Vortex or Leupold?

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Makoman

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Looking to get my first rifle scope for hunting. Trying to decide between these two:

https://www.leupold.com/scopes/compact-scopes/vx-5hd-2-10x42mm-cds-zl2

https://vortexoptics.com/vortex-viper-pst-gen-2-2-10x32-ffp-riflescope.html?vortex_reticle=855

I had my heart set on the Leupold, but I like the fact that you also get a parallax adjustment on the Vortex. The fact that it costs less isn’t bad either as that’s extra money left over for scope mounts and rings. While I like the idea of being able to adjust parallax, I also prefer the less busy reticles on Leupolds. Is parallax adjustment that important?

Also, if I go with a “custom” built Leupold, I can specify what parallax I want. I plan to limit my shots to a max of 300 yards, with 100-150 being the norm. If I go Leupold what parallax should I specify? If I don’t go the custom route, what is the factory parallax set to?

Your help is much appreciated.
 
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Kind of an apples to oranges comparison.

Buuut for a hunting scope, I'd also take the Leupold.

The Leupold is geared more towards hunting, the Vortex is geared more towards the precision/tactical game. All around choice the Vortex would be better due to the reticle and external elevation and windage adjustments. Also 17.9 ounce compared to 26.3, so what type of hunting you're planning on doing also comes into play. Stand hunting not an issue, spot and stalk, save the weight and I'n not a huge fan of large externally adjustable turrets. For the distances you're looking at, I've never had an issue with a fixed parallax hunting scope and I've shot multiple heads of big game past the 300 mark, I also routinely whack steel with mine out to 600 yards. I have a similar Leupold VX-6HD 2-12X that I was shooting on a piece of steel at 547 this weekend. I purposely bought the 2-12X to avoid the adjustable parallex. Once less thing to have set wrong when a quick shot is required.

I'd ask the Leupold Tech guys what the parallax is set for on that scope. When I've corresponded with them in the past I've always had an answer in a day.
 
At the ranges you'd be hunting, either scope would work great. For your needs, I'd favor the Leupold for simplicity. The Vortex packs more features such as adjustable windage, adjustable parallax, and a mil or MOA reticle with matching turrets, but at 300 yards or less those features won't be adding much/any value in a hunting situation and might actually be a detriment (for example; if your windage knob gets rotated accidentally and you don't notice before taking a shot).
 
Chuck R. said:
Kind of an apples to oranges comparison.

Buuut for a hunting scope, I'd also take the Leupold.

The Leupold is geared more towards hunting, the Vortex is geared more towards the precision/tactical game. All around choice the Vortex would be better due to the reticle and external elevation and windage adjustments. Also 17.9 ounce compared to 26.3, so what type of hunting you're planning on doing also comes into play. Stand hunting not an issue, spot and stalk, save the weight and I'n not a huge fan of large externally adjustable turrets. For the distances you're looking at, I've never had an issue with a fixed parallax hunting scope and I've shot multiple heads of big game past the 300 mark, I also routinely whack steel with mine out to 600 yards. I have a similar Leupold VX-6HD 2-12X that I was shooting on a piece of steel at 547 this weekend. I purposely bought the 2-12X to avoid the adjustable parallex. Once less thing to have set wrong when a quick shot is required.

I'd ask the Leupold Tech guys what the parallax is set for on that scope. When I've corresponded with them in the past I've always had an answer in a day.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply. I just called Leupold after reading your post. The guy in tech support told me that the default parallax for VX-6 and VX-5 scopes is 150 yards. If you're able to hit steel midway to 600 with a fixed parallax of 150, that's good enough for me. I prefer simplicity as well. I'm going with a Firedot Duplex reticle, and that's about as complicated as I like to get.

Do you have a recommendation for mounts and scope rings? This is going to be going on to a Bergara bolt action.
 
I pay premiums for scopes that have basic reticles. They are getting harder to find these days. Leupold has a service where you can get the reticle changed to whatever they have available.

I had one Vortex and it just seemed less refined than Leupolds. It was a Diamondback.
 
Makoman said:
Thanks for your reply. I just called Leupold after reading your post. The guy in tech support told me that the default parallax for VX-6 and VX-5 scopes is 150 yards. If you're able to hit steel midway to 600 with a fixed parallax of 150, that's good enough for me. I prefer simplicity as well. I'm going with a Firedot Duplex reticle, and that's about as complicated as I like to get.

Do you have a recommendation for mounts and scope rings? This is going to be going on to a Bergara bolt action.
Click to expand...

Yup sometimes we forget that killing a deer at 300 and under doesn't have a lot of rocket science involved. With a lot of the standard duplex reticles the point of the lower duplex is a pretty reliable aim point, or about 7" drop with a 3000 FPS cartridge.

I used a set of medium Talley one piece lightweights, believe the Bergara is based on the REM 700 just like my Nosler M48 I just set up.
 
Hunting = Leupold, lighter, better dusk and dawn light gathering
Turret Twisting = Vortex, better turrets, heavier

My opinions but I think they are accurate. I like both companies and have both for different reasons.
 
That is quite a set up for a 1st time scope user, with an $1100-$1200 MSRP. Both are good target/tactical scopes that would certainly work for hunting. But neither are needed. Both are heavier than needed, the Vortex is 26 oz. The Leupold 17. For hunting you can find a $500 scope that weighs 11-12 oz that will do everything you need to do.

