Zeiss, Vortex, Tract, or Leupold for 1000 Yards

B

BACB

Private
Minuteman
Mar 8, 2020
32
4
#1
Hi all,

New to the forum and I’ve received great tips for a custom build rifle build.

Now I’d like opinions on the best scope for my long range rig (AR-10, 6.5 Creedmoor, 24” Proof CF barrel). This is not a hunting rig, mostly bench rest shooting. I’m looking for best glass and tracking of dials.

Scope options:
1. Zeiss Conquest V6 5-30x50
2. Tract Toric 4.5-30x56
3. Vortex Razor HD Gen 2 4.5-27x56
4. Leupold VX-5HD 7-35x56
5. Maybe Nightforce...

I believe in buying the best the first time vs crying later.

Which one are you guys voting on?
 
#2
Budget? You mentioned “best glass” is why I ask. All the ones you listed will have good glass and track well. Best glass will double your cost.
Depending on if you have access to LE/Mil discount they can vary widely in price.
Used is a good way to go.
Reticle is a very important decision you need to decide on before buying. Tree style sounds like what will suit your needs best but if you dial elevation usually it’s easy to hold for wind with a P4F style.
 
#3
BACB said:
Hi all,

New to the forum and I’ve received great tips for a custom build rifle build.

Now I’d like opinions on the best scope for my long range rig (AR-10, 6.5 Creedmoor, 24” Proof CF barrel). This is not a hunting rig, mostly bench rest shooting. I’m looking for best glass and tracking of dials.

Scope options:
1. Zeiss Conquest V6 5-30x50
2. Tract Toric 4.5-30x56
3. Vortex Razor HD Gen 2 4.5-27x56
4. Leupold VX-5HD 7-35x56
5. Maybe Nightforce...

I believe in buying the best the first time vs crying later.

Which one are you guys voting on?
Click to expand...

“The Best” isn’t in that list.
 
#4
db2000 said:
Budget? You mentioned “best glass” is why I ask. All the ones you listed will have good glass and track well. Best glass will double your cost.
Depending on if you have access to LE/Mil discount they can vary widely in price.
Used is a good way to go.
Reticle is a very important decision you need to decide on before buying. Tree style sounds like what will suit your needs best but if you dial elevation usually it’s easy to hold for wind with a P4F style.
Click to expand...
No budget.

Not a fan of tree-style reticles, mainly because I’m new to extreme long range shooting. I have custom turrets on all my hunting rigs to easily turn to 3 for 300 yards. I love that! But, I know I need to learn the Christmas-tree style reticles and get more comfortable with MOA.

If Tract had a basic MOA reticle,I think I may have already made a decision. But, I’d like to know what others think who have experience with these scopes.
 
#6
Me? I'll send a 6.5 Creedmore 1200 yards just fine with a Sightmark Pinnacle 5-30x50 that I paid $850 for and a 308 Win 1000 yards just fine with a Nikon Black FX1000 6-24x50 that I paid $490 for. Any of the scopes you've listed will work. The Toric is the only one I haven't looked through but it was designed with PRS and other forms of active long range competition in mind. Same with the Razor HD, which is a notably heavy scope. I've looked through variants in the same model line of the rest (and a few Nightforces) and honestly the glass was all great. It was the turrets and the reticles that mattered more and Leupold (especially) and Zeiss did not win the turret tactiles and real-world-use race for me. I have a Leupold VX-5 on my 300 Weatherby Magnum rifle and the first time I turned the turrets I damn near boxed it up and sent it back with a nasty letter. The Leupold and Zeiss seem more designed for a hunter, not regular active, time-sensitive manipulation of the turrets. Wouldn't choose either for a bench gun.
 
#7
sirboom said:
Me? I'll send a 6.5 Creedmore 1200 yards just fine with a Sightmark Pinnacle 5-30x50 that I paid $850 for and a 308 Win 1000 yards just fine with a Nikon Black FX1000 6-24x50 that I paid $490 for. Any of the scopes you've listed will work. The Toric is the only one I haven't looked through but it was designed with PRS and other forms of active long range competition in mind. Same with the Razor HD, which is a notably heavy scope. I've looked through variants in the same model line of the rest (and a few Nightforces) and honestly the glass was all great. It was the turrets and the reticles that mattered more and Leupold (especially) and Zeiss did not win the turret tactiles and real-world-use race for me. I have a Leupold VX-5 on my 300 Weatherby Magnum rifle and the first time I turned the turrets I damn near boxed it up and sent it back with a nasty letter. The Leupold and Zeiss seem more designed for a hunter, not regular active, time-sensitive manipulation of the turrets. Wouldn't choose either for a bench gun.
Click to expand...
This is great info! One of the things that draws me to the Tract is the great reviews of the dials. Also, I have a Zeiss Victory HT (Schott HD glass) and it is amazing. Tract has incorporated Schott HD glass into the Toric. Seems like the perfect scope for me. But, they only have the Christmas Tree reticle. I think I should just learn to use the reticle for this long range style shooting. As a hardcore hunter for the majority of my life, it’s been difficult to get used to a crowded scope picture.
 
