I was blown away this morning with my Leupold VX2

I've got glass from $35 el-crapo scopes from WalMart that who knows/cares who makes them to Swarovski glass. My hunting guns that get used a lot seem to most consistently get Leupold. Their VX3 line is affordable and adequate for making shots from dark thirty to dark thirty to my eyes. Their turrets are consistent enough to make sighting in easy and hold well enough that I don't really ever need to make changes from year to year, despite always checking zero. The scopes have a great warranty program and if/when my needs change I can ALWAYS sell a well cared for Leupold second hand for at least 70% of a comparable model's retail. There are absolutely higher quality scopes out there. There are absolutely scopes that can get it done for cheaper. However, all things considered I think Leupold VX2's/VX3's in the $350-600 range depending on model/features really offer a pretty strong value for the average hunter's needs at a pricepoint that most people can actually afford to go buy.

Of my 4 favorite hunting scopes of all time, 3 are Leupolds:

Leupold VX2 3-9x33 EFR for rimfires and air rifles, its even better with a custom shop mil-dot reticle and flip covers
Leupold VX3 1.75-6x32 for centerfires for up close...its TINY, LIGHT, and has a HUGE field of view on low making those shorter 10-25 yard shots when they sneak up on you and surprise you both quick and easy. Crank it up to 4-6x on longer shots and it can easily help you place bullets out to 400 yards on typical medium game animals. To my eyes, it can gather enough light to get me beyond dark thirty.
Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36 for the same reasons as above but with slightly better light transmission at the higher powers and slightly more magnification that's helpful on mountain guns
Swarovski Z6 1.7-10x42 - man this scope is phenominal in all regards. It's a little larger and heavier than what I consider ideal but it's optics are among the best available and the power range makes it appropriate to use from 10 yards out to 1000 yards. I'm not aware of a more versatile and high quality hunting optic out there. The only downsides are its a little heavier/bulkier and pretty spendy at $1600.

When looking at this and the pricing though, the average hunter can outfit a .22 with the 3-9 EFR, a centerfire rifle with a VX3, and a muzzleloader with a VX3, put the Alumina flip covers on all of them, and quality rings on all of them for the price of a single Swarovski z6! This is where Leupold's product line really starts to shine as scopes that is pretty darn good and will marginally exceed what most people actually need a hunting grade optic to do. It's kind of hard to argue with good enough is good enough. I will trust a Leupold on my hunting guns all day long. My binoculars are Swarovski because their CL line met my needs/preferences better than anything else I could find and the higher quality glass leads to far less eye strain during extended use. I've had Swarovski scopes in the past but sold them because they didn't help me kill animals any better, although they were absolutely higher quality. Just my opinion.

I had a Z6 1.7-10x for several years. Excellent scope for sure. But i chose a hold over reticle that was to thin to see well in low light. First flaw. Second flaw, i chose a hold over reticle. Then third hold over reticle in the 2nd focal plan blow for shooting mutiple long distances. It just wasn’t capable of doing what i needed. So i sold it and ended up replacing it was a 2-12x VX6 with a nice duplex reticle that i can see in any legal hunting light. And it has a zero lock cds dial that works excellent. I got data from 100 to 800 yards on my 300 wsm and it rocks. Added alumina flip up caps and its awesome. Overall its a better optic than the Z6 for my needs. I gave up i bet less than 5% optical quality but gained so much more.

Then i bought a vx5hd with firedot and zero lock 2 turn turret for my creedmoor and it is even awesomer. I have zero regrets about selling my swaro. It was a great scope but just didn’t fit my needs as well

Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.

"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own."

