Leupold VX-II vs. VX-3

VX-II vs. VX-3

  • Total voters
    28
Status
Not open for further replies.
P.B.Walsh

P.B.Walsh

Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2009
Messages
2,287
Location
Tuscaloosa,Alabama
I will be purchasing a new 1-4 power optic. I really like the Leupold customer service reputation so I will go with Leupold unless something huge happens.

So, now to my question, is the VX-3 1.5-5x20mm at $400 worth it compared to the VX-II 1-4x20mm at $300?

Is the extra $100 woth it for just a 1-4 power optic?

This scope will be used for everything, really, the is my ultility rifle, and will probally be my only centerfire for a while. I will, however, be mostly using this rifle/scope for hunting with target shooting mixed in, and the hopefully never defence senario if I am without my AR-15.

With either scope, I will probally be adding the Turkey Plex reticle, and would love some feedback on this reticle, seems like a poor mans SPR or JNG-MIL/MOA reticle.

Bottom line, is the extra $100 worth it?

Thanks,
P.B.Walsh
 
I think there are way better choices out there than both of those. Check out the Vortex lineup as well as the higher end Bushnell Elites or even the higher end Burris's. Another thing to consider is the SWFA Super Sniper line is supposed to be coming out with a smaller scope in the near future. I want to say it's a 1-4 power if memory serves me correctly but I may be off on that. I'd check into it too if you can wait until it does come out.

Either of the Leupold's should be pretty decent I just think there are other choices that are better.
 
What are you going to put it on, and what are you going to use it for?

I have a Leupold VX III in about 30mm and 1.5x to I think about 6x -- heavy duplex reticle. It's on a Ruger No. 1 in 45/70 Govt. For dense woods and Roosevelt elk.

20 mm objective is pretty "dark" -- I can't see paying a lot for a 1 - 4x 20mm unless you're doing some sort of hard-core lightweight boonie insertion in rugged terrain, where weight is crucial.

The only difference I see between the VX II and the VX III is that the latter has detents in the adjust knobs. I think too that they're 1 MOA rather than 2 MOA, so a finer adjust.

I have 5 Leupolds. Fixed 4x, couple 3 - 9x 40mm VX II, VX III, and a Mark 4. I'm pretty bias. It's a local cult product, and considered top of the line. Customer Service is excellent. Leupold will replace any of their scopes, even if you dig it up out of the pasture while you're plowing. No questions asked.

I've come to view the Leupold as a classic design and see everything else as sort of clunky -- or over priced.

That said, the "standard" scope for most hunting is 3 - 9x 40mm. The Leupold VX II in that config was running $229 new, the other day in the shop.

So, what are you going to use it for?
 
What sort of rifle and hunting conditions will you be using this scope for? I expect rather short distances since you are looking at 1-4x and 1.5-5x scopes. I have no experience with these particular scopes, but I do have several VXIIs in 2-7x, 3-9x and the 3-9x ultralight as well as VXIIIs in 2.5-8x and 3.5-10x. The VXIII is a bit better in low light conditions than the VXII, although both are pretty good. I'd want a larger objective for dawn/dusk hunting than 20mm. For deer hunting in the woods and for shorter open distances, I like the VXII in 2-7x and the VXIII in 2.5-8x. If you have the $$$, the VXIII 2.5-8x36mm scope is my current favorite for a deer rifle set up for short to medium range, by which I mean 0-300yards or so.
 
Hmmmm. AR use is different from bolt gun use because of the defensive issue. You DON't want a turkey plex . What you want is a Red Dot that is bright enough for day use at 1x. Personally I don't want mildots and such in a 1-4x AR scope.
The Millet 1-4 MIGHT work for you in that price range. The new Nikon .223 scope looks real good for less than $300 and the optics are as bright as an Trigicon or Meopta for $7-8 hundred, but lack illumination as do the Leupold and Weaver Tactical .
That said the 1.75-6x VariX 3 with heavy duplex is a VERY good hunting scope, I took 2 to Africa a couple years ago and have been using them since the 80s as I can't afford the same scope by the high buck German makers which are for sure the best to be had.
 
The VX-II is 1950's technology (2 piece tube) with slightly improved lense coatings. Spend the extra $100 and get the better 40 year old technology of the VX-3. As much as I like Leupold's (have several), they have been resting on their laurels and living off their brand name for many years now.

Don
 
So you're claiming Leupold has not improved their best lens coatings in 40 years? That's what it sounds like and it's not true. Have you even looked through a VX-3 recently?
 
This will go on a 16.5" barreled Remington 700 mainly for hunting under 300 yards.

I would love to have the new SS 1-4, but I've read on www.snipershide.com that it'll be around $750, and I'd like to stay under $500.

Gordon, this is what I was looking for, what was te problem with the Turkey Plex?

