I'm looking at buying a VX-3 6.5-20x40mm Long Range scope and was wondering if anyone would care to comment on it. It would be mounted on my Savage LPV .223, and I'm also looking for the best price. I currently have a VX-II on my .22lr and am happy with it.
I'm considering buying one of these
- Thread starter KDX
- Start date
I would go with the Vortex Viper 6.5-20x50mm it is the exact same scope but half the cost. I know I own two of them and the warranty is the best out there. Check out there web site. And best price for one of these is Grouse river outfitters in Kelowna, B.C.
I think it is rather simplistic to say that the Vortex is exactly the same as the Leupold (at half the cost). If you want to say they are a better deal considering the price than you may or may not have a good arguement. I would like to see some real data and test results from independant reviewers that measure light transmission, resolution, durability and resale value. Vortex is a fine optics line but I think you would be hard pressed to say they are the same quality as Leupold. Leupold warranty is legendary and they have been around for a lot longer then Vortex. Phil.
The VX-III optics are pretty good and like Phil said....you can't go wrong with the lifetime warranty. I had a 6.5-20x50mm Long Range Target model at one time. If your intentions are to punch holes in paper with that 223 I'd look at that one over the 6.5-20x40mm just because of the larger obj. and the target knobs. Just my 2 cents.
I like Leupold but.... I like the Zeiss Conquest even better. That being said my next few scope will probably be Sightron (I just wish they'd add better reticles to their line up).
The main differences between the two: The conquest has consistent eye relief at 3.5" for the entire magnification range and the side parallax doesn't have "lash" issues. The price when I bought mine was $100 less then the Leupold.
The change on the eye relief for the VX3 is 3.7" to 4.5". That is huge. You want minimal eye relief change like the Conquest or a Night force.
Here's a slightly dated review (For instance the Sightron has since been improved since this review).
http://www.6mmbr.com/optics.html
The main differences between the two: The conquest has consistent eye relief at 3.5" for the entire magnification range and the side parallax doesn't have "lash" issues. The price when I bought mine was $100 less then the Leupold.
The change on the eye relief for the VX3 is 3.7" to 4.5". That is huge. You want minimal eye relief change like the Conquest or a Night force.
Here's a slightly dated review (For instance the Sightron has since been improved since this review).
http://www.6mmbr.com/optics.html
Another vote for the Leupold. All of my rifles have them. One of my 223's has the VXL 6.5-20x56LR varmint reticle, very happy with it and all my Leupolds
204saskman
Regular
- Location
- East Central Saskatchewan
I got a Vortex on my 204 ruger. I like it better than my bushnells and such. And for price and warranty, can not be beat. Over counter life time warranty. I got the Vortex Viper 6-24x50 AO and its clear as day and keeps sight no problems. Im actually looking at buying another one here for my new 204 if this other scope i bought doesnt work out. North Pro Sports in saskatoon stocks them and is the dealer here in sask. Good guys to deal with.
Well phil being a simple guy I have tested both these scopes and they are in my opinion the same. Same magnification, they both look like a scope, and they both function like a scope. The only difference I found was the price. But I did however like the magnification adjustment bar on the vortex, easy to adjust and the numbers face out to the back instead of having to look up on the scope like the leupold. And sorry phil I did not test the scope with my light-o-meter to test which was better for light gathering I guess thats just simple me. But hey I understand you probly don't sell Vortex scopes and they are competing with your overpriced Leupolds. And by the way 6-24 is a crossfire not a VIPER same game different ballpark. So like I said same scopes different price. I would go with the VORTEX VIPER, just go onto vortex canada find a local dealer or even call them or email them to find out and trust me once you compare the two scopes you will choose the VORTEX. Oh and the VIPER has a 50mm objective so I guess phil it would gather more light than the leupold 40mm obj.
You are right that at the present I do not carry Vortex. We do however carry many competing brands of optics that we sell against Leupold at many different prices. I looked at the Vortex line carefully and compared them with other available optics in their price range and to be honest I did not see anything that made me believe they were any different (better or worse) than the lines of optics I was currently carrying (check our website and you will see we carry almost every commonly available brand name optics in Canada). As I stated in my first post I am not putting down Vortex as they appear to be a decent line and if you believe that the Vortex brand is as good as Leupold then you should buy the less expensive model that you are comfortable with. I have had customers compare a $2000 Zeiss scope with a $200 Bushnell and tell me they could see no difference...to each their own. I am not telling you you have to believe my opinion but I don't think I should have to believe yours either. The consumer will ultimately decide what is good or not and make their choice with or without my input. My "over priced" Leupold scopes are our best selling brand in not only $ amount but also in units sold. Time will tell if the Vortex line will take off and if I get enough demand for it then I will look at this line again because ultimately I sell what people want not what I think is good. Phil.
I've got that exact scope in fine duplex. Short answer (LOVE IT!)
Here is a picture.
You won't be sorry.
Whoever mounted this scope put it too far back and too high!
