My brother is considering the Leupold VX-R.

What level glass does the VX-R series have, is it VX3 or VX2?

Thanks,

Dan

Vx-2 I believe. I own 3 VX-R's. Great scopes for the money and my favorite hunting scope.Bought all 3 off e-bay for $300-$350ea and that's new in box. You will pay more for a 4-12x.

That’s what I’ve been told.

But, VX-2’s are pretty close to VX-3’s from what I’ve observed.

DF

My 4-12x rated a 7+ on my night-time optics chart test--which is what a 6x42 FX-3 rated.

7+ is very good; no scope has ever rated better than 8 in the test.

Love my 4x12 VX-R. It’s my favorite night time scope for shooting pigs here at the Ranch.

I need to thin some.
What kinda light source? The green “hunter” lights? Q-beam. Full moon?

It’s pretty bright with just a full moon. But I usually use a green light for varmints & pigs.

I use a 4x12-50 on nightime hogs - love that scope .
Glass is great .
I've seen a couple in the classifieds here that didn't sell very fast - kind of puzzled me .

Why would anybody want to buy a VX6 when the VX-R is available. I have 2 of them and they are my favorite.

I talked with Leopold about my two VX-R’s, wanting to know how they stacked up against their other products. I love both of mine...very rugged, dependable and bright.

Mr Leupold told me that the R’s, subjectively, are about halfway between a VX-2 and a 3.

IMO, that's a pretty narrow gap.

The difference, at least to my eye, is hard to distinguish.

The new 2's and 3's are a lot better than the old ones.

DF

You may see some difference if you compare them side by side. VX-6 glass is pretty good. I like the VX-R, have handled them, don't own one, have two VX-6 2-12x42 duplex, not illuminated.

DF

I looked at the 3-9 VXR with the mil reticle and fire dot today and liked it. I some times think worrying about the last degree of available light being transmitted through your scopes lenses is not as important as having reliable adjustments in the turrets. When I started my mediocre Alaskan hunting career in 1965 I thought the old A303 Springfield a K4 Weaver post reticle were state of the art.

Maybe if I got that scope I could zero it for 100 yards, as in "set and forget" and then figure out which hash mark to use for 200 to 500 yard shooting with my .338 Winny load, which is a Barnes TTSX at 2,836 fps mv and then I would not have to give turret twisting any more thought for my favorite hunting rifle and load.


Are the adjustments on the VXR scopes mil or moa and does it have to be on the highest power for the hash marks to be consistent?

Ballistic reticles in FFP scopes, like some Euros, work at all power ranges.

SFP scopes, like most American scopes, need to be at full power for a ballistic reticle to work, unless one wants to make calculations for various power settings. To me, that's a PITA, so I don't.

I had a Swaro SFP, TDS reticle, scope had to be set at 18X for the reticle to be accurate. I traded it. Got into twisting.

But people talk bad about Leupold ballistic turrets. I've had no issues, but respect the opinions of those reporting such.

DF

Slidellkid,

Happy to throw out some more info on this. The VX-R, for the most part, has our Index Matched lens system, and I think Godog was told correctly that most folks would judge their low-light performance as between a VX-2 and VX-3i. That said, what really sets the VX-R apart is the availability of the bright Firedot-style illumination that they all have. Starting out right around $500, that's by far our best value in an illuminated riflescope.

Hope this helps!

Seems to me Leupold could take steps to counter negative things being said about tracking, holding zero, etc.

I really like your products, have a number of them, but don’t like a cloud hanging over their reputation.

CS is excellence. But good CS is not a confidence builder while out on a hunt.

Would appreciate your thoughts. I’m sure the company is aware of these issues.

DF

I have a VX-R 4-12, and really like the glass. When evaluating scopes too purchase in stores, the crisp image of the VX-R stood out to me. It was also very forgiving with regard to eye position, which seemed to make it faster to get in position. I actually preferred it over the VX-3 image, and thought it was pretty competitive with the VX-6 image. Keep in mind this was in very brightly lit retail stores, so low light may be a different story.

As for the functional aspects that trump image quality, I haven't had any issue with zero retention, and that includes a fairly hearty tumble from about 30" onto a concrete slab. It is mounted on 243 in Talley LW's for reference. I have NOT twisted turrets on it....yet, so can't speak for tracking, but I don't have high hopes. If/when I find a load for the rifle that is twist worthy, I intend to find out, good or bad.

I hope LeupoldOptics addresses the points raised in my above post.

DF

I'm not sure Leupold even knows. I've got two different answers when I asked a different rep on separate occasions.

Whatever it is,I was always impressed with the lower powers I have seen. I have not seen their higher power versions.

Looks to me like the VX-R is at least VX-3i quality, maybe not quite VX-6, although IME, VX-2 is pretty close to VX-3 or VX-3i. I can't tell any difference, VX-3/ VX-3i.

DF

Never happen. There is no win in doing so.

As an owner of a VX2, VX3i, and 2 VX-R's i have to say they are all pretty close in optical quality to my eye with MAYBE a SLIGHT edge to the VX3i. Maybe.

What's more important to me with these scopes is that they are ALL excellent and fairly priced. I have an off the shelf VXR with the red dot and duplex reticle, and a Custom Shopped VX-R with the Green dot and the TMR reticle. IMO, the illuminated dot is a game changer in low light and has a wide range of adjustment to suit.

There are only two things I don't like about the VX-R: it's a chunky scope due to the 30mm tube and it is better suited to a short action rifle due to the long cone on the objective lens making offset scope mounts necessary for many longer actions.

Side by side, I can't tell a big difference in normal lighting between them. YMMV

EDIT: all mine are 3x9x40

It would seem to me, they should realize where there's smoke...

I think addressing these concerns could only help. Hiding and dodging, not a confidence builder.

IMO.

DF

Yes,I would agree. With a normal hunting scope of standard magnification,I have never needed better glass in any VX3 or VX3,and the VXR looks just as good.

If I could only trust everything else,it would be worth a bit more money to me.

It would be nice if he did, but (and I mean no offence or insult) such things are probably far above his pay grade.

Optically, VX-R seemed to be about equal to VX-3, but it has been a while since I looked at either. This is how they were around the time VX-R was introduced.

As an overall package, I definitely prefer VX-R to VX-3, owing to its excellent reticle illumination. I can't remember the last time I recommended a Leupold scope to someone that wasn't VX-R, VX-5, VX-6 or Mark 5.

ILya

Probably. But, he could check into it, find out and report back.

DF

This is also what Leupold told me. I could not discern any difference in low light between the 3-9 VX-R and the 2.5-8 VX-3 it replaces in low light, but the fire dot sure does help in very low light.

I think they did a good job with the Fire Dot.

Electronic components don't have the lifetime Leopold warranty, however.

Hopefully, it won't cost an arm and a leg to repair.

DF

Great scope.
I've had about half a dozen. I really like the 2-7 and the 3-9 patrol.

Used a 3-9x40 VX-R CDS to take a bighorn sheep at 570 yards some years ago. Liked the scope, but...
Vividly remember wishing for a bit more magnification.