Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics 6x42—- Leupold vs Meopta

Does anyone have any experience with these two? They’re the same price and I’ve owned scopes from both companies and been pleased. The FX-3 is a better looking scope for my purpose, but if the Meopta is better glass then I’m in. I’m looking for clarity and low light performance, hunting in the woods, 35 Remington. I’d rather have a 4x but my 4x32 FX-2 fails in the woods at last light if it’s cloudy.

I have both the Leupold 6x42 FX3 and FXIII, as well as the Meopta 6x42. The Meopta 6x42 does IMO have slightly better sight picture but I find either Leupold is very forgiving on obtaining a quick sight picture. I just throw the rifle up and the sight picture is immediate. The Meopta is also good but IMO not as good as the Leupold. However, since you mentioned low light performance, the Meopta is the one to pick, if we're talking about new scopes. The reason is that Leupold no longer offers their Heavy-Duty reticle in the 6x42 and Meopta can be had new with their #4 reticle (at least when I last checked some months ago). If this is still true, the Meopta would be my pick, as you will usually lose the reticle before losing the sight picture with the normal duplex reticles in low-light. Just my $0.02 worth. Good luck in your search.

Leupold needs to get their act together with reticles. Nobody wants that wide duplex.

I have a 6 x42 lr duplex on the way right now, I will tell what I think. Spence

+1. I don't understand why Leupold doesn't make a #4 reticle standard or as one of a few options. I bet the majority of shots taken on game are at ranges under 300 yards and at times where available light isn't the brightest.

I would grab the Meopta if it was a #4 reticle

Meopta

For those who have or had both is the Meopta's eye piece larger in diameter than the Leupold? In looking at he pictures of the Meopta is appears large and I am not sure it would work with some 90 deg bolt lifts and low scope mounts. I have a JC Higgins 51 that has the wing safety on the left side that also needs a small eye piece and I have hesitated in ordering a Meopta for that rifle also.

Any insight is appreciated.

The Meopta eyepiece is larger.

Thanks for confirming my suspicions.

The Meopta is larger but not as oversized as some European scopes. You can look up the spec sheets for both to compare.

The Reticle on the Meopta really ups the low light performance with a #4 or 4A recticle. The glass is better but the differences are subtle but real. Last one I bought was the Meopta Meopro the Leupold before that was the 6x36. Will I replace my 6x42 Leupolds with Meo pro's? I don't think so.

If you’re talking a brand new FX3 wide duplex 6x42mm vs the Meopta that Doug sells w/ the #4 it’s no contest; Meopta all the way.

If you’re talking a used plex FX3 vs a Meopta Artemis (lower grade than what Doug has) with anything other than a #4 I’d go Leupold.

To me the high grade of glass we have generally available makes the low light issue one more of reticle.

I have one remaining wide duplex Leupold that will go up the toad before long and I have an Artemis 6x42mm with ballistic #4 and I’d take a FX3 duplex over either.

Add to all that the overall size of the scopes when contrasted and I’d look for a used FX3 Duplex personally; especially on a handy compact like a .35 Rem.

I can't find that 6x Meopta on Doug's site anywhere.

Sorry, sold out

No worries - I had never looked at them much and while I really love my MilQuad SWFA - I'd like it a lot less if it were lighter.

Thought maybe to start paying attention to other offerings.

That kinda seals it. Neither of these are available. Any advice Doug?

We should have some Leupold FX-II 6x36's coming in soon, probably 2 weeks

I bought a new Meopta 6x42 earlier this year for my 6.5 Creedmoor. It was the worst tracking scope I've ever had. I took it off and replaced it with a Weaver 6x38. I bought it based on the good reputation of Meopta that I've read and heard about. They are a pretty big scope for a six power and are 50 % heavier than a Leupold 6x36 which I much prefer. Only an example of one I suppose but I was a bit disappointed. I should get it out again and have another go with it. Maybe wind the dials all the way through and then back again and see if that frees things up.

Doug. I wish we could get some of those Loopy sixs out here.

I’m trying to get away from the FX-2 to a higher quality scope.

I thought these were discontinued? What reticle?