Scott
Foresure Phil I understand what you are saying and you sound like a outstanding individual. Its just when I got into hunting then later more long distance target shooting, I got caught up in the idea that you had to buy the more expensive scope to acheive your goals. As time and learning curves themself you start to realize and you kind of have to admit that names like Leopold, Zeiss, Swarovski you do pay quite a bit more for the name but at the same time they probly don't build there scopes in Japan (Bushnell) or the Phillippines (Vortex) so I can understand why they are more money. I just hate to see an individual that is always guided towards what everyone else has and not what he/she should have, especially when they are unaware of the different options out there that are just as good if not sometimes better.
And really its not like they are building rockets there is only so much engineering and top of the line materials that can be put into these units before they are not all but most at the same level of "quality scope".
And just for future reference I honestly do beleive that a Vortex Viper I cannot speak for the other series of scopes just Viper series is a high quality scope for the price. Also I have spoken to a representative of Vortex CANADA and they in 2010 are going to be introducing a new line of scopes that will compete with the "tactical" line and or long distance shooting. I just hope that they can keep the price down, we don't need anymore nightforce/ u.s. optics/leupold/zeiss/swarovski priced scopes.
Or he put it where it fits his head/cheek weld. Your mileage may differ. - dan
.............comment edited.................... You cannot mount a scope too far back. You mount it according to eye relief, in this case you have a Leupold which for the amount of money spent has an abundance of eye relief. Especially at lower magnification. ............comment edited.........
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204saskman
Regular
- Location
- East Central Saskatchewan
Ya sorry thats what i ment to say. But either way, i will be buying another Vortex, not onlyy for price, but the quality is right up there too.
Umm Dune, the top of the line Vortex may be a very good scope (I've heard good things) but your argument about optics is wrong.
P&D mentioned that there are a few things to take into consideration. Light transmission, resolution etc. The review link that I posted from 6mm BR is a very good one.
The light transmission on the top of the line Vortex Viper is very good at 95%. This is the same as the Burris Fullfield II, Nikon Monarch and the Bushnell Elite 4200. So yes it's nice and bright. But.. it has competition at the medium level of the scope range, never mind the upper levels. Also the Falcon scopes are pretty close at 94%.
When you're sitting at a bench looking at a 200 yard target and trying to put 5 shots in one hole. That's when things like resolution, really become obvious.
I've used a number of very good scopes. I tried a buddies Nikon Monarch. Very bright, nice scope especially for the money. It was a 6-24x 50mm. Sighting in at 200 yards, it was decent. Then I switched to my rifle with a Conquest 6-20x 50mm. At 4x less magnification the target was clearer, crisper and I could make out more detail than with the Monarch. The resolution on the Conquest was simply better.
There are often compromises when picking a scope. Light transmission is pretty good with a large number of scopes as previously mentioned. Resolution, eye relief, repeatability, durability, controls etc are where the differences are. The perfect overall scope I'd say right now is Night Force. The only problem is price. Consistent eye relief, good optics (S&B, March etc are said to be better, but I haven't tried those), fantastic controls (not tight, perfect clicks), perfect repeatability and to top it all of an excellent selection of reticles. Again price is the issue.
Vortex scopes, right off I can see the weakness from the specs page. 3.1-3.3" eye relief. That's an acceptable difference in eye relief although I do prefer no change throughout the magnification range. I also prefer 3.5" for anything .308 or higher in caliber. 3.1 is getting a bit close for comfort with some of my rifles.
As you can see there's a bit more than, it's the same scope at 1/2 the price.
P&D mentioned that there are a few things to take into consideration. Light transmission, resolution etc. The review link that I posted from 6mm BR is a very good one.
The light transmission on the top of the line Vortex Viper is very good at 95%. This is the same as the Burris Fullfield II, Nikon Monarch and the Bushnell Elite 4200. So yes it's nice and bright. But.. it has competition at the medium level of the scope range, never mind the upper levels. Also the Falcon scopes are pretty close at 94%.
When you're sitting at a bench looking at a 200 yard target and trying to put 5 shots in one hole. That's when things like resolution, really become obvious.
I've used a number of very good scopes. I tried a buddies Nikon Monarch. Very bright, nice scope especially for the money. It was a 6-24x 50mm. Sighting in at 200 yards, it was decent. Then I switched to my rifle with a Conquest 6-20x 50mm. At 4x less magnification the target was clearer, crisper and I could make out more detail than with the Monarch. The resolution on the Conquest was simply better.
There are often compromises when picking a scope. Light transmission is pretty good with a large number of scopes as previously mentioned. Resolution, eye relief, repeatability, durability, controls etc are where the differences are. The perfect overall scope I'd say right now is Night Force. The only problem is price. Consistent eye relief, good optics (S&B, March etc are said to be better, but I haven't tried those), fantastic controls (not tight, perfect clicks), perfect repeatability and to top it all of an excellent selection of reticles. Again price is the issue.
Vortex scopes, right off I can see the weakness from the specs page. 3.1-3.3" eye relief. That's an acceptable difference in eye relief although I do prefer no change throughout the magnification range. I also prefer 3.5" for anything .308 or higher in caliber. 3.1 is getting a bit close for comfort with some of my rifles.
As you can see there's a bit more than, it's the same scope at 1/2 the price.
Maybe for you, it fits me perfectly.
