Nikon Prostaff vs. Leupold VX-III

Nikon Prostaff vs. Leupod VX-III

  • Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40mm, BDC reticle, $175

    Votes: 13 43.3%

  • Leupold VX-III 2-8x36mm, TMR reticle, $559

    Votes: 17 56.7%
  • Total voters
    30
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P.B.Walsh

P.B.Walsh

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Ok, please don't flame me because I have two threads up at once. I just need this question answered. I was at one of my local spoorting goods store tonight and looked through a Leupold VX-II (~350) and a Nikon Prostaff ($175). I want to know how the Nikon stacks up against the Leupold VX-III, I know that I looked through the VX-II, but since I know that the VX-III is better I'd like ya'lls opinions on these two scopes (Nikon Prostaff and Leupod VX-III).

Which one is better in all conditions? Am I paying a premium for Leupold's name? Is Leupold's Xtended Twilight System better than the Nikon?

Leupold VX-III 2-8x36mm-
pros: Lifetime warrenty, 95+% light transmission, Leupold name (pride of ownership), better turrets, Custom Shop avalible (TMR reticle)
cons: For the price of this one scope I can buy a Nikon Prostaff and a Savage Mk II

Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40mm-
pros: Lifetime warrenty, BDC reticle, 90+% light transmission, significantly cheaper than the Leupold VX-III
cons: unsure abought light transmission vs. the Leupold VX-III, always will wonder if the Leupold would have been better

I'm willing to pay for the Leupold ($559 with the TMR reticle added, which is my most favorite reticle), and I do not want to skimp out, I've had a crappy BSA long enough and now I want something worth my money.

So hows the glass comparison? Low-light performance? Ruggedness and durabillity? Better customer service? All around best scope?

The uses for this sope will be for hunting less than 300 yards, and usually around 75 yards, I'm deer hunting.

I know that this is wordy, but please help me out. :)

Thank you in advance,
P.B.Walsh
 
Nobody's going to flame you. Your questions are valid.

Prostaff is not the top-of-the-line for Nikon. Try the Monarch if you want better performance.

Both Nikon and Leopold make good glass. For the particular Leopold you list, I do not believe (in my tiny little opinion) that the Prostaff is comparable to the VX-III. But the Prostaff is DEFINITELY worth it's price. Nikon makes a good riflescope. Get a good price on it, and you won't be sorry. Get a smokin' deal on a Leopold and you won't be sorry.
 
The Prostaff and the VX-III are two different classes of scopes. The VX-III is a much better scope, which is hardly surprising considering that it costs more than twice as much. The VX-7 is fancier still and costs even more.

So it's very difficult to compare them. If you want this scope to be for life get the VX-III as a compromise between the other two. It's a very high quality scope.
 
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As noted above, the Nikon model to compare with the VX-III would be the Monarch. The Prostaff is more comparable to a Leupold Rifleman or maybe a VX-I. I believe the Nikon Buckmasters would be more comparable to the VX-II.

Both Nikon and Leupold have excellent rifle scopes. Both have a lifetime warranty, although Leupold's seems to be no questions asked and prompt service while Nikon's reportedly involves more hassle. I have a number of Leupold scopes and I've never needed to use their customer service. Leupold scopes cost more money. Leupolds are American Made or at least American Assembled, depending on the model.

The Leupold VX-III line are excellent scopes. I have two 2.5-8x36 scopes and one 3.5-10x40 model. Low light performance is exceptional. I can see deer in low light that are completely invisible to the naked eye. They're rugged, have never failed to hold zero, 100% repeatable adjustments, etc. I also like the alumina flip up lens covers which screw into the ocular and objectives of all the Leupold scopes. I am a 100% satisfied Leupold customer. That said, Nikon makes a nice scope too, I just haven't used one in the field.
 
I don't think so, at least not for me. Unless you got $$$$!:D

I'd rather have two or even three VX-III's!
 
Yea, I just looked at the VX-7 2.5-10x45 and thats way too much money. ($1399.95), and for that much I could almost buy a MK IV scope!!

So I guess I'll buy the Leupold VX-III, but how does it stak up against a Nikon Monarch or a Zeiss MC Conquest 2-8x?
 
I like my Prostaff real well but the monarch is much better. If I wanted A scope for life (whatever that means) It would not be the prostaff.
 
Monarchs are very nice, I think alittle clearer than the Leupold. Buckmasters are close behind, I think my buckmaster is clearer than my vx-ii, but very comparible. I have Nikons on my Varmint rifles and Leupold on my big game rifles. Leupolds are a little stouter, and have the no BS warrenty.
 
Untill something better comes along or you change your mind. My varmint guns don't get beat on like my big game rifles so I take the trade for the clearer (at least to me) Nikon glass on them.
 
I'd take the Zeiss. I like the Monarchs too though. I've had Prostaffs too and they are pretty decent for a value priced scope. I think it's sort of a personal opinion on which one is best for you. Nikon, Zeiss, and Leupold all have pretty good customer service, warranty, and make quality products in my opinion.

Get some decent rings/mounts to go with it. Crappy rings/mounts cause lots of trouble down the road.
 
I have some Leupold Standard rings and bases. The reason I am leaning towards the Leupold VX-III over the Zeiss is because their American made and the have Custom Shop options.

I don't know about the 2.5-8x36mm because I do not want it to look funny on my rifle (Remington 700 with a B&C A2 style stock), I want something that looks good on the rifle. Do ya'll think it would look weird?

