Zerotech LVPO thoughts?

[Wapiti]

HI All,
Wondering if anyone has any experience with this brand of scope?
I have a fascination for scopes with a true 1x at the bottom, for snap shooting with a good fast reticle that duplicate the no parallax red dots, and that have a good upper limit of 8-10X to be viable scopes in the same package for open country use. For rifles, not shotguns.
Shotguns are best with a zero-mag dot, but on a rifle these things just severely limit their usefullness.
There aren't too many true 1x upwards variables out there. They are usually 1.25-1.5x in true form although they say they are 1x but to get that takes some extra effort. And some big names are not so great, but rely on a reputation that money always buys better, not always 100% true. Better, but at what point does being better matter.

https://zerotech.com.au/p/1-10x24-lpvo- ... iflescope/
https://zerotech.com.au/p/1-8x24-sfp-g4 ... thrive-hd/

My concern is that they are Chinese made. Yeah I know they will work, and Land-of-China scopes are heavy in the market with good and very bad ratings, but is there anyone out there who can give a comparison in what difference that makes? It has always been notoriously difficult to truly get a great optic like this type (LVPO) and the only ones really standing out that don't make my eyes point in different directions are $4K plus.

[bigrich]

HI All,
Wondering if anyone has any experience with this brand of scope?
I have a fascination for scopes with a true 1x at the bottom, for snap shooting with a good fast reticle that duplicate the no parallax red dots, and that have a good upper limit of 8-10X to be viable scopes in the same package for open country use. For rifles, not shotguns.
Shotguns are best with a zero-mag dot, but on a rifle these things just severely limit their usefullness.
There aren't too many true 1x upwards variables out there. They are usually 1.25-1.5x in true form although they say they are 1x but to get that takes some extra effort. And some big names are not so great, but rely on a reputation that money always buys better, not always 100% true. Better, but at what point does being better matter.

https://zerotech.com.au/p/1-10x24-lpvo- ... iflescope/
https://zerotech.com.au/p/1-8x24-sfp-g4 ... thrive-hd/

My concern is that they are Chinese made. Yeah I know they will work, and Land-of-China scopes are heavy in the market with good and very bad ratings, but is there anyone out there who can give a comparison in what difference that makes? It has always been notoriously difficult to truly get a great optic like this type (LVPO) and the only ones really standing out that don't make my eyes point in different directions are $4K plus.

i can't help with any experiences with the scopes your looking at , but i'm of the opinion that some scopes that go from a low minimum mag to a higher one can have quite a change in eye relief which has you crawling up the stock on higher magnification . i know you've probably already considered it , but i had a loopy 1.5-5 vx3 on my 358win years ago that was great at all ranges . as a rule i don't trust chinese manufacturing . cheers

[Wapiti]

I'm probably spoiled, but the favourite scope of mine is an LVPO Swaro 1-8x Z8i, and that has set the benchmark. If the eye-relief changes between 1 and 8 power I am yet to ever notice it. I also had a NF NX8 1-8X that started this perversion, but after looking through the Swaro I realised that the Jap-made NF was not that great. Lucky a mate of mine is a brand snob and just had to have it. Lucky me.
But kinda like a Landcruiser Ute, which although a piece of engineering dinosaur and terribly overpriced for the bare bones and 1970's engineering and fuel efficiency you get for $90K, getting a Nightforce says success, you've finally reached the top! Not.

So I'm probably p*ssing into the wind here and I don't see the members on here as enthusiasts of LVPO's, you never know. Maybe someone has bought one and could tell me with a bit of honest balance. Never hurts to ask.

[MG5150]

I've got the 3-15 scope which was about $599 and it works pretty well. Not as clear as my Leupold but it works just fine

[mchughcb]

The fov at 1x is less than the leica magnum I was looking at on Saturday, however 39m at 100m is still pretty good but to get to 10X they needed a 34mm tube which you need to get rings for. I have a lpvo in minox on my drilling. Works fine.

