Swarovski’s New Z5+ Targets American Hunters
Dial Farther Out With These Three New Z5+ and Z5i+ Riflescopes
By John Geiger
North American hunters will be pleased to see a new lineup of Swarovski scopes made just for them.
Swarovski Optik asked American hunters what features they wanted in a riflescope. The answer was more elevation adjustment, second focal planes and an affordable price.
New for 2025, the Swarovski Z5+ line packs these requests into three 5X-magnification scopes with several options.
There is a 5-25×56 option, 2-10×42 and 3.5x18x50. MSRP’s start at $1,600. Each also has the option of four different reticles, illuminated or nonilluminated reticles and ballistic turret with Swarovski’s four color-ring dial-to turrets.
Hunters and shooters will notice new features in the new Z5+ line, such as 30mm tubes, second focal plane construction and more MOA elevation on the turret.
30MM TUBES
Most scopes made for U.S. hunters are 1-inch in diameter. That’s what they’re used to, and they are fine. You would think a scope made with the American market in mind would also have 1-inch tubes. But not this one. According to Evan Dextraze of Swarovski, MOA adjustment is more important to these hunters than having a 1-inch pipe. With a wider tube, Swarovski increased the elevation adjustment so shooters can dial up 40 MOA.
“They want to be able to shoot farther, and we don’t want to limit the elevation they can dial to,” Dextraze told me between shots at a range outside of Las Vegas recently. “They might not be shooting game at 800 or 1,000 yards, but they want to be able to practice and shoot those distances at their range.”
With the new Z5+ ballistic turret, I was able to dial to 39.5 on the ballistic turret and shoot MOA groups at just under 1,175 yards with a 143-grain 6.5 Creedmoor ELD-X.
It’s not recommended to shoot animals at extremely long distances, but shooting at steel targets in the shape of game animals out past 1,000 yards is a great way to increase your shooting skills at all ranges. Swarovski showed off their new line in November 2024 at Prairie Fire shooting range in western Nevada.
SECOND FOCAL PLANES
In a second-focal plane scope, the crosshairs are behind the magnification lens, so they do not change in size as the magnification is increased or decreased. This is the way American hunters have preferred their reticles. Conversely, American precision shooters generally prefer first focal-plane scopes.
Are there disadvantages to a second-focal plane? For one, if you’re using a drop-compensating reticle, you’ll have to dial to a certain magnification setting, usually the highest magnification, for the hash marks to be accurate.
“You can argue which is better, but when it comes to American hunters, there is no debate,” said Dextraze on the popularity of the second-focal plane reticle.
All new Z5+ scopes are second-focal plane.
Swarvoski’s new Z5i+ 5-25x56mm
Swarvoski’s new Z5i+ 3.5-18x50mm
Swarvoski’s new Z5i+ 2-10x42mm.
PRICING
It’s no secret Swarovski scopes, binos and spotting scopes are high-dollar gear. For example, the Swaro dS Gen. II 5-25×52 P riflescope costs over $5,000. The quality of glass and durability the Austrian company produces is indisputable.
However, this Z5+ line is much closer to the price many North American hunters spend on a riflescope.
Hunters can pick up a Z5+ or Z5i+ for about $1,600. The line tops out at $2,269.
The 2-10×42 has an MSRP of $1,600; the 3.5x18x50, $1,800; and the 5-25×56, $1,900. Your choice of illumination and turret will affect the pricing. But these Swaros are priced mid-tier in the crowded optics market.
“We are excited to get this to the American market,” said Dextraze of Swarovski.
Evan Dextrose of Swarovski Optik checks targets as shooters zeroed their rifles while testing out the new Swarovski Z5+ line at Prairie Fire shooting range near the Nevada-California state line.
According to Swarovski, the coatings are the same in the Z5+ as compared to the current Z5 line or any of the other lines. The erectors are no different, either. One of the scopes — the 2-10×42 does not have parallax adjustment. Also, the illuminated versions do not have Swarolight (a system that turns the illumination on and off when they are at rest or moved). But they do have an on-off switch and a three-hour auto-shutoff. But other than that, there’s not much difference between these new Z5s and other Swaro scopes.
How did Swaro trim the price in this line? It’s in the design and manufacturing, said Dextraze.
In the past, Swarovski made scopes unique from each other, even if they were in the same line. Now, they’ve designed all Z5+ scopes in a similar way with similar parts throughout. This simplifies design as well as construction without compromising quality. These scopes will come to market faster than any other Swarovski has, and the price will be lower than most.
People who really want to get a Swaro but balk at the more expensive Z8 or Z6 option will love the Z5+.
“There will be a lot more Swarovski Optik shooters in 2025,” said Dextraze.
Swarovski’s new Z5+ riflescopes have much more adjustment than previous Swarovski scopes. In this photo, the author dialed to 39.5 and shot MOA groups at 1,175 yards. Photo by Porter James.