Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Meopta, Leupold, Leica, oh my!

A couple years ago my oldest son and I spent several days evaluating the VX-6 against a handful of scopes in actual hunting scenarios.

Most of our comparison time was spent between the VX-6 and Z3 as they were the closest optically. Neither of us could discern a difference between the two scopes optically until last light. That's when the Z3 would edge out the VX-6 (to our eyes).

I haven't spent time with the Meopta, so can't comment. The Leica scopes are indeed phenomenal. However, their reticles (aside from the #1) is too thin to me.

Have you seen the 4A ret from Leica? When I looked at subtensions, they looked to be pretty decent, or at least had the potential to be a good one.

The Meopta 4C (lit #4) is SUPERB. I really wish they'd put something in their Meostar line between the 1.5-6 and the high top magnification scopes they have (forget what they are off hand), plus they put 50-56mm objectives on those scopes, too, Ugh.

The 1.5-6 has a 42mm obj, which I really think is about right, but the 6x top end is a little less than I'd prefer. Don't NEED a lot of x's for this scope, but a 9/10x top end would be good.

My VX7, while hunting, is very close to my Z3's. Optically, it's not able to quite keep up, but the heavy duplex reticle is far more visible than the fine duplex reticles in the Swaro's, so functionally, I feel I can shoot both at about the same light conditions, with neither really edging the other in that regard. That's why I looked at the VX6 with a lit reticle, as that would surely settle the ability to actually shoot in dim light.

Yes, and looks just like my Swarovski Z6i 4a.... it sucks.

Post are too far apart and the center is too thin, IMHO.

Leica 4a


Swarovski Z6i 4a


VX-6 #4 illum.

Wow, those are GOOD pics for comparison!

Is that a 2-12 VX6? I've heard they were making them with lit #4's, but even Leupold's subtension charts don't show that they are actually offering it.

That Leup #4 looks pretty good...

Check out the Meopta 4C sometime (pics on their site, and they actually show a good representation of what you see when you look through the scope). It's tight like the Leupold, but the bars are about 2x the thickness.

Dang it, you're gonna make me go buy that Meopta Cabela's has....

1-6x24mm

Leupold's reticle chart (and many other manufacturers) rarely depicts the reticle as seen IRL.

Too me, it closely resembles their Post & Duplex rather than a German #4. Interesting enough, I purchased a VX-6 2-12x42mm illum. German #4 last year, and it wasn't the same as the 1-6x24mm. There was a bit more spacing, but still much closer together than Leica and Swarovski. Posts are heavier too.

I've heard and read several reviews on how good the Meopta scopes are. If they come out with one in 2.5-10x42 or something similar, I'd likely snatch one up to compare and contrast.

the 4C in the 3-12 x 56 is pretty thick. I liked it but did not like it at the same time. I liked it cause I could see it in the just about dark. You could shoot with the thing in a quarter moon....

You aren't kidding about reticle charts. That's why I started looking at subtension numbers.

I happened to notice that Doug has Meopta 3-10x50 Meostar scopes with #4's for $650. That's pretty good. Only thing on the Meostars is they are a touch short on eye relief (3.5"). The Whelen isn't a cannon, but it does push pretty good, and I don't really need to wear a scope.

jimmyp, that's good info.

FOs, the Meopta scopes I've looked through are simply superb. I haven't hunted with one, but I have Meostar binos (pre-HD, though) and they are absolutely excellent. I sold a Ziess Diascope over the summer to fund a Supergrade Winny I just had to have, but I see myself replacing the Zeiss with a Meopta spotter. The more I see of Meopta, the more impressed I get.

Like you said, if only they had a 2.5-10x40-something....

the meopta 4C posts dont come to the middle quite as tight as the non illuminated #4. great reticle tho. nice and thick

Great topic. I am in the same boat as TD, looking for a scope for the 35 Newton.

My best friend hunts with that Z3 and I have the VX6. The VX6 is easily equal to the Z3 optically. He sees no difference either way, but to my eyes the VX6 is slightly better optically - especially in poor light. Both of us agree the VX6 has a much better eyebox.

This is after comparing them side by side at the range and during hunts and under good and poor lighting conditions.

If you really like the #4 ret, you really should check out the Meopta before you make your decision. My shooting buddy just bought one recently and it has the heaviest #4 ret I've ever seen. I looked across his hayfield about 3 hours after dark with a good moon. I could have easily shot out past 200yds with that scope.

the thick bars are 5 MOA if I am reading the subtension chart correctly.

Well, I emailed Meopta. I found that 3-10x50 on Doug's site for a great price, with a #4, and got all excited. Then I checked Meopta's site for eye relief, and my stomach churned. I just emailed them to confirm, and the 3-10 gives 3.2"-3.4" of eye relief.

This is going on a 35 Whelen that weights 7.5-7.75lbs unscoped. It's not a cannon, but it does kick a bit. That eye relief seems awful short. The only option the Meopta rep could offer with much longer eye relief was a 4-16x44. That's not quite what I had in mind for the Whelen. Drat.

What about the 4x12? Seems like 3.5" eye relief would work pretty close. The FOV has to be pretty decent as well..

Yeah, your spinning my brain now.. Just when I thought I knew what I wanted!

i agree on all counts plus it has a better (bolder) etched reticle

Where I'm at currently:

-Leica seems to have the best glass, but Meopta isn't far (if any) behind

-Leica has the eye relief

-Meopta has the reticle

-Leupold has a blend of decent glass, decent reticle, decent eye relief, but none of those traits are equal to the "best" in the others I'm considering. (i.e. the reticle in the Leupold is ok, but not superb like the Meopta, glass is ok, but not a Leica, etc).

So, compromise is the Leupold. Just not sure I want to compromise, lol.

Yeah. You don't make it easy.