Leupold VX-3

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cecil30-30

cecil30-30

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Im looking at upgradeing my scope on my savage smokeless muzzleloader.Right now I have a redfield revolution on it 3-9x40,but I'd really like to get a 3.5-10x40,I really like the 3.5-10 and I would enjoy the extra magnification with the 10 power.So i've narrowed it down to the Leupold VX-3.I've never spent more than $150 on a scope.Is the Leupold VX3 really worth the extra money? Im a firm believer in you get what you pay for,and don't mind paying the extra money if im really getting a good product.
 
cecil30-30 said:
Im looking at upgradeing my scope on my savage smokeless muzzleloader.Right now I have a redfield revolution on it 3-9x40,but I'd really like to get a 3.5-10x40,I really like the 3.5-10 and I would enjoy the extra magnification with the 10 power.So i've narrowed it down to the Leupold VX-3.I've never spent more than $150 on a scope.Is the Leupold VX3 really worth the extra money? Im a firm believer in you get what you pay for,and don't mind paying the extra money if im really getting a good product.
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Cecil,
It is hard to beat a Leupold or any of the other leading brands, I was always a diehard Leupold fan, but over the yrs. being able to mount one on every gun I have purchased just isn't possible. I have been really impressed with the Nikon line and have several with absolutely no problems at all.
Back in '82-83, I purchased a Ruger M77 and was looking for a good scope, this was before we had the selection of optics that are out there today. I looked at the Leupolds, (too pricey, for a 19 y/o's budget at the time) then the Redfield widefield (top scope in it's day) but finally purchased a Charles Daly (label name, not sure who manufactured it at the time) It has sat upon that Ruger ever since, shot many many deer, and not once have I had to adj. it. So....., top of the line is nice, but not always necessary.

FDXX75
 
FULLDRAWXX75 said:
BigD_625 said:
I have a VX-III in silver. If the VX-3 is any better, it must be unreal, because the VX-III is ultra clear.
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Same scope, III = 3...........NO??

FDXX75
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They are different generation scopes.

You really won't see a significant difference between 9x and 10x. For some reason they still don't put etched reticles in their VX3 scopes unless you get the B&C reticle or the VX6. IMO, there are better scopes for less money available that have etched reticles and a constant eye relief. Leupold is a good scope, but there are some scopes out there that are less expensive and have more features and better optics than the VX3. I would shop around. You can find Zeiss Conquests for $350.
 
Model70Man said:
FULLDRAWXX75 said:
BigD_625 said:
I have a VX-III in silver. If the VX-3 is any better, it must be unreal, because the VX-III is ultra clear.
Click to expand...

Same scope, III = 3...........NO??

FDXX75
Click to expand...

They are different generation scopes.

You really won't see a significant difference between 9x and 10x. For some reason they still don't put etched reticles in their VX3 scopes unless you get the B&C reticle or the VX6. IMO, there are better scopes for less money available that have etched reticles and a constant eye relief. Leupold is a good scope, but there are some scopes out there that are less expensive and have more features and better optics than the VX3. I would shop around. You can find Zeiss Conquests for $350.
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ok, hard to keep up these days..........lol thanks.
 
We are talking 3x9x40, $400 or less all day long if you shop around. There is no way I would spend the additional $330 for an additional 1X that you will use less than 1% of the time while hunting. I would expect most of your shots with any muzzleloader to be under 250 yards. If this be the case, 9X is plenty. My .02
 
This is going on my Savage/Pac smokeless, I want to do some 200 and 300 yard shooting here in the near future,when im done haveing the stock bedded and 3rd pillar added. I might should opt for a bigger scope.
 
Go with what you like, but again, there is no way I would spend an extra $300 for 1X that I will use very infrequently, even if it were on a rifle that I could comfortably shoot 500 yards with. I can promise you that you, nor I, nor most others can tell much difference between 9X and 10X. Again, just my preference as I have owned several of the big objective and high power zoom scopes, only to never need them in 99% of my hunting situations. I have since sold them all off and realized 2.5-8X and good glass will cover 98% of all hunting situations I encounter, and I will be a happy camper at the end of the day. My .02
 
FWIW, I have a buddy that has a variety of quality scopes setting atop his long guns. He owns these types of scopes: Swarovski, Leica, Meopta, Nikon, Zeiss, Leupold and Bushnell (6500). He repeatedly tells me and others that for the money, none of them will touch his Zeiss Conquest. He is always bragging on it about the brightness, clarity, crispness and eye relief (4"), and more importantly, the $400 price tag (when compared to the others).
 
