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Leupold VX6 of Conquest HD5

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vaultman View Drop Down
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    Posted: July/17/2015 at 23:02
I am wanting a scope with long range (big game not varmint) power. I have been told by everyone that lives near me (in the NW) that Leupold VX6 3-18 is the way to go. Is the Conquest HD5 comparable? I like my old school conquest better than my VX3. I have a feeling I will like the HD5 better than the VX6, but I was curious what others thought.

The other (deal breaker) thing would be if the HD5 did not have a system comparable to the CDS of Leupold. I am capable of long range, and have used the CDS system and liked it, but still my eye can the Conquest reticle better. So if I could get a Conquest HD5 with a dial reticle would that be comparable to the VX6 CDS?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sgt. D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/18/2015 at 08:27

I was hoping to see some replies by now but I think you may not find many Conquest fans. You speak well of your "old school Conquest" so I suspect you may have got one of those rare "good ones". I was surprised to hear you liked it over the VX3 but as stated you must have a good one. The Conquest has been a Large disappointment to most of us Ziess owners and has caused us to stop even looking at them for improvement. I do hope someone has tried the HD5 and can give you some solid comparison. I'd like to know myself. Not knowing your budget and what "long range" you have in mind I'd play it safe and get the VX6. Good Luck with it.

Welcome to the OT!

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote vaultman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/18/2015 at 09:01
My 'old conquest' is only about 10 years old. So not really old, by any means, but I think older then thier latest models. I am surprised to hear that some are disappointed with zeiss. Last time I really considered buying good optics, zeiss and the conquest was told to me to be top notch. And I have found my conquest to be great.

I am looking forward to some replies too.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JLud Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/18/2015 at 10:34
I thought the Conquest was loved....the Terra not loved (have never looked at Terra but from what I have heard and read, have 2 conquests that I like).

I have a VX3 2.5-8 and I will say to me I like that scopes performance a bit better than the 3-9 conquest I have.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/18/2015 at 10:40
Oh, I love the older Conquest's. Not sure if they changed or not.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JGRaider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/18/2015 at 10:43
Sgt D, please explain to us how the Conquest has been such a disappointment.  That's a new one on me. 

OP, I have the 3-18 VX6 CDS and love it.  It, along with the 2-12x42 are two of the easiest scopes to get behind (friendly eyebox) of anything I've ever used, and they have exceptional glass to boot.  I also find the duplex reticle to be the best one available as well.  When the wind cooperates, the CDS system is almost cheating. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote vaultman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/18/2015 at 16:10
Originally posted by JGRaider JGRaider wrote:

...When the wind cooperates, the CDS system is almost cheating. 


It is pretty awesome. And I can use every advantage I can get. Wink
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sgt. D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/18/2015 at 22:36
I was on my second Ziess Diavari when they came out with the Conquest and was eager to see what they had come up with. Expecting (hoping) to be able to get top performance for half or less the $$. Not willing to jump into big dollar scopes before they have been out for a while. I waited to see what kind of reviews they were getting. It didn't take long to see that they had taken drastic steps to compete with lower budget scopes. I certainly understand the objective because forking out 18 to 2,800.00 bucks is no easy task. Unfortunately even what they were charging for the Conquest left it lacking in known Ziess performance. For the same money or less you could get scopes with much better glass and coatings and better turrets. I never bothered to buy one but I didn't need to. The number of disappointed and dissatisfied customers coming in the shop made it very clear that the Conquest was very far from the Ziess experience we were use to. But, don't take it that I am bashing Conquest owners. If anyone has one that has served them well, That's great. My goal for my friends and customers and myself is to be happy with scope performance and durability whatever it may be. I simply caution anyone looking. That if you are expecting Diavari quality in the Conquest you are gonna be disappointed. I have heard it said more than once and have to agree. If you want Conquest performance you are better off getting a Nikon Prostaff and put the rest of the money back in savings. And that is a compliment for Nikon. The Prostaff is the best bang for the buck out there right now. When customers asked for suggestions in the Conquest pricing I recommend Meopta, Nikon and Leupold. I have hands on experience with them and except for the rare defect they have consistently stood well for themselves.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/18/2015 at 23:37
Thats an interesting opinion. The 3-9x conquest a few years back when it sold for 3 to 400 was thought by many to be one of if not the best scope optically in its price range. I own(ed) quite a few scopes in that price range and always thought the conquest was excellent. Many members here just loved them

I have honestly never read or heard anyone complain about the conquests like that. I always thought it obvious based on the proce that they are not in the same league as diavari scopes. But that they were designed to compute with VX3's and 4200's and similar.

But everyone's eyes are different that is for certain.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2015 at 02:39
Have to say I'm surprised at the negative reports on the HD5 and somewhat happy as I was considering one for my 300 WM. I found a fantastic deal at SWFA on a Leica ER 2.5-10 x 42 and went with that. The Leupold VX6 was also on the radar but it didn't have any hydrophobic coatings and considering the cost of all of them, I wasn't willing to make the compromise to not have them for the purchase.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2015 at 08:14
Originally posted by Sgt. D Sgt. D wrote:

I was hoping to see some replies by now but I think you may not find many Conquest fans. You speak well of your "old school Conquest" so I suspect you may have got one of those rare "good ones". 


