Believe it or not, the new Zeiss (yes…that Zeiss) V3 2.5-8×35 RF (rimfire) will put you into this lofty optic brand for a remarkably low price. Your new small-game hunting scope is here…
by Rob Reaser
Earlier this summer, we gave you a sneak peek at an all-new line of riflescopes by storied optic manufacturer Zeiss called the V3 series.
The V3 series represents a Zeiss initiative to bring the company’s respected optic quality and performance into a hunting scope line that sits squarely in the “affordable” category. That’s a wakeup call for most of us since Zeiss scopes have traditionally been viewed as fellow travelers of, shall we say, upper crust hunters — the wine-and-dine lodge types more so than those of us with beer-and-brats budgets.
Nevertheless, Zeiss decided it was high time to enter the realm of cost-conscious shooters with a robust line of hunting scopes that both live up to Zeiss’ well-deserved reputation for precision outdoor optics but also meet the mid-range price point where most of our discretionary purchases settle.
The first V3 scope to hit the marketplace with a bang is the 2.5-8x35mm RF. As the acronym implies, this is a scope specifically developed for rimfire hunting rifles. The shocker is that the 2.5-8x35mm RF…we’ll call it the V3 RF from here on to keep it simple…is priced at only $299.99.
I was able to get my hands on a V3 RF just in time for squirrel season. It’s my first Zeiss, and from the box opening to the time afield, I’ve been nothing but pleased. While the performance is terrific, I think I get as much of a thrill looking at the gun in my hands and thinking, “Hey, I’ve got a Zeiss!”
V3 RF Overview
At 10.74 inches in length (with the diopter at the neutral position), the V3 RF is tight-and-tidy in profile and light in weight at just over 12 ounces. This makes it an ideal optic for a lithe, highly maneuverable rimfire platform that you intend to use in brushy environs or thick woodlands.
The V3 RF, like all scopes in the V3 series, features a 3x magnification ratio. It is built on a 1-inch diameter main tube and features a 35mm objective lens.
The diopter adjustment on the ocular lens has a -3 to +2.5 range, so there were no issues getting a crisp reticle picture.
The magnification adjustment ring offers plenty of traction to quickly shift the power setting. Ribbing along the ring makes for smooth, positive rotation while an indexing boss gives you a little extra “grab” if needed.
That said, I ended up installing a Zeiss Conquest 4 throw lever to make adjustments even easier when wearing gloves.
The V3 RF is a compact scope, yet the main tube length offers sufficient room fore and aft of the turrets to establish a well-supported mount configuration and still have room for eye relief adjustment. Here, you can see the clearance on a Picatinny rail using a medium-height (0.77-inch height-to-center) Weaver-style ring mount system.
The reticle Zeiss designers selected for the V3 RF is the company’s eXtended Range Reticle (XRR) #84. This is the non-illuminated XRR suited for the scope’s second focal plane configuration. The line thickness is 0.30 MOA, which I found to be fine enough for precision aiming and thick enough to see in low ambient light conditions. In sum, it is well-balanced for the short-range field work for which the hunting rimfire is typically employed.
Capped turrets are part of the V3 RF menu. The elevation and windage knobs offer both audible and tactile clicks, making it easy to track your adjustments.
I also appreciate the small 1/4-MOA adjustment increments — another nod to the scope’s short-range mission. This allows you to make finer adjustments when you are zeroing for 30 to 50 yards than you would a scope with a 1/2- or 1-MOA click value.
Once you have the scope zeroed, simply pull up on the elevation and windage outer rings and return them to zero. This feature is great if you want to shoot targets at longer distances and work up the D.O.P.E. for your load. Just dial in your compensation and return to zero when finished.
To the Field
Speaking of field use, the V3 RF, as with all riflescopes in the new V3 series, taps the Zeiss Bright Technology. Zeiss places this in the company’s High-Performance (HP) optical system (below the Zeiss V4, V6, V8, and V8 NA optical systems, in that order). The HP system is comprised of the aforementioned 3x zoom ratio plus fully multi-coated indexed lenses with an additional hydrophobic protective lens covering. The glass, combined with the coatings, are intended to deliver up to 90-percent light transmission.
