Zero Compromise Optics continues its dominance among the top-tier of Precision Rifle Series (PRS) Open Division competitors for the second year running. According to a recent survey conducted by precisionrifleblog.com, which polled the top 200 ranked shooters, ZCO scopes are the preferred choice for those demanding perfect tracking, unwavering zero retention, a forgiving eyebox, crystal-clear glass in difficult lighting, and the ability to spot impacts under intense time pressure.
Zero Compromise Optics leads the field with 45 of the top 200 competitors, capturing the largest share of shooters ranked in the top 25. This relative newcomer to the optics market has quickly built a reputation for exceptional optical clarity, precise tracking, and outstanding mechanical consistency. The ZCO 5-27x56 is the most popular model overall among pros, though the newer ZCO 8-40x56 is gaining traction, particularly favored by two of the top 10 shooters. A noteworthy feature for many pro shooters is the option for a 10-mil turret, simplifying precise dialing under match pressure, even with its generous 35 mils of total elevation travel.
Leupold remains a formidable presence among the elite, with 18% of top-ranked pros running their scopes, including two in the top 10. The Leupold Mark 5HD line, specifically the 5-25x56 and 7-35x56 models, is highly valued for its performance-to-price ratio. At a street price of $2,199, it is roughly half the cost of some other premium optics on the list, which often exceed $3,500. Additionally, the Mark 5HD 5-25x56 stands out as the lightest option, weighing just 30 ounces compared to the typical 36-39 ounces for other high-end optics, while still providing solid tracking and excellent reticle options.
Beyond ZCO and Leupold, Tangent Theta maintains a strong foothold among elite competitors, showing robust representation across the top 50 shooters alongside Leupold. Nightforce, despite a decline in overall presence in recent years, still boasts the largest representation in the top 10, narrowly surpassing ZCO, Leupold, and Tangent Theta by a single shooter. Kahles and Vortex retain meaningful market share deeper into the field; however, neither had any shooters represented among the top 10, and Vortex had none in the top 25. The data, first reported by precisionrifleblog.com, underscores that while the market offers a wide array of capable optics, a select group of premium brands overwhelmingly dominates the highest echelons of competitive precision rifle shooting.
