2-12x42. It's still on the Tikka. That HCR should be here within 2 weeks they say.

Mustn't... lust... for.... VX-6....

I just picked up two 2-12x42 firedot duplex vx-6s. I see that the scope comes with a scopecoat and the lenses covers. I've never used a scopecoat. Are you supposed to use it without anything over the lenses or with the included lenses covers?

JGRaider-did you put something between your scope and the scope rings? It looks that way in the picture.

Those are Sako Optilock rings that have a plastic insert.

JG,

I finally got a sample 2-12x VX-6, but haven't had a chance to run it through the tests yet. Once I do, we''ll have at least a 2-scope comparison!

Well jeez John, PYCOTC and get to it!

Still no words of wisdom regarding the scopecoat?

Throw it in the trash.

I'm really looking forward to hearing what you think about it.

I told my wife last night I wanted one for my birthday, so we'll see. Some years she gets what I ask for, and some years she deliberately gets me something else for a "surprise".

Surprises are nice too, but one way or the other I'll have a VX-6 in late June.

Added: I was thinking non-illuminated 2-12, duplex. I suppose illuminated is $100 more--anybody have an opinion of illum vs non-illum VX-6?

If I'm not mistaken, I believe Leupold uses their "Fire Dot" illuminated system in those VX-6's. Just saying cause the folks I know who have used them seem to like them.

What's a good price on the vx6 2-12x40 plex model? Most places have them listed for $900-$1000. Do you think a Swarovski z3 3-10x40 for $800 is a better scope for the same money?

Have no idea. This is Leupold's first shot at extended zoom scopes, so to me, I like to let time be the tester.

You can get one for $799 pretty easy if you decide on a VX6. Make no mistake, I'm not pushing them on anyone. I'm not a brand loyalist kind of guy. I like what I like no matter the brand. I do like this one so far though.

I've been interested in this scope and haven't heard any bad opinions on it yet. People have said it is has a very good eye box.

For sure it does. That's one of it's major strengths IMO, especially at higher mags. It is very easy to use.

The Swaro is a 3-10x42...

One really big difference is you CANNOT get an upgraded turret for that model Swaro. I have one (the AV version) and it's very nice, but if a fancy turret is something you want, you can scratch it off the list.

That being said, the stock turret is resettable and is very usable out to 600, 700 yards.

The Swaro is lighter.

How many MOA is built into one turn of that Swaro out of curiousity?

JG, I don't know offhand and I'm out in my shop. I'll check later for you.

Scope coat works great to protect the scope in the safe or just general protection but I don't use it for hunting, but it can be used to protect a scope in hunting situations depending how you hunt...just use your imagination!

An observation FWIW. Looked through a couple of the VX-6 and VX-R scopes the other day. The etched Firedot Duplex reticle in the VX-R looked real good. The opening is wider than regular Duplex and both sections just a bit heavier. To me, the VX-R 3-9x40 looked every bit as good as the VX-6 2-12 and had excellent eyebox and relief characteristics. After messing with the Firedot a bit I really want one, previously I'd not given them enough of a chance. Powered off - they are nice and bold. With the dot lit up - throw it up against a dark background and there's not doubt. The VX-6 I handled was the wire non-Firedot Duplex... On the fence for a VX-R 2-7 or 3-9. Email back from Leupold said that 2-7 and 3-9 but not 4-12 VX-Rs are M1 compatible and any Firedot reticle can be switched out. OT

That 4-12x40 VX-R w/ fire dot duplex does come with CDS though, if that matters.

Anyone using butler creeks on a vx6? Didn't know if it was possible with the fast focus eyepiece.

If you end up picking one of those up, I'd like to take a peek through it sometime.

JG, my 3-10x42 AV has 14 MOA in a revolution.

<edit: stop here if you don't want to read my tired blathering!>

It's enough to get me further than I'd shoot at game on the rifle it's on (a light 7WSM) and I appreciate them supplying it as-issued with a slick little resettable finger-turn turret... on the downside the markings are limited, and it'd certainly be nice if an upgrade path existed. It's far from ideal but tracks great and in the end, I can hit stuff with it quite effectively out to 500 or so.. I did shoot it further last fall, with mixed results (750 yards is a long [bleep]' ways away!) and intend to this spring/summer as the noggin allows.

I run it with a redneck CDS setup so the lame markings (they only go up to 8 MOA) don't really matter.

Those VX6's horn me up; I'm following your reports on yours with great interest.

JeffO, thank you sir ! If it weren't already mounted I'd send it to you for you to check it out.

I thought all VX-6 scopes had etched reticles?

Sure. I'm having a hard time resisting.