As for the optical quality, I can find no fault. The image is clear from center to edge, and I can detect no distortion or chromatic aberrations throughout the magnification range.
Being a rimfire scope, the V3 RF is all about short-range work. Parallax, for example, is fixed at 50 yards, which is on the money for most small-game hunting. At full 8x magnification, the near-focus is right around 19 yards; at 2.5x, I’m sharp at about six yards. Any closer than that and scope-over-bore is going to bite you.
Besides, if something does get that close, it would be more sporting to go caveman and just clunk it with a rock.
Overall, I can report that the Zeiss V3 2.5-8×35 RF has met my expectations (which were fairly high going into this test). As a small-game hunting scope configured specifically for rimfire use, I have nothing to complain about and no advice to offer for improvement. It’s a Zeiss, and it delivers on the Zeiss reputation.
And if that wasn’t enough, it’s only $299.99!
Zeiss V3 2.5-8×35 RF Specifications
- Platform: rimfire
- Main Tube Diameter: 1 in.
- Magnification: 2.5-8x
- Objective Lens: 35mm
- Optical System: High-Performance (HP)
- Turret Style: capped w/zero ring reset
- Click Value: 0.25 MOA (10 MOA per rotation)
- Fixed Parallax Setting: 50 yards
- Reticle: eXtended Range Reticle (XRR) #84
- Focal Plane: second
- Field of View (@ 100 yards): 48.17 – 14.78 ft.
- Exit Pupil Diameter: 11.6-44mm
- Eye Relief: 3.4 in.
- Diopter Range: -3 | +2.5 dpt
- Weight: 12.6 oz.
- Length (@neutral diopter): 10.74 in.
- Lens Coatings: fully multi-coated, hydrophobic protective coating
- Light Transmission: 90%
- Twilight Factor: 8.53-16.73
- Fogproof: nitrogen-purged
- Waterproof: 3.3 ft. for 1 hour
- Retail Price: $299.99
Support On-the-Go
Lately, my shooting locations have been bouncing around a bit. Mostly I’m at my camp range, but sometimes I set up behind my house, down by my neighbor’s barns, or at my buddy’s farm. For those “away games,” I’ve been putting a couple of products to use that we’ve covered here before, but because their value has become increasingly clear the more I use them, I wanted to give another nod to these items in case you missed our previous coverage.
First is the High-Low Shooting Table (HLST) from MTM Case-Gard. You can read the full review here.
With camp nearly two hours away, I don’t always have that much travel time available to hit my secluded range, with its built-in shooting bench, to do gun testing. The HLST, though, allows me to set up anywhere I want. The adjustable legs fold and the table top separates, so the whole thing is easy to toss in the truck and set up wherever…even on uneven ground.
The other big assist is the Ratchet Rest shooting bag system from Real Avid (go here for the review).
The system is comprised of a large front rest, a medium front/rear rest, and a small rear rest. Constructed of a poly bead-filled heavy canvas bag with a rubberized, no-slip bottom and a waxed canvas top, the Ratchet Rest provides minute vertical adjustment front and rear so you can get perfect, comfortable alignment with the target. And like the HLST, the Ratchet rests are super-portable.
Get Range Ready
While we’re talking about range gear, centerfire rifle and muzzleloader seasons are almost here for most of the country, and every serious hunter has his or her eyes on prepping their gear for the annual event. This is a perfect time to mention a new initiative by the folks at Real Avid called Range Ready. This is a philosophical approach, in a way, that emphasizes gear preparedness so that you make that first and all subsequent shots at the range safe and productive. You can read all about it here, and be sure to check out the Range Ready support videos hosted by champion shooter Doug Koenig.
Since most range shooting this time of year involves scope mounting and zeroing, you’ll want to check out some of the essential scope mounting tools Real Avid has developed. These include not only the Level-Right Pro scope leveling kit but also the assorted torque drivers and driver bit sets you’ll need to ensure everything is mounted to the correct torque specs.
