Leupold CDS VX 5/6 HD vs Nightforce NXS/SHV

[Encore4me]

I know that there is an optic forum but I like the firearms forum better. Is the Leupold CDS in the VX 5HD series a good scope? I like the idea of dialing my yardage but don’t know much about these scopes. Another scope I have been thinking about are the Nightforce scopes. How does the NXS and SHV series compare to the VX5HD and VX6HD series? Also is 10x enough power to shoot out to 600yds?


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[Bubblehide]

The mods and forum rules are pretty specific about posting in the correct forums.

 

[Encore4me]

Can a mod move this to the optic forum please?


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[Coopsdaddy]

O my,fourm police!

 

[nobody]

First off, welcome to Rokslide.

In response to your question, I would do a search on google and on here and you’ll see patterns. Google “Leupold Durability Issues,” pop some popcorn, and start reading. Then, read these here:

Rifle Scope Field Evaluations

rokslide.com

Bottom line, they’re nowhere remotely close to the same ballpark. Nightforce blows Leupold out of the water in every facet that matters. Tracking and durability are paramount in a hunting optic, “glass” is secondary as long as it’s good enough to se the target with. Nightforce has the track record with tracking and durability and the glass is quite good. Is it Leica quality? No, but it’s not an observation optic, it’s an aiming device. And it does an aiming device’s job better than leupold does. Leupold has known issues with tracking and durability and zero retention dating back to the mid-late 90’s. They’ve “updated” things multiple times and will tell you they’ve fixed the issues, but they continue to fail. Washboard roads shouldn’t be the demise of a scope, but it happens often with certain brands and hardly ever with others. Leupold is the former, nightforce is the latter.

On the note of magnification, old sniper rule of thumb is 1x magnification per 100 yards for accuracy. Not precision (shooting in the same hole), but accuracy. I’m not military and don’t profess to be, but I read that a long time ago and it’s stuck with me and it’s seemed to work out well. Elk are big targets, you don’t need 25x to shoot at them. Mule deer are smaller, but even then 10x is plenty to 600.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

@General RE LEE and I just had a leupold/Nightforce discussion at the range today.

I was a big fan of the VX5HD and VX6HD scopes and had a few of each. I am now swapping everything out to nightforce. I think the VX5 and 6HD glass is way better than the NXS/SHV glass. In my experience, Nightforce is tougher and more reliable. Anything mechanical can fail, even nightforce. But, If I had to bet my hunt on a scope, it would be nightforce.

 

[General RE LEE]

@General RE LEE and I just had a leupold/Nightforce discussion at the range today.

I was a big fan of the VX5HD and VX6HD scopes and had a few of each. I am now swapping everything out to nightforce. I think the VX5 and 6HD glass is way better than the NXS/SHV glass. In my experience, Nightforce is tougher and more reliable. Anything mechanical can fail, even nightforce. But, If I had to bet my hunt on a scope, it would be nightforce.

Glad we got shoot today. I will say the reticle on your NX8 is more fine and better tuned for precision shooting. The reticles on my Zeiss and Leupolds are thicker and great for low light but they cover up smaller aim points at long range.

 

[awbowhunter]

I am not a bench rest shooter...hunter. I have 3 leupolds. Two are VX5 HD. the first VX5 HD has been packed around a bit and shot several animals. It does what it's suppose to so far. Dialing to 500 and back has not been an issue. Will be shooting both quite a bit more over the spring and summer and will report if I have issue.

 

[Dlgies]

I’ve used Zeiss, Vortex and Leupold and the VX 5HD still sits on my western hunting rifle.