[Wapiti]

I've got the 3-15 scope which was about $599 and it works pretty well. Not as clear as my Leupold but it works just fine

That's interesting info mate.
With all the hit on the shooting media here about Zerotech plastering the advertising here about being a new Australian company getting Chinese scopes "made to their most modern tech, components and stringent specs", I'd expect that they'd be at least equal.
Leupold don't pretend to be something they are not, but I reckon set the benchmark for quality in a super-lightweight for quality bombproof unit. I also don't expect perfection to use like Swarovski.
I'm currently having a look about for a stockist that may have a Zerotech 1-10x or even the 1-8x for a look-see in person, as much a pain as that is from out here.

[Wapiti]

The fov at 1x is less than the leica magnum I was looking at on Saturday, however 39m at 100m is still pretty good but to get to 10X they needed a 34mm tube which you need to get rings for. I have a lpvo in minox on my drilling. Works fine.

I sent an email to Zerotech about whether they would be offering a 1-10x in a 30mm tube with 2nd FP for better field use. Because I don't get the 2FP craze at all, everybody uses range finders, and being only a 10x upper limit magnification, having a 34mm tube to stuff in more elevation drop for long distance shooters is pointless - long range shooters will not consider a 1-10x ever, and AR's are banned here so the US idea of a "fighting rifle" semi-auto isn't valid here.

I got a great email back explaining that they were originally going to do a 30mm and 1-10X is perfectly obtainable in a 30mm tube. It was just the craze that buyers use specs now as a purchase requirement, including FFP, even though they don't use these features or even that they make it harder to get a product super clear with a half-useable eyebox without huge cost. The FAD demanded a 34mm tube, with more internal adjustment for drop that no 1-10x user will ever use.

[mchughcb]

Interesting

[Wapiti]

I just asked the question mate, I was wondering if ever they would just have a simple reticle for simple users like me, say a German No.4 or duplex.

[mchughcb]

I agree. I was looking at the leica with the dot plus a dash either side. Simple, not cluttered.

[Pighunter]

HI All,
Wondering if anyone has any experience with this brand of scope?

Hey mate, I've just smacked one on top of my Marlin 1894 SBL in 44 Mag yesterday, I should be sighting it in on Friday if I'm lucky. I've got a Zerotech Thrive HD on my .308 and it's never missed a beat.
The LVPO I bought is one of their newer Zerotech Vengeance 1-4x it was under $400 iirc so I'm not expecting the most incredible scope has ever seen. But it looks nice and clear.
I did have a zerotech green dot sight on it before, but due to astigmatism dots to me are more smears and shooting pigs at 100m with a greendot that ends up being the same size as a pig ain't that easy.

[Wapiti]

Thanks for the info pighunter..
Yes like you we've found red dots are very limited in usefulness for a few reasons too, hopeless in low light unlike a low powered scope which is why they hit the bin.
Actually no, one didn't... it's on my .50 calibre dart gun which we use all the time to tranquilise deer or deliver antibiotics to them and cattle. That's 10m if that. Daylight only.

So I bit the bullet and got the 1-8x 24 cost it's a30mm tube and I had the adapter for 30mm to fit the clip-on. And the Leupold mounts.
I looked at the 1-10x, although it was twice the cost, it's 34mm tube and hugely heavy...
WTF do you want a 34mm tube so you have more elevation adjustment on a 1-10x... it's a close range scope. The
And FFP? Really, the reticle on 1x is so tiny, that is when you want it big!
Who dreams this crap up? I know they are making what the tactical paper shooters think they need... but really?

[GQshayne]

I have a Swarovski 1-6 Z6i on my BLR .243. FOV at 100m is 43m. Optics are excellent. The illuminated reticle is the best of the ones I have seen. It is hard to fault.

[Wapiti]

Yes, agree. The best there is.
I made the mistake of comparing the Zerotech to my 1-8x Z8i.
Yes, almost 1/8th of the cost in the Chinese scope, but suddenly looked optically scattered and dull.

[Tiger650]

I have a ZT 0-6X 25mm scope on my Taipan, works well and tracks accurately, FFP is not an issue for me.
Washes out a little at 6X at close range like when setting 36 yd zero but not badly.
Worth the $$$ IMO and I like the off setting between recticle illumination levels.

[Fester]

They got a pretty good rep, pretty quickly, for a reason.

