Question for all the Leupold lovers out there!

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siegehammer63

CGN Regular
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Calgary, AB
So, the time has come that I have a Leupold scope making me raise an eyebrow... Interesting!
I run Vortex, Aimpoint and a few Bushnells and Steiners pretty religiously. Currently, however, I'm thinking of replacing my Vortex Razor LH with a VX-6HD 3-18x44 with either the Varmint Hunter or Boone and Crockett reticle, illuminated. So far, I really like the LH and it's served me well, but I'm wondering how that Leupold's glass stands up, how reliable it is, how reliable its turrets are, and how much you love it if you have one.
I'm the long range shooter of my group, so popping deer and elk out to 400-500 is usually my job, and I usually do it with smaller bore rifles quite effectively. Besides, I have another rifle that needs a scope that that little Vortex might do quite well on.
Thoughts? Experiences? Opinions?
Anything you guys and gals have would be appreciated,
 
Honestly, I specialize in optics, and I can give most of the statistics and wheres and whens for just about any optic, but it's no replacement for field use from a guy or girl that isn't getting paid by the company in question.
I'm a good tracker, a good shot, and usually a fairly good stalker unless we're talking super tight confines (thick willows are the enemy of all large males). I'm not a newby but I recognize there is no replacement for more years out and more animals down :)
Usually I just put the crosshairs where I think they should go and the animal goes down hahahaha.
 
See, that's the struggle I'm having with my .338 and the .300 I'm building. I think I'll put my razor gen 2 on the .300 for this hunting season and order a Razor AMG, then put the 3-18 back on the .338 while I order something for it, and then maybe I'll buy something for the 3-18 ;) Maybe a Tikka Tactical A1? Hahahahaha.
This is for my "light" hunting rifle, a Tikka Varminter in 6.5x55. I've shot elk out to 400 and deer to 350 and I looooove that rifle. I'm building a .300 on a Remington action with a McMillan A5 stock, and I also have a TRG 42 in .338 Lapua. Yay, being broke from precision rifles ;)
 
Some of the top european scopes may shade the top Leupolds slightly for clarity, brightness and precision but at a great additional cost. Worth the money to some people. Leupolds best have excellent(not perfect) glass, are tough, reliable, have an unwavering warrantee and a great track record dating back longer than most people reading this have been alive and while not cheap they are worth every penny. Their repututation for reliability was EARNED over many years on the range and in the field. They survived and prospered where Redfield, Bausch & Lomb, Lyman and scores of cheap Japanese ( now Chinese) copies failed in use and faded from the market. Those of us who have been shooting a long time have seen many brands come and go. Many that appear great in the store don't measure up in the real world. No serious competitor wants to lose a match because a scope failed. A gopher hunter may have a spoiled afternoon if his scope zero starts wandering, annoying but think of the fly in hunter on a once in a lifetime sheep hunt, a hunter on his dream African safari or you or me on our once a year week long moose hunt. If your scope fails your dream is over. I've seen it, I've lived it as so many of our more experienced hunters have. I own one Ziess and one Swarovski, love 'em but I have more Leupolds than anything and in the nearly 50 years I've used them none has ever failed me. I would never even consider a scope without a winning track record no matter how slick the advertising. A scope is no place to cheap out if each shot counts for you.
 
I lived in Europe all my life and have been here for ''only the last 10 years''
and I have owned many swaros and Zeiss
I have brought with me a 4-5 of the best scopes that I had on my rifles that got sold before leaving
one of them a 3-12x56 Zeiss diavari has been on a 300 weatherby accumark for 10 years in Europe and now on a 300 weatherby ultralight here and never had a problem but frankly I would never pay the price that is sold for here
The Swarovski ,Zeiss ,Leica ,Schmidt & Bender ...must have is dictated because in most countries in Europe shooting time starts 1 hour before and stops 1 hour after sun and in the mountains 1 hour before or after sun is really really dark and you need the best
In North America that 1/2 hour makes all the difference and I do have a couple of Leupold 3 that are the best compromise price quality and more than enough for the job
 
And there, we, go! Thank you very much, Ashcroft!
Yeah, no moose for me so far. But I'm hoping this year, I've got about 4 years priority up, though I've been around moose, and close, all my life. I think the closest is about 10 feet, though I may have been within 2 or 3 when I was really young. Freaked my dad out pretty well ;)
Honestly, I've hunted about 7 years now and I'm still realizing how great our country is! I'm trying to get in for Mirriam's turkey and Pronghorn with my dad, he's in his early sixties and I want to get as many firs times hunting as I can with him.
It's pricey, but I might just buy this scope now. :)
 
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