The Guns & Ammo Network

Zeiss Conquest Superformance Riflescopes

by J. Scott Rupp • January 13, 2012 • 4 comments

Zeiss Conquest Superformance riflescopeI’m a big fan of Zeiss’s Rapid-Z reticle. I have a Conquest so-equipped on my Savage .300 Win. Mag., and I think it’s one of the more effective, easy-to-use long-distance hunting reticles on the market.

Now Zeiss is partnering with Hornady to bring users of Superformance ammo a scope that’s automatically set up for effective long-range shooting. Serious long-range shooters have been using load-customized reticles for years, and now this same capability is available directly from the manufacturer in a “mount, zero and go” setup.

If you aren’t familiar with Superformance, it’s a family of loads that outperforms standard ammunition without excess pressures and with little additional recoil. I’ve shot it in various calibers and found it to be accurate in most rifles, and it certainly delivers in the performance department.

The new Conquest Superformance Rapid-Z scopes combine these two great technologies. All you need to do is match a select Hornady Superformance cartridge and bullet weight with one of the six select Zeiss Conquest Superformance riflescopes.

  • Conquest 3.5-10×44 (RZ 600) for 7mm-08, .30-06, .338 Win. Mag.
  • Conquest 3.5-10×44 (RZ 800) for .300 RCM, .300 Win. Mag.
  • Conquest 3.5-10×50 (RZ 600)—same as 44mm version above
  • Conquest 3.5-10×50 (RZ 800)—same as 44mm version above
  • Conquest 4.5-14×44 (RZ 800) for .270 Win., 7mm Rem. Mag., .300 RCM, .300 Win. Mag.
  • Conquest 4.5-14×50 (RZ 800)—same as 44mm version above

RZ is shorthand for Rapid-Z obviously; 600 and 800 indicate the max yardages the reticles are set up to handle. (Yes, you can use them to shoot farther than that, but the additional aiming references only go that far.)

Current Superformance loads that match up to these reticles include 7mm-08 (139-gr. GMX and SST), .270 Win. (130-gr. GMX and InterBond), .30-06 (165-gr. SST and InterBond), 7mm Rem. Mag. (139-gr. SST and GMX), .300 Win. Mag. (165-gr. SST and InterBond), .300 RCM (150-gr. GMX and SST), .338 Win. Mag. (185-gr. GMX).

Zero the scope for 200 yards and in the field the additional aiming points are automatically set up for 300, 400, 500 and 600 yards (and out to 800 for the RZ 800). Then in the field it’s just a matter of hold and shoot. We look forward to testing this new concept. Watch for it in a future issue of RifleShooter.

 

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  • don Kennamer

    I purchased a new Zeiss 6.5x20x50mm Conquest Varmint Rect… I have several Leupold scopes my last was a 8.5x25x50mm varmint rect. I'll take the Leupold scopes over the Zeiss any day I got a good deal price wise on the Zeiss its just not near as clear as my leupold Scopes and I have 5. No more Zeiss for me either a bother Leupold or a Nightforce.. DRK Scottsboro, Al.

    • Michael B

      I just happen to come by your comment as I was reseaching the partnership between Zeiss and Hornady. Two great brands working together is something I am really excited about. I own both Leupold and Zeiss, my experience with both them has me favouring Zeiss by a landslide in terms of clarity and lowlight performance. The Zeiss Rapid Z is by far the best ballistic reticle in my exeprience. When you the manuals closely of several other brands many of them are +/- 10 inches. When hunting that doesn't cut it for me. I think both brands are great choices and are subjective to what people see when look. I urge anyone shopping to test multiple brands and go with the one that looks best to you.

  • Jon F

    I recently went to a Sportsman Warehouse and too along a calibrated light meter to measure light performances between Zeiss Conquest Scopes and Leupold's best. The scopes were set up on the mock rifle stock and locked in to aim at a target in the dim rafters. The Zeiss Conquest produced 2 more light stops of light and the target in the rafters were clearly seen. The best Leupolds produced 2 less light stops of light and the target in the dim rafters could not be made out with any Leupold. About 12 customers participated in the viewing of the target in the rafters and they all agreed they could not make out the target when viewing through the Leupold. Leupold is falling behind the competition.

  • Jay

    Does anyone know if these scopes also apply to 300 wsm?