Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics What's the deal with the VX-3 4.5-14x40?

Ok, let me start off by saying that I've searched, googled, you name it! My intention is not to start a battle on the forum, but one of the problems I've come across researching the internet is there is too much info out there. I have more questions now then before...

Here's the deal - I am in the market for two new scopes. One for a 22-250 (coyote gun) and the other for a 257 Wby Mag (big game gun). I had been leaning toward the VX-3 4.5-14 with CDS, but I started looking closely at the specs and didn't like the FOV at the lowest setting. Odd that other brands in the same power range tend to have a slightly better FOV. This triggered hours and hours of searching to discover that this particular Leupold is not held in high regard. The rest of the VX-3 line has respect, just not that one model.

So, what's the deal? Is this the "lemon" in the VX-3 lineup, or am I seeing extreme opinions? The nearest store is 100 miles away, so it's tough for me to hop on down to the store and have a look.

1) With both guns being "long range" calibers, I would hate to not have "enough" scope on them. But, what is "enough"?

2) Do all 4.5-14 scopes have similar issues? Monarch? Conquest? Etc., or is this a Leupold issue?

3) For the 257 Wby, I am not after a 1,000 yard gun, regardless of the rounds capability. I would like to be capable at 500 yards if necessary. Of course, a 100 yard shot is preferred, but out here in the west on public land, you have to play the hand you're dealt. Sometimes that means a shot at 300 yards or greater. Would a 3.5-10 VX-3 be sufficient on this gun, or is it not "enough" scope?

4) For the 22-250, I've shot coyotes from 50 ft to 300 yards. What is enough scope for that gun? I currently have a 3-9 vari-x II on it now (going on my son's gun), but find that even at 9x a coyote at 300 yards is still pretty small, I wouldn't mind a little more, but not at the expense of optical quality.

5) I would love nothing but Conquests or better on all my rifles, but that's tough to do financially. I've got a Conquest on my 300 win mag, and it's awesome. But, I also got it when Conquests were new to the market, and they were actually less $$ than a vari-x III. My Conquest was $440 new in 2003, it is now $700. At the same time, I do want a quality scope on both guns.

6) Should I stay in the 14x range, and look to another brand? Should I go to a 10x max power, for which the VX-3 seems to have the goods for?

BTW - You'll notice that I didn't even bring up the topic of reticles vs. turrets. That's another thing that has my head swimming....

1" 3.5-10x M1 non-A/O Duplex....................

It's a great scope I have had several. You are worrying to much about nothing. The VX-3 3.5-10x40 would be great too.

I couldn't cite the worst variable they make,as being a candidate for anything,other than avoidance.

Whether it 1" or 30mm................

its junk

Yeh and 10x is a excellent choice for 1000 yards.... LOL

I like 10x quite a bit farther than that.

Rather like a 6x at 1K..................

I have used the 4.5x14x40 in either the vari-x or vx series for years. It is my favorite scope for hunting and range work.

I do not like the vx3 4.5x14x40 cds because of no AO. If the scope had the AO it would be just as good as any VX3 scope. I called Leupold about why the cds does not have a AO and they said it was simply to keep the cost down.

If you are going to buy a 4.5x14x40 make sure it has a AO and it will be a great scope.

Dink

I have a 3.5-10 x 40 cds, 4.5-14x40 cds and a 4.5-14x44 conquest with rapid z 800 on a .257 wby. The conquest is much better, has wider fov, AO, larger obj, and better glass than the 4.5-14 leupy. The 3.5-10 vx3 is really nice and it sits on my 30-06. Very nice scope and shoots well with the cds to 600 easily. I know the glass is the same on them but the 3.5-10 has a much more pleasant view. I just don't like e 4.5-14 cds. It's on a .270 and tracks really well but I don't like the view as much.
Lee

on my 22-250, I have a VX II 4-12X fine duplex A/O and it workd great for coyotes. I have shot coyotes to beyond 300 yards with it.

My 257 weatherby is a deer/antelope rifle that has a Zeiss conquest 3.5-10X one it. It's not a 1000 yaard scope nor am I a 1000 yard shooter.

I do give my self a good kick now and then for not buying a boatload of Conquest 3-9x40 @ $289 when Doug was selling demos. Could be a lot closer to retirement now!!

Thanks everyone for the great advice! I know I do tend to worry about things too much. I just would hate for the muley of my dreams to be sitting at 600 yards, and me saying "damn, I shoulda bought the X scope instead of the Y scope." I say that, even though I could hunt the rest of my life and never come up with that situation.

The coyotes do tend to hang up right around 400 yards though...bastards! Maybe I should spend more time working on my calling technique and worry less about the scope?!?!

VX-3 3.5-10x40 is the pick of that litter. I got the CDS, but haven't played with it yet. The Conquest 3-9x40 is a bargain at present. It's actually less than the VX-3 3.5-10x40. 10X is a lot of scope. Back in the day, that's about the best we had for our .222's, etc. Now, it seems, everyone need mega power for everything. You can zap that 400 yd. target without the necessity for 14 power. A bunch of folks on this forum favor the 6x42 and it's hard to make many points against such a glass.

IMHO,

DF

Agar426: Based on MY real life, extensive, in the field, at the range, in bad conditions and in ROUGH conditions useage the VX-3 4.5x14 is VERY hard to beat!
I love mine!
Be very dubious of ANYONE who decries the fine Leupold 4.5x14!
I have used them afield on virtually everything from Ground Squirrels to Elk and have as yet to notice a shortcoming of any kind!
And, I am like you, I do most of my Hunting on public lands - the 14 power high end comes in handy rather often.
Good luck with whichever scope you choose!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Dale, what's the largest caliber you've used them on ?

So, can I safely say that while there's better glass out there in the 4.5-14x range, the Leupold itself isn't "bad" glass? It's just not the best in that particular category?

My heart's not set on the Leupold....on the contrary, I'm trying to swing the $ for the Conquest. In case I have to bring down the amount I can spend, I just wanted to get the most for my $, and not end up saying "I shoulda bought the xxxxx instead of the yyyyy." The bottom line is that the scope has to do primarily one thing well...hold zero. After that, glass quality is next, then bells and whistles after that. This is going on a hunting rifle, not a bench rest rifle.

I truly appreciate all the comments. It's nice getting real world accounts from users. Specs on paper tell a lot, but nothing substitutes real world experience.

Between the (2) 4.5-14's I've had much better luck with the Zeiss in both holding zero and glass quality. The big sway in the VX-3 eye relief 4.5-14 is a turn off to me. The VX-3 3.5-10 is much better. If your going to go to the lower magnification, is doesn't make sense not to buy the 3-9X40 Conquest!

It would definitely be a much easier decision if the Conquest 4.5-14 wasn't almost twice as much, well not quite, but close (I can get the Leupold for wholesale, but not the Zeiss).

You could get a zeiss 4.5-14 for only about $200 more than the leupold. Nothing wrong with buying a demo that's like new with full warranty.

Agreed, anyone that says the 4.5 x 14 is better than the 3.5 x 10 hasn't used both of them. If you are a hunter and not just a target shooter the 3.5 has it all over 4.5. Can't go wrong with a Conquest either, in my opinion they are a better mouse trap, particularly in 3x9x40 form.