The 2.5-8x36mm just seems like it would be too small and the 3.5-10x40mm, while it would look good, just seems like too much magnification.

Thanks,
P.B.Walsh
 
The 2.5-8 Leupold is my favorite scope. It works perfectly on the type of rifles I prefer. Winchester Featherweights, Remington Mountain Rifles and Kimbers. I agree it may be too small for the rifle you have in mind however.
 
Decided I'd put this in the thread too:

Comparison of VX-III 2.5-8x36 vs. 3.5-10x40. Both gather light very well. Much better than the naked eye, that's for sure! I'm not sure I can say I have observed a difference, but then I've never brought them both hunting at the same time. I guess, theoretically the 3.5-10x should be slightly better due to the 40mm vs. 36mm objective. I think its easier to acquire a target quickly with the 2.5x vs. the 3.5x. The 2.5-8x is a small scope and if placed on a big rifle, especially a long action rifle, there will be little room for positioning backward or forward in the rings for optimal eye relief. Not a huge deal though, as leupold scopes have very good eye relief. I guess I would say to consider your common hunting conditions. If longer shots are the norm, go with the 3.5-10, if shorter shots, brush and woods are the norm with an occasional longer shot, go with the 2.5-8.
 
The Leupold VX-III are excellent scopes hard to go wrong with their warranty. I never regretted buying a Leupold. Wished I could say that about some of the other brands I have bought over the years.

You also may want to check out and read reviews on the Sightron S2 scopes and Big Sky S2. They offer a lot features and high quality for the money and are made in Japan.
 
Ok, last comparison question and I'll shut up, but how is the Bushnell 6500 Elite 2-16x40 SF vs. the Leupold VX-III 3.5-10x40mm?

The reson I ask is because the Bushnell have everything I want besides a FFP reticle. The Bushnell is $700 and the Leupold is ~$630.

Thanks,
P.B.Walsh
 
I would pick the Leupold VX-III. I have a VX-I (on par with the prostaff) that I'm not too happy with. the glass is clear during broad daylight but in darker settings such as twilight it falters.

You do realize however, that the Zeiss Conquests are assembled here in the good ol' USA? IIRC. Once I find a Pre-'64 Model 70 in .30-06 I will be putting a Leupold VX-III on it. That setup will scream American. Oh and BTW, "You know the Germans make great stuff!"

I also believe that Leupold offers better eye relief for better snapshots. Although, I'm more of a squirrel and bird hunter so my expertise may not be as good as a lifetime deer hunter that has harvested hundreds of deer. (the only time I see deer is when its not season and were in an ATV making all kinds of racket! :D)
 
Hey P.B..... want to know how to figure out what the 'best' scope for you is?

How much cash are you going to invest on this scope? Not, 'well, maybe I'll save up and get this or that', but how much do you have to spend at the exact time your going to purchase.

As for the scopes discussed, I'll offer what the customers say, then the knowledge we have gained from the training we have been through with the reps and visits to the factories, and lastly, my worthless opinion.

The Prostaff, the customers love these things, but only for what they are worth, or in other words, nobody is putting the phrase ' never have to replace again' and the Nikon Prostaff in the same sentence.

The Pro staff is an economically built, 3rd tier money maker for Nikon. Offered at an attractive price this unit is not Blazer quality...did I just use Blazer and quality in the same sentence...whooops! anyway the Prostaff isn't as good as the VX-III, but that's not saying the VX-III is a quality piece of glass either...because it isn't.

The VX-III are discontinued models, and if your not getting a whizbang deal on it then think something else.

The Sightron line (S-II and S-III) are much better built than the VX-III or V3 models. Internals, springs, lenses...the works.

The V7 is an excellent scope albeit somewhat overpriced...it still has the original Leupold quality we have been used to for so long. It is too bad Leupold has taken the path of the likes of Browning, Remington, Walther, just to name a few...

These companies are not turning out product of yesterdays quality, but because we all trust their name to quality, we tend to keep on buying their product , good or bad, at the prices they demand.

Think Conquest...one of the few optics that are giving you quality on the level your paying for.

For around $650 you can get limited models of the Kahles line... one of the very best scopes made today. We sell out of these things within a week of us getting them, period!

As for Nikon...think Monarch, the clientele love them, and if it was made after 2006, then it'll be a good one.

...and Alice...the VX-III may be 'assembled' in Oregon, but that's as far as American made goes with that model!

...and who cares what it looks like, if it is what you deem necessary for you application then that is all that matters. If a deer laughs at your rig....shoot him! lol

So it looks like, IMO only...Kahles CL, Sightron S-III, Monarch GOLD, Sightron S-II, Monarch, Leupold V-3, Leupold VX-III.

Use only the best mounting hardware you can afford... it's all just links in a chain, you don't want a bad link!
 
It's all been stated already so I'll just help reinforce. The Nikon prostaff is worth every penny they charge for it but it isn't in the same league as the VX3. I've owned Monarchs that will sit side by side with a VX3 all day though and to me (everyone is different) they seem to have slightly better low light visibility but still either/or monarch or VX3 you can't go wrong for the price.

The VX7 I have no experience with so I can't comment BUT I own a Zeiss Conquest in 3-9x40 on my Browning A bolt and I will give it the clarity edge over my monarch but I still think the monarch is ever so slightly brighter. Still for 500 dollars, Monarch/VX3/Conquest are all three hard to beat. The best bet would be to go somewhere like Gander Mountain/Cabellas and look through all three and see what YOU like the best.
 
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