Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Opinions on Leupold FX-3 6x42 HD

Interestingly enough, in a conversation with dogzapper he mentioned using the Leupold QR's quite a bit - said once they shot in, they were rock solid and could remove/reinstall scopes and they'd be right back on...

I have had two HD scopes, both on 36mm objectives. They were great in low light...but I just could not fully endorse them. The HD was just too much of a good thing.

I then used a Priemer 4A on a 2-7 Leu. The thin portion of the crosshair was mismatched to the thick post.

I then tried the Post and Duplex. The best of both worlds. I perfer the Post and Duplex over the HD or the 4/4A.

I've got the Post & Duplex on my older Leupold 4X. While it is less cluttered and does pick up as easily in bad light, I prefer the HD because it helps with ranging. With a 9 inch opening at 100 yds., that opening will do a fast, rough ranging for me at both 200 yds., full depth, 400 yds. half depth on a mature mule deer or 300 yds. at full depth on a large bull elk. etc. Worth having something that's fast, simply and right there when you need it. E

PD is a good compromise for a hunting scope, not obscuring your upper plane of view as much - like the HD, though a plain Post/CH or #4a or similar 4 is better. The Wide Duplex and wider styles of #4s won't center your eye as well as a PD or ORIGINAL Duplex.

Leupold REALLY ticks me off they won't go back to the standard duplex in their MATTE 6x and 4x, though put them in their gloss. No logic other than wanting increased custom shop dollars IMHO. I can run a 3-9x40 Conquest with a GREAT Z plex and glass for the same or less than a 6x42/custom shop fee. If they made a fixed 6x, I would not run Leupold 6x's for that one reason alone.

Zeiss had a No. 2 reticle IIRC, an option in their 4x32, it had a post and wire IIRC, here:

http://images1.opticsplanet.com/180-180/opplanet-zeiss-conquest-2-8x32-riflescopes-3.png

That Zeiss '2' reticle to me would be finer than a #1 post, yet very fast to paste quickly to shoot, and still able to use holding over the backline on an animal. Weaver had a similar post/duplex and even Bushnell at some point in the past. I have no use for a vertical 'obstruction' over my aiming point if given the option.

I agree. Leupold is really missing the ball on their 6x scopes. Maybe it's me, maybe I'm wrong, but I can't imagain that gloss scopes are better sellers than matte. A stanard duplex should be "shelf stock" in any finish one produces.

a method to their madness I am sure

Matte with CDS and
They'd have a good seller I'd think

I agree in that I have found the QRs to be a solid versatile system.

Just funnin with those who think otherwise.

This pic shows a 6x42 post and duplex mounted on a 700 in 338 Win 250 NP's.

That sure is a pretty clover-leaf you shot. How far?

That's a 100 yard target.

Stupid me but I ended up selling the scope to Calvin.

I had a spare 6x42 HD lying around a few weeks ago as a byproduct from a rifle swap. ( I never leave good glass on a rifle going out the door unless the price covers a replacement.)

When my VX1 3-9 on my Omega ML went bad, I used the 6x42 as a temporary, known-to-be-good, test bed. Worked perfectly and I doubt it will ever come off the rifle now that it is bloded there.

I must have a dozen 6x42s about half HDs on my bidder framed Ruger #1s. The 2x7s are on mst of the smaller rfiles.

1B

Oh, well. I can assure you the latest FX3's are excellent. Never thought I'd see Leupold put their super tough coatings on the 6X42, but they did. The finger tip adjustments are top drawer as well. E

SU, 100 yd 'target' or a target SHOT at 100 yds? LOL.

Nice, who did the stock? I ran an M8 6x42 Duplex on my former 338/06 and 1/2" was common at 100, 200 yds did 1 1/4" all day, with 3 various 225 bullets.

Michael, I agree, Leupold needs to mfg. a production 6x w/knobs for hunters, CDS and an M1 would not be bad. The target 6x42 AO has tall turrets and wrong reticle for hunting.

Played w/my CDS yesterday at the range, worked real well just using the MOA cap. It's growing on me.

lol....shot at 100 yards. Factory SS rifle I painted with Dura-coat. This rifle is the most forgiving and easiest to get to shoot rifle I have ever owned.

I bought the stock from Rick Bin here some years back.
Mcmillan Kevlar stock. Rick painted it.

Cliff i just bought another 6 x 42 for my alpine that will get the CDS treatment once it arrives.

ML