I looked through some target tockley type Zerotechs, 16 to 20 or more zoomy type things and they were surprisingly clear and crisp looking. I always look out at the 200 line, which can get a bit of glare and mirage at times.

They seem a solid build and a bit too heavy for a mountain rifle.
I have only heard of 1 going back with a problem so far but who knows, they just swap for a new one.

I have never had a top line scope and never will with the new pricing.
I couldn't justify it, even if I had some need. What would it give me, 5 minutes more shooting light.
If I glassed more, I would consider exy binos, but the scope is only used for taking the shot.

I have never needed a 1x scope either. If that close, I could use the 30-30 brush gun with a peep sight or the brush shotty with a red dot. A problem is I shoot with both eyes open, but can't with those 2 brush guns, for some reason.

For the very wary high pressure deer that I hunt, I just have my simple cheap jap Bushy 3,500 series set on 4 power when stalking.
I practiced to be sure, but when I shoulder the rifle, I am on the deer.

I have shot deer at over 200m on 4 power, other times wound up to 12 max and just back off a touch as I do with all my cheaper mid-range scopes.
That $400 scope is simple, with no parallax adjustment, but it holds zero, and I need that.

One rut, I shot a young meaty and fell during the carry out, landing on the Tikka.
I returned a week later and a big mature buck was croaking from first light.
I walked in, stalked and watched the does until his antlers showed.
When his chest appeared from behind the brushes, I shot him.
It would have been devastating if the scope was not so reliable or got knocked out.

I will be considering the Zerotech, that is 3-18 from memory for a longer range hunting rifle in 7mm PRC.
That should test it out.
In saying all of that, I would only go for the top-line scopes in that brand, and not sure what the prices are now.

[Wapiti]

I have never had a top line scope and never will with the new pricing.
I couldn't justify it, even if I had some need. What would it give me, 5 minutes more shooting light.
If I glassed more, I would consider exy binos, but the scope is only used for taking the shot.

Mate, completely agree with your whole post, if the gear you use now is working, I can understand your justifications.

But until you see through one of these high end scopes in challenging conditions, you will realise "5 minutes more shooting light" is mistaken.

Last night I went out and had a play with the two guns in this pic, the top one is a 243 set up for night only for a particular issue, the other 308 below it for everyday use for everything in a working sense.
It was a full moon, very bright, but in the moonlight I could see everything perfectly to take a shot, even in the moon shadows. This was with the 1-8x Swarovski scope on the 308 gel blaster.
The Zerotech on the 243 was unuseable without the thermal clip-on. I could not make out anything definitively to make a shot. The houseyard was full of fallow and red deer eating the grass.

I suppose I'm fortunate that I can make the comparison here between the two price points.

However, with the clip-on lit up, the 243 was perfectly useable and I doubt I'd see the difference... it would be minimal and certainly not in any way would cost me a shot. Because the clip-on was making it's own lit image for me to look at. So, an economy scope on an economy rifle here is quite capable of doing the job I want, so the Zerotech was not a regret purchase nor will it cost me a shot normally either.
So your points defining your choice is great for you.

But when I am talking about my stock and livelihood, because some animals here are $15K plus each, if I'm out after dark as sh*t here always happens, the cost of this Z8i scope is absolutely worth it.
My mates in NZ where in all terrible conditions, on hunts that just from not being at work for a week and gear, chopper flights whatever, they agree with me. In fact I'm copying them after seeing the differences optics make.
And mate, if you haven't seen how much faster a true 1x LVPO is over iron sights, that's another thing you mightn't ever miss. So horses for courses.
Gunshops stock these high-end optics because there are users who do see and use the benefits they give.

[Fester]

Yeah, we all have different needs and blokes tell me I am mad to not use good Euro glass.

I told myself when I got back into shooting and started hunting, to never look through those good scopes, as I didn't want to know how good they are.

Then the big Sydney show had this great stand with the models lined up on stands and I just had to try a comparo.
Was Swaro or Cales from memory, but looking through the glass and as far as I could get a target out past the race course, I focused on a sign about 3-400m out and that thing was so clear and crisp an image that I could appreciate the quality, not so much the cost though.

