Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics VX2 vs. VX3

Has anyone had the chance to compare the new Leupold VX2 alongside the new Leupold VX3? I've heard great things about the optics in the VX3, but I'm not sure the difference is needed. I won't be spinning turrets or anything like that; I'm going to re-scope my wife and daughter's turkey shotguns. On occasion, turkeys have flown down and started feeding right at legal shooting time, and I couldn't see them that well w/out my scope.

I have both, and both are great scopes but the only complaint I have is the vx2 does not have a locking focus ring. So it easily gets out of focus when packing or atleast it did for me last elk season.

Eyerelief on the new VX2 is 1/2 less than the model it replaced if that is important to you.

Not so much really; on the lower power end, where the scopes will probably stay, the eye relief is still over 4".

I am hesitant to post this...but I am not a turrent twister either. I hunt south GA, and my longest shot in 35+ years has been around 225 yards. 95% of my shots are less than 150 yards, and 90% of those shots are less than 100 yards. I can pick up deer through my Vari X and older VX2 3-9x40 scopes long after I can see the deer via my necked eye.
I have or have pretty much all of the leupold up grades, beginning with the Vari X 3 with the blue (flouride?) exterior coating.

I have never been in a hunting situation where I put my VX2 scoped rifle up to my shoulder and thought, "Man, I wish I had one of my VX3s.

I have not purched one the the new VX2s but I have examined two on friends rifles. I was satisifed with the former VX2s, but I don't know that if for the purposes you described I would chose a VX3 over one.

The fact remains that they are just turkey shotguns. Leupold puts their turkey-plex reticle in their new VX1 line. The difference is $100.00 per scope. I can buy a lot of Federal Flite-Control HW shells for $200.00 when you consider that turkey hunting is not a high-volume shooting proposition.

Your logic is sound to me.

I have have bought both in the last few months....IMHO the VX2 holds up very well. You would not be able to shoot a turkey with one that you couldn't shoot with the other

On a turkey gun I'd use the VX-1 in a 1-4X and be happy. I also have a 2012 production VX-2 in a 3-9X40. The current VX-2 production scopes starting in 2012 are much improved. I have older VX-3's and I cannot see where I'd be able to use the advantages of anything more expensive than this VX-2. It is a darn good scope.

Agreed that the newest VX-2's are very impressive scopes.

I can't see any reason to spend more money. I love my VX-2s

I used to buy mostly VX-II scopes and now have one each of the newer VX2 and VX1 in 3-9X40. I think both are adequately bright for what I do and prefer the locking focusing ring of the VX1 over the fast focus eye piece of the VX2. For me the new VX1 is a great value.

And they got rid of the cheesy "Leupold" logo on the side of the scope and replaced it with a Leupold medallion.

In the early morning under heavy canopy the VX3 will give you a good edge. Open country, not much difference.

That is a precise description of where we turkey hunt...

So, the $64,000.00 question is; is the VX3 ($399.00) rather than the VX2 ($299.00) worth the extra $100.00 per scope?

My daughter could probably get by with the VX2, 1-4x20, but my lovely bride needs all the advantage she can get, (w/out spending $1K+ for a turkey scope) I.e., the VX3, 1.5-5x20.

If you buy the VX2, you will have this doubt in your mind and wonder if you should have bought the VX3.

Think about it, $100 is a tank of gas and a sandwich. You probably wouldn't give that a second thought but worry about spending the same amount on a scope that will last your lifetime.

It was for me.

Isn't that the truth. Sometimes, $100 won't even fill the tank, much less the sandwich.

I've owned a number of XV2s but have always wanted an XV3. I'm picking up my first one this afternoon. It's worth the $100 to me not to be always thinking I should take the step up. Better to just take the step.

Just for clarification if your talking VX2 3-9x40 vs VX3 3.5-10x40 (closest comparison) its not $100 its $180 difference.

No, I was comparing the VX2, 1-4x20 to the VX3, 1.5-5x20.

(I'm going to get two VX3's for my girls)

Gotcha.....my bad.

No problem sir!

AlaskaCub,

It's O.K. to make mistakes here. It't the 'net where everyone does it.

If you are really interested in low light performance, I'd get a larger scope. Like the 2-7X33 models. Even a VX1.
A 33mm scope would transmit about 67% more light. That would allow you to use over 6X during twilight. The best you can do with a 20mm scope is 4X. E

A looooong turkey shot is 60 yards; the vast majority are shot at 40 yards or closer. I don't think magnification will be an issue. In fact, they'll probably have the scopes on the lowest end anyway - 1.5X. Why not a simple red-dot then? My wife can't see well enough through the best red-dots. The VX3 glass is much better than the best red-dot glass available.

I think you'd be best served by getting the 2.5 fixed.

I think you'd be better served with fiber optics open sights.

*sigh*

I don't know how many ways I can say it; my lovely bride of 25 years has less than adequate eye sight.

She needs the vision correction (Diopter correction) of the ocular, and the vision "boost" of very good, multi-coated glass.

A scope that you can see things through that you could not make out with the naked eye.

Given a good scope she can shoot very well. Open sights are a non-starter.

Throw your Hensoldt on there.
That should provide all the quality she could ever hope for.

Thousands of comedians out of work and you're trying to break into their ranks; don't quit your day job.

Are you saying your 72mm Hensoldt is a joke?

In that case, it sounds like she would benefit from a lot better glass than the VX3.

OK, I'll knock down that straw man just because I like you; yes, putting ANY Hensoldt on a turkey shotgun would be a joke. Putting one with a 72mm Objective on a turkey shotgun would peg the silly meter.

...and no, I'm not saying my Hensoldt is a joke, but, you knew that.

Who makes a scope with a lot better glass that doesn't cost $2K or more?

The 2.5x will get the job done and be the easiest for her to use.

Will the 2.5X be the optical equal to the VX3 under that dark canopy right at first legal shooting time?