Comparing Leupold VXR & VX3

[another pake]

Looking to scope another rifle. I currently have a Leupold VXR 3-9 on a gun and am happy with it.

I am wondering what the differences are in the VXR series and a VX3?
Obviously the VXR has an illuminated dot reticle, and it has a 30mm tube.

The VX3 is a 1" tube, but is the glass similar, the same, better coatings, what?

Multi purpose gun. Hunting to 200. Targets from 100 - 500. Tired, old eyes.

Thanks for your input!

 

[redneck2]

I'm in exactly the same situation. I have a VXR on my deer rifle and a VX-3 (both 4-12x40) on my CZ .22. Supposedly the VX-3 is better than the VXR according to Leupold. I think they're both exceptional and I can't tell the difference in quality even side by side

FWIW, I am 64 YO.

 

[another pake]

Thanks for your response redneck2. What part of Northen Indiana? I migrated from there about 30 years ago. Still have kids near Chesterton.

I expected a few more responses to this question actually but I guess not many folks know the differences. After finding less than enlightening answers even at a few gun shops I dropped them a line at Leupold. I'll post their response if I get one.

 

[redneck2]

I used to live in Valparaiso. Moved 45 minutes east, south of South Bend. Go thru Chesterton all the time.

I doubt that too many guys have had a lot of experience with the two side by side. I called Leupold and asked them the very same question before I bought the VXR. What they told me was that there is a very little difference, but if the guy told me what it was, I couldn't figure it out from what he said.

FWIW, I consider the performance of the two to be equal. And the Firedot is awesome.

 

[another pake]

World full of coincidences.

I happened to get the VXR first, and like you I love it.

I might just just get the VX3 for this next one. It's going on a project gun that has turned out to be a shooter, so I'm finishing it up for one of my sons.

 

[Coltdriver]

Each scope manufacturer emphasizes the filtering of a particular part of the visible light spectrum for a particular application.

Generally speaking and from what I know, Leupold does incredible things in the part of the visible spectrum where the frequency allows in yellow light.

The German and Austrian scopes work more in the blue portion of the spectrum. So they work at night really well. It is common to hunt at night or after sunset in Europe.

But the yellow portion of the spectrum is very good for early morning and just before sunset which is where we hunt in North America.

 

[Berserker]

You can't have custom dials built for the VR. May or may not care.

 

[another pake]

Leupold's Response

Earlier I said that I had asked Leupold engineers, via e-mail, what the differences were between VXR and VX3 series scopes. Here is their response.

"Pake,

The VX-3 will have a higher prescription of glass and upgraded lens coatings. The VX-3 would be crisp, clearer and have better contrast as well as a slight increase in light transmission numbers at 96% vs. the VXR's 94%.

Regards,"

So there you have it.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

I thought I read somewhere that the coatins used on the vxr is the same as the vx2

 

[Sniper66]

I don't have the VXR, but have and have had many Leopold scopes. Last one I bought is a VX 3 3.5-10X and is the best scope I own. It is also better than all my scopes historically and I have owned many different brands.