I shot a blokes rifle with an older Leupold that was very clear but other have not impressed me greatly.
I reckon those top end Leos would be a pretty good thing, but they also went through the roof in price.
I actually compared a Leupold that was twice the price of my 3500 series Bushy.
Outside the shop on a bright day at about 200m the Leo was no better so I went the Bushy.
It may be my eyes, but I like all my Bushies l, apart from the cheap AR type one.

I guess with the cheap Chinese stuff, it's a bit like, make me a big batch of shoes for $20 each so I can sell them here for $120.
Zerotech and that Chang Chang bloke doing the reloading machines show how they can make stuff at a higher quality.
I will gladly support both of them if I think the product is up to standard.

The .243 looks like a good thing, tell us more about what it is.

[Wapiti]

The Howa was bought as something with limited use but still, something that when needed, was ready to grab and go. So keeping it to a reasonable budget cost was a big deal, especially needing to pass the OK across the Missus' approval department.

It's a standard Howa 243 stainless sporter, with a 22" barrel, I think it was $100 more than the blued model. It doesn't get much care so the stainless was the go, to save time from a care perspective, although the grade of SS used on Howas is very susceptible to micro-pitting if handled with sweaty salty hands. But still good so as not to rust internally between uses in the barrel/chamber.
It came with a standard Hogue pillar bedded stock, and would not shoot as I expected, so I mail-ordered a full alloy bedding block Howa stock from Gold Coast Shooters Supplies. That made it less fussy, but it still has it's favourite load and hates most factory loads to the tune of 50mm plus. Handloads of 87gn VMax or Speer 90gn Hot-Cor with 2208 (it HATES 2209) can get to 25mm groups @ 110m which is the range length in the house yard. Velocity, no idea. Was trying to fix the terrible group sizes it had so velocity was the last thing to worry about.
It also has a manufacturing fault - the chamber is cut too short. Any factory load or new case reload chambers with quite a bit of force on the bolt handle, shaves off brass around the stamp marks on the case head even before it's fired. I bought a chambering reamer in .243 but haven't gotten around to taking the barrel off yet, it's only really a nuisance. At least the chamber is tight! When I do a check on shoulder length of an unfired cartridge or new case, the fired cases are actually about 2 thou shorter than new!
The Nitehog Viper thermal is the lightest one I could get, and made in Europe as I just have an aversion to LandOfChina. It doesn't have any of the wifi, bluetooth or recording functions because I hate that kind of thing and don't want the extra complexity and weight/battery drain of all those functions. It also doesn't need any zeroing whatsoever, unlike the Chinese made stuff. I have a few adaptors to fit it to 40mm and 42mm scopes on other rifles should I wish to do so.
The whole purpose is solely as a grab and go night thermal rifle, the idea of the clip-on is so it can also be used with the same optic during the day without the thermal on. Otherwise I'dve got a dedicated thermal scope instead. Yeah I'd like a 1-10X scope for during the day, but oh well.
AS most know, most clip-ons like a lower power around the 1.5-2x to get a full FOV and that's why the LVPO on this rifle.

[Fester]

I thought the markings looked like a Howa and assumed it may have been that light weight model that had a short run many years back. Unusual to get a bad 1500 and blokes reckon you can just screw Howa barrels on without headspace changes.
The Jap machining is just so good on tolerances.

My Howa was bought as a barreled action to avoid having a Hogue cluttering up the garage.
The staino must be like what Tikka use.
Mine had a dud trigger and had to be worked, should have just bought a Timney as they were not that exy then.
My jap built Weatherby has a great trigger that I have never touched.
Both shot like lasers until the round count got past that new rifle accuracy, range use lol.

[Wapiti]

I thought the markings looked like a Howa and assumed it may have been that light weight model that had a short run many years back. Unusual to get a bad 1500 and blokes reckon you can just screw Howa barrels on without headspace changes.
The Jap machining is just so good on tolerances.

My Howa was bought as a barreled action to avoid having a Hogue cluttering up the garage.
The staino must be like what Tikka use.
Mine had a dud trigger and had to be worked, should have just bought a Timney as they were not that exy then.
My jap built Weatherby has a great trigger that I have never touched.
Both shot like lasers until the round count got past that new rifle accuracy, range use lol.