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probably Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Optics Apprentice Joined: June/01/2016 Location: Old America Status: Offline Points: 70	Post Options Post Reply Quote probably Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January/04/2018 at 18:07
	all I know is that I'm glad I had my super dependable, unbreakable Leupold MK 4 ready to go the day the wounded squirrel came charging out of the aspens after me. In the tussle, I had to club it over the head a few times and then finish it off with a quick center mass shot before it got back up. THAT SCOPE STAYED TRUE TO IT'S ZERO and didn't let me down. If that had been a Zeiss, well ....... I might have been too afraid of scratching it, and might not be here to tell the tale.

gdpolk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Optics Apprentice Joined: May/05/2006 Status: Offline Points: 80	Post Options Post Reply Quote gdpolk Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January/04/2018 at 19:16
	I've got glass from $35 el-crapo scopes from WalMart that who knows/cares who makes them to Swarovski glass. My hunting guns that get used a lot seem to most consistently get Leupold. Their VX3 line is affordable and adequate for making shots from dark thirty to dark thirty to my eyes. Their turrets are consistent enough to make sighting in easy and hold well enough that I don't really ever need to make changes from year to year, despite always checking zero. The scopes have a great warranty program and if/when my needs change I can ALWAYS sell a well cared for Leupold second hand for at least 70% of a comparable model's retail. There are absolutely higher quality scopes out there. There are absolutely scopes that can get it done for cheaper. However, all things considered I think Leupold VX2's/VX3's in the $350-600 range depending on model/features really offer a pretty strong value for the average hunter's needs at a pricepoint that most people can actually afford to go buy. Of my 4 favorite hunting scopes of all time, 3 are Leupolds: Leupold VX2 3-9x33 EFR for rimfires and air rifles, its even better with a custom shop mil-dot reticle and flip covers Leupold VX3 1.75-6x32 for centerfires for up close...its TINY, LIGHT, and has a HUGE field of view on low making those shorter 10-25 yard shots when they sneak up on you and surprise you both quick and easy. Crank it up to 4-6x on longer shots and it can easily help you place bullets out to 400 yards on typical medium game animals. To my eyes, it can gather enough light to get me beyond dark thirty. Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36 for the same reasons as above but with slightly better light transmission at the higher powers and slightly more magnification that's helpful on mountain guns Swarovski Z6 1.7-10x42 - man this scope is phenominal in all regards. It's a little larger and heavier than what I consider ideal but it's optics are among the best available and the power range makes it appropriate to use from 10 yards out to 1000 yards. I'm not aware of a more versatile and high quality hunting optic out there. The only downsides are its a little heavier/bulkier and pretty spendy at $1600. When looking at this and the pricing though, the average hunter can outfit a .22 with the 3-9 EFR, a centerfire rifle with a VX3, and a muzzleloader with a VX3, put the Alumina flip covers on all of them, and quality rings on all of them for the price of a single Swarovski z6! This is where Leupold's product line really starts to shine as scopes that is pretty darn good and will marginally exceed what most people actually need a hunting grade optic to do. It's kind of hard to argue with good enough is good enough. I will trust a Leupold on my hunting guns all day long. My binoculars are Swarovski because their CL line met my needs/preferences better than anything else I could find and the higher quality glass leads to far less eye strain during extended use. I've had Swarovski scopes in the past but sold them because they didn't help me kill animals any better, although they were absolutely higher quality. Just my opinion.

Sgt. D Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: February/20/2008 Location: North Carolina Status: Offline Points: 4001	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sgt. D Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January/04/2018 at 19:21

	Take care of Soldiers, Show em how its done and do it with em, Run to the Fight & and hold your ground! I die my men go home! If you're a NCO and this ain't you. GET OUT! GOD BLESS AMERICA!

supertool73 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11053	Post Options Post Reply Quote supertool73 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January/04/2018 at 21:54
	I had a Z6 1.7-10x for several years. Excellent scope for sure. But i chose a hold over reticle that was to thin to see well in low light. First flaw. Second flaw, i chose a hold over reticle. Then third hold over reticle in the 2nd focal plan blow for shooting mutiple long distances. It just wasn’t capable of doing what i needed. So i sold it and ended up replacing it was a 2-12x VX6 with a nice duplex reticle that i can see in any legal hunting light. And it has a zero lock cds dial that works excellent. I got data from 100 to 800 yards on my 300 wsm and it rocks. Added alumina flip up caps and its awesome. Overall its a better optic than the Z6 for my needs. I gave up i bet less than 5% optical quality but gained so much more. Then i bought a vx5hd with firedot and zero lock 2 turn turret for my creedmoor and it is even awesomer. I have zero regrets about selling my swaro. It was a great scope but just didn’t fit my needs as well
	Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack. "A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own."