Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Leupold vx3 vs. Swarovski Z3 actual comparision

I recently bought a couple of new scopes,a Leupold vx3 in 3.5-10x50 with a heavy duplex,and a Swarovski Z3 in 4-12x50 with a 4a reticle.

I sighted both in the same day on a pair of Remigton M700s both chambered in 280 Remington.


Optically the scopes were very close,with almost imperceptable differences in color fidelity and resolution. There was maybe a 2% advantage in both with the Swarovski,which admittedly costs about twice as much.

I did much prefer the reticle of the Swarovski,the thin part is thinner than the corresponding part of the heavy duplex,which made it easier to shoot itty bitty groups on paper from a bench. Likewise the thick part of the Swarovski reticle appeared bolder than the heavy section of the heavy duplex making it stand out a little better in low light.

If Leupold would produce a glass etched euro style reticle in 4a or Z plex style,I'm not sure I'd ever buy another Euro scope.

If your hunting needs are met with a regular Leupold duplex,I'd buy two Leupolds instead of one Swarovski.

For hunting in low light,I have to give a slight advantage to the Swaro,better reticle,very slightly better optics.But I have to admit for most folks it's probably not worth the 500 extra bucks.

That's how I see them.

That's my opinion,flame suit on.

How did you focus the Swarovski ?

Very carefully.

Very nice ruraldoc. Thanks for posting actual, in the field, results.

You're a chickens_ _ _ !

Does it look like this:



Or this:


Or this:




I don't find the bold outer sections of the first two to be all that helpful in low light aiming.

I'm Euro scope ignorant.
Does Swarovski offer a lifetime warranty?

It's sort of inbetween your second and third examples,and it does seem to help me when it's really gettin' late.

The only experience I've had with Swaro warranty service was really good.

They fixed things that were my fault quickly,for free.

How did you focus both scopes ? E

Sounds like I may need to try Euro....

I thought he was one of the chosen few you trust ? Remember when he first started posting here and used Zeiss scopes ? He was untrusted then. Now he prefers Leupold's and he became a "trusted" source. That's some measuring stick........laffin

NOBODY is a chosen one IF they suggest that there maybe better scopes then Leupold; especially should they suggest Swaro

for me, optics are pretty comparable in all good scopes, its the innards that we cant see that sometimes separate them

That's the first question I ask a potential outfitter.......Do you recommend Swaro or Leupold scopes ?..............That way I instantly know if I'm dealing with a serious outfitter or a fly by night hack.

I would rather have 2 Leupold VX-3's. I would not have said that last year but I think Leupold is doing a good job with this scope.

I own and hunt both Leupold VX3 and Swaro Z3 scopes. To my eye the Swaro is significantly better in colour cast (doesn't have the Leupie yellow tinge), resolution and contrast. Well worth the additional money IMO.

Jason, I have never looked thru a VX-3 but the VX-III i had a few years back really hung right there with comparable Kahles and Swaro 1" tubes..I dont think the 500 dollar difference is easily viewed(no pun intended)

Do you really mean the VX-3, and not an earlier model like a Vari-X III?

I have four VX-III and one VX-3 Leupolds and don't see a yellow tinge compared to the four different model Swarovskis I have.

I actually focus Leupolds very carefully,and pretty much follow your technique.

The Swaro has a fast focus eyepiece,so I just turn it till things look right.


I have not compared either of these scopes to my Ziess Conquests,but I will really soon.

I can tell you that neither of them is in the same league optically with a big Victory series Ziess,but they cost twice as much as a Swaro Z3.