Swarovski DS 5-25x 52mm P

A rifleman's optics.

- John Haviland

Accurate long-range shooting started its escalation when laser rangefinders showed up, followed by rangefinders that computed ballistic information and relayed it to scopes to provide a correct aiming point. Now all those features are in a riflescope.

Swarovski’s new dS 5-25x 52mm P scope includes a laser rangefinder and ballistic computer that, with a push of a button, measures exact distance to a target and immediately displays an aiming point to compensate for bullet drop at that distance.

The dS (digitalSmart) is fairly well shaped like a traditional scope. However, integrating all those electronics and optics requires space, so the dS weighs 38.4 ounces and measures 15.87 inches in length with a 40mm main tube.

Looking through the dS without the reticle illuminated reveals plain crosswires thickened at the ends. It can be aimed like a regular reticle. Elevation and windage adjustment dials are located under caps on the objective bell. A Torx wrench for removing the caps and an adjustment tool for turning the dials are stored inside the battery compartment. Screws are held captive in the caps, so there is no worry of losing them.

The distance for which the dS is sighted in and other information in customary or metric measurements are entered into the Swarovski dS Configurator app downloaded to a smartphone. The app stores one ballistic information profile selected from a large selection of listed factory loads, from A-Square to Wolf.

A handload can also be entered. In my case, the dS was mounted on a Cooper Firearms Raptor .22-250 Remington shooting handloads consisting of Berger 64-grain FB Varmint bullets hitting on aim at 100 yards with a muzzle velocity of 3,325 fps. Also entered are elevation, temperature, air pressure, sight height above the bore and display time of 40, 60 or 80 seconds. Ninety-degree wind drift for 5 to 10 mph, or 10 to 20 mph, can be selected for the entered load.