I own mostly Leupolds...great scopes! But I'm going to give the Zeiss Conquest a try for my next "major" scope purchase...<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Leupold has more eye relief than any other scope manufactured especially in the power ranges you are desiring...period end of story. The lenses are purchased on the worldwide commodity market --optical glass being such so they can come literally from anywhere and are manufactured to Leupold Specs. The entire scope tube...erector everything inside is manufactured in the USA...Zeiss is just assembled here like Swarovski and any other German/austrian scope that want to avoid the huge German labor costs ...Schmidt and Bender is an assembly operation in Germany. Stubble I wish you would get off your Leupold bashing tirade..its really getting kind of Old. I have owned all types of scopes and they are the only ones that really stand up to recoil and they have the best warranty. I don't see a gnats difference between them optically and the other 1" German/Austrian whatever scopes. I have not owned a conquest scope but owned the last generation they made in 1" and it was a Diavari 3x9MC...I got rid of it no difference in optics and little eye relief plus it weighed 15 oz. Another thing my Leupolds have metal adjustment covers ...plastic on the Conquest.
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I've finaly a chance got some serious range time in shooting a Leupold 4.5~14 and a Zeiss Conquest 4.5~14. I would choose the Leupold over the Zeiss. The only good thing with the Zeiss if the paralax adjustment on the turret, and the eye relief doesn't change when altering the power setting. I don't like the adjustment knobs for windage and elevation- no reference numbers! The Zeiss does have positive clicks like the Leupold and are easy to reference back, but the hash marks are tough to read. Didn't see any difference in clarity shooting out to 300 yards, had some issues shooting into the rising sun with the benifit going to the Leupold.
Stubblejumper, have to stop you there. Leupold gets there lens from several outsourced suppliers just from the same spec. Just a few months ago in Germany, I saw a Purchase Order on the table of the salesman of that company from Leupold. I couldn't get anymore details and can't be sure. They keep that info pretty tight zipped. They better or my company would have to break out the lawyers. Gov. Contracts would have a huge problem also. As far as quality, I don't know, I have used Leupold my whole life, and can't see any difference between the two. As far as brighter, according to a Optical reflection meter, it says no as far as a rep from Germany says. Anything past 94% transmittion is really hard for us mere mortals to see.
I say if you got the cash, you can't go wrong with Zeiss. It would be a toss up for me.
Oldelkhunter-I don't believe my calling leupolds fine scopes was bashing them.I do however prefer ziess and swarovski.I pointed out that leupold uses imported lenses because some people were mistakenly under the impression that leupolds are an entirely american product and buy them solely for that reason.
Whoops, my mistake stubble, I didn't mean to start an argument with the mis-interpreted information a buddy gave me! Its getting harder and harder to find an all American company nowadays isn't it!
"Clutz by Nature, Hospitalized by Fate..."
Pyral
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" Clutz by Nature, Hospitalized by Fate..."
...Pyral
Go with the Leupold,quality and a lifetime warranty to boot.I have no experience with the new models.I'm sure they have been redesigned and tested under all condition.I think a Leupold would be a good choice, whichever model you choose.Ruger Redhawk
Support the NRA...Protecting our Gun Rights and Freedoms is everybody's responsibility. Ruger Redhawk A proud NRA Life Member since 1977.
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There was a time when German optics were the best in the world, but that has NOT been true since lenses began to be made on automatic computer-controlled equipment. Now, any company that has such equipment can produce lenses as good as anyone's. The ***anese have had world-class quality control since just after WWII, and still do!
Keep yore powder dry!!
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RE: Rifle Scopes
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