Description
Rifle Scope Product Details
Swarovski Z8i 2-16×50 – 4A-I 68301
The Swarovski Z8i 2-16×50 offers an incredible 8x magnification that allows this scope to be utilized in almost any circumstance that may arise. This line of Swarovski scopes will push the bonds of scope technology like never before. It has incredible clarity and 93% light transmission that can only truly be understood by looking through one. This is made possible with the highest imaginable glass quality and Swarovskis state of the art coatings. The slim 30mm tube size is not overly cumbersome and gives this scope a very elegant look upon the rifle that it is mated with. It also features the optional BTF (ballistic turret flex) for both elevation and windage adjustments, which can be installed without the need for extra tools. The 2-16x magnification on this scope lends well to a variety of situations that include the driving hunt. In this particular circumstance speed and low magnification are needed to hit game that may spot you before you spot them. However you must also be wary of game that is farther away. This creates a particular challenge for hunters, but not any longer as the 2-16x Z8i is perfectly suited to both situations with a quick turn of the throw lever.
Rifle Scope Product Features
50mm objective lens
2nd focal plane
Waterproof and fogproof
Multi-coated lenses
Illuminated reticle
About the SWAROVSKI Brand
SWAROVSKI is a premium producer for weapon scopes, optics, mounting solutions, and other add-ons used for firearms like rifles and long guns. They design and make their scopes and related products by choosing elements which are resilient and long lasting. This includes the Swarovski Z8i 2-16×50 – 4A-I 68301 by SWAROVSKI. For additional shooting goods, visit their site.
What You Need to Know About Optics
Rifle scopes allow you to exactly aim a rifle at various targets by aligning your eye with the target over a range. They do this through magnification by using a set of lenses within the scope. The scope’s positioning can be adapted to account for various environmental considerations like wind and elevation to make up for bullet drop.
The scope’s function is to understand exactly where the bullet will hit based on the sight picture you are viewing with the scope as you align the scope’s crosshair or reticle with the target. A lot of modern-day rifle scopes have about 11 parts which are located internally and outside of the scope. These optic pieces include the rifle scope’s body, lenses, elevation turrets, objective focus rings, and other parts. See all eleven parts of optics.
About Scope Styles
Rifle scopes can be either “first focal plane” or “second focal plane” type of scopes. The style of focal plane a scope has identifies where the reticle or crosshair is located in connection with the optic’s magnifying adjustments. It actually suggests the reticle is behind or ahead of the magnification lens of the scope. Picking the very best form of rifle glass depends on what variety of shooting you plan on undertaking.
Info About First Focal Plane Optics
First focal plane optics (FFP) feature the reticle in front of the magnifying lens. This causes the reticle to increase in size based upon the level of magnification being used. The outcome is that the reticle measurements are the same at the enhanced distance as they are at the non magnified distance. One tick on a mil-dot reticle at one hundred yards with no “zoom” is still the very same tick at 100 yards by using 5x “zoom”. These kinds of scopes are useful for:
- Quick acquisition, long distance kinds of shooting
- Shooting situations where computations are low
- Experienced shooters who know their target “hold over” and also “lead” equations for their weapon
- Shooters who don’t mind the reticle is enlarged and uses up more visual sight area than a SFP reticle
About Second Focal Plane Optics
Second focal plane optics (SFP) include the reticle to the rear of the zoom lens. In the FFP example with the SFP scope, the 5x “zoom” 100 yard tick reticle measurement would be 1/5th of the non “zoom” tick.
- Far away kinds of shooting where shooters have more time to make ballistic calculations
- Shooting where most of the shots happen within much shorter ranges and proximities
- Shooters who like a clearer optic picture without area taken up by the bigger FFP reticle
Rifle Optic Zoom
The measure of scope magnification you require depends on the type of shooting you would like to do. Practically every type of rifle glass provides some level of zoom. The volume of zoom a scope offers is established by the size, thickness, and curvatures of the lenses inside of the rifle scope. The magnification level of the optic is the “power” of the opic. This means what the shooter is looking at through the scope is magnified times the power factor of what can typically be seen by human eyes.
Fixed Single Power Lens Rifle Optics
A single power rifle scope uses a zoom number designator like 4×32. This suggests the zoom power of the scope is 4x power while the objective lens is 32mm. The zoom of this type of scope can not adjust given that it is a fixed power optic.
Variable Power Lens Optics
Variable power rifle scopes have adjustable power. These types of scopes will note the magnification level in a configuration like 2-10×32. These numbers mean the magnification of the scope could be set between 2x and 10x power. This always includes the powers in-between 2 and 10. The power adjustment is achieved by operating the power ring part of the scope near the back of the scope by the eye bell.
Optic Power Level and Range Correlation
Here are some advised scope power levels and the ranges where they could be effectively used. Consider that higher power optics will not be as efficient as lower powered scope and optics since increased magnification can be a negative thing in certain situations. The same applies to extended ranges where the shooter needs sufficient power to see exactly where to best aim the rifle.
