Zeiss Conquest or Leupold?

444shooter

444shooter

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I am in the market for a decent scope and wonder which of these would be better. Been looking at the Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 for $599.99. What is the warranty on these compared to Leupold?

Scope is for my .338/378Wby :D
 
Both are assembled in the USA and both offer a lifetime warranty.The 3x9x40 conquest offers a constant 4" of eye relief at all magnifications while the eye relief varies with magnification on the leupold variables.The conquest is slightly brighter than the vxIII in low light conditions.The leupold is a few ounces lighter.
 
Hmm, I guess the only other question would be warranty work. How good is Zeiss's customer service compared to Leupold? Since I live in Alberta, I am pretty close to Okotoks.
 
I had to send out a zeiss scope that was involved in a horsewreck.It was promply repaired and shipped back to me free of charge even though the scope was damaged and not defective.
 
444 Shooter,
Depending on your individual built you may need every bit of eye-relief you can get on that 338/378. My Zeiss Conquest 3-9 x 40mm has 4 claimed inches of eye-relief but Zeiss measures from the glass not the metal. If you get hit so hard that the glass touches you, buddy you've been smacked! :eek: Actual distance to the eye piece is about 3.75" when I measured mine. The occular bell of the Ziess is significantly bigger and longer, which usually eliminates the lowest rings. It also means that eye-piece will protrude almost an inch farther back from the rear ring than a Leupold, if you need to move the scope all the way forward like I do. This is caused by the big housing needed for the quick focus eye-piece, and may not effect you. Basically I like the scope, but it lives on a .308 and will stay there.
The Leupolds are a little trimmer in dimensions and will mount lower. Most of their variables have an eye-relief of 4.5-5 inches measured from the metal. I measured mine. The eye-relief varies with magnification changes, which drives some people nuts, and bothers others not at all. I actually find it works in my favor. One thing that Leupold is famous for is their forgiving eye-relief. You usually have a good inch or so latitude in eye placement where it is "good enough". For a hunting rifle that will be shot with different clothing and positions this is a big plus.
Both have lifetime warranties, Leupold in Alberta, Zeiss in New York. Borders could be an issue if the warranty was needed. Chances are neither will break, so that probably won't matter.
Optically the 2 scopes are very close, with the Zeiss perhaps being a bit better. It's awful close either way, and both are better than they have to be for brightness. My 30mm LRs beat my Zeiss in this area, my 3.5-10s VX111s are close.The second is more an apples to apples comparison though.
Both scopes have slight differences and advantages. It depends on which one fits your needs better. Some things that might be a disadvantage to one guy won't matter to the next at all. If recoil clearance is an issue to you, then the Leupold wins on that alone.
I have just one Conquest, and an armful of Leupolds. Thats my "Wallet vote" for me, my rifles and my size and shape. The Conquest was a few bucks cheaper if that makes any difference.
Dogleg
 
Most of their variables have an eye-relief of 4.5-5 inches measured from the metal.
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As you can see below,the vxIII 3.5x10x40 has an eye relief of 3.5" at maximum magnification where you will likely do your target shooting and sighting in. Taken from the leupold site.
Leupold vxIII 3.5x10x40

Product Specifications
Actual Magnification: 3.3(3.5x) 9.60(10x)
Length (in): 12.6
Eyepiece Length (in): 3.20
Objective Length (in): 3.6
Objective Diameter (in): 1.83
Eyepiece Diameter (in): 1.55
Tube Diameter: 1.0in
Weight: 13.0 oz. / 369 grams
Eye Relief (in): 4.4(3.5x) 3.5(10x)
Eye Relief (mm): 112(3.5x) 91(10x)
Obj. Lens Diameter: 1.6in / 40mm
Max. Adjustment @ 100 yds (in): 51
Max. Adjustment @ 100 m (cm): 142
FOV @ 100 yds (ft): 29.7(3.5x) 11.0(10x)
FOV @ 100 m (m): 9.9(3.5x) 3.7(10x
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Both have lifetime warranties, Leupold in Alberta, Zeiss in New York. Borders could be an issue if the warranty was needed.
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My Zeiss was sent to an Ontario address so borders are not an issue.

It also means that eye-piece will protrude almost an inch farther back from the rear ring than a Leupold, if you need to move the scope all the way forward like I do.
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I have never had to mount even a conquest fully forward to obtain the proper eye relief .

I still own a couple of leupold scopes myself,but with the availability of scopes with superior optics for the same price,I won't likely ever buy another leupold.
 
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stubblejumper said:
I still own a couple of leupold scopes myself,but with the availability of scopes with superior optics for the same price,I won't likely ever buy another leupold.
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What make would you buy other than a Zeiss?
 
stubblejumper said:
I have never had to mount even a conquest fully forward to obtain the proper eye relief .

I still own a couple of leupold scopes myself,but with the availability of scopes with superior optics for the same price,I won't likely ever buy another leupold.
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I have a conquest which I really like, Leupold scopes just don't make me happy, not sure why. I don't like the duplex retucle, to me it's too thin, and the heavy duplex is too thick, I love the zplex reticle in my conquest.

I do however have to mount mine absolutely as far forward as the mounts will allow on my Sako AV, in fact slightly farther forward would fit me just a touch better. This issue has a lot to do with which mounts you use and how much latitude they give you, on my Sako I have optilok bases and the base prevents me from coming any further forward. On a remington action with just about any kind of bases it wouldn't be an issue.

I love my conquest.
 
What make would you buy other than a Zeiss?
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I bought my leupold 3x9x33efr for my air rifle because the parallex can be adjusted to very close ranges.No conquest made could be adjusted as close at the time.I bought my vxIII 6.5x20x40efr because there were no conquests available in that power range with an objective smaller than 50mm.I will not own a 50mm scope because they must be mounted higher than I like.
These scopes are not used for big game hunting,so brightness is not a factor either.
I bought 4 swarovski 3x10x42 scopes a couple of years ago because they are just a bit clearer and brighter than even the conquest,but they are even lighter and shorter than the leupold vxIII 3.5x10x40.I also bought them for a greatlly reduced price.However ,the normal price is substancially more than the equivalent conquest.
 
My brother recently bought a Bushnell 4200 3-9x40 for around $350. How would this stack up to the Zeiss? Not sure about the warranty though. Seems tough to beat the Leupold or Zeiss.
 
The elite 3200 is available as a 3x9x40 while the elite 4200 is available as a 2-1/2x10x40.Both are very good scopes for the money.The 4200 is as bright and clear as a vxIII for much less money,but it has a shorter eye relief and is a bit heavier.The only negative is that Bushnell has a horrible reputation for customer service if you should have a problem with them.On the other hand,I currently own an elite 3200 and have owned an elite 3000 and an elite 4000(earlier versions),and have never had a problem.My hunting partners own four elites between them and they haven't had any problems either.
 
From what I've read, most people who have a VXIII and a Conquest will tell you that the Ziess has better glass.

As far as size goes, I was able to mount my 3-9x40 on a 700BDL using low Leupold rings. The closest thing to a problem was that the bolt comes close to the eyepiece when you cycle the bolt. But it clears it, and that's all that matters.
 
The vx 111 and the conquest are both fine optics. I have and do own both. If I could only have one I'd choose the Zeiss. Through my eyes anyway. :)
 
444shooter. Thanks for asking that question. I have been following your thread and think my next scope will be a Zeiss.
 
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