Don,
You gotta pretty good hard-on for the 6x42. What gives? My guess is that you is only happy when bein' the turd in the punchbowl and just like to stir the pot?
I have great difficulty believing that your hand/eye coordination precludes you from stabbing a mounted rifle's muzzle in close proximity to it's intended target and you require an inordinate number of "square feet" of resolution to coax the damned thing where you wish it? Am suprised iron sights aren't your favoritest,as they grant lotsa square feets!(grin) Maybe a -6x would be the Meeeoww,think of all them available square feets!
When things is right up close and personal,most go into a reflex mode of sorts and can handle a rifle in a shotgun-ish manner. "Most" based upon what comes natural to me and thoughts related by gents I know/respect,how was trying to get outta the bight.
I believe the closest poke I had on Game was comfortably under 10" and it were a Bear that a pard had abused prior with his 35Whelen to the tune of 3 pokes.
I was largely hanging on for my life,while scaling a very steep face and sorta slithering over a large duff log at the same time. As I crested it,I saw him,he seen me and the closing distance was shortened quick like. Am still uncertain of his intentions,as any damned fool would know it weren't me toting a Whelen(grin).
Regardless,he were getting closer and I confess to feeling a little more than threatened. I shot him one handed at point blank range(my other hand were busy,to preclude a rather nasty tumble back'erds) and my face were 2' away or so from the stock and a 36X BR glass woulda been just ducky in that encounter,regardless of reticle. I had zero trouble center punching him in the brisket,without the firm cheekweld and the untold comfort of the 3.5-10x's advantages in square footedness(grin).
The prick tumbled off a cliff stone cold dead and lit on my backpack that I'd left below,for the pending two handed climb. It's unique shape,serves as a reminder every time I bolt it on. I'll keep it forever,for that reason alone.
Point is,things is only as tough as you wanna make them. You seem bent on quoting inconsequential data,that's bearing ain't the whole enchilada. While I'll grant you Punchbowl Points for the grandiose misdirection,it isn't how the ball bounces in application.
I also feel somewhat compelled to weigh in on the other Leupie 6x's. To my eye,they is far more critical in nature. Especially in eye-relief and in discerning full field of view hastily. The 6x Compact has gotta be twice as hard to employ rapidly,though that is typical of all Compacts IMHO and seemingly their nature. I've yet to field a Compact I could call "fast" and I'm guilty of having more than a few.
I'm also guilty of having multiple fullsize optics to pick and choose from and that from the much applauded Leupie 2.5X Compact with heavy duplex(POS in my book,for rapid aquisition),all the way up to variables that have topped out to over 30x(yep,was guilty once of doing the Burris 8-32x thing and it too were a POS). With the ability to pick and choose outta them,so as to hedge a bet,I repeatedly find the 6x42mm a very tough act to follow. I've no built in bias towards that make/model,other than it helps me get the goody outta most every situation and on a wide range of rifle types,in a large spectrum of chamberings and diverse applications.
There is no thicker brush on the planet,than SE Alaska and that glass is my favorite for Calling Bucks outta their haunts and it is often up close and personal come crunch time. My oldest with only 6 Bucks under his belt,slapped his closest at under 20' and it were via 6x42 powered by a then 9yr old and in heavy cover. I believe that if you were to quiz him on the viability of a rematch on Bucks at that distance,he'd thank you kindly and keep tipping them over while wearing a grin. I mean really,where do the troubles lay?
He's got 4 of them(6x42's) on his rifles(223AI,25-284,7-08 and 7SAUM). Believe me,if he liked another glass better,or found something else easier to use,I'd bolt them to his rifles in a heartbeat as my sole intent is to stack the deck in his favor. Needless to say,I've mounted everything I've got,upon his 223AI(his first rifle),so as to give him an honest crack at something that were perhaps better suited to him. They ain't made it yet(grin).
If you really wanna bitch,it should be in the regards of his toting a Remington S/S Model Seven with a McMillan stock,chambered in 7-08,stoked with 140XLC's and wearing a 6x42 on top. Poor kid was forced to use Leica 8x20's to boot! In some States,that is likely child abuse.(grin)
I must be a twisted/abusive SOB to make my own tote such compromising rigging! Despite my mean streak,I'm thinking that if you were to quiz The Boy on the availability of another Monster Bear at 75yds,I'll go out on another thin limb and state that he'd again say "Thanks!" and have his way with him. I cain't do the squarely footed math,to cypher the available image to the poor lad,but he SURELY only saw hair in his glass!
Laffin' here,as it is a [bleep] wonder ANYTHING ever gets a bullet in it,with all of the compounded impossibilities!............................(grin)