Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Leupold 3.5-10 versus 4.5-14 in 40mm

3.5-10X is the one I would choose for general use. The three 4.5-14X scopes with 40 MM objectives I have are the LR version with a 30 MM tube and side focus which are heavier but they're really nice for targets and varmints.

I feel the 4.5-14 is best served in the side focus LR with a 50mm objective. In that configuration it has no peers as a big game optic.

A non AO 40mm is best at a max of 10X.

Have owned both the 1 inch and the 30mm version of the 4.5-14. They are both gone and kinda soured me on Leupolds in general as they were the only ones I've ever owned.

I might give Leupold another shot in the future since they get a lot of love around here, but I'll try something other than that magnification range.

Can you make out if a buck is legal at 500-600 yards if the bumps are smaller than a small eye gaurd with one of those scopes?

I agree. I have four 4.5-14X's (VX-III and VX-3) with the 50 MM objective, side focus and 30 MM tube and they're hard to beat in low light.

I have had both scopes the 4.5-14 is gone, its like looking through a toilet paper tube, terrible fov, not easy to get behind. its leupold's worst scope.

I could tell this buck was legal for my antlered deer tag at 500yds.



Does that count??

I've tried to like the 1" tube 4.5-14x40 non ao. Can't do it. I do enjoy the 30mm tube of the same.
3.5-10x40 is perfect for so many things though.

I've got this very scope, my first 4.5-14,and my first 50mm. It is a very impressive package.

John, what stock is on your rifle in the pic? Nice buck too!

John,

That's a nice deer. I bet you didn't have any more fun getting it than I did getting the one in the photo below. You didn't answer the question. On the the left antler there were three points making this buck legal. Could you, from 500 yards make out the two points which make this legal?

Sounds pretty reasonable. The limited depth of field for the 14X makes a side focus or adjustable objective pretty much mandatory for me.

The 3.5-10x40mm non AO covers a lot of ground for a lot of fellas. Just not enough magnification for me on the long shots.



Thanks and that is my stock. I designed it about 5 years ago and it has worked out really well.





Yes.

Lots of guys own spotting scopes, and most dont fret wether a dink of around 70" gross is legal or not.

The question was could he see the points with his 4 1/2-14X scope. Had nothing to do with spotting scopes.

Your idea that most folks don't fret about 70" is not reflected in the deer killed every year. The vast majority are not trophy deer. Where I killed that deer everyone I talked to was hoping for a fork with eye guards. Only one guy I ran into had a spotting scope. Some didn't even have binoculars. I know one guy who told me scopes are made to find game; they substitute as an aiming device. He was serious.

JFC

I hunt with a 3-9 mostly, sometimes a 4.5-14. Where I hunt, we hunt in teams of two, and almost every team has a spotter and a LRF.