anyone running (or experience with) Leupold's VX-2 Lightweight line?

[mtwarden]

I'm giving some serious thought to the 3-9x33 vx-2 for a lightweight rifle build, 9 oz is pretty svelte for a 3-9

They offer it with the Duplex and LR Duplex reticles- have read some good stuff on the LR reticle.

Thoughts?

 

[5MilesBack]

I've never had the VX-2, but had the older Vari-X II 3x9 on a rifle that killed a lot of elk. I would imagine that the glass and coatings would be better on the VX-2 these days, but the original wasn't bad at all.

 

[Jimbob]

Great scope that I really like but the one downfall is the small diameter eye piece. My dad doesn't like and neither does my brother. I feel it comes with the territory so I am fine to live with it. I don't think it hampers performance its just different from every other scope you look through. When you have been looking through a scope a certain size for 20-40 yrs the small diameter of the lightweight is a bit of a shock.

We put it on a savage lightweight hunter in . 243 and that gun shots sub .5 moa with crap factory winchester ammo. So the rifle and scope are a great little package. Awesome to carry, point, and shoot.

I have a vx2 2-7x33 on my gun and on a RAR compact. I think the vx2 is great glass and it is all the scope I will buy from now on. My money will be better spent on good bino glass over good scope glass.

 

[LightFoot]

The VX2 ULs are good and very dependable but the eye box and glass leave something to be desired.

The new VX3i has much better glass and eye box with little weight penalty and not much more money.

Good luck with your decision.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[Matt Cashell]

I have a 3-9X33 ultralight. It is not currently on a rifle, but rather waiting for my next LW rig.

It is tiny. The optics are pretty good, IMO. I do think the VX3i is a little better, but not worlds apart. The VX-3 (non-i) and the VX-2 UL are really close optically.

As we have discussed before, I don't care for the variable eye relief much on any of the Leupolds (the VX-6 seems pretty constant), but the VX-2 UL is really impressive for such a tiny, LW scope.

Mine has the LR duplex, which is a simple BDC for moderate ranges similar to Vortex' Dead Hold BDC. The LR Duplex version is parallax corrected at 150 yards vs. 100 yards for the standard Duplex.

Hard to beat that scope when you are really looking to go light.

 

[Justin Crossley]

I put one on my son's .243 and I really like it. He killed this buck with it at 525yds. Great scope for the weight.

 

[mtnkid85]

I just ordered the 3-9 UL with the CDS dial that will be going on my main 30-06. It will be replacing an older Vari-x 3-9x40. I dont have it in hand yet but am excited to try it out.

 

[matthewmt]

I put one on my son's .243 and I really like it. He killed this buck with it at 525yds. Great scope for the weight.

Nice deer, and good shooting!

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[AK Troutbum]

I have one on my Kimber Montana .280 AI. I bought it used earlier this year all set up like that. I'm not in love with it but I do like it and I don't think the wt. can be beat. I took a decent mountain goat with it a couple months ago, before getting the custom turret cap. Now that I have the CDS custom cap I think I'm going to like it more.


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[RCA Dog]

I have one on a Kimber Adirondack. It does the job, that's for sure, and is about the smallest and lightest thing I could find to put on. The eye box is not exactly ideal, but it still works. I like the Alumina flip caps on my Leupold scopes, as falling water is a pretty big thing around here. I was going to swap the scope for a Swarovski z3 3-9 x 36, but the lack of caps (butler creek is useless imo) has made me hold off.

 

[GKPrice]

Nice deer, and good shooting!

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That one's a dandy Justin, he's made you proud

 

[mtwarden]

Well I got to the store this last weekend, very close to dusk (on purpose ) and had them get out a 3x9 Lightweight, 3.5-10 VX-3i and for the heck of it a Swaro Z3 3.5-10. That had a rifle stock w/ a rubber scope holder so I could shoulder and view each one. I thought the optics of the Lightweight were pretty good, but the eye box was a little "touchy"; the VX-3i definitely had better glass, I wouldn't say night and day, but noticeable, the eye box was more forgiving- I felt both these scopes were a noticeable step up from my old vx-ii. I put the Sawro on last- I wouldn't have thought so before hand, but the scope was noticeably brighter and crisper and while the stated eye relief was lower than both Leupold's, I had no problem acquiring the scope very quickly (and no change with the variable)

The Swaro was out of my price range from the dealer, but I found a used 3-9x36 Z3 for a price I could swing. Looks like the scope is in the 11.5-12.0 oz range which is heavier than the Lightweight and lighter than the 3i, but still pretty darn light.

Anywho, I appreciate all the great input and hope I made a wise choice

 

[Matt Cashell]

Sounds like you put your research in, and came to a sound conclusion.

Those Z3s are really nice scopes. Enjoy your lightweight rig, and post up some photos!

 

[RCA Dog]

I think you made a great choice. Good to be able to look through all 3 at the same time.

 

[dotman]

I put one on my son's .243 and I really like it. He killed this buck with it at 525yds. Great scope for the weight.

How do you like the CDS on the 3-9x33, at under 10oz it is interesting.

 

[Justin Crossley]

How do you like the CDS on the 3-9x33, at under 10oz it is interesting.

I'm just using the moa turret that came with it currently. I haven't ordered the CDS cap yet.

 

[dotman]

I'm just using the moa turret that came with it currently. I haven't ordered the CDS cap yet.

Does it track well and is it a firm click or kind of loose? I've read where some feel it is easy to bump off and the clicks don't feel solid.

 

[Broomd]

I had a brand new VX-2 3-9X33 on an ultralight rifle. I like everything as light as possible.
With that said, I sold that scope after the hunting season. The eye relief was very poor and low light gathering was also not up to my expectations.

Go with the vx3 2.5-8-- the couple of extra ounces are well worth it. There is no comparison between the scopes. If you have to have CDS go with the VX-3 2.5-10X40mm...my .02