Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Leupold VX-6

Thinking of investing in one. Have you been happy with your Leupold VX-6 scope? Which reticle do you use, and why?

JG will be along in a minute. He has used the scope and is very knowledgeable of it's merits. Trust his experience. powdr

I've got a VX6 2-12 with the German #4 reticle. I like the scope so far. Great eye relief, clear picture, adjusts accurately. I've only put about 75 rounds thru my 35 Newton using the scope but it seems to hold up just fine.

I've got a Swaro 2.5x10 30mm on my 338 and it seems to compare pretty well to that scope. Not sure what else you'd like to know about it.

Yes sir I use 3 of them , all 3x18x44 illuminated. I am almost 62 and have had several eye surgeries leaving my dominate eye a little blurry due to aberration on the cornea. But the VX 6 line has all but eliminated blurry crosshairs I get with other Leupolds. One is a B&C reticle the other 2 are the standard firedot crosshair. I twist turrets so the style of reticle is of little concern . The reticle is thicker than most folks like but perfect for my eyes. My only gripe is a lack of a useable zero stop. I cannot understand Leupold making this good of a scope and not making a USEFUL zero stop. I am not crazy about the short CDS turret but I can make them work. I talked to Leupold customer service about 2 weeks ago and he gave a hint that a taller turret might be available in 2015.
Bill

I have two.. A 2-12X42 and a 3-18X50. I just got the free CDS turret for one (ordered a few days ago) and it does have a provision for a zero stop

Yes sir, It has a provision for zero stop..but try making it work reliably. Very poor design at best. sort of an afterthought.

I couldn't agree more. I thought mine was perfect after fighting the double sided tape but I'm actually 1 click off. I don't think they put as much effort into the turret as they could have. Tracks well and works nice, but I think they could have been more positive feeling.

Reason for buying: eyes are getting old!

But I think I will wait until they get this 0 stop and short turret things fixed.

Thanks

Thanks for the vote of confidence powdr. I've been using the 2-12 version for a couple of years almost, and I think it's very, very forgiving and easy to use, even at higher magnifications. This is what sets it apart from other variables I've used. Also, the duplex reticle is the perfect thickness for me, it's black, and it stays black no matter what. I've only got about 300 rounds through it, but the CDS dials have been dead on accurate and repeatable so far. I took it to Namibia this past May and it performed great. Glass is excellent to boot.

I, like Bill Davis, recently got a 3-18x44 firedot duplex to play around with on a 7mag. So far I really like it too. I like the auto on/off illumination and the variable brightness settings. It too is easy to get behind. Lots to like IMO about the VX6's I've used.

I'm not sure about the comments on the lack of zero stop. When you order the CDS dials, they are zero stop equipped. If you don't want a custom load/yardage dial just have them make up the CDS Dial in MOA with zero stop. One dial for every load possible. The 20 MOA per turn is nice too.

One other thing, if you shoot long distance, that thick crosshair subtends minute of antelope at 653 yards..it is really too thick for longer distance...although I made it work.
For elk and larger creatures it should be ok at the longer distance.

Bill

The thin wires on a VX6 with std duplex subtends .4"@ 100 yds on 12x, which I would assume would be used on true long range targets. That would mean it subtends 2.61" @ 653 yards wouldn't it?

Just trying to figure out how that thins wire covers up app. 15" at 653 yds. Was your scope set on 6x or what?

This is the next scope I want in 2-12x42 but I just can't justify the cost. Seems a man could do a little better for a few hundred more $...even if used. powdr

What do you have in mind?

The only thing I see wrong with the VX-6 2-12 is I only have one...

The VX-6 1-6 with German #4, sorta becomes a problem with thick reticle beyond 300 yds. The 2-12 is good at longer distances. I don't do a lot of 600 yd. shooting. What I've done has been with a Z5 3.5-18. I had that one retrofitted with a #4, but the reticle is still fine enough for LR shooting. The std. Z5 duplex was way too fine for my use.

Overall, I don't think there's a better scope than the VX-6 2-12 for general hunting with some LR shooting. It's just so easy to get behind and has the most forgiving eyebox I've used. And the glass is first class, giving the Alpha Euros a run for the roses.

DF

Unless you have poor eyesight you don't need to start at 6X minimum magnification. There are takebacks on the field of view and moving game.

How is that applicable here?

Maybe he thought the VX6 starts at 6X. We've all nade mistakes at one time or another; except you and me of course.

VX-6 Riflescopes

Featuring unsurpassed light transmission, uncompromising mechanical performance and unbeatable optical clarity, the VX-6 is undeniably as good as it gets. The powerful 6:1 zoom ratio,,,,,,,,,,,,,

http://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/scopes/vx-6-riflescopes/

So? That's zoom ratio, not fixed magnification. You know, a 3 to 18 variable or a 2 to 12 variable.