Leupold Vari-x III 3.5-10 Still Good stuff?

[anothernewb]

Was given one of these over the holidays. it's just come back from leupold service. Essentially restored to new. But don't know anything much about it. Leupold has always been good stuff is about all I really know.

I know it's older, but how good are they against today's stuff? I was considering an optic for the AR.

Trying to decide if I should just slap that on it, or go for one of the newer optics. Was considering something like the vortex Viper PST II. Kinda not much of an optics guy. Oh I can read blogs all day long, and I've looked through a bazillion in the stores. But we all know that isn't the same as when it's on your rifle.

Only other scopes I have is a Crossfire II 4-12 on my 10/22 it's nice and clear on low power, but it's kinda fuzzy at max magnification (apparently that's just how those cheaper ones are), and a Bushnell elite 4500 which is really clear, on my tupperware savage xp 308, but it's always a PITA to line up my eye just right and keep it there. Think there's something wrong with it. just seems to have a really really narrow range where I can see through it.

Decisions decisions. Thoughts? jump on the LPVO bandwagon? or just mount the leupold? Swap some scopes around? I have no problem spending good money for good stuff - but I don't think I'm in the need to spend a grand+.

I tend to just use the AR for steel plates and racing my buddy shooting clay pigeons out to 220 yards (max of my local range). the 308 for plain jane deer hunting (from a stand/blind) out to similar ranges. and the 22 very occasionally these days It's mostly a safe queen (find myself using 22 pistols way more often. stretching them as far as I can) they're just plain faster to whack the occasional target of opportunity.

Total side note as well. I wonder if that LPVO is just overkill, and if I can't get more scope if I stick to a 3-9 or so for the same money.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

It's still a great piece of glass. If anyone convinces you that it's junk, I'll give you junk price for it....lol

 

[eastbank]

i have owned two for some time and have not had any problems at all, hunting them in some pretty harsh conditions, good lense caps are a must.

 

[Barnfixer]

Yes good stuff. They are bringing good money on the used market for a reason. I would love to have one of those handed over to me!

 

[gotboostvr]

They're still very good glass. Especially having just returned from the mother ship, I'm sure it's a great scope.

Now, wether or not it suits your purpose is a different question.

I know that I personally don't really care for LPVO's. I've got AR's with low power fixed scopes, and red dots and then skip to 4-12x or 4-20x

 

[jmr40]

The Vari-X III is a pretty old scope. I'm guessing it was made sometime in the 1980's or older. There is a date code stamped on it somewhere and you can look it up on Leupold's website. Normally I don't advise a scope that old on a rifle where it absolutely has to work. On a range rifle yes. Older scopes, no matter how well made, have rubber gaskets that will fail over time.

But since this one has been refurbed by Leupold that shouldn't be a problem. They did improve the glass on newer scopes, but that one should be more than adequate. I'd not have any problems with it.

 

[Varminterror]

It has been a long time since I held a Vari-X III, but I recall the transition comparing the Vari-X III to the VX-3 when it came out, with the replacement being an improvement. I WOULD give the Viper PST credit as better than the VX-3.

But as long as the purge and seals are intact on the Vari-X III, it’ll do the jobs which most guys ask of that class of optic.

 

[Walkalong]

$250/300 buys a lot better scope than a Var-X III these days, but they were good scopes, I hunted with a 2.5x8 Var-X III for years before I replaced it.

 

[tominboise]

I have a Vari-X III 3.5-10X on my primary Winchester 270 hunting rifle. It works great and I've made good shots with it out to 500 yards. No flies on the Vari-X III.

 

[redneck2]

I still have a VX-III 6.5-20x40 on my Varminter AR. I’ve got three VX-3’s. The VX-III is adequate and probably superior to most scopes on the market today, but side by side there is a noticeable improvement in the newer scopes.

 

[LoonWulf]

Ive had a few.
As others have said, i dont find them to be as good as newer options, but very functional.

Personally i prefer more top and power than most LPVs have, and dont want to carry the extra weight most of them pack on, so ive usually run "standard" power variables. I actually really like the little leupys because of the low weight.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Even though the Vari-X series are out classed (or is it out glassed) by newer ones at a similar price point, the Vari-Xs still have features like longer eye relief and smaller eye bells that some may still find beneficial. Especially compared to lower end Vortex.

That is why I still look for and prefer older Leupolds at $250 over some of the newer options around $300.

 

[Varminterror]

The VX-III is adequate and probably superior to most scopes on the market today

Adequate - for many tasks, certainly. But superior to most of the market - I choke pretty hard on that part.

 

[eastbank]

if you want a light weight rifle, why would you put a heavy hi power scope on it. i have leupolds from 2.5x-3x-4x-6x-2-7x-2.5-8x-3.5-10x for most of my hunting needs. their are uses and places for higher power scops, but not for me in woods hunting.

