, but I ultimately sold it due to the narrow FOV and ended up getting the ZCO ZC420 which is everything I hoped the Kahles would be, my only gripe with the ZCO is I'm not too thrilled with the reticles, if the ZCO could marry the TT and produce baby ZCO with Gen 3XR reticle I'd be in heaven (I'm very picky about reticles). I also had the Mark 5 3.6-18x44 and the Kahles glass was also considerably better than the Leupold; however, I love the Leupold turrets and lock feature. I have done reviews on all these scopes including the ZP5 3-15 which we used as the baseline for the ultra short review - https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...i-v-schmidt-ultra-shorts-v-minox-zp5.6953016/
Why the opposition to two separate scopes if you are going to use the rifle for hunting and match? You're going to re-zero before the match anyway. A massive capless turret scope for hunting is kind of a chore. Might as well get yourself a nice 2.5-10 (ish) hunting scope and a proper match-oriented tree reticle scope. Takes 10 min to switch them out and rezero. But to each their own. While I'm no PRS master, I have in some instances zoomed past 18x on my rifle in PRS for teeny tiny targets that are shot up and therefore all gray vs. white so maybe a little harder to see. That said, 16 is pretty much where I leave it.
i think the minox has a little better glass. honestly, thats a comparison with the 5-25, but im sure the 3-18 is on par with it.
for hunting the biggest difference is the 1/2 lb heavier the minox is. a 32 0z scope is a heavy hunthing scope. i would go with the mk5 for hunting or even an AMG.
for me the "tactical hunting" scope would be a NF NX8 2.5-20 if i needed a closer range scope with lower mag or a vortex AMG if you wanted some more range. if you are on a budget (and based on the orig question prob not) the vortex PST II 3-15 is a nice little scope for the money (i have one on a 308 tikka CTR that is my close/mid range deer rifle)
for hunting the biggest difference is the 1/2 lb heavier the minox is. a 32 0z scope is a heavy hunthing scope. i would go with the mk5 for hunting or even an AMG.
for me the "tactical hunting" scope would be a NF NX8 2.5-20 if i needed a closer range scope with lower mag or a vortex AMG if you wanted some more range. if you are on a budget (and based on the orig question prob not) the vortex PST II 3-15 is a nice little scope for the money (i have one on a 308 tikka CTR that is my close/mid range deer rifle)
The two MK5 3-18’s I handled had real gritty parallax knobs.
First I have ran the Mark 5, Nightforce Atacr, Schmidt PM 2 and razors. After purchasing both my ZP5's and a spotter last year, optically the Minox is on par with the schmidt. And better than all the other.s I have the MR4 reticle which is fast and very easy to use. My only complaint about the Minox series scope is they are damn long.
Being only in MIldot is a little concerning. As far as price. I bought all of mine for under 1950. My spotter which is the 80 with the reticle in it was only 1300 dollars.
Being only in MIldot is a little concerning. As far as price. I bought all of mine for under 1950. My spotter which is the 80 with the reticle in it was only 1300 dollars.
Those are some great reviews. Very indepth.
I can concede that many of the high end scopes such as the Kahles,SB and ZCO outperform the Mk5 line but honestly, I am ok with the Mk5's performance , especially at the MIL program price point, at a 50 percent discount from the tier 1 stuff, I can can live with a little CA, especially considering its around 10oz lighter.
I can appreciate the engineering that went into some of these killer scopes, and can absolutely respect somebody that runs one, but for me personally, for the type of shooting i do, That performance would be lost on me. I think if I was doing PRS comps, or maybe shooting ELR out west, I think that I could absolutely justify spending that extra 1500 bucks or so.
Minox.
Have a couple of the 5 x 25 MR4 versions.
Stellar glass helps my less than good eyes.
First light and last is when they kill it.
The reticle is just the icing on the cake.
R
Have a couple of the 5 x 25 MR4 versions.
Stellar glass helps my less than good eyes.
First light and last is when they kill it.
The reticle is just the icing on the cake.
R
I think that is excellent insight from the reviews. My intention is to not dissuade shooters from getting the Mark 5 but to inform them on what are the differences. If the price works for you and you don't mind some of the issues this is an excellent scope. For me personally, I've been waiting for a "better" tree reticle and if Leupold would introduce something more like the TT Gen 3XR I would give serious consideration to this scope at its price point especially for a covert or AR SPR/DMR setup.
Of course, I while I haven't messed around with any TT's, I really like some of the NF recticles so I definitely know where you are coming from. While leupold is behind in recticle designs, I think there line up personify the concept of "ok" and will work. At least when thinking about the TT. We are talking about a 1300 to 1500 dollar (mil)optic vs stuff in the 4 to 5k price range,
Personally for me, once we get into that price range. I think that something like a PVS30 seems to be a little more appealing than alpha class glass.
I don't think there any wrong choices. Just choices that make more sense for a particular end user.
I think all too often we get caught up chasing what is the best and missing on getting out and shooting.
It's been awhile since I had my Zp5 3-15, but seems like the biggest thing I liked about it besides glass was the FOV.
If you can get the 3-15 with a Mr4 reticle (mine had the mr5) that would be a amazing hybrid scope imo
If you can get the 3-15 with a Mr4 reticle (mine had the mr5) that would be a amazing hybrid scope imo
Unfortunately, Minox only offers the ZP5 3-15 with the MR5 reticle now (they used to also offer mildot and MR2, but never the MR4).
Minox was supposed to be coming out with a new reticle for the 3-15, I thought it would be here by now and can only guess the Chinese virus has delayed things.
