5x is plenty for me to connect at 300 yards, no problem at all. I like the format of the 1.5-5x20 Leupolds, but at first and last light they don't hang in as well as my 6x42's.
This was my experience as well. I had a Vari-X III 1.5-5x20 on a short action 700 until two years ago, and was happy with it. I had to quit hunting a little earlier than with other scopes, but that didn't really bother me. I replaced it with an IOR Valdada 4x33 that I stumbled across. I'm likely to put the old scope on a Marlin 1895 when I get around to it.
