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Swarovski scopes?

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13 years 5 months ago #7783 by JSteinhoff
Swarovski scopes? was created by JSteinhoff
For Armalite Ar-10, any thoughts?

Thks.

JS

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13 years 5 months ago #7785 by edritchey
Replied by edritchey on topic Re: Swarovski scopes?
I don't own any of their scopes but do have a pair of their binoculars and the glass is just awesome.

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13 years 5 months ago #7789 by JSteinhoff
Replied by JSteinhoff on topic Re: Swarovski scopes?
Yes, the binoculars seem to set the standard for watching wildlife, hunting, etc.

I'm finding users in general rave about their scopes, with many having used Leupold, Nikon, Zeiss and other quality scopes. The Swarovski seems to come out on top by a wide margin, over Leupold in particular in clarity and low light situations.

The Austrian firm is well known for making great glass. I guess I will have to decide if one can justify the added cost over some of it's competitors!

Thanks for your input!

JS

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13 years 5 months ago #7807 by LebbenB
Replied by LebbenB on topic Re: Swarovski scopes?
Not to put you off the Swarovski, they make awesome optics, but if you're looking to drop that much on a scope, I'd really suggest you look at Schmidt & Bender as well. S&Bs were the best scope I've ever used - Period. S&B makes Nightforce and USO look like Leapers. I don't ordinarily get attached to pieces of gear or kit, but it hurt a little when I had to turn the scope (and the rifle it was attached to) back in. If money is no object, I'd recommend S&B every day of the week, and twice on Sunday.

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13 years 5 months ago #7812 by JSteinhoff
Replied by JSteinhoff on topic Re: Swarovski scopes?
LebbenB,

I will research them long and hard. I do seem to be at the top of the
chart on user evaluations, as you have. Thanks you!

JS

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13 years 5 months ago #7872 by JSteinhoff
Replied by JSteinhoff on topic Re: Swarovski scopes?
LebbenB,

I've been told that Vortex glass, their latest line, the Viper HS for
2011, is making Swarovski nervous!

Anyone have thoughts on that?

Thanks,

JS

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13 years 5 months ago #7875 by LebbenB
Replied by LebbenB on topic Re: Swarovski scopes?
I have a couple of Vortex products (a Razor PST 2.5-10x44 and a SPARC mini-RDS) and I'm very pleased with them. At the price they're offered at, they're a very good value, and their CS is top-notch. According to others I've talked to, Vortex Razor and Viper lenses are manufactured at the same Japanese plant as Leupold and Nightforce. I haven't been able to confirm this independently, so take it with a grain of salt.

Vortex scopes (IMO) are easily better than Bushnell's line of scopes, and they compare well with Leupold, Nightforce and USO, especially when factoring in price. I don't think Swarovski has anything to be afraid of from Vortex; as I said earlier, they make awesome scopes. And Swarovski makes everything in-house from lenses to turrets which gives them great QA/QC oversight and allows them to build a consistantly great scope. The same cannot be said of Vortex.

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13 years 5 months ago #7878 by foxhunter
Replied by foxhunter on topic Re: Swarovski scopes?
I am very happy with the two Nightforce scopes I own.The leupolds I have are good also, but I refuse to look through a Swarovski or a Schmidt and Bender because I don't want to know how good they are and be tempted to spend the money they want for those things.

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13 years 4 months ago #7880 by JSteinhoff
Replied by JSteinhoff on topic Re: Swarovski scopes?
LebbenB,

I have been also been told their are two types of glass, european, or
austrian/german, and nikon, japanese, or asian.

Then you have the quality control issue, inhouse or outsourced, and the
lens coating process.

If I have that about right, then a firm that produces inhouse, such as
Swarovski, and surely Schmidt and Bender, would have an advantage in producing
a quality product. It would also help explain the respective hike in price,
labor and production costs.

My experience is that most of the time, we get what we pay for, and some of the very best products I have ever owned, are german.

Your help, and sharing your experience, is very much appreciated!

JS

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13 years 4 months ago #7881 by JSteinhoff
Replied by JSteinhoff on topic Re: Swarovski scopes?
Yes, that is a bit of a dilemma we all seem to share. Thank you!

JS

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