 

[Chuck R.]

if you want a light weight rifle, why would you put a heavy hi power scope on it. i have leupolds from 2.5x-3x-4x-6x-2-7x-2.5-8x-3.5-10x for most of my hunting needs. their are uses and places for higher power scops, but not for me in woods hunting.

I do the same. My "woods" rifles used for drives and still hunting wear 2.5-8x36 (2) and 1.25-4X.

I've got a Leupold VX3i 3.5-10x40 with the CDS on a M7 in .223 that I use for a walking varminter and my practice rifle for hunting. It works pretty well in that role. Not much larger/heavier that the 2.5-8x36s, so it's not out of place on a carbine.

Probably my biggest reason I like Leupolds is the weight and they give .mil & .Gov a heck of a discount. I've also never had an issue with one. Not quite as good as my Swarovski's, but I'd be hard pressed to tell the $1K difference hunting around here.
For my longer range hunting setups I've gone to the VX6HDs, which IMHO give my Swarovski's a run for their money.

 

[redneck2]

I still have a VX-III 6.5-20x40 on my Varminter AR. I’ve got three VX-3’s. The VX-III is adequate and probably superior to most scopes on the market today, but side by side there is a noticeable improvement in the newer scopes.

I guess the last time I compared them side by side was a number of years back, when Nikon was closing out. I was in a shop where the counter guy had IIRC, a Nikon on his AR that he was all kinds of proud of. There was significant distortion. If you’d tried to use it for prairie dogs it would strain your eyes. The other scope he had was a lower end Vortex. I was underwhelmed.

I realize Nikon is long gone so that’s no longer valid.

In any event, as I said I use the VX-III on my prairie dog rifle and it’s fine. Last time I went was four years ago. The guys I went with all had new (at that time) scopes and I’d have taken my Leupold VX-III over any of them. I doubt that any were much above base models. They tend to buy lower end products

YMMV

 

[Varminterror]

In any event, as I said I use the VX-III on my prairie dog rifle and it’s fine. Last time I went was four years ago. The guys I went with all had new (at that time) scopes and I’d have taken my Leupold VX-III over any of them. I doubt that any were much above base models. They tend to buy lower end products

Yeah, pretty much every Lincoln ever made is a nicer car than was a Dodge Neon…

The Vari-x III, newer VX-3, and still newer VX3i’s are mid-class optics among a hierarchy of models at Leupold. Put them beside a Rifleman and it shouldn’t be surprising to see the 3’s standing tall. I’m an open Nikon basher, both the company and their products, but their Monarchs and their FX Blacks were better scopes than the VX3’s - but cost far, far more too. That’s not brand favor or even a compliment, it’s just acknowledgement that companies produce various tiers of products.

So I’m not terribly certain of the point here - what do we garner from understanding that you like an older mid-tier scope than newer base models?

 

[anothernewb]

Thanks for all the input. I'm going to put the Leupold on the AR then. Since it's a pure range toy, i likely won't see as much benefit from the low light stuff or really see much effect from the new coatings. it's got a plain reticle (which I'm honestly a fan of) so I'll have to learn how to hold over for farther range shots.

will pick up a new scope for the 308. will probably look at something also in the 3-9 range, maybe one of the new leupold vx3HD ones? Guess I'll have to see what $500 gets me these days. I doubt I'll ever take a shot beyond 300 with that gun anyway. Heck, might even just trade it up for a whole new gun.

also going to move the bushnell to the Ruger since the AO might be useful on it. and I only shoot that from a bench, so finding the right eye relief won't be an issue.

Will just dump the vortex. hopefully get a few bucks out of it.

 

[nettlle]

I have owned Leupold's for decades and bought a VX-3HD this summer. A very nice scope for the money. Leupold's 3HD's received the Guns and Ammo's optic of the year award for 2022.





https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/guns-ammo-of-the-year-awards-2022/466003

 

[silicosys4]

Mine has been stellar. I have not had the opportunity to compare it directly against other high end glass, but it has been an exceptional scope for me. 50mm really pulls in the light and the glass is as clear as any other scope i've looked through and more clear than most.
The only thing I'd ask is for a more modern reticle. Honestly i'm probably going to pull it off of this rifle and use it on something else as I hate shooting this rifle and it doesn't make much sense to have such a good scope on a rifle I don't use.

Leopold made good scopes during that time. I don't know if they still do, but I have 4 or 5 leopolds from this era, VX 1's, 2's, and 3's, and they have all had good glass and have been trouble free.

 

[WVRJ]

I have more Leupolds than any other brand.I also have scopes from Vortex,Nikon,Arken,Tasco(older version of the company that made scopes in Japan)and Burris.Leupold is easily the winner in every category as far as I'm concerned.I have several Vari-X3's and VX3HD's and either one is a fine choice.Some of them were purchased over 30 years ago and haven't had to go to the doctor for anything yet.Dollar for dollar,they're one of the best values out there.