Nikon Monarch 5 vs the Leupold VX 3

[jaybe14]

I'm a big time Leupold fan, have them on all my rifles. However, I am finding the FOV on my 4.5-14 x 40 mm VX3 frustrating and am looking at switching it up.

The two scopes I'm considering are the:
VX3 3.5 - 10 x 40mm with CDS; or
Nikon Monarch 5, 3-15x with the adjustment turret.

I'm leaning towards the VX3 3.5-10 because I know you can't go wrong with a Leupold, but curiosity of the performance of the Nikon keeps getting me to look at them.

I'm mounting this on a 7rem mag, which I load developed 1/3 inch groups at 100 yards with healthy velocity with 160 gr AB, so I consider rifle capable of 500 yard shots if I do my part.

Does the extra zoom range (10-15x) on the Nikon with the side parallax adjustment come into play with shots out this far on animals (bucks/bulls, etc)? I don't plan to make these every day, but don't want to pass on an opportunity on a great animal because my scope can't keep up. Will the 10x on the VX3 be sufficient? What about to 600 yards?

Just an FYI I don't plan to shoot out this far yet as I don't have the skills, but I'd like to grow into the rifle and not have to upgrade the zoom capability in the future as my skills develop.

 

[DMS1]

I don't think either of the scopes you mentioned would be a noticeable difference in field of view. The low end difference of 1x would be negligible also. Do you struggle with the FOV on the bench at full power? Is the vx3 1" or 30mm tube? Are you confusing a tight eye box with field of view? I've had both 4.5-14 and 6.5-20 x 40mm, and they both have tighter eye boxes at high end. This is a blessing and a curse, if that is your issue, since without parallax (side focus), your form, and the need for looking perfectly in the centre of your scope will magnify greatly at 500 yards.

 

[jaybe14]

I don't think either of the scopes you mentioned would be a noticeable difference in field of view. The low end difference of 1x would be negligible also. Do you struggle with the FOV on the bench at full power? Is the vx3 1" or 30mm tube? Are you confusing a tight eye box with field of view? I've had both 4.5-14 and 6.5-20 x 40mm, and they both have tighter eye boxes at high end. This is a blessing and a curse, if that is your issue, since without parallax (side focus), your form, and the need for looking perfectly in the centre of your scope will magnify greatly at 500 yards.

I think the FOV on low settings for VX3 4.5 - 14 is 19ft, 3.5-10 is 29 and the monarch 5 is 33 I believe. My 4.5 - 14 doesn't have the parallax adjustment unfortunately and further motivates me to get rid of it. The 19ft FOV is tough to use 60 yards and under so it limits me in closer situations