Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Standard Duplex or Heavy Duplex for low light situation?

Originally I installed a Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36mm with the Boone & Crockett on the 375 Ruger Guide Gun. Now thinking about putting that scope on the Remington 721 300 H&H. Thinking about getting another VX3 2.5-8x36mm with the duplex and sending it back to Leupold Custom Shop and have them install the Heavy Duplex in it. I would use the Boone & Crockett more on the 300 H&H more then the 375 Ruger. Would you stick with the standard duplex or send it out for the heavy duplex in low light situation?

I like the heavy...low light is a lot more important to me than long range precision (the most common complaint I have heard about heavy duplex is the reticles u tends too much of the target - which I have never found to be an issue)

I'd buy a 1.75-6x with a Heavy duplex and save the coin or a 2-7x Shotgun scope.

I really like the heavy duplex reticles and have them on rifles I tend to use in the timber/swamps when low light shots are a good possibility. If I was set on a 2.5-8x36 I would send it in.

I called Leupold last week and their current estimated turn around time was 4 weeks or so. If you want to use the 375 this year, buy the standard duplex, hunt this season, and ship it to Leupold later for the heavy. This would give you the chance to see if you are satisfied with the standard. However, you won't go wrong with swapping for the modest price Leupold charges.

I have only looked through a couple Leupold w/heavy duplex and (IMHO)they were too thick. Maybe they've changed, it's been several years ago but I remember thinking they are chunky.



Obviously subjective, have you had a chance to compare the reticles?

The P&D is a nice way to roll.

I would go with a heavy duplex for hunting with a larger bore.

My own choice with two otherwise identical scopes has been standard duplex on a .308 for general use including plinking and amusing people off the bench and heavy duplex in a .375 bore for hunting appropriate game. I don't plan for ground squirrels or coyotes at the edge of timber with the larger bore. For low light with a larger medium bore like the .375 Ruger I'd seriously consider a lighted reticule or German #3 or something beyond duplex.

I would rather a standard than heavy, for the hunting I do. A P&D can be ordered with a "thin" middle wire, and that's a pretty good all-around setup.

I'm not a fan of that particular VX3. Especially on a H&H length action. Eye relief varies a lot through the power range IME. The 2.5-8x36 and 2-7x33 tubes come up short also. I prefer a straight tube model.

That said, I do like the heavy duplex. I have 4 Leupys with HD. They are for low light on larger critters. They work superbly in that capacity.

My Knight muzzleloader has a VX2 3-9x40 HD. 444 Marlin VXIII 1.5-5x20 HD. Rem 700 35 Colonel VX3 1.5-5x20 HD, and Rem 141 .35 Rem VX1 2-7x33 shotgun scope HD. They are set up accordingly.........

Have you considered an illuminated reticule?
That's my preference for low light.

I have one scope with the heavy duplex and don't really care for the reticle. A #4 or post and duplex is a better choice for a low light reticle. A 2.5x8 VX3 also wouldn't be my choice for a low light scope, I've got a couple and find them to be lacking in low light. I don't know why, but the 1.75x6 and 3.5x10's seem to be brighter.

I also have a Remington 721 in .300 H&H and I put a VX-3 2.5-8x36 on it to save a little weight. It worked out very well.

Most Europeans who have experience on such matters would consider any Leupold scope "lacking" in low light conditions. Personally unless I'm shopping for lightest scope, dangerous game scope, or target scope I don't look at their products.

I personally have several high end European scopes and primarily hunt low light situations. I don't find the European scopes that far ahead of Leupold, especially for the cost differential. If you run out of light with a VX-2 or a VX-3, you are hunting past legal American hunting hours, period!

If the 2.5-8X36, VX3 can't be had in a Heavy Duplex, you can order the scope direct from the custom shop with one installed. I've done that with other scopes.
The Heavy Duplex works so well I rarely find nightime conditions where it won't work in my 6X42's. A larger objective scope should work quite well when set at 6X for US legal shooting. If it doesn't, you can use JJHack's trick. Turn the magnification down from 6X until you can see the reticle.
On the target range, you might find the one inch thick thin section a bit annoying. But in the field, against big game or large varmits, it simply isn't a problem. The other advantage it has is that the eye seems to pick it up faster than the thinner reticles. E

Making your own targets to suit the reticle works quite well. I've shot 300 yard, five shot groups in the .5 to .6 MOA range with the 1.75-6x32 and its thick version of the heavy duplex.

I have 2 scopes with the post & duplex and one with the heavy duplex. I like them both but the post & duplex more. The heavy duplex may have an edge if you are shooting long distance and hold over.

These targets work well with the thicker reticles at 100 yards.
http://www.thompsontarget.com/Products/scope_diagnostic/scope3.html

Thanks for the replies, I got the VX3 2.5-8x36mm with the duplex mounted tonight. Will hunt elk with it this year and I will decide whether to send it in for the heavy duplex.