Yes we've got a few Howas here other than this one, all are very good, as my other post with the 223 Mini Varmint shows. This one is a "I've just been sacked" Friday afternoon number.
This one also galled the locking lugs badly when I initially tried to sight it in from new, trying to force the bolt handle down on Federal factory 80gn ammo because of the incorrect headspace issue. I had to lap the lugs out, which eased the tightness somewhat but don't look at them too closely.
I advise stainless Howa owners to definately use Moly Never-seize on the locking lugs, designed for stainless steel bolts. The steel in the lugs in mine was VERY soft.
I'll still recommend Howas as the number one economy brand, no question.

[Wapiti]

So... Just got around to sighting this scope in on the Howa 243, because today is a silly jobs day.
I was using one of the few reloads that shoot any good, which is the 87gn Sierra green-tipped Gameking with 35gn 2208.
As you can see from the numbers, the load is very consistent and the rifle likes it. 3 shots into about 30mm. Yeah, a little slow, but this rifle will not shoot high velocity with accuracy and 2208 is a bit quick-burning hence slow for a 243 from my experience.
That is WAY better than any factory load I have tried so far, for those that think I can do better with a 1-8x scope at 110m.

Howa243test87SGK.jpg (680.67 KiB) Viewed 1683 times

However, the scope...
This scope is the most awful scope I can remember ever purchasing. Definately a $400 scope if that, not a $699 job plus post.
Please bear with me why I think this.

Firstly, the parallax... On a 1-8x scope at 110m on 10X there should be NO parallax. If I move my head left-right, up-down, the reticle moves probably 100mm across the target. That's easy to guess because the stick-on dots I was using are 50mm diameter, and the crosshairs move more than twice this amount.
At 1X, exactly the same. Terrible.
That is unforgiveable. And being a LPVO, there is no parallax adjustment knob, because it shouldn't ever need one.
Compare it to the scope previously mentioned earlier, there's NO reticle movement on any power whether it's on 1X or 10X, 15m or 250m.
I actually can't believe I jagged a 30mm group with this thing.

Second, there's the clarity. It's not. It was bright enough to the edges, sure. But - If I use the "fast focus" on the ocular to get the crosshairs sharp, the target at 110m isn't whatsoever, it's blurred out. I had to keep changing my eyeball focus from centre of reticle to target dot, then back again. Sort of like you do with open sights on a pistol. Nothing I can do will bring both into focus at the same time.
Obvious is the parallax issue is so far out this is occurring. It cannot be adjusted out. If the target is sharp, the reticle isn't, or vice versa. F**k it's disappointing.

You might be used to this, or live with it on your gear, or not even notice or know what I'm talking about, but I'm not. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about it yet. Yeah, it's useable and will do the job.

Don't fall for fancy ads and bright colours saturating the magazines, SSAA literature or, from videos put up by people who will gush over anything because they get it for free and it pays for their YouTube income stream.
Marketing in action for, in my case, same old Chinese quality. You get what you pay for every time.

P.S. The wierd thing on the objective end is the 30mm bayonet adaptor for the thermal clip-on.

HowaZerotech1-8x.jpg (675.72 KiB) Viewed 1683 times

[Fester]

Sad to hear of your bad findings, and I would be going for a swap job and hope for a good one.
If not, money back and I reckon that company will oblige if it's the same blokes.

The low power scope would be the least likely to expect those issues.

When my CZ 22 went bad, the first thing I did was go scope shopping as the old Bushy $250 scope was nearing 10 year old.

A couple of blokes raved about the Jap built Vixen brand and it suited, as I needed the compact size to be low and clear the bolt.
The only scope I have previously bought without looking throug it in a shop was the Meopta Meopro 6-18x50 or whatever.
The rave reviews and a $650ish price got me and the scope is fine.

The Vixen was one of the higher spec 4-16 jobs with a side focus, that I need for longer range plinking play as well as short range focus.

