Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics VARI X III

Great minds think alike------If it ain't broke don't fix it. Exact same set up as mine. Bob

Nope, and I still have ~20 of them in the Vari-X series. I've purchased ~40 of these mostly used off of used guns, kept some, farmed a bunch out to friends looking for scopes.

I've got a matte finish W prefix 1989 3.5-10x40 with clicks I bought used in 1990. I've always thought it had decent glass. It's got a few rub marks & scratches but the clicks pretty much adjust the way they're supposed to and it's held zero on a 30-06 for a lot of hunts and years.

These days a VX6 is usually what I am looking through but the 4.5-14 really was the first reliable tracking optic with the right zoom range.

Way ahead of it's time.

John, I'm with you on the 4.5-14. I have one or more from all the Leupold series over the years.
My hands down favorite Leupold though is the VX III 6.5-20x40 Long Range(30mm tube). from what I have found they were only made for a few years, mine were all made from 2004-2006. awesome glass and not one issue twisting turrets in all these years. It would take someone offering me a new VX6 to part with one

I only have one Vari-X III Model left; it’s a 2.5-8x36 silver model and does have click adjustments. (Need a coin or screwdriver) no clue as to age. 132406H is the serial number. No letter prefix.

Like Boatanchor, I have an old Vari-X III long range in 6.5-20 with the 30 mm tube. Terrific scope. About 5 years ago I sent it back to Leupold for the TMR reticle, and they freshened the internals. Great glass. They didn’t offer that scope for very many years, so I’m glad I got one.

Obviously the the VX 6 or VX 5 won't dial better because the VX 3s versions on accurate rifles were super solid performers as those of us doing work knew for many years.

That said image quality and eye box are a bit better with the new designs, as it should be, and the Illumination on the HD versions really does make some reticles way more useful at the end of or beginning of the day.

K33527, 1979

http://www.opticstalk.com/timeline-on-leupolds-flagship-riflescopes_topic32452.html

Here's a chart the people at SWFA put together a while back. It's not currently up to date.

Thanks Magshooter,
That chart tells me that my Vari-III 2.5-8X36 referenced above was manufactured in 2000 due to the H suffix. Thanks!

This is quite a fun thread.. and pretty informative.

Thanks for bringing it up, Dale.

I had one, a 2.5-8X, that had "clicks' as the power ring was turned. Rock solid scope that was sold years later with a rifle.

I had a 3.5-10 that also had the clicks in the zoom ring.

Really liked the feature and it would be a great addition to the VX5/VX6 with a click at 1/2 power.

Is 17 years ago "pretty old" or 2003 "many years ago?" Because that's when the VX-III superseded the Vari-XIII. It's certainly within this century.

WRONG. The Vari-XIIc was discontinued in 2003 and superseded by the VX-II, which was superseded by the VX-2, which has since been superseded by the VX Freedom. The very point of the VX-II was to introduce "click adjustments." The VX-II and VX-2 have been "click adjustable" from the get-go.

The 6.5-20x that sits on my 222 has this feature. I've looked for another one with this feature for years and have come up empty.