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.

Who has the best price on the VX6 scopes? powdr

I picked up a like new VX-6 2-12 on EBay used to my door for $600. Haven't been able to duplicate that deal, although I keep looking...

DF

The VX-6 2-12 is about my favorite scope. Mine is non-illuminated duplex. I wouldn't put it on a compact rifle.

For a big, 30mm scope it's fairly sleek and streamlined.

DF

2-12X42 with Fire Dot #4 on one of my .300 Weatherby's. Absolutely love it. I looked real hard at a lot of scopes. Including some very nice "Euro" jobs costing much more. Outstanding scope period.

DF, is that Mk5 wearing a McMillan and if so, what is the color scheme?

Thanks, Jack

Bill Davis ( or anyone with medical or perhaps technical insight) can you explain how any scope can eliminate the issue with blurry crosshairs in older eyes? I am having difficulty understanding how one duplex can be defined, but another not, as a result of some quality of glass difference. Just doesn't seem possible ( - not that I am doubting you). Is it perhaps a focal plain thing? An eye relief thing?

I hunted with an elderly gent who had the problem and more recently Dad all but gave up hunting due to it. When he first complained of crooked crosshairs on his duplex I had him look through my thick post Meopta #4 and the problem still hampered him. My work around was getting him a #4 fire dot style where the problem of wavy reticle was removed by, more or less, ignoring the posts altogether.

Anyone else familiar with the wavy crosshair issue?

hmmm. Thought so.

Sorry to answer late, just saw your post.

It's a McWoody, Wby. Express. Formally it was the Sako Safari pattern, MkV inlet. Now they call it the Wby. Express. I got it pillared and glassed it myself.

It's a nice shape and fits me well. Some like the McWoody pattern, some don't.

DF

I'd get an eye doc to check out anyone with the wavy experience. I recently had a vitrectomy for a macular hole, thankfully not in my shooting eye. The symptoms started with wavy lines.

The VX-6 duplex is very prominent, very black compared to some others. It's one of the best, IMO.

DF

I had a similar problem and it was due to severe astigmatism in my right eye. Had laser correction surgery done and it's now perfect.

I am VERY happy this was something you could and did have fixed. My point was that the Meopta posts were at least as thick as the Leupold heavy duplex and Dad still had the issue. Just seems unlikely anything but medical treatment would improve things. Thanks for the responses.

Love mine 3x18x44, gave 860.00 for it. Looking to get another one for a new gun that I am looking at. Leaps and bounds over the VXIII scopes that I have.

I have been playing with a 1-6 and 2-12 and like them both but haven't hunted them yet. I would buy another in either of these power ranges and have considered another for some Kimber Montanas I have been fiddling with. Also, I too really like the duplex in these.

The issue I take with the VX-6 (in my experience) has been QC woes straight out the box on EVERY one I've purchased.

What problems have they had?

The typical/usual beotches about Leupold's not holding zero, not tracking. In addition to canted reticles, and a rheostat not working.

Sir,
I just saw your question about the difference in scopes and the problems with blurry crosshairs in one but not the other. Prior to getting the VX6 I was using VX3 LRs and still do. But I noticed that not all the VX3s would have consistent acuity with respect to the crosshairs. Some would be clear and some not. I am making a guess here based on the difference of the VX6 and the VX3 to MY eyes. It seems to me the VX6 has more available diopter adjustment to the + side for me. But even with the additional diopter adjustment I did not have to use nearly as much adjustment with the VX6. I have to adjust in the direction of being in need of reading glasses for my left eye at + 2.50. Most eyepieces focus only to +2.00.
Also when I had Lasix surgery in the left eye I was left with an aberration on the cornea that makes my vision only correctable to about 20/30. That aberration leaves anything I focus on somewhat blurry including crosshairs. A gas permeable contact helps due to the pressure it hold on the cornea (smoothing out the wrinkle so to speak)but I hate wearing it. So between the better glass of the VX6 and what appears to me to be a wider range of diopter adjustment helps eliminate the blurriness of the crosshairs for me.

And you really didn't have to include your remark about "I didn't think so"...I just didn't see your question in a timely manner. A PM to me would have provided this same explanation.

Bill

I just looked through my first 2-12 VX6 a week ago. The duplex lines weren't clean. The verticle line was a little jagged or "hairy" looking close to the center. First and worst reticle flaw I've ever seen in a Leupold.

I wanted to like it but my confidence in Leupold is slipping as QC slips. Maybe they need to give the inspectors eye exams.

I just bought one of the 2-12's and though I haven't shot the rifle its on yet the scope is sweet. Eye relief is generous, eye box is as well, it doesn't have the wire reticle and the duplex is just about the perfect thickness and the glass is very good. I spent like 45 minutes at Bass Pro comparing the Swaro Z3, HDS5 and VX6 and in the end all things considered the VX6 offered the most bang for the buck seeing as all 3 were in the same price range. It's going on a 257 Roy.