Best low power EE scope in production

[Buckums]

With the Swaro out and used prices reflecting scarcity, what’s the best alternative for current production scopes?

 

[WAB]

This will be interesting. Leupold comes the closest that I am aware of, and it is not in the same league. I hope there are others!

 

[BeeMaa]

I have a Swaro Z8i 1-8x24 with 4A-IF reticle and measured the eye relief with a flashlight shining through the objective bell. I focused the beam of light at the ocular lens and used a ruler to determine the distance of focus. I measured 3.75" (95.25mm) at both 1x and 8x. I then went to the website and found that Swaro lists the eye relief at 95mm...so it seems to be dead on.

With that much eye relief, I was able to comfortably shoot a 416RM without fear of being scope cut.

The Swaro Z6 1-6x24 EE has 4.72" (120mm) of eye relief, which I imagine would be desirable for shooting 458WM and up. Obviously no longer in production.

The current production Z6 1-6x24 has 3.75" of eye relief.

Leupold VX-6HD and VX-5HD eye relief are both 3.7-3.8" depending on magnification.

S&B Exos 1-8x24 is 3.54".

Trijicon AccuPoint 1-4x24 is 3.2" but the 1-6x24 is 3.9". I looked at few of their other models, but nothing I saw has an eye relief over 3.9".

Kahles K6i 1-6x24 is 3.74".

Not sure how much further down the list you want to go. For those looking for the coveted EE level of eye relief, there is no current replacement. So it's time to pay the price or find something else that works for you.

 

[WAB]

Great summary. I am mystified at Swarovski’s decision on the EE. Owning one, I wish I had more. Truly one of the greatest riflescopes ever manufactured, meeting a need that is now not served.

 

[BeeMaa]

Great summary. I am mystified at Swarovski’s decision on the EE. Owning one, I wish I had more. Truly one of the greatest riflescopes ever manufactured, meeting a need that is now not served.

But let's face it, the fact that it has Swaro glass makes a difference. Not to mention their high level of customer service. These are the factors that take it over the top, not just the EE.

Having a mid-tier scope with 4.72" of eye relief wouldn't be the same.

 

[WAB]

But let's face it, the fact that it has Swaro glass makes a difference. Not to mention their high level of customer service. These are the factors that take it over the top, not just the EE.

Having a mid-tier scope with 4.72" of eye relief wouldn't be the same.

Agreed, but I have the Swaro Z8 1-8x24 and the Z6 1-6x24 EE. The EE meets a need the Z8 does not meet.

 

[HankBuck]

I have a Swaro Z8i 1-8x24 with 4A-IF reticle and measured the eye relief with a flashlight shining through the objective bell. I focused the beam of light at the ocular lens and used a ruler to determine the distance of focus. I measured 3.75" (95.25mm) at both 1x and 8x. I then went to the website and found that Swaro lists the eye relief at 95mm...so it seems to be dead on.

With that much eye relief, I was able to comfortably shoot a 416RM without fear of being scope cut.

The Swaro Z6 1-6x24 EE has 4.72" (120mm) of eye relief, which I imagine would be desirable for shooting 458WM and up. Obviously no longer in production.

The current production Z6 1-6x24 has 3.75" of eye relief.

Leupold VX-6HD and VX-5HD eye relief are both 3.7-3.8" depending on magnification.

S&B Exos 1-8x24 is 3.54".

Trijicon AccuPoint 1-4x24 is 3.2" but the 1-6x24 is 3.9". I looked at few of their other models, but nothing I saw has an eye relief over 3.9".

Kahles K6i 1-6x24 is 3.74".

Not sure how much further down the list you want to go. For those looking for the coveted EE level of eye relief, there is no current replacement. So it's time to pay the price or find something else that works for you.

