ZEISS LRP S3 4 25X50

Back in January 2023 we looked at the Zeiss LRP S5, which is Zeiss’s take on a high-end dedicated longrange- precision scope, specifically for the PRS market. Well, they’re back with a cheaper alternative that’s clearly aimed at the expanding .22 LR LRP market. Don’t get me wrong, this scope would sit perfectly on any centrefire, but its feature set will certainly appeal to the rimfire audience.

Not surprisingly it’s an FFP scope, as that’s the preferred format for most PRS shooters. Like its counterpart the S5, it also boasts a 34mm tube; that’s the driving force behind its first major selling point a whooping 46.5 Mrad of elevation, which is huge and certainly the biggest figure I’ve seen so far on any dialler. But most importantly of all it tracked beautifully during testing.

The next major USP is the price, at just £2,100 compared to £3400 for the LRP S5 5-25x56. What accounts for the price difference? Well, this scope is made entirely in Japan, using Japanese ED glass, as opposed to the all-German manufactured S5 with its Schott glass optics.

Both scopes share the same ZF-MRi (Mrad) or ZF-MOAi MOA rets, depending on your angular preference. And both offer the typical Christmas tree ret you’d expect from a dedicated dialler. It’s a nice reticle and not overly cluttered.

As you’d expect from Zeiss, the glass is exceptional with the S3 delivering the same 90% light transmission, via its T-Star coated lenses, as its bigger brother. Japanese glass it may be but it’s a lovely clear image, pin sharp edge to edge with plenty of brightness and contrast and zero chromatic aberration. The Schott glass of the S5 may add some kudos and maybe superior quality but the image quality of the S3 is nevertheless superb.

Illumination however is very different between the two. The S3 uses five levels of illumination in red and green, 10 in total. With power off between each setting, it works well, but I would much prefer a more gradual transition of 10 power levels in a single colour. It does have auto shutoff which is a nice touch.

In terms of build quality and design it’s all good, as you’d expect from Zeiss. A suitably stiff, but not lockable, dioptre plus three position options for the included throw lever, so it’s ideal for left- or right-handed shooters, allowing the lever to stay well clear of the bolt.

The turrets follow the same chunky style as the S5 with an easy to set up zero stop on the elevation turret and a lockable windage. Rotation figures top and bottom so you’ll always know where you ZEISS LRP S3 4 25X50 are in terms of dial. As mentioned earlier it tracks perfectly, which is obviously vital for long-range rimfire and the clicks themselves are both clean and distinct.

The parallax adjustment is actually better on the S3 compared to its more expensive counterpart, which I found far too stiff. It uses a similar graphic rather than numerical design on the dial, which I find slightly odd, as I’m sure distances would be more useful given the high-pressure time restraints of PRS shooting.

So, which one would I buy? To be honest with the S3 coming in over 1k cheaper than the S5 I’d go with the S3. It’s a superb scope in terms of both design and optics and bucket loads of elevation mean it’s perfect for PRS, especially on a rimfire.

TECH SPECS

• Magnification 4 – 25 ×
• Effective lens diameter 50 mm
• Light transmission 90%
• Exit pupil diameter 7.1 – 2.0 mm
• Twilight factor 11.7 – 35.4
• Field of view at 100m (yds) 9.5 – 1.6 m (28.5 – 4.8 ft)
• Diopter adjustment range + 3.0 | – 3.0 dpt
• Eye relief 80 – 90 mm (3.0 – 3.5 ")
• Parallax setting 15 m – ∞ (16.4 yds – ∞)
• Vertical adjustment range at 100 m 46.5 MRAD | 160 MOA
• Lateral adjustment range at 100 m 17.5 MRAD | 60 MOA
• Adjustment per click at 100 m 0.1 MRAD | 0.25 MOA
• Weight 1,040g
• Length 340 mm (13.4 ")
• Centre tube diameter 34 mm 
• Contact ZEISS.co.uk