The Conquest V4 optics are the most popular riflescopes offered by Zeiss Hunting, and the line recently acquired to two new configurations: the Conquest V4 3-12x44 with Z-Plex Reticle (#20); and the Conquest V4 3-12x56 with Plex Illuminated Reticle (#60).
The upgrade to these two magnifications is the addition of an external elevation turret, with the Zeiss Ballistic Stop feature. The Ballistic Stop feature build is an all-metal construction, too. The “base” models, if you will, of these two scopes have capped turrets, while both these two newer configurations are windage capped only.
The additions bring the Conquest V4 line to five different models, all with 4x zoom ratio.
Like other V4s, these two new configurations are second-focal plane optics, MOA based, with elevation and windage settings adjusted at .25 MOA per click for up to 70 MOA total. Those clicks were easy to register, too, as they made an audible “tik,” which I also felt in my fingertips.
Parallax is pre-set for 100 yards, and both scopes offer 3.5 inches of eye relief.
The scopes are made with higher definition glass, enhanced with the Zeiss T* light transmission coating and LotuTec protective lens coating. ZEISS originally developed LotuTec as a coating for binocular and spotting scope lenses to enable a clear and unhindered view in all weather conditions. The coatings help produce 90% to-the-eye light transmission and great low-light performance.
Rugged, 30mm aircraft-grade aluminum tubes are standard with the V4. The newly configured scopes also feature bolder engravings on the elevation and windage turrets for quick identification and changes.
MSRP for the 3-12x56 with Ballistic Stop is $1,149.99, while the 3-12x44 with Ballistic Stop comes in at $849.99.
Last, Zeiss backs all Conquest V4 models with the company’s Limited Lifetime Transferable Warranty and its Five-Year No-Fault Policy.
Hunt Ready
Zeiss sent me a Conquest V4 3-12x44 with Ballistic Stop to evaluate. It struck me as a more traditional hunting scope, with the uncluttered and non-illuminated Zeiss #20 plex reticle. It’s the type of reticle made to get onto target quickly especially for the hunter who really knows his or her rifle and its ballistics and may need to take that quick shot out to 300 yards or so.
The images I saw through the scope were extremely clear, the edges between different colored objects cut sharp and well defined. A lever built into the magnification ring provided perfect leverage for adjusting the magnification settings, and the diopter really focused my eye on the targets.
First Shots
To test out the scope, I mounted the V4 onto a Ruger SFAR chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. This model SFAR featured a 20-inch barrel, a Magpul PRS Lite butt stock, a free-floating handguard with M-LOK attachment slots, and an adjustable gas block.
The customization on my SFAR is a blue Cerakote finish on the upper and lower receivers and the handguard.
For ammunition, I relied on the VOR-TX LR rounds in 6.5 Creedmoor made by Barnes Bullets. They launched 127-grain, poly-tipped bullets.
I initially zeroed my rig at 50 yards at my outdoor range. First shots impacted approximately 8 inches low and 2 to the right. Within four shots and the appropriate number of elevation and windage clicks, I was on target.
It took a few more shots to fine-tune the V4 and SFAR at my 100-yard lane, but soon I was placing respectable three-shot groups at this distance. My best groups were 1.0, .90 and .75 inches.
The Box
Time to shoot the box, an evaluation technique of the scope’s controls and its precision or lack thereof.
The process is easy enough, with the very first shot aimed at a bullseye at 100 yards. The following series of shots are still aimed at that bullseye. However, adjustments are first made to the elevation and windage turrets. The result of those adjustments, if the controls are precise enough, is that the points of impact at the target should move up, down or to the sides.
And not just move, but move up, down and over the distances equal to the elevation and windage adjustments. At 100 yards, the V4 and its MOA system should move at .25 inches per click or 1 inch per four clicks.
If the shooting is done correctly and the optic’s controls are as advertised, the bullet holes form a rough box.
Of course, the rifle, the shooter and environmental conditions are factors in such an eval, too.
On a sheet of white paper, I drew a small blue rectangle with a green cross in the left corner of the paper. I aimed my initial shot at the center of that green cross. It hit the horizontal line of the cross to the right of the center.
I gave the windage turret 12 clicks to the RIGHT, a 3-inch shift in impact. I fired. That shot hit almost exactly 3 inches to the RIGHT.
Next, I adjusted the Elevation turret 12 clicks UP for another 3-inch shift and fired. This struck the paper 3 inches above the last shot.
