Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Difference between Leupold 6x36 and 6x42.

G'Day,

I am quite fond of the Leupold 6x36 scope and have several on my rifles (.257 Roberts AI, 7x57 and 7x64). I was thinking of buying another one to go on a 6.5x57 I'm going to put together this year. I was checking online and got reminded that there is also the 6x42 scope as well. I've never had the opportunity to look through one and compare it to the lower spec 6x36. For those that have, is their a significant difference between the two scopes? My preference is for smaller trim little scopes with objectives less than 40mm (4x33, 6x36, 2-7x33, 2.5-8x36 and the Swaro Z3 3-9x36).

So for those that have compared the two scopes, is there a huge difference optically between the two?

Thanks.

PS: No Leupold hating comments please.

Check the reticles. I’ve heard the 6x42 is only available in wide duplex now. I have a 6x42 a few years old that I really like. Can’t say how it compares to a 6x36 though.

I have both the 6x36 and 6x42 with the LRD and like them pretty much the same. If anything, I like the way the 6x36 looks on the rifle a bit more.

I have 3 6x42s and more than that 6x36s, but not sure of the actual number. I have hunted with both for quite some time.

Actual differences:
- You can’t get new Leupold Alumina scope covers for a 6x42 any more. Only the 6x36.
- The 6x36 has a longer scope body. If you are mounting on a long action you might need extended bases for a 6x42, but the 6x36 is more flexible for mounting length.
- The 6x36 wide duplex appeared on Leupold’s discontinued items list this month. As of today it’s still listed on the website but it could be going away.

Not really differences:
- Glass quality. The 6x42 image is a touch better but the difference isn’t noticeable in the field. And even at the range I can’t see all bullet holes with either scope from 100 yards.
- weight/size are roughly the same. The 6x42 is a touch larger but they both work with low rings.

Reticles:
- in my opinion the wide duplex is terrible! Almost seems like Leupold wanted the 6x36 to fail so they put the worst reticle they had as the standard.

v/r
Joel

I really like the 6X36 but I read the discontinued list and tried to find one on line to buy, none available! Campfire readers must have made a run on them!

Thanks for the replies. Leupold have been offering the 6x36 for ever. That's a shame that it's going.

I have a number of both, use them heavily. The only caveat I make is that all but one of mine are the M8 series that has been more reliable for me. The lone more recent scope is an FXII 6x36 with LRD, and it resides happily on a light .270 and has been excellent.

The view and comfort behind the 6x42s may be a touch better with a slightly more forgiving eye box, and I use these extensively as well. I especially like the M8s since about ‘92 as they have multi coated lenses. I don’t care for flip up caps, so the Alumina business doesn’t matter (I use bikinis on everything). I do agree that the wide duplex reticle is lousy.

Once zero’ed, I have found these scopes very reliable.

My experience with the 6x42mm (FX-III and FX-3) vs 6x36mm (FX-II) is that the 6x42mm has a very slight edge in low light situations and a slightly easier eyebox to get behind...but for a weight conscience rifleman, these slight advantages come at about 1/4 pound more weight.

My 6x42's weighed about 14oz (13.7oz IIRC) where my 6x36's weighted right at 10oz (9.9oz exactly). I had no issue mounting either scope on a long action rifle (M70 in my case) with regular Talley lightweight mounts. And for a while, I even had the 6x42 on a couple of Ruger #1 rifles (which really push the scope forward) without a need for offset bases. A testament to the 6x42mm's generous eye relief.

Have mutiples of both, like both, really tough for me to tell the difference.

X2