#8
while this may not be true for everyone, the tree in my h59 became much less "obtrusive" after using it for a while.
while my eyes were drawn to the tree at first, over time it seems my mind learned to put it in the background unless i am using it.
 
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#9
BACB said:
This is great info! One of the things that draws me to the Tract is the great reviews of the dials. Also, I have a Zeiss Victory HT (Schott HD glass) and it is amazing. Tract has incorporated Schott HD glass into the Toric. Seems like the perfect scope for me. But, they only have the Christmas Tree reticle. I think I should just learn to use the reticle for this long range style shooting. As a hardcore hunter for the majority of my life, it’s been difficult to get used to a crowded scope picture.
Click to expand...

I don't really notice the tree in my Sightmark unless I'm intentionally looking for it, but it isn't as busy as the H59 or Tremor reticles. It fades away. I prefer the reticle in Nikon Black scopes for hunting and PRS (as I rarely actually use the tree) but nobody has replicated that exactly (ideally with just a little thinner lines... hint hint... hint optics makers).
 
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#11
Lesser glass will show up in bad weather, poor light, and low contrast targets.
again, if shooting off bench on KD/known targets/ fair weather/ etc range you can work around this.

There are seveal grades of "servicable" glass in 1-2k range IMHO
 
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#12
KeithR41 said:
ZCO
TT
S&B
Click to expand...
Ok...I recant my statement after checking these out! I’d like to stay under $2,000. That’s why I listed the 4 options and the 5th option of a Nightforce. You sound pretty knowledgable and familiar with mid-high end scopes. What would be your pick of a $2,000 scope?
 
#14
The razor you have listed seems to get good reviews and is very popular

Athlon Cronus BTR is another consideration and on sale for a few more days at CameralandNY for $1143.99

You can watch the px section here. I’ve seen some NF NX8 or ATACR for $1800 to $2000. I believe the ATACR were second focal plane at that price for 5-25. The 7-35 are more expensive

Bushnell XRS II get decent reviews (haven’t used one myself)

Burris XTRIII is another decent options to look into (I’ve had several XTRII and they’re solid scopes. The XTRIII has better glass)

I currently have the ATACR and Cronus and both are solid options.
 
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#15
thestoicmarcusaurelius said:
It’s not my favorite reticle for hunting but I always get a good laugh when people think it can’t be made to work well or is somehow holding you back from the vast majority of shots. And, who is doing hunting without binoculars anyway. LOL.
Click to expand...

I think it’s more of the “made to work” that is what hunters have a problem with...when we are so accustomed to a clean scope view. Just need to use one for a while to get used to it.
 
#16
BACB said:
Ok...I recant my statement after checking these out! I’d like to stay under $2,000. That’s why I listed the 4 options and the 5th option of a Nightforce. You sound pretty knowledgable and familiar with mid-high end scopes. What would be your pick of a $2,000 scope?
Click to expand...
Personally, I like the Gen II Razor. I would add the Razor AMG to that list as well though. I have both and like both.
 
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#19
BACB said:
No budget.

Not a fan of tree-style reticles, mainly because I’m new to extreme long range shooting. I have custom turrets on all my hunting rigs to easily turn to 3 for 300 yards. I love that! But, I know I need to learn the Christmas-tree style reticles and get more comfortable with MOA.

If Tract had a basic MOA reticle,I think I may have already made a decision. But, I’d like to know what others think who have experience with these scopes.
Click to expand...
And halt. What is extreme long shooting to you?
I’m not trying to trip you up on words, just that you might want to consider total elevation in your purchase. If you plan on going past 1000y. If not than it’s not extreme anything and keep looking what you’re looking at.
 
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#21
So I did a quick crash course on Mils this morning. I prefer Mil over MOA. Just seems much easier for my brain to make easy, quick adjustments. I also understand the tree-style reticle much better. I think I’m leaning towards the Tract now for sure.
 
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