Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44 Ballistic Turret Riflescope
- Objective Lens Diameter: 44 mm
- Night vision: No
- Material Type: Aluminum
- Item Weight: 1 pound
Last refreshed Jun 22, 2026 · Based on the Amazon listing and published specifications, not hands-on testing.
A light, one-inch scope that owners with several premium brands in their safe still reach for, especially where tube length and low mounting height matter more than maximum zoom range.
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ASIN: B002SA1LHQModel: Z5Category: Rifle Scopes
Overview
The Z5 3.5-18x44 BT plex is Swarovski's mid-weight, one-inch-tube hunting scope with a ballistic turret and adjustable parallax. Owners who also run Zeiss, Nikon, Nightforce and Kahles glass rank it among the clearest images in their collection, at under a pound.
Swarovski's Z5 line trades the widest possible zoom ratio for a genuinely light, one-inch-tube build, which is the point: a slimmer tube means standard rings instead of tall ones, and the whole scope stays under a pound on rifles like a 7mm Rem Mag setup.
- 3.5-18x zoom on a one-inch main tube
- Waterproof to 4 meters
- External parallax and elevation adjustment
- Ballistic turret with plex reticle
Who it's for
Suits hunters and long range shooters who want a compact, mountain friendly scope that mounts low without extension rings, including magnum caliber owners who need it to hold zero under heavy recoil. Not the scope for shooters chasing the widest zoom ratio or an illuminated reticle, since the plex reticle here has no illumination.
Pros and cons
- Sits low on the rifle without extension rings
- Under 1 lb, easy to carry on long hunts
- Held zero under 300 Win Mag recoil per one owner
- Simple plex reticle for fast target acquisition
- One owner found the glass not dramatically clearer than rival premium brands
- No illuminated reticle
Performance notes
The 3.5-18x zoom on a one-inch tube keeps weight down versus 30mm designs, and the shorter turret housing lets it sit closer to the barrel without raised rings. Parallax and elevation adjust externally for range work, and the tube's added length gives extension free mounting room on long magnum actions.
Specifications
| Brand | Swarovski |
|---|---|
| Model | Z5 |
| Dimensions & fit | |
| Objective Lens Diameter | 44 mmhigher than 62% of 309 rifle scopes |
| Item Weight | 1 poundlower than 69% of 238 rifle scopes |
| Construction & materials | |
| Material Type | Aluminum |
| Color | Black |
| Compatibility & installation | |
| Compatible Devices | Rifle |
| Included components | |
| Included Components | Riflescope |
| Other details | |
| Night vision | No |
| Sport Type | Hunting |
Closest rivals on specs
Frequently asked questions
Does the Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44 need extension rings?
No.
Will it hold zero on a hard recoiling rifle?
One owner running it on a 300 Win Mag reports it has held zero through magnum recoil, which was his main purchase criterion.
Is this the illuminated version?
No. This Z5 uses a fixed plex reticle with no illumination.