You can get them cheaper than $730. Check cameraland and eBay. I just bought a 4.5-14x50 Conquest off eBay less than $700 and it came from an authorized dealer.
 
Going from 9x to 10x you won't be able to tell any difference. If you are going to go big, go big at least 14x. I don't care for big scopes though, and the price difference is insane.
 
9x will get you out to 300yds easily but I certainly understand wanting more power. Another option to consider is the Minox ZA5 3-15x42 and 3-15x50. You can find them on sale for about the same price as the luepold you are looking at and there are several members on here who swear they are just as good as zeiss. Another consideration would be the Sightron Big Sky which is said to have comprable glass to the VX3. I can't say that for sure because I have never compared them side by side.
 
I agree with Model70Man the zeiss is the way to go, best scope for the money IMO.
 
JimFromTN said:
9x will get you out to 300yds easily but I certainly understand wanting more power. Another option to consider is the Minox ZA5 3-15x42 and 3-15x50. You can find them on sale for about the same price as the luepold you are looking at and there are several members on here who swear they are just as good as zeiss. Another consideration would be the Sightron Big Sky which is said to have comprable glass to the VX3. I can't say that for sure because I have never compared them side by side.
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Hey I really like that 3-15 power,that'll for sure help me get samller groups..Just gonna have do a little more research on them..I wonder how the reticle fade is with it? I had a new redfield 4-12 power scope and the reticle fade was horrible with it,even when set at 4X.
 
I'd prefer the 3-15x50 with the side focus but camerland has open box 3-15x42's for $380 - $400 which is almost $200 cheaper than the 3-15x50's.
 
cecil30-30 said:
JimFromTN said:
9x will get you out to 300yds easily but I certainly understand wanting more power. Another option to consider is the Minox ZA5 3-15x42 and 3-15x50. You can find them on sale for about the same price as the luepold you are looking at and there are several members on here who swear they are just as good as zeiss. Another consideration would be the Sightron Big Sky which is said to have comprable glass to the VX3. I can't say that for sure because I have never compared them side by side.
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Hey I really like that 3-15 power,that'll for sure help me get samller groups..Just gonna have do a little more research on them..I wonder how the reticle fade is with it? I had a new redfield 4-12 power scope and the reticle fade was horrible with it,even when set at 4X.
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What do you mean by "reticle fade"? Minox has etched reticles and they stay black and do not change colors like other reticles when you look into the direction of the sun or if the sun is behind you.

If you mean the reticle gets fuzzy, your scope is not focused. That is what the fast focus eyepiece is for. You can easily adjust the eyepiece by spinning it until the image is clear.

I have the Minox ZA5 3-15 scope and it is a solid scope. I've never had any issues with parallax, mainly due to the very tight eyebox at high power compared to other scopes I've used. The Minox has excellent resolution and the image is crisp and clear. It handles recoil well. No issues with mine and it's on a Pre-64 264 Win Mag. For the money it's an excellent scope.
 
How do you think the 3-15 power would handle woods hunting? You would think as long as it was kept on a low power it should be okay...Right? I really want the 15 power for target shooting at the range.
 
Cecil, you are overthinking this. Just get the Minox, 95% chance you will like it. If not, somebody will buy it from you. Maybe even me. :grin:
 
VX-3 is a great scope and is what I recommend. I have heard nothing but great things of the Ziess, so I am sure those are a great choice as well. I just personally don't like the large European style eye piece, but I might one day buy one.
 
I own a VX3 2.5-8x36. It's a killer scope, and American-made. Great lifetime warranty and customer service. They make a rifle look quite sophisticated too!

Buy American/local and help our economy. Those guys and gals at the Beaverton, Oregon Leupold plant will appreciate you.
 
I was a die hard Leupold fan until one degassed on me. They made it right but the fact that is the scope still let me down. So my search was on. I settled on the Zeiss conquest line. Clarity was much better to my eyes than anything in its price range and then some.I also like the fact that the reticle is etched into the glass and that your point of impact will not change throughout the entire focal plane.Interesting enough the Minox and Zeiss and Meopta scopes are all made in the same plant right here in the US operated by Meopta.
 

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