Zeiss V4 3-12x44 vs Leupold Vx-3HD 4.5-14x40

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A-bolt243

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I am at a cross roads between scopes here, it will be going on a tikka .270 and likely staying there for eternity. The zeiss seems like a good scope and can be found for under $1000, the leupold has a little higher magnification range and the option of a boone and crocket reticle, which I do like but clocks in closer to $1200. Being a leupold fan through and through I am really leaning toward the VX-3HD but I don't want to pass over the Zeiss especially at a good price.

Anyone with real world experience want to chime in? Don't even mention the word vortex... I tried one when they came on the scene and it has been back for warranty 3 times and replaced 1 time, they may work for some but I am off that wagon for good.
 
You will never regret buying the Swarovski. Take them both out at last light and you will know right away which is the better glass.
 
I’ve owned the vx3 HD 4.5-14 and a VX 5 HD 3-15 and Zeiss V4 4-16..

The Zeiss was the best out of the 3. Clearer and better turrets

I sold my V4
 
I have owned many Leupolds over the years, and can always vouch for Leupold. They are rugged and reliable. And quite often the more compact and lighter scopes available when compared with their competitors, which I like for my hunting rifles.
I have a few VX-3s in 4.5-14x40 w/ B&C reticles and really like them.
I just acquired a VX-3HD 4.5-14x40 B&C to replace the VX-3 VR 4.5-14x40 LR on my 6.5 CM. On a hunting rifle, I prefer the B&C over the Varmint reticle, which is just a little fine for low light conditions. I did like the extra dots for the 20 mph wind hold in the VR.
So far working very well, and took a big game animal with it yesterday. The shot distance of 43 yards did not test its capability, as it was cranked all the way down...but was nice to have the capacity to do so, despite being up in the wide open alpine!
If there is one issue, it is getting used to the new turrets on the Leupolds as I have only had the older VX-3/VX-III and Vari- XIIIs over the years, and just not as familiar with the newer CDS -ZL elevation dials yet. Plus you need to have that little allen key with you to make adjustments...which isn't practical in the field.

As for the Zeiss, I know that they are a great product, but I have only ever played with the original Conquest model and was not overly impressed with it. Have not had the opportunity to try the V4 or V6, so cannot provide any comparison.
 
I have a Swarovski V5 on my 270Win chambered Kimber 84L

It's a great scope and just very slightly better than My Leupolds, which I also like a lot.

There are a couple of ways that the Swarovski beats out the Leupolds, one, the image is sharp all the way to the outside edge on the Swarovski. The Leupolds have a very thin edge of "not sharp" less than a mm, so not worth worrying abut IMHO

The Swarovski does seem to show a brighter image and I've checked them, with identical magnification and Objective lenses, side by side on the same object at the same time of waning light. The image isn't sharper, just not as bright. Being near sighted and wearing corrective lenses that is important.

Other than that, functionality between the two is just your personal preference.

Good rings and bases, properly attached and fitted to your rifle are every bit as important as the scope itself.

In your situation, I would purchase the Swarovski and spend the other couple of hundred dollars on some Burris XCR signature rings and bases.

One other scope in a similar price range that you may want to look at are the IOR Valdada types out of Romania.

I bought a couple when they were still available in Canada from Canadian suppliers and they are about as tough a scope as you can find, with quality lenses, excellent paralax out to infinity and their M8 reticle doesn't leave anything to be desired. I have one of these on my Tikka 6.5x55 and it's going to stay there until I'm no longer able to shoot/hunt. This rifle normaly shoots into a half moa out to 400 yds and there are people on this site that can attest to that.

If you Google IOR Valdada, you can order direct from the factory and they don't charge for shipping.

I've sent one used scope which I purchased off a member of this site, back to them for repair about five years ago and they repaired it without charge and sent it back to me on their dime with some cleaning products they suggested I use. The previous owner had broken the internal lock to stop over adjustment of the reticles and they replaced it so well the scope looked to be new when returned. Turnaround time from the time I mailed it to the time it cleared customs and was back on my doorstep was less than a month. Thats very quick service if you've ever sent a scope back for warranty work.
 
I don't have experience with the v3 but my vx3hd 4.5-14 x40has proven reliable so far. I like the weight, I like the looks. I wish I had gotten the windplex reticle instead of the duplex. I also probably should have went with the 30mm with ao but was pinching pennies and already had 1" rings. Also I don't really like ao on a hunting scope.
 
bbobie said:
whos going to look after your scope for you for life with no charger after the warranty runs out ?
Thats the direction i would and have gone and i am happy i did.
Click to expand...
Gotta say, Leupold/Korth has an excellent warranty program.
 
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