Hey folks, I would like someone to tell me the difference between the VARI-X and the VX line of scopes and which line is better? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

The older Vari-X series of scopes have been replaced by the newer VX series. The VX scopes are supposed to have a different type of lens coating and better light transmission, among other things. The models that used to have adjustable objective (front) lenses, not have a slide focus turret instead, at least in the VX-III series. Generally, the VX's are upgraded over the old ones.

|VARI-X I|__|VARI-X II|__|VARI-X III|
____________| VX-I |____| VX-II |___| VX-III |

At least, that seems to be how they line up.

Let me shine a little light on this.

Basically:
Rifleman = Vari X-IIc
VX-II = Vari X-III

The Rifleman is the Vari X-IIc in a newly designed maintube with threading for the Alumina products.

The VX-I has Multicoat4 on the outside lenses and the micro-friction 1/4 MOA adjustments that make it different from the Vari X-IIc. It also is threaded for the Alumina products.

The VX-II has the multicoat4 lens system all the way through and the 1/4 MOA "coin" click adjustments. Basically making it the Vari X-III packaged in a Vari X-II maintube. It has the fast focus eyepiece and is threaded for the Alumina products.

The VX-III has the index matched lens system and the 1/4 MOA finger click adjustments all in the Vari X-III maintube. Of course, it has the fast focus eyepiece and is threaded for the Alumina products.

We re-introduced the AO on the 4.5-14x40mm this year.

There are no real apples to apples comparisons to make here, but the Rifleman price dropped $20 off of the Vari X-IIc price and added the threading. The VX-I added the micro-friction 1/4 MOA adjustments, Multicoat4 external lenses and the threading for the same price as the Vari X-IIc, the X-II has the functionality of the Vari X-III with the fast focus eye-piece and the threading for about $150.00 less and the VX-III has the Index Matched lenses system, 1/4 MOA finger click adjustments, fast focus eye-piece and the threading for about the same price as the Vari X-III.

Hope this helps.

Leupold,

What's the difference in the new range finders? The RX-1 and RX-2? Is it the inclination?

Leupold,

Somewhere I'd gotten the idea that the optical design of the lenses themselves of the Vari-X III was superior to that of the Vari-X II. This is before coatings, clicks, and maintube construction get involved. Am I off base on this?

mathman

Good Lord, Rick should make this topic a sticky.

In my opinion the differnece is alot of money and little optical gain.

When you say "fast focus eyepiece" do you mean like the European scopes?

It's arranged like an older Leupold where the whole ocular piece turns and there's a lock ring. The fast part comes from a coarser thread pitch which allows you to home in on your setting with fewer turns of the eyepiece.

David,

The inclinometer is the main difference. The RX-II also has 1st and last target and rain mode.

Mathman,

No, you are correct and this is a good point. Speaking technically the lens design of the Vari X-III/VX-III is superior to the Vari X-II/Rifleman/VX-I/VX-II. However, the major difference is in the lens coatings. I should have been more liberal with the use of the word "basically."

Bill,

Honestly, the idea of making an adjustment that is intended to be made once and then left alone "fast" makes little sense. However, some European optics manufacturers and others have designed different styles of "fast focus"eyepieces and marketed them as a selling point. There really isn't one specific European design.

Leupold simply turned a one start thread into a four start thread that causes the diopter adjustment to move four times further per revolution.

All I want to know is if Leupold can index match the lens, eclipse the front bell, and Multicoat4 everything, why in hell can't they make a 3x scope again? Same length as the previous version please.........

Amen. I'm softening that target right now...no promises.

All I want to know is why they put that tacky gold ring on their scopes.

Put me down for a half dozen 3x's, "tacky gold ring" and all.

I need at least one (375 H&H) and maybe three (45-70 and 44 mganum lever)of the 3x scopes. Please makes them in FX-III format.

BMT

Are the internal adjustments on the Vari-X III, the VX-II and VX-III the same; ie... do all have the same tracking/repeatability qualities? I have read that the VX-II doesn't repeat adjustments as well, but I have not had any problems with mine. Al

The VX-II uses the same adjustments as the Vari X-III. The VX-III has finger click adjustments. I can't speak to situational problems someone might have, but inherent or design problems are short lived. It simply costs too much to fix a bad product under warranty. Problems found through quality testing or customer feedback are sent to continuation engineering to be addressed. The adjustments you are speaking of have been used in Vari X-IIIs since 1981.

+1
I don't even TRY to compete for them on the used market! There are some pretty fast and dedicated shoppers out there.

For as many times as this comes up, perhaps this should be a sticky.

Steelie,

+ a brazillion!

Best Regards

Who digs this chitt up 1 year and 6 months later?

Um, that'd be me!

Didn't really "dig it up" so much as came across it from a link in another thread.

But really, how many times has this or very similar question been posted?

+1

... and make sure it is the same (long) length as the old one!

Some of the scopes that I would otherwise buy (Leupold 2.5) are too bloody short to mount on a real rifle (a long action 375 H&H for example!) without ugly extension mounts.

John

Given the glass and coatings of today, along with other design evolutions in the scope business, I would bet that Leupold would have a very hard time making a 3x scope today that has the same length as the old ones. In fact, I would bet that task would be daunting, and not cost effective.

Don