I may well have to reconsider our friendship after reading this, Sarge. You may have just forced me to "unlike" you......Big Grin 
Kidding, of course. 

I'm still shocked over the fact that Zeiss discontinued the 3-9x and the fixed 4x Conquest's. I even had a Conquest 3.5-10x fail and I still love them....
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2015 at 09:38
I can't honestly say I've heard complaints about the original Conquests either, especially the 3-9 x 40 model. I thought those things sold like hotcakes.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2015 at 10:52
The Conquest fixed 4x was a dandy too.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2015 at 11:20
For a while, those were selling for a premium on secondary markets Mark. Looks like Meopta resurrected the Conquest 3-9 x 40 with their badge on them.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2015 at 11:57
Originally posted by Roy Finn Roy Finn wrote:

For a while, those were selling for a premium on secondary markets Mark. Looks like Meopta resurrected the Conquest 3-9 x 40 with their badge on them.

A lot of rimfire shooters liked the 4x. 

Meopta had a hand in the Conquest all along, right? 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sgt. D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2015 at 12:00

Guess I have to sum it up to the region or circles we work or live in. I know a time when I thought that anyone who would spend 500.00 or more on a rifle scope was either insane or just had more money than since. After I saw how far in quality and performance the Ziess was over what I was using I had to eat a lot of crow. Taught me to rethink most of what I had believed. And when I joined the OT I had another great awakening concerning the workings of high end scopes. I give a lot of that credit to Ilya. I am glad to see that I have only seen part of the story with the Conquest. I'm not ready to recommend it yet but I take your endorsement in very high regard.

Mark you cut me to the quick!!

But in all seriousness, The fact that you have good experience with them will cause me to be far more open minded from here out.

Glad to see this thread take off. Vaultman will have food for thought, and that is the goal.

Salute!



Edited by Sgt. D - July/19/2015 at 12:12
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!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2015 at 12:07
Originally posted by cheaptrick cheaptrick wrote:

Originally posted by Roy Finn Roy Finn wrote:

For a while, those were selling for a premium on secondary markets Mark. Looks like Meopta resurrected the Conquest 3-9 x 40 with their badge on them.


A lot of rimfire shooters liked the 4x. 

Meopta had a hand in the Conquest all along, right? 


I believe most of the Conquest was in fact a Meopta product.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote vaultman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2015 at 17:29
Originally posted by Roy Finn Roy Finn wrote:

I can't honestly say I've heard complaints about the original Conquests either, especially the 3-9 x 40 model. I thought those things sold like hotcakes.


They were selling like hotcakes when I bought mine 10 years ago. Everyone said they were the best in their price range (at about $400) and better than a lot of $500 and $600 scopes.  And my experience with mine would make me agree.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/20/2015 at 09:47
Yes, Meopta manufactured the optics of the original Zeiss Conquest scopes -- at least the lens elements, and maybe other internal components -- to Zeiss specs. Zeiss manufactured the tube and other mechanical components and did the assembly in the US.

I was and remain a big fan of the original Zeiss Conquest scopes, and I haven't heard of many people being dissatisfied with them. For the price, I think they were about the best value in scopedom, considering 3X zoom range. My only real gripe about them is the fact that some were excessively long and heavy compared to competing scopes with the same zoom range and objective size, and I wish they didn't use plastic turret knobs and turret caps.

I have no experience with the Conquest HD5 scopes outside of looking through them at trade shows inside buildings. I don't particularly care for the Terra series scopes at all. I've never seen any of the new Conquest DL scopes, but I've heard they're similar to the now-discontinued Duralyt series. I like the Duralyt scopes pretty well, when evaluated based on the prices you can get them for now, not original retail. I very much like all of the Victory series scopes; they're superb. Overall, I'm a Zeiss fan. I wouldn't choose any of their scopes for a hard core precision LR rig where I planned to twirl knobs for drop correction, but for hunting where you leave the turrets capped and work within MPBR, they're awesome.

As with any other scope, you should evaluate the different series based on what other competing scopes are available in their respective price ranges. I think some of Zeiss's lower end scopes are unfairly judged against Zeiss's flagship stuff and the Zeiss mystique, not based on competing scopes at similar price point.

The Leupold VX-6 series scopes are also very good, and they hold their own very well against anything in the same price bracket, IMO.
Ted


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/20/2015 at 10:59
I never cared for the higher power Conquest's I fooled with. The 3-9x, fixed 4x, and the 3.5-10x were the pick of the litter IMHO. 
Not saying they are "bad", but I just never considered the 4.5-14x and the 6.5-20x MC's worth the money. 

As Ted mentioned, the plastic turret covers and knobs were a turn off. Are Conquest's turrets "reversed", or am I thinking of another scope??   
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