I am hesitant to post this...but I am not a turrent twister either. I hunt south GA, and my longest shot in 35+ years has been around 225 yards. 95% of my shots are less than 150 yards, and 90% of those shots are less than 100 yards. I can pick up deer through my Vari X and older VX2 3-9x40 scopes long after I can see the deer via my necked eye.
I have or have pretty much all of the leupold up grades, beginning with the Vari X 3 with the blue (flouride?) exterior coating.
I have never been in a hunting situation where I put my VX2 scoped rifle up to my shoulder and thought, "Man, I wish I had one of my VX3s.
I have not purched one the the new VX2s but I have examined two on friends rifles. I was satisifed with the former VX2s, but I don't know that if for the purposes you described I would chose a VX3 over one.