@BeeMaa - agree on the Trijicon eye relief and it is one of the features that I really notice when hunting “continuous Eye Relief”. While I like my Leupold Vari IIIs and the clarity is very good - and obviously the Swaros & Zeiss are great….
When I crank up the magnification on Leupolds the Eye Relief gets shorter and I need to creep up on the stock to get my eye closer to the scope for a full sight picture. NBD when sighting in but in hunting situations it takes a few extra seconds to “settle in” and sometimes the animal has moved and that brief shot opportunity is lost - happens a lot at night on predators for me. So, the feature I notice the most is Continuous Eye Relief. I just ordered a 2nd Trijicon Accupoint 3-9 because of this, the Leupold 3.5-10 on a new rifle is great during the days but target acquisition is a bit slow at night when hunting using a Red Light….a combination of using a scope with Non illuminated crosshairs, plus loss of Eye Relief when I crank up magnification just before taking a shot —- needing to readjust my eye closer to the scope takes an extra 2-3 seconds that has resulted in a couple of lost shot opportunities last month (coyote don’t hold still long). I won’t get into the Glass/clarity discussion between Leupold/Swaro/Zeiss etc.. (I haven’t lost an animal due to clarity differences yet) but what matters more then that to me is Continuous Eye Relief (or close to it) because I’ve lost shot opportunities readjusting my face on the stock after losing eye relief cranking up magnification.

 

[odonata]

It appears that the Meopta R2 1-6x24 RD that I have mounted on one of my Ruger No. 1A's has recently been removed from their catalog. But I thought I would mention it simply because there might be some available inventory & it has 99mm / 3.9" of eye relief. I got such a great deal on this one that I was willing to ignore the reticle that is a bit too thin for my liking. It works really well on this particular rifle.

 

[Dirtdart]

The German Precision Optics Spectra 1-6x24, 1.5-9x32, and the 1.5-9x44 all have a solid 4" of eye relief, 30mm tube, and excellent field of view.
So far I have been pleasantly surprised with my 1.5-9x32.

 

[Woodcarver]

Hawke Optics has pretty good eye relief. I bought one of these to test drive on a 375HH, but didn't have time to get this done prior to shoulder surgery, so it will be later this year before I can see how I like it. 3.8" eye relief.

Vantage 30 WA 1-8x24 L4A Dot

An extensive range of scopes to suit all calibres and disciplines. All Vantage riflescopes feature our H2 optics in a variety of configurations. IR models feature precision glass etched reticles with multi-stage illumination in both red and green. Capped Low-Profile Turrets. 30mm Mono-Tube...

us.hawkeoptics.com

They also have their Endurance line. Only have a 1-4x24 in a straight 30mm tube, but it has 4" of eye relief.

Endurance 30 WA 1-4x24 L4A Dot

Designed for all hunting disciplines - from varmint to big game.. All models feature HawkeÕs new H5 optics which boasts a stunning 24¡ ultra-wide field of view with generous 100mm eye relief. The H5 illumination system features multi-LED technology for high intensity illumination. Capped...

us.hawkeoptics.com

Both have an L4A illuminated reticle, which I really like. The Vantage is selectable red or green, the Endurance strictly red. They also have over 200moa of adjustment, both up/down & L-R.
No complaints on clarity or any aspect of the lenses, but haven't tried in marginal light yet.
The price point can't be beat if they do in fact hold up to heavier recoil. $450 for the Vantage, $550 for the Endurance.

 

[KIH]

I dont know anything of the quality, but it is german. Eye reliëf is 125mm (4,9 in)

Nickel : Nickel Magnum 1.5-6x30 EDS

Nickel Magnum 1,5-6x30 ED Zielfernrohre mit Beleuchtungssystem B3, Isodot Leuchtabsehen in der zweiten Bildebene, Leuchtabsehen L4d, L4c, L1 oder Absehen 4. Die Zielfernrohre der Nickel AG sind mit oder ohne Schiene erhältlich.

nickel-ag.com

 

[Philip Glass]

I am an outlier on this I suppose. I've never been scoped in my life. I have come to the conclusion that it is proper gun fit that is the key. Does anyone have other thoughts as to why some of us have never joined the "Jim Shockey club"?