JM, Not 100% certain. Thought the VX-6 regular Duplex models are just like all the other non-illuminated Leupy Duplex, wire. But I've been browsing Midwayusa and their site says wire, maybe got that idea there? Just fired off an email to Leupold and will report.

The duplex reticle is etched. Not sure about the ill. ones.

I would be interested when you hear back. Thanks for checking on something I hadn't even thought of yet!

incorrect, the duplex is an electroform reticle

Leupold uses etched reticles for their B&C type offerings and in their heavy duty use tactical scopes due to their extra strength.

OK if you say so, but I can tell you it looks slightly different than a VX3 plex reticle. Also, it stays black all the time.

yep, it should. they are converting all their duplex reticles to the electroform. i was curious about the "black all the time" comment so i called them and they told me that they are now blackening the reticle. they stated that this cuts down on internal light refraction, and increases low light visibility of the reticle.

Gotta be some catchy new trademark name attached to them actually blackening a reticle. I'd be disappointed otherwise.

Ultra-wave Blackened Reticle Deposition...

So the ones that will look amber sometimes are wire, and the nice black ones are deposited, and the nice black with Firedot are etched? Still awaiting info.

Seriously, does it really matter?

Come on bro you have to admit that all the new names everytime they make some minor change is knida funny. If not I'll help you look for your sense of humor.

FWIW, I was very seriously considering a new VX-6 for my 300 WM based in part on your reports. I'm probably going to go the 6500 route just because of the Rainguard HD though and slightly more ER.

Pretty close.

How about Zombie hardened Ultra-wave Blackened Reticle Deposition...

Gotta get the word "hard" in there....


dave

I wasn't referring to the marketing hype type posts. I think they're funny too. I was referring to the etched vs wire question. I could really care less which one it is myself.

FYI, since the mexicans are "out babying" us white boys at an alarming rate, and they make up more of the US population nowadays than ever, I vote for alambre del negro....

Yah, thinking so myself. The Firedot Duplex looks great and it's one of the newest Pulsed Neutrino Abrasion Etched Reticles available...

I need to make a correction.

The turret on my 3-10x42 AV has 15 MOA/rev, not the 14 I reported.

No, RD. Leupold has used and still uses etched reticles wherever they require the precise placement of thing like Mil-Dots for ranging/holdover/hold off type reticles. They are used in the Varmit Hunter Reticle for instance.
I think I saw something to the effect that all the reticles used in the VX-6 are etched. But I'm sure about that.
Leupold found that their etched designs were just as strong as their older wire designs. They went to the electroform design because it tested stronger still. Should save them money in the long run and make for happier customers. E

Only telling what Leupold said that their strongest design is the etched they use in their M4 series. Maybe you should call them and tell them they're wrong.

I'm using a 6X36 std. duplex etched (Custom Shop ordered) and a 6X36 electroformed std. duplex and I can tell you with "first hand" experience the etched is bolder and sharper, doesn't turn bronze in non perfect lighting conditions and goes much deeper into late shooting hours. By saying much deeper in late shooting hours I'm talking about Yotes with lights. Just spent some time in Texas shooting late evening pigs and probably sold some more etched reticles for Leupold as the boys were very impressed with the first hand experience. Could have sold the scope on the spot for a couple Benjamins more than I bought it for!!!

Dig deep into the tech department, have a couple discussions with the Leupold folks on etched reticles and then ask the folks what their shooting!!!

RD, what you missed was that some of their toughest scopes, as far as impact resisitance goes, are some of their Mk.4 scopes, not their so called M4 scopes. Some of which are tested at 1500 g's, 5000 times. This is done to insure that those scopes suffer no broken parts, including reticles. They use electroform reticles in those scopes which can use them because they hold up even better. The Mk.4 scopes can't use the electroform designs because they can't precisely place things like Mil-dots, and the hash marks of the TMT designs with the electroform process.
And that's the difference as they explained it to me. E

Funny nobody else that understands low light testing has found that to be true. And since when is low light shooting the same as shooting coyotes with lights. E

Hey Errorcus...Nobody is a pretty broad word!!!

Yotes with lights, piggy's, not so much...

Mark 4 Std. Duplex is etched too!

Any kind of night hunting with a loopie is like taking a knife to a gun fight.
dave

Dave,

Though your point is valid, taking a knife to a gunfight is OK if it happens at night (gunfight) and the guns happen to be loopie scoped...

Aic

You guys kill me.....my neighbor and I have shot hundreds of pigs, bobcats, foxes and 'yotes at night with a VXII, VX3, FX3, Conquest, and Elite. Good try though.

Thanks Tripper. I'm going to get a 2-12 before the fall.

Done made me mind up.