I am also considering the Nikon African 1-4 for $300, if anyone can comment on that.

Thanks,
P.B.Walsh
 
I have the 1.5-5x20 VX-III mounted on a Ruger Frontier in .308, so my situation is close to the OPs. I like the VX-III scope on this rifle, and I thought it was well worth the $360 I paid on closeout, complete with lens covers, when the VX-3 was introduced. Good compromise of exit pupil and weight for this light rifle. The scope spends most of its time set on 4X, so the 20mm objective has an exit pupil of 5. That is good enough.

The new VX-3 has better lens coatings than my VX-III, so that would be an improvement. I would spring for the 4X FX-II if I had to do it again. Nice thing about the low-power variables is you can get into the higher series for a lot less money than the 3-9X in the same series. Also true for the fixed powers and I almost opted for a fixed 4X on the Frontier. The only reason I did not is that the VX-III was less than the 4X FX-II when the scope covers were added as they were a freebie for taking the closeout VX-III.

I like Leupold scopes because the company stands behind them. They also work well enough for me. My eyes are not good enough to take advantage of the better scopes from Kahles, Swarovski, Zeiss, et al.
 
I'm a fan of both the lower power scopes and of the Leupold brand. How refreshing to see a thread where the OP isn't already convinced he needs atleast 4-14X and wants to cover every app from 25m to the horizon. Both of the mentioned scopes will serve you well out to 300 yards.
 
P.B., if your dead set on the Leupold brand, save the 100 bucks and get that 1-4X20 VXII, between the two, you will be hard pressed to tell ANY difference in usability.

The VX3 does have additional coatings on the exterior and has a coating that is said to be much better in curtailing light reflection on the inside of the objective lens, but like I said, you would have to know what to look for to tell any difference in actual use.

The 'larger' the objective, the better off you will be, it's really simple math over opinion in this arena, but you do what you think is best. The 20mm objective is smallish, comparatively, and will go dark way before, say a 25mm or better yet a 32mm or 35mm objective will.

Vortex has a 1.75-5X32mm that is of less cost, I think in the $200 range retail.
And then there is the Vortex 1-4X25mm Viper PST with its lighted, Luke Skywalker type retical(s) for the low low price of $500 Retail. Yikes! lol

The Viper 2-7X32mm has several different reticals to choose from and is around $280 Retail...I bet you can't tell the difference between 1X and 2X from the treestand at 7 in the mourning! lol

Probably one of the best sellers, in the 'low power' end of the scope market for us has been the Leupold VX3 1.75-6X32mm unit, and the Weaver Grandslam 1-5X33mm. That little bit of extra objective lens size really 'shines' in low light!

While we don't move many of the VXII's any more, the VXII 2-7X33mm would be just as good as the VX3 in this application and this unit costs less.

And don't overlook the Burris 2-7X35mm Fullfield II...while Burris quality has suffered as of late, the $200ish price tag for what you get with this particular scope, ain't all that bad!

The Weaver Grandslam 1.5-5X32 is an excellent scope, and should be had for around the $300 mark! Try on the Weaver GS 1.5-5X32, I bet you like it!
 
I voted for the vx-II. Simply because you are not looking at enough magnification for it to really make a difference. I absolutely love my vx-III but I need it for long distance work and I was willing to pay the extra bucks so that I could clearly see way out there.
 
So you're claiming Leupold has not improved their best lens coatings in 40 years?
Click to expand...

Nope, I stated that the lense coatings were "slightly improved". But the basic design of the scopes go back many, many decades. Also, I stated that I have several Leupolds and like them a lot, but there are several other optic companies out there that are doing more R&D and bringing out more current technology optics at more reasonable prices. Just calling a spade a spade.

Don
 
The new VX-3 has better lens coatings than my VX-III, so that would be an improvement
Click to expand...

Lets not get confused.

Just so everyone's on the same page, there's the old Vari-X line of scopes and the newer VX named scopes.
The old Vari-X III is equivalent to the new VX-II, the old Vari-X II is equivalent to the new VX-I, etc.
The newer VX-3 is a higher quality scope than the old Vari-X III.

Leupold basically bumped all their old scopes down one notch when the VX-3 came out.

IMO the VX-II would work just fine, but I don't have as much money as many other people. The VX-3 is definitely better, but not worth $100 more to me.

I used to hate Leupold simply because everyone around me thinks they're the best but no one could tell me exactly why they were good.
There are other cheaper alternatives, some with even more features.
However IMO Leupold still cuts the best glass unless you go for high dollar stuff. Center to edge distortion on a $200 Leupold is better than a $400 Bushnell Elite.
I'll take good center to edge distortion, decent coatings, coarse but solid wind/elev adjustments, and the Leupold warranty over crappy glass with 100 coatings and 1/8" click adjustments any day.
 
What kind of customer service does Weaver and Vortex have?