My Z8's and VX6's have great eye relief and work well for me.

 

[Beck]

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1318356-REG/meopta_580150_1_6x24_meostar_r2_riflescope.html/overview

 

[Monski]

The German Precision Optics Spectra 1-6x24, 1.5-9x32, and the 1.5-9x44 all have a solid 4" of eye relief, 30mm tube, and excellent field of view.
So far I have been pleasantly surprised with my 1.5-9x32.

Some great info on this thread obviously. I haven't looked at the GPO, Hawke and newer Nickel brands so didn't know about their long eye reliefs. Seems the earlier generations of swaro, zeiss and nickel scopes didn't have much eye relief. I have one Meopta R2 1-6x24 and like it but have seen some listed specs at 90 mm (3.54 in) and also 96 mm (3.8 in). Mine seems to be 3.54. I'm wondering if they changed it sometime during production.

 

[BJH65]

I am an outlier on this I suppose. I've never been scoped in my life. I have come to the conclusion that it is proper gun fit that is the key. Does anyone have other thoughts as to why some of us have never joined the "Jim Shockey club"?

My Z8's and VX6's have great eye relief and work well for me.

I think you’re just smarter than me! I’ve only been scoped once but I have a small scar between my eyes as a permanent memento. I have a Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40mm mounted on my custom Remington 700 375 RUM. Had previously shot game animals off shooting sticks, standing over an old fence post and sitting without issue.

Since this was a semi long range setup, I had a cross canyon shot an a cow tule elk at 300 yards and STUPIDLY got into the prone position with the rifle held very loosely and took the shot. The sharp Leupold eyepiece (I later added a rubber screw on eyecup) cut me between the eyes like a scalpel. I couldn’t see the elk for a second shot (luckily didn’t need one) because blood was cascading down my face.

The eye relief is 3.6 - 4.4 so decent amount just a bad shooting position for that rifle, probably would have occurred with any scope. Lesson learned.

 

[BeeMaa]

I am an outlier on this I suppose. I've never been scoped in my life. I have come to the conclusion that it is proper gun fit that is the key. Does anyone have other thoughts as to why some of us have never joined the "Jim Shockey club"?

My Z8's and VX6's have great eye relief and work well for me.

It usually happens when doing something out of the ordinary, not just shooting from sticks. I've seen several caused by shooting prone while on an uphill slope. Not even real hot ammo in most cases. Usually something like a 270WIN or 30-06.

 

[cajunchefray]

The German Precision Optics Spectra 1-6x24, 1.5-9x32, and the 1.5-9x44 all have a solid 4" of eye relief, 30mm tube, and excellent field of view.
So far I have been pleasantly surprised with my 1.5-9x32.

Thank you for your input on GPO scopes. I’ve been looking into these, not much feedback but I’m leaning toward the 1-6x24.

 

[BJH65]

Thank you for your input on GPO scopes. I’ve been looking into these, not much feedback but I’m leaning toward the 1-6x24.

Have any AH members any experience with GPO 1-6x24 with illuminated red dot? I’ve been considering one for awhile as a DG scope. I believe they are made in China to the German specs. Considering one or a Leica Amplus 6 1-6x24i but that’s another $500 more than the GPO.

 

[odonata]

I don't have any personal experience with Tract but I've seen other hunters post some positive comments. Schott glass, made in Japan & close to 4" of eye relief on their 1-8x24 scopes.

 

[BeeMaa]

Have any AH members any experience with GPO 1-6x24 with illuminated red dot? I’ve been considering one for awhile as a DG scope. I believe they are made in China to the German specs. Considering one or a Leica Amplus 6 1-6x24i but that’s another $500 more than the GPO.

"Budget" and "DG hunting" are not terms that normally go together.

Go for the Leica Amplus.