I want one!

Just don't have a landing place for it. What are you putting it on, JM?

Good - I'm happy to convolute an optics topic anytime

Hoping for a VX-R myself, yet somehow I've ended up ordering a couple Vortex Vipers!

oregontripper,



I love a man who is committed.

Jeff, sticking it on a PAC nor rebarrelled A-Bolt in .257 Roy.

Dave, I've shot well over 100 pigs at night out of farm fields. A large percentage of them were sent to the here after using Leupold Vari-X and VX II's in 3-9.

Jm

Pac-Nor will slum a A-bolt?! The horror! I hope they keep them segregated from the real rifles so's we don't end up with weird halfbreeds.






J/K. I kind of like A-bolts. Couple of them in our elk camp.

Sounds like a great setup. I'm all hung up on whether to try my next rebarrel myself or not (there's a small mountain of lathe tooling in the way) and so, don't currently have anything in the works. And everything I've got scoped up-- from Vx3's through Conquests and my line Swaro AV-- is working well so I can't really justify a VX6

But I want one, and if past history is a predictor, that means I'll own one!

I think a VX-6 is in my future but I never have liked the wire reticles, I agree with liv2hunt that the etched reticles are bolder and darker.

No question etched are better. Leupold uses them in their top of the line scopes. They use them in their tactical scopes because they're stronger too.

I just mounted up my two VX6s and wondered if it was normal to see the barrel of each respective gun at 2 power? One is mounted on a cva apex with high deadnutz rings and the other is mounted on an a bolt with leupold medium rings. Is this just an issue with having it set on 2 power? I don't see it when I turn it to 3 power.

The 2-7x Burris on my Whelen does the same thing.

Mine does the same thing at 2x.

...as do mine, but I'm not one of those professional, hard charging, hunters that use a fixed 6 power.

the fire-dot model has an etched duplex

Finally got to test a VX-6 2-12x42 on my night chart. It rated an 8, which is as high as any scope has ever tested, which wasn't surprising since the VX-7 2.5-10x also tested 8.

Now I just have to put it on a hard-kicking rifle and see how the adjustments work after a few dozen rounds!

Mule Deer,

Thanks for the info.

Thanks for that info John. What reticle did that scope come with ? How would the reticle work in low light (assuming it wasn't a Fire Dot)

Plain Duplex.

Good grief....you're starting to sound like someone else on here.Which ain't good.

Just ordered a new VX-6 in 1.5x6 yesterday for my new Win 70 Safari 375 H&H. I hope to wring it out a little this weekend. I'll also spend some time in the back yard scoping the tree line bout 200 yards from my back deck & the local deer herd that usually shows there right at dusk just to see how it compares.

The exit pupil's only going to be 4mm at 6x, so it might not be all that bright.

I just got in one of the 1-6x24's a few days ago, and might run the night-chart test on it, despite the small objective.

Mule Deer,

Please do.

Just trying to keep the Optics section light and friendly Bob............

Mule Deer, Please let us know how it does on your chart. I'm open to recommendations for a good, bright, lower power variable. As stated the VX-6 will be going on my 375 H&H for use on African game and big bears so I really don't expect to be chasing em at dark. If I do use it as such I have a Zeiss Diavari 2.5x10x50 I'll pop on in Tally QDs. 163bc

Thanks for the info MD. Glad to know my eyes haven't been fooling me on this scope. I just spent a couple of days at the deer lease with the Tikka/VX6. The adjustments were spot on (again, as this is the 7th or 8th "session" I've had with it) out to 825 yards and every where in between. It will be interesting to see how it holds up.

Couldn't stand it any longer. Just ordered a 2-12x duplex.
Now to have the CDS dial made.
I noticed that the Custom Shop can adjust the parallax correction
for a small fee. Any thoughts on having that changed from the basic 150yd. setting?
Thanks.

wsmnut

Hit the range this afternoon with my brand spankin new VX-6 1x6 w/ illuminated duplex reticle. Was very impressed!! This is a very well build and well thought out scope. Performance at the range was flawless.163bc

I've had the VX-6 2-12x42 on a 378 for a while now and have convinced myself it's one of the best big game sights I've ever used. Just ordered a CDS dial for it this week and will put it to good use this year in Wyoming. I'm really impressed with this sight and am thinking it will be a fine replacement for the now discontinued Zeiss Victory 2.5-10x42mm.

... which I cannot BELIEVE Zeiss discontinued....

Me neither! I currently have 4 and would buy more at the right price. As much as I like the VX-6 I have faith in the trusted Victory and prefer the FFP #4 reticle.

Does anybody know the release date on the VX-6 3-18 or 4-24?