Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics WOW! Leupold VX-2 Beats Zeiss, Swaro, Leica etc

The optics testing folks at Outdoor Life Magazine ran comparison tests of Rifle scopes in their June/July 2,012 issue and the results really IMPRESSED me!
The testers picked the Leupold VX-2 3x9x40mm Riflescope over such expensive and renowned brands/models as the Zeiss Duralyt 2x8x42mm, the Swarovski Z6i 1x6x24mm, the Leica ER 3.5x14x42mm, the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 3x9x50mm, the Weaver Kaspa 3x12x50mm, the Steiner Predator Xtreme 2.5x10x42mm and the Oculus 4x16x44mm!
Thats right the Leupold costing $300.00 outperformed and outscored the Swarovski at $2,400.00, the Leica at $1,600.00, the Zeiss at $1,000.00, the Steiner costing $800.00 along with the other three brands that cost slightly less than the Leupold!
The article comparing and scoring the Riflescopes runs on pages 44, 45 and 54! The explanation of how the staff compared and scored the Riflescopes is on page 52 of the June/July 2,012 issue of Outdoor Life Magazine.
One short excerpt/quote from the description of the Leupold VX-2 by the Outdoor Life Magazine staff: "This VX-2 is a pure Hunting scope - light, bright and simple. The VX-2 is balanced, features a clean duplex reticle and finger friendly turret controls, and is configured for most big-game Hunting applications. It is one of the great bargains of this or any other age"!
Now Leupold "naysayers" from under every rock may come out and decry this test and they may cry foul in 100 various ways but the fact remains this fine, reliable and great looking scope is an excellent optic and is made by an American company!
And seeing how the Leupold was compared to foreign made scopes costing FIVE times more money, EIGHT times more money, THREE AND A THIRD times more money and another costing TWO AND TWO THIRDS times more money then Leupold naysayers had better take notice and make up some more "whoppers" to try and combat this test!
In fact the Leupold VX-2 won the Outdoor Lifes Editor's Choice Award in the Riflescope section.
Of ALL the categories scored for all the scopes only two individual categories had scores that bested the Leupold (and in these instances only slightly outscored).
Maybe the Leupold naysayers should get a copy of the June/July 2,012 issue of Outdoor Life Magazine and review the results and how the scopes were compared and in what categories?
I have LONG been an advocate of the Leupold line of Riflescopes and they have served me exceptionally well for 50+ years now, and, I have always espoused how the money spent on a Leupold is money well invested - this article just adds more creedence to my contentions.
I have NEVER said that Leupold Rifles scopes are the best ever made - they may or may not be but they certainly are MUCH better than many Leupold naysayers and rumor mongers give them credit for.
Long live Leupold & Stevens an AMERICAN Company!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I just today got my second VX-2 in a month and while I think they're great and just what I was looking for I'm not buying the results of this "test" wholeheartedly.

The best value, possibly.

The best optical qualities and durability, not so much.

I'd like to be able to post the results of John Barsness's testing, but the results are on his website and for paying customers only.

I would like to know how the VX-2 compared to the VX-3 in the same tests.

VX3 wasn't tested.

I guess I said that wrong. I would like to see how the VX-3 would compare in the same tests.

take a breath varmint guy!!!! saying that a VX 2 is better than any of those upper end scopes is a joke and makes me call into question outdoor life's future reviews. simply put a bushnell elite 4200 is a clearer scope than even a vx 3, which is supposed to be an upper end model over the vx 2, yes I am comparing the latest dual spring up to date vx3. the bushnell has a more forgiving eye box and is easier to get behind. it doesn't have too much eye relief like IMO a leupold does. the next step above in glass from a 4200 and 2 steps above the leupold vx 3 is a zeiss conquest. the differences are pretty easy to see and should be picked up by even a novice reviewer. that is without getting into the zeiss and swaro scopes which likely blow away even a vx3 much less a vx2

I'd like to see how the VX2 would do when compared to a S&B PM II or a Hensoldt.

Huh? Too much eye relief?

There's a tradeoff to longer than required eye relief.

Most notably a smaller FOV.

Hmmm I have a Leupold VXII, Nikon Monarch, and Vortex Diamondback. The Vortex blows my other 2 scopes out of the water. I find it hard to believe the Lupy beats out a Zeiss and Swarovski.

Does "Outdoor Life" actually say that the Leupold VX2 has a better image than the high dollar scopes ?

Probably not but I'll bet that Leupold spends a whole lot more advertising in OL than the others!

+1

While I have several Leupold and really like them including a new VX-3 with CDS they are not as bright or clear as my Zeiss Conquest that actually cost me less than the VX-3.

Hmmm... I kind of like eye relief. Since I often lug my own rifle around using shank's mare, I like the fact that Leupold is about the lightest quality scope available. The Bushnell 4200 has nice glass, but IS heavyier, has LESS eye relief, may not be as durable, and the warranty from Leupold beats pretty much all of the others. It's also made here. I think I'll keep buying them.

For those of you who wish to read the article, here's the link:

http://www.outdoorlife.com/photos/g...un-scopes-review?photo=1#node-1001355429

While they rate it as the Editor's Choice, price, weight and value come into play. If the 300$ scope comes close, it's a better value than the high dollar Euros. Is it better, well that depends on what you're looking for and how much you're willing to pay. I believe some are just looking for an opportunity to put Leupold up with the big dogs.

Though I have to say, to my eyes, my Leupold does not quite cut it when compared to my Kahles, Swaro and Zeiss scopes, regardless of model. And that in my opinion, is the most important test of all...

I didn't read the review, but I think the VXII and now VX2 lines have been the best "value" going in a "hunting scope" for a long time now...again, that's my opinion. They and the FX line seem to be the best fit for me when I look at the characteristics that I value in a hunting scope... What you consider the most important characteristics may be different than what I do...so the best fit/value to you may not match mine.

If a magazine article makes you feel good about your purchases, more power to you.

I put less & less credence in magazine reviews as I get older, whether it be Outdoor Life, Consumer Reports, or anything else. I've seldom agreed with Consumer Reports' results on nearly any product. And I've noticed that gun rag reviews often bear a correlation to the amount of ad space purchased.

Even online, it seems to me that most product reviews are either rated 5 stars out of 5, or zero. People are either thrilled with their item or experience (or trying to make themselves feel better about their purchase), or their pi$$ed. There's rarely a middle ground, or talk of how that item/experience compares with others they've had.

I tend to get ideas about products by skimming 'round the net to see if there are trends of consensus about products I'm considering. NC Star and Barska have some trends of general consensus about their products and their companies: Likewise, few will begrudge that Leupold has earned a reputation for excellent customer service & durable products. The vast majority of comments about Vortex seem to indicate a company that cares, & will go out of its way to make things right. Those who've used & compared S&B scopes seem to like them pretty well. Tasco... well, not so much.

Looking at trends helps me steer clear of companies &/or products that are at a higher risk to let me down. From there, I make choices based on my own criteria. For scopes, I use my own eyes, & choose what works best for me.


FC

I wouldn't say that I give a lot of credibility to OL/F&S testing. I certainly wouldn't buy based on their rankings. I think one of them actually rated a BSA optic very highly a couple of years back.

Outdoor life is the outdoor sports equivalent of Motor Trend.