Leupold for hunting – which one if you HAD to choose?

[Waynorth]

Hey guys,

I know there are strong opinions on brands around here, and I’m not necessarily a Leupold guy myself – but circumstances are pushing me toward having to pick one. So with that said: if you HAD to go Leupold, which one would you choose?

Use case is hunting, shots from 30 out to 300 yards on a 9.3x62. Nothing extreme, but I want the scope to be as robust as possible – built to take abuse and keep working no matter what. Low-light performance at dawn and dusk matters to me.

What are your real-world experiences? Which model or series holds up best over time, and what should I avoid?

Appreciate any concrete input from people who’ve actually used them in the field.

 

[SSP_AK]

Delta point pro at best lol

All joking aside, I had a VX5 and VX6 both walk when moving the turret. But not enough to not kill an animal at those distances. That being said once I confirmed it I couldn’t leave it up to chance after that. Swapped to Rs1.2 and NXS and have had no issues across everything from 223 to a 6lb 300 wsm. From what I’ve gathered, if your going to accept the risk of it I certainly wouldn’t buy the higher end stuff expecting or hoping for it to be better and just get the vx3 if you had to get a Leupold.

 

[Waynorth]

Well, the Maven or NXS would of course be the preferred alternative. Or the S2H scope. Those will however have to wait for now.

Looking at the Leupold lineup, the Mark 4 line seems like the sweet spot where price and potential performance meet. That said, looking at drop tests the results are mixed.

I’m currently considering the Mark 4 2.5-10x TMR, illuminated (to make sure it’s actually usable at low power in first light). I’m having a hard time finding anything in their lineup that looks better or sturdier for my purposes.

I’ll be doing some impact/drop testing if and when I get one, so if anyone has suggestions or specific things they’d like me to test, feel free to try to convince me.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

If it has to be a Leupold on that rifle, I would pick an old fixed 6x.

But I would pick a Trijicon 1-6x, 1-8x, 3-9x over any Leupold.

I just picked up a second SWFA 1-6x and now I am going to be looking for a rifle for it. I currently have one of those on my Tikka M695 in 9.3x62 and I really like it.

 

[Tom-D]

What possible reason is there for having to use a particular scope brand?

 

[Waynorth]

What possible reason is there for having to use a particular scope brand?

Sitting on company credits from a failed repair request.

If it has to be a Leupold on that rifle, I would pick an old fixed 6x.

But I would pick a Trijicon 1-6x, 1-8x, 3-9x over any Leupold.

I just picked up a second SWFA 1-6x and now I am going to be looking for a rifle for it. I currently have one of those on my Tikka M695 in 9.3x62 and I really like it.

Fixed would be an option if buying used. Personally i would look at a 3x or 4x though.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Sitting on company credits from a failed repair request.



Fixed would be an option if buying used. Personally i would look at a 3x or 4x though.

Ah, in that situation I would get whatever scope I thought would resell for the most money. Then put that towards a scope I wanted.

 

[Boarmaster]

I never had any trouble with my older VX3 3.5-10x40s. When the changed them to VX3i
I just bought used VX3 scopes off forum
classifieds. They are optically good enough for out to in the dark woods or 300 yards out.
Mine all hold zero year after year getting hauled around on ATVs. I am not exceptionally hard on scopes. But I haven’t had issue one on any of my five VX3’s. 16-17 years of five month long seasons in hot, cold, wet , dry and dusty conditions.
If you got credits and don’t want a Luey then buy a new one resell and buy whatever you think you want.

 

[Macintosh]

The vx scopes—all pre-“i models”—3’s and a 5–are the ones Ive had 3 problems out of 4 scopes. Personally if its a “must not fail” scope Id take the advice in post# 7.
If not that, roll the dice—some people seem to have ok luck with them, so who knows. The mk4 you have your eyes on seems as likely a choice as any.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Ive a couple older vxII's that have just been solid. Also just pulled a vari-x iii 2.5-8x36 off a 22 because it always needed sighted in.......Sucks to, because thats such a sweet size of scope.

I'd figure out whatever the new hotness is and use your credits on that, and then sell the thing

 

[madcalfe]

order a vx5hd, sell it to some smuck, grab a NSX 2-10 and be done..

 

[eightyeight mag]

Put me down for iron sights

 

[TN2shot07]

I have several vx3 2.5-8’s, probably my favorite scope of theirs. The old 6 powers are nice for that use (that’s what’s on my muzzleloader right now) but they aren’t easy to find

 

[wapitibob]

Mark 4 HD

 

[Chris in TN]

I don’t hate leupold and am incredibly slow about eventually replacing the ones I have but in your shoes I’d absolutely get whatever can be turned into cash the easiest, and put that to a Trijicon.

 

[Taudisio]

I came here to say the same as others, whichever one you could sell for the most money the fastest. I used to love leupold, then I started shooting my rifles more than a box a year. That is when you will notice that they don’t do everything they are supposed to do.

 

[Waynorth]

The advice and opinions here are pretty clear. And the smart move would probably be to just convert those credits to cash as soon as possible.

That said, I do think the Mark 4 is actually just as good a choice as anything else available for cash at that price point. And if I go that route, at least I’ll have some fun putting it through its paces.

 

[Timberline001]

What possible reason is there for having to use a particular scope brand?

In that case I’d get something popular like the Mark 5 3-18, sell it, and buy a Nightforce.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I have 5 VXIII's that I have had for years. They do the job, so why change? I bought them new and I have Leupold's Ballistic Turrets on all of them.

 

[winter993]

VX-5HD is the answer. Don't pinch pennies on optics, buy the best glass you can afford.