Leupold vs. Tract or ??

[Sniper66]

I have the opportunity to get this scope through a buying program for 55% of MSRP and with shipping will come in under $500. I'm upgrading some of my choice of scopes and would look to put this on a new Bergara B-14 17HMR, a new caliber Bergara is releasing this year. Now I know that is a lot of scope for a 17HMR. I'll use it for prairie dogs mostly.
My question for you guys........My real preference is for a Tract Toric 3-15X42 T-Plex. But, it costs $750. I like the T-Plex reticle on the Tract better than the fine duplex on the Leupold. I like the magnification range better on the Tract. I have several Leupold scopes and have had others so I know what I'm getting with Leupold. I have 3 Tracts and like them a lot. I'm just having trouble passing up a deal like this.
SO.....what other scope do you guys like in the $500-$750 range for a 17HMR mostly shooting prairie dogs <200 yds??

 

[Sniper66]

OOPS.....forgot the link to the Leupold scope\. Here it is!
https://www.leupold.com/vx-3hd-6-5-20x40-efr-cds-tzl2-fine-duplex

 

[Sniper66]

And the link to the Tract

https://tractoptics.com/all-products/toric-uhd-3-15x42-t-plex-rifle-scope

 

[LoonWulf]

Meopta meopros....

Im not a huge leupold fan, but id really like to look thru one of those vx3hds as the newest leupys have looked better to me than any before them.

Tracts where my next "big" scope purchase is going....I might actually sell one of my meopta HTRs as id rather have the 3-15x42 on my relatively light 6.5cm 700.

 

[Skylerbone]

The VX-5HD looks very good to my eye though I can hardly say I’d know the demands of a prairie dog scope. My protocol (when I take time to follow it) is to determine the reticle I want for my purpose then find scopes that offer it. That’s when other variables like features and price kick in.

Never looked through a Tract. Meopta makes some very nice optics, and a brand you may not know, Clearidge offers their XP5 line of scopes at competitive prices. http://www.clearidgeoptics.com/ultra-xp5-s/1819.htm

 

[Sniper66]

Thanks for the Clearidge tip. I considered them for awhile, especially since they have the German #4 reticle I want. The Tract offers a T-Plex reticle which is similar to the German #4. I like the magnification range of the Tract better for my purpose. I have 3 Tract scopes and they match or exceed the quality of scopes costing twice as much. The only reason I haven't jumped on the Leupold at that price is because of the reticle and the front focus instead of side focus. I have both on a Leupold and they work just fine on my 22Hornet. BUT.......you guys understand when it's just not quite right, eh?

 

[LoonWulf]

Thanks for the Clearidge tip. I considered them for awhile, especially since they have the German #4 reticle I want. The Tract offers a T-Plex reticle which is similar to the German #4. I like the magnification range of the Tract better for my purpose. I have 3 Tract scopes and they match or exceed the quality of scopes costing twice as much. The only reason I haven't jumped on the Leupold at that price is because of the reticle and the front focus instead of side focus. I have both on a Leupold and they work just fine on my 22Hornet. BUT.......you guys understand when it's just not quite right, eh?

Now that I've gotten used to having side focus and some form of graduated reticle I'm loath to give them up.

I do still use scopes with both features but they've been moved to guns that I use far less often or that I don't adjust much.

 

[CraigC]

The Leupold but in the 4.5-14x. When I was shooting varmints with the .17 out to 250yds, I never went above 8x.

 

[BreechFace]

My CZ 457 17HMR wears a Burris Timberline 4.5-14x32 that works very good for the uses of the 17HMR. It’ll shoot as good as the non-match 17HMR ammo lot allows. What we really need is match options for ammo.

I don’t have any experience with Tract but really like Leupold products. I don’t think you need much more magnification than 10 on the 17HMR. I don’t find myself going over 10 very often on my Burris.

 

[Sniper66]

I have two Anschutz 1517MPRs and had a Leupold VX3 3.5-10X on one and a Burris FF II 4.5-14X on the other. Got tired of fighting the extremely stiff adjustments on the Leupold. Almost have to have pliers to turn the thing, so it is in a box and replaced with a Tract 22Fire 4-12X and it is much clearer. Adjustments are crisp, clean, and audible.....for half the money BTW. The Burris has good glass, but adjustments are imprecise and the rubber ring on the rear focus comes off. I hate mediocre products. Looks like I'll be buying the Tract; they are fantastic.