Straight off, I had parallax issues and the side focus knob would not fix it.
I sent them an email, asking what I should do and got no response, so I just wiped that company.
It seems with further experimenting, I can get improvement with the quick eye adjuster and that adjuster also has a huge effect on the reticle hold over lines that I also use for silhouette-type targets.
Not just a clear reticle, but unless adjusted spot on, the lines seem to go too fine. Can't even see the dots, just the lines.

I can now use it fine for 50m groups and with the rifle fixed, it is back to a single ragged capable shooter with SK ammo.

I still have to see if the parallax issue is solved for different ranges and if the side dial can sort it when the quick eye dial is spot on.
It's not ideal, but I can live with it on the 22lr.

[Wapiti]

I reckon I make myself look like a d*ckhead here by having this whinge, but rather than buy a product then tell everyone how great it is to convince myself to feel better, I want to warn others from getting something it's just not.
Oh man, I can only imagine the crap I will have to go through to sort it out. Send it back only to have them say, "we found nothing wrong" and the scope is built to a price point, blah blah.
So last night I fired two rounds at 110m off the bench at some hand warmer pads I got from Coles in our local town, and both drilled the little pad, so the scope is doing it's job in making the thermal do it's job too. In fact on about 1.75x it was a useable clear image. As far as 1024 thermal images are possible, anyway.
A more expensive scope wouldn't have been any better.

But as far as the parallax goes, there is no way that a 1-8x scope should have any and that's unacceptable, it ruins the focus and the ability to be anything near consistent.
Anyone looking to test groups, shoot varmints or targets with their rifles, if you buy a Zerotech scope, make sure you get a model with side parallax focus so you can adjust it out.
I wonder how many shooters aren't aware of this big issue, and chase their tails trying to get an accurate load when it's the quality of the scope's internals, most likely it's adjustments at assembly, that are making consistency impossible.
You get what you pay for, no matter how colourful and glossy the marketing is. In fact, I bet all this market saturation is adding to the buyer's cost as it is.
If I get someone to pause before buying this scope, good.

Targets.jpg (662.27 KiB) Viewed 1657 times

[Wapiti]

BTW Fester, I have a Rem 7600 308 at the other place with a Vixen 1-8x LVPO, and it has absolutely none of the parallax issues that this Zerotech has. The image at all powers is very nice, completely acceptable for the $1000 price that it was. And the illuminated reticle is crisp and clear, as a purchaser should expect it to be.
In fact, I thought about getting another for this 243, but yep, I got sucked in by the marketing, and the fact I could save $3-400.
What an error of judgement!
But then, Vixen is a Japanese made scope, not Chinese.

[Fester]

From what I heard, the bloke who had an issue with his Zerotech just did an instant swap at the big shop.

I would give it a try, as you could end up with another one with no issues.

My Vixen was bought from the main importer and sent from WA.
Starting with a no response would indicate a ****** would follow and not someone that I will ever deal with again.
Local places sell their scopes, but add their mark-up so the brand has lost me.

Getting the bad feedback is one of the best parts of forums and even Faceache.
Real people's reports beat ads on any day.

[Fester]

I looked through the Vixen yesterday after cleaning the bolts and bits after a range day.

It seems to be sorted now so left the eye focus alone as I have got it right and you can see straight away with sharp retical lines that go finer when adjusted for some reason.
I have NFI why the eye focus dial puts the parallax out so badly, and also suspect a slight misadjustment during assembly.

I looked at the trees across the road at about 30m and through the gaps to the trees about 200m across the gully, moving my head around. I don't think the crosshairs were moving at all.

It's a very nice clear scope to look through.

A 1-8 would be a nice thing in thick dark forest country, bit of an unnecessary luxury though, unless there was lots of close-range game and shots to be had.
I would also want a nice illuminated reticle to top it off.

[GQshayne]

My 1-6 has an iluminated reticle. The Swarovski illumination set up is excellent, being more functional than the others I have used, being Kahles, Meopta (Optika & Meostar) and GPO. Very good to use.

And that 43m field of view and red dot is fantastic on a pig hunting rifle, if you like hunting in the thick stuff. Target acquisition is excellent.

[wrenchman]

I have been seeing them a lot on line and reviews are looking good I have a gun that needs a low power scope and am thinking of them