I pulled two of the shots that had my point of impact moving left, but the LEFT windage adjustments worked fine; the top left corner shot drilled the paper right above the original blue rectangle at 3.3 inches from the right-hand shot at that elevation.
I clicked DOWN 12 times on the Elevation turret, which took me back to the original setting, aimed for the top half of the green cross and fired. And that’s right where the Barnes bullet hit, 3.1 inches down.
Damned impressive and very precise controls.
I shot the box at 12x magnification, and the blue rectangle, green cross and the bullet holes popped nicely.
Hunter Focused
Obviously, said Kyle Brown, director of marketing for Zeiss Consumer Products, hunters are going to be the prime customer base for these two reconfigured V4 rifle scopes.
“While it may not have tons of features and knobs to twist and turn, the 3-12x44 is a high-performance scope intended to support hunting across all American landscapes,” Brown said. “The magnification range takes care of the hunter from the deep woods with a 3x setting, and to open prairie and grain fields with a 12x setting.”
He suggested that salespeople also point out the 90% light transmission rating of both scopes.
“That high level of light transmission is beyond useful when hunting early morning and late twilight minutes, exactly when game tends to be most active,” Brown noted.
The clean, uncluttered reticle is another hunting asset that should be stressed.
Of course, the Zeiss Ballistic Stop feature needs attention and some explanation, too.
“The Ballistic Stop allows the hunter to take more advantage of the scope’s real potential to take and make more precise shots at ranges of 300 to 450 yards,” Brown said. “It provides that an immediate and sure zero setting is at the ready, even in the dark. However, the same system allows the hunter to go ahead and adjust for those extended shots beyond 200 yards without the need to hold over with guesstimates.”
Let your customers know that the elevation turret allows the hunter to dial in the exact adjustment necessary to make a clean shot, at distance.
Have a T8 Torx head screw drive on hand to remove the top of the Elevation turret and expose the Ballistic Stop mechanism. Show the customer how to set that stop. Potential customers will then have confidence they can set the stop function, which will only help generate sales.
“Also, encourage the customer to look through the scope at 6x or 8x, and compare it to a competitively priced scope on the same magnification. “If all things are equal,” Brown argued, “the Zeiss image quality should be very pronounced as ‘better’ yielding a brighter image with strong and appreciable color contrast. These are the things that help the customer see the value in our scopes prior to purchasing them.”
In Store
Zeiss typically offers its dealers in-store signage, brochures, catalogs, physical banners, digital banners, counter mats with reticle details highlighted, resolution cards for in-store optics demonstration and testing. Product highlight and detail videos are also available. Created for in-store training, these videos also work well as consumer video loops shown on in-store TVs.
Zeiss also offers a staff incentive program, where dealer salespeople earn Zeiss Points for every Zeiss product sold. Once the salesperson builds up enough points, the points are redeemable towards any products in the Zeiss lineup.
Further, Zeiss’ sales team works hard to lay out marketing and sales plans with our dealers, and co-op and Market Development Funding are important parts of that effort.
Coverage
Zeiss riflescopes regularly receive coverage in United States and Canadian shooting sports media platforms.
Brown noted that Zeiss has a very strong relationship with the Outdoor Solutions group, which holds long-range shooting schools and field to table events around the country, as well as setting up hunts for clients.
OutdoorLife.com is among the platforms that has covered the Outdoor Solutions shooting schools, designed for hunters who want to be able to take longer, ethical hunting shots. Outdoor Solutions outfits course rifles with Zeiss Conquest V4 and other Zeiss scopes.
Brown added that he sees more and more coverage regularly generated on the V4 line and the two new configurations.
“The Conquest V4 line seems to be ‘discovered’ more and more on a weekly basis,” he said. “They have built a strong reputation for optical and mechanical best-in-class performance.”
Dealer Info
The quickest way to become a Zeiss dealer is to contact the Territory (Sales) Account Manager, or TAM, for a given area, and the TAM will gladly walk the prospective dealer through the steps required to become a dealer. Zeiss does require financial verification and a few other items to verify that the business operates with integrity and will be a good partner.
Prospective dealers can call Zeiss at 800-858-6745 to connect to the specific TAM for their location.
Zeiss offers a few different dealer levels, from Silver (the entry-level dealer) up to Blue Diamond dealers that tend to stock the widest range of Zeiss products.
The majority of independent FFLs buy directly from Zeiss as long as they meet the company’s annual dealer minimum purchase requirements. Zeiss products are also available through the company’s exclusive Hunt/Shoot distributor, Bill Hicks & Co.