The Weaver 1-5x24mm looks a bit more promising, and the Vortex mentioned looks good also, but I hate the look of a 1-4 with a 32mm oblective, it just looks plain weird to me.

I just really like the fact that I can get M1 turrets from the Leupold custom shop, I know ya'll are going to hate on me for this, but I like that availibility to use my turrets if it's neccesary. This might be the one thing that is pushing me towards Leupold, can Weaver or Vortex do this?

Thanks, this is a great help to me,
P.B.Walsh
 
IMO there is a world of difference in the quality from a VX-II to VX-3, but both are overpriced IMO. I would strongly look into the Sightron S-II Big Sky, Vortex Viper unless you absolutely have to have a Leupold.

:)
 
The old Vari-X III is equivalent to the new VX-II, the old Vari-X II is equivalent to the new VX-I, etc.
Click to expand...

Nope. The VX-3 is nothing more than the Vari-X III with better lense coatings and dual erector springs. The VX-2 is the old Vari-X II with better lense coatings (both sides of lenses now, I believe), and click adjustments. The VX-I is the old Vari-X II essentially without improvements. Construction-wise, the VX-I and VX-2 use the same 2-piece contruction of the original Vari-X II, while the VX-3 uses the same 1-piece construction of the original Vari-X III. No new scope development, aside from improved lense coatings and adding the additional lense erector spring used in the MK-4 scopes to the VX-3, in the past 40 years.

Don
 
"Nope, I stated that the lense coatings were "slightly improved". "

Here is what you wrote. You did not mention the coatings on the VX-3, only that the technology was 40 years old - which I disagree with because it's not true.

"The VX-II is 1950's technology (2 piece tube) with slightly improved lense coatings. Spend the extra $100 and get the better 40 year old technology of the VX-3."
 
JohnBT,

So, you're saying that the Vari-X III, which has been rebranded with some embellishments as the VX-3, is not a 40 year old design? Sorry, but the Vari-X III has been around since the 1970's.

Don
 
I have to agree with USSR, not much has changed with Leupold (save for coatings which make a big difference) with the exception of their value relative to other manufacturers in the optics market. The high end Leupolds are good, but just not worth the money IMO (though I do own one). The low end Leupolds (sub VX-3 models) suffer from poor quality glass/coatings, therefore I find those to be an even worse value. The one good thing that I can say about Leupy is they exhibit exceptional CS throughout their line.

:)
 
On a hunting rifle ANY of the Leupolds are a good choice. Why fix it if it ain't broke. There are other choices in the same price range that do have clearer glass. But the Leupolds as a rule are lighter, smaller, tougher, and have much better eye relief. These are qualities that are more important than a slightly clearer lense on a hunting rifle. Any of them are good enough for hunting well beyond legal shooting light. Kinda like arguing that your car is better than mine because it will do 130 mph and mine will only do 110. While we are driving on a road with a 70mph speed limit.

All Leupolds have been upgraded recently. The new VX-3's are pretty good now compared to the older Vari-xIII's, which are good enough. The VX-2 will probably have glass just as good as the older Vari-x line. Which was the gold standard for years.

But if it were me, I'd just go with the 2-7 in the VX-2 or the 2.5-8 in the VX-3. With any scope you do lose some light with the 20mm objective. The variables starting at 2X are just as fast to use as the 1.5-4's and offer a little more light because of the 33-36mm objectives.
 
Weaver Customer service is good, as far as dealing with dealers, they should be just as good with the public.
As for the 'thickness' of the reticle...you'll have to call Weaver.

That particular model p/n 800375 has been discontinued, so if your fancy is the German 3P#4 reticle you'll have to get it from whomever has one left, like swfa! lol

The new model 'Dangerous Game' 1-5X24 p/n 849352 only comes with the Duel-X reticle.

Look around for a little better price!!
 
On a hunting rifle ANY of the Leupolds are a good choice. Why fix it if it ain't broke. There are other choices in the same price range that do have clearer glass. But the Leupolds as a rule are lighter, smaller, tougher, and have much better eye relief. These are qualities that are more important than a slightly clearer lense on a hunting rifle. Any of them are good enough for hunting well beyond legal shooting light.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

P.B.Walsh
  • Locked
  • Poll
Nikon Prostaff vs. Leupold VX-III
2
Replies
25
Views
6K
Runningman
R
F
  • Locked
Leupold VX-I vs. VX-II
Replies
9
Views
2K
R.W.Dale
R
R
  • Locked
VX-II vs. VX-III ? Worth the price difference?
Replies
5
Views
863
NMshooter
N
U
  • Locked
Leupold turkey plex on a rifle?
Replies
7
Views
2K
unlearned69
U
M
  • Locked
Leupold VX-II
Replies
7
Views
428
hossdaniels
H
Back
Top