About Rifle Glass Lens Covering
All modern rifle scope and optic lenses are covered in special coatings. There are various types and qualities of lens finishes. Lens coating can be an important aspect of a rifle’s setup when looking at luxury rifle optics and targeting systems. The lenses are among the most crucial components of the optic due to the fact that they are what your eye looks through while sighting a rifle in on the target. The finish on the lenses protects the lens exterior as well as improves anti glare capabilities from excess natural light and color visibility.
HD Versus ED Scope Lens Coatings
Some glass companies additionally use “HD” or high-definition lense finishes that take advantage of different procedures, components, polarizations, and chemical applications to draw out various colors and viewable target definition through lenses. This high-def covering is often used with greater density lens glass which decreases light’s capability to refract through the lens glass. Some scope manufacturers use “HD” to describe “ED” meaning extra-low dispersion glass. ED handles how certain colors are presented on the chroma spectrum and the chromatic deviance or aberration which is similarly called color distortion or fringing. Chromatic aberration is often noticeable over things with hard edges and shapes as light hits the object from certain angles.
About Single Coating Versus Multi-Coating
Various optic lenses can also have different coverings applied to them. All lenses typically have at least some type of treatment or finish applied to them prior to being used in a rifle scope or optic.
Single covered lenses have a treatment applied to them which is usually a protective and boosting multi-purpose treatment. This lens treatment can shield the lens from scratches while minimizing glare and other less helpful things experienced in the shooting environment while sighting in with the scope. The quality of a single covered lens depends upon the scope designer and just how much you spent paying for it. Both the make and cost are indications of the lens quality.
Some scope producers similarly make it a point to define if their optic lenses are covered or “multi” covered. Being “better” depends on the manufacturer’s lens treatment technology and the quality of materials used in developing the rifle scope.
Info on Hydrophobic Coating
Water on a lens doesn’t support retaining a clear sight picture through a scope at all. Numerous top of the line or premium optic makers will coat their lenses with a hydrophilic or hydrophobic finishing. The Steiner Optics Nano-Protection is a good example of this kind of treatment. It provides protection for the exterior of the Steiner scope lens so the water molecules can not bind to it or create surface tension. The result is that the water beads sheet off of the scope to maintain a clear, water free sight picture.
Choices for Mounting Rifle Glass on Long Guns
Mounting solutions for scopes are available in a couple of choices. There are the basic scope rings which are individually installed to the scope and one-piece mounts which cradle the scope. These various types of mounts also typically can be found in quick release variations which use toss levers which allow rifle shooters to quickly install and remove the scope.
Rifle Optic Mounting Solutions with Hex Key Rings
Basic, clamp design mounting scope rings use hex head screws to install to the flattop design Picatinny scope mount rails on the tops of rifles. These forms of scope mounts use double detached rings to support the scope, and are usually constructed from 7075 T6 billet aluminum or similar materials which are developed for far away precision shooting. This form of scope mount is very good for rifle systems which need a long lasting, unfailing mount which will not shift despite just how much the scope is moved or jarring the rifle takes. These are the design of mounts you should have for a dedicated optics setup on a reach out and touch someone scouting or competition rifle which will seldom need to be changed or adjusted. Blue 242 Loctite threadlocker can also be used on the scope mount screws to keep the hex screws from wiggling out after they are mounted firmly in position. An example of these rings are the 30mm type made by the Vortex Optics brand. The set normally costs around $200 USD
Optic Mounts with Quick-Release Cantilever Rings
These kinds of quick-release rifle scope mounts can be used to rapidly remove a scope from a rifle and reattach it to a different rifle. Multiple scopes can also be swapped out if they all use a complementary style mount. The quick detach mount style is CNC machined from anodized 6061 T6 aluminum and the mounting levers connect tightly to a flat top style Picatinny rail. This allows the scope to be sighted in while on the rifle, taken off of the rifle, and remounted while keeping the original sighting settings. These types of mounts are useful and handy for rifles which are transferred a lot, to remove the glass from the rifle for protection, or for aiming systems which are employed in between multiple rifles. An example of this mount style is the 30mm mount designed by Vortex Optics. It normally costs around $250 USD
Info on Scope Tube Sealing and Gas Purging
Wetness inside your rifle optic can ruin a day of shooting and your expensive optic by causing fogging and developing residue inside of the scope tube. Most scopes prevent moisture from entering the scope tube with a system of sealing O-rings which are water resistant.
Rifle Optic Gas Purging
Another element of preventing the accumulation of moisture within the rifle optic’s tube is filling the tube with a gas like nitrogen. Because this space is already taken up by the gas, the glass is less influenced by temp shifts and pressure variations from the outdoor environment which could potentially enable water vapor to permeate in around the seals to fill the vacuum which would otherwise exist. These are good qualities of a good rifle scope to look for.