At 300 yards you don't need to twist dials. Most modern rifles shoot flat enough to need very little holdover at 300 yards. You can hold just at the top of the back or just show a little daylight between the horizontal cross hair and an animals back and get hits in the kill zone.

Parallax is something we worry about too much. As long as you get behind the scope it isn't an issue. If you don't you're looking at a max of around 3/4" aiming error at 500 yards.

The 1/2 lb weight difference alone would have me ruling out the Vortex, although I don't doubt it is a good scope. But for what you want to do a $500 VX-3i is more than enough scope.
 
jmr40 said:
That is quite a set up for a 1st time scope user, with an $1100-$1200 MSRP. Both are good target/tactical scopes that would certainly work for hunting. But neither are needed. Both are heavier than needed, the Vortex is 26 oz. The Leupold 17. For hunting you can find a $500 scope that weighs 11-12 oz that will do everything you need to do.

At 300 yards you don't need to twist dials. Most modern rifles shoot flat enough to need very little holdover at 300 yards. You can hold just at the top of the back or just show a little daylight between the horizontal cross hair and an animals back and get hits in the kill zone.

Parallax is something we worry about too much. As long as you get behind the scope it isn't an issue. If you don't you're looking at a max of around 3/4" aiming error at 500 yards.

The 1/2 lb weight difference alone would have me ruling out the Vortex, although I don't doubt it is a good scope. But for what you want to do a $500 VX-3i is more than enough scope.
Click to expand...

I was actually looking at the VX3 originally. They have a 3 to 12 power scope that would probably fit my needs more than enough, but I was planning on using this scope for boar hunting, among other things, and figured that a 2x as opposed to 3x might be better for some of the short distances at which boar are taken. What do you think?
 
I bought my Tikka .243 as a combo with a store brand 4X12x40 mounted scope. That scope was actually a pretty good, but I wanted to upgrade a bit, ( around 200 dollars ). I decided on a Vortex Diamondback 4x12x40 and now after many trips to the range and some hunting I liked it so much a bought another one for my old Savage .270. I like those Diamondbacks very much. hdbiker
 
<*(((>< said:
Hunting = Leupold, lighter, better dusk and dawn light gathering
Turret Twisting = Vortex, better turrets, heavier

My opinions but I think they are accurate. I like both companies and have both for different reasons.
Click to expand...

My opinion also.
 
Makoman said:
I was actually looking at the VX3 originally. They have a 3 to 12 power scope that would probably fit my needs more than enough, but I was planning on using this scope for boar hunting, among other things, and figured that a 2x as opposed to 3x might be better for some of the short distances at which boar are taken. What do you think?
Click to expand...

I don’t believe it would make much of a difference. I also believe a VX-3i will work fine for your stated use and distance. On the other hand if I could afford a VX-5HD I’d get one instead of a VX-3i. I don’t believe you can be over-scoped. Over or under magnified yes, but not overscoped.

If you can swing a Leica Magnus as referenced by Walkalong I’d take one over a Leupold VX-5HD. I like Leupold, have more Leupold than anything else, but a Magnus is rarefied air compared to a VX-5 or even a VX-6.
 
jmr40 said:
The 1/2 lb weight difference alone would have me ruling out the Vortex, although I don't doubt it is a good scope. But for what you want to do a $500 VX-3i is more than enough scope.
Click to expand...

This and so much more of jmr’s post is what I too would advise. A VX-3 is plenty for what you’re looking at and I’ll go 1 step further and say you might consider either a Leupold or Burris that tops out around 10x. Spend the difference on good binos to glass with.

For rings, and my “favorite” is always in flux, Burris Signature, Talley, Warne, TPS in random order. All of those have worked well for me which leaves only personal preference as the deciding factor. If pressed, I would encourage you to choose Burris with inserts for a first time user and read the instructions carefully no matter who’s you choose. Throw in a torque wrench meant for the job while you’re at it, the last thing you want is a damaged scope. THR has a number of excellent posts detailing mounting that I would encourage you to read.
 
I have Leupy scopes on my hunting rifles and Vortex Viper PSTs and Razors on my Precision rifles. Both are superb scopes with industry leading customer service and warranties. For compact scopes, I use the Leupy VX-3 2.5-8x36...for shots at CPX2 game within 400 yards, that's all you'll need. I have these scopes on my Ruger No. 1A and my Ruger 77 RSI. These setups are great lightweight, compact stalking rifles and I don't take hunting shots farther than 350-400 yards.

As to rings, I like Leupy STD bases and rings as they have a windage adjustment on the rear ring that allows you to zero your rifle while leaving the scope's windage on factory mechanical zero. If you have irons on your rifle, as both my Rugers do, you might also consider Leupy QR (Quick Release) bases and rings. I used this setup on my old .375 H&H Mag that had express sights and used both a 1.2-4x20 and a 3-9x40 scope depending on what I was hunting.

Good luck and good shooting.
 
two of my medium game rifles have 2.5x8-36 leupold scopes on them and I shot two prong horns out west the other year. one at 280 yrds and one at 310 yrds both one shot kills with the rem 700 sa in 7mm08, both shot prone with a harris bipod with a 200 yrd zero and with 10 clicks elevation dialed it for the shots.
 

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Do yourself a favor and get a fixed 6x Leupold. Or Nikon. Spend the $$ you saved on ammunition.
 
I would pick Leupold of your choices but shop around take a good look at Burris scopes they are very good and same forever warranty
 
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