VX-6 HD or......?

R

Rock Knocker

Well-known member
I've been doing some looking around for a new scope to put on a rifle I should have put together next month.

I was pondering between a NF NXS or a VX-6, according to some older posts I found in the search section the VX-6 is going to beat the NXS for night hunting. But there's other scope makers I dont have any experience with like Zeiss and Swarovski that might be a good option also. I'm looking for a maximum magnification around 18-22x and the lower they go the better, 30mm tube preferred and an objective lense between 44-50mm.

For the most part this will be for punching paper and cans under 600 yards but I will be using it for some night hunting coyotes so a light up reticle is a must and good light transmission. It will get covered in snow and carried through the rain whether it's -25 or 95 degrees and any time I knock over or drop a rifle it lands directly on the scope so something tough and a good warranty in mandatory. I'm interested in some of the new Horris type reticles for a long range AR, I believe Leupold calls that style reticle the Impact.

Lets keep the budget under $2k, preferably I can check out the used market and spend under $1500.
 
If you're going to dialing up and down a lot, get the NF because their tracking is second to none, but if holdover shooting is what you'll be doing there's scopes with a little better optics.

IMO, you can never go wrong with a NXS but if you aren't dialing for elevation you don't necessarily need a NF.
 
B23, those were the two factors I was trying to decide between, glass quality and tracking quality. For this rifle I think glass is going to be king, I've got a Nightforce BR for Fclass dialing up and down but this rifle will be set up more like a hunting rig. That's why I was thinking about a Horris type reticle, for a long range semi auto it would be nice to shoot from 100 yards to 1000 without taking your finger off the trigger or eye out off the reticle.

I just stopped at the local shop and was playing with their VX6 HD 3-18x44, it's everything I'm looking for except the reticle I want.
 
I have the non HD VX6 3-18x50 w/TMOA reticle on my 20-250 but nearly every other rifle I have wears a NF NXS. The VX6, even the non HD model like I have, is good glass and I have no real complaints.

I've got a 22-243 improved going together that likely won't be done for another couple months and I'm still somewhat undecided as to what it will be wearing but as of now, I'm probably leaning toward another NXS.
 
I have 2 vx-6 3x18 and they are by far my favorite scope for a calling rifle. They both have the fire dot duplex and they are perfect for night hunting. I have a light mount attached to the scope so the light is just above the bell, the fire dot gives you a nice point of aim and the glass gathers up the light very well. The reticle is thick enough you can see it very well against brush and trees. There are probably many other great scopes but my search for calling scopes is over now that I have the vx-6's. The tracking on the turrets is pretty good, but if you will be dialing regularly the vx-6 will leave you wanting for something better. For a set it and forget it calling rig I give it 10/10 if your purpose was long range shooting I would give it a 5/10 because the turrets are both capped and the clicks are somewhat indistinct. The reticle is also just thick enough that it obscures small targets at long distances. Hope that helps as a quick review.
 
I have been thinking about a vx5hd 3-15 for my calling rifle will dial quit a few shots but with the new turret I don’t really see it being to big of an issue. If it turns out to be I’ll sell it I guess and go a different route. Maybe a march since they have nice mag range and higher power but would have to find a used one bit out of my price range plus they are fairly light too.
 
Optics are kinda a strange animal. Leupold scopes can and will break more often than a Nightforce when dialed. This is a fact I proved 3 times just last year.

The VX6-HD glass is great, not worth the trouble. Ask me how I know.

NXS glass is good, better than average if you buy a new one. Something changed somewhere along the line, my new one is great.

ATACR glass, if you can find a used or demo, is absolutely stunning like the VX6 HD, and the scope won’t break, so that’s a plus.

Zeiss Conquest V6 glass is a strange thing. I don’t get great resolution with it on max power, but I’ve kept it becuase it tracks like a Nightforce and when the sun goes down it’s as good as anything I’ve ever been behind, except its big brother the victory V8.

If I had to pick, under $2,000 MSRP, I’d say a 3-15 NXS. The slight advantage the VX6 HD gives in glass quality does not justify sacrificing reliability.
 
Hearing about Leupold's reliability problems is a real shame especially at these higher price points. I've had to send in a VX-R myself but I gave it a beating and Leupold fixed it up great no questions asked. I did used to have a 6-18x Mark AR I would dial a lot and never had a problem with tracking but after I sold that scope to a buddy he ended up with moisture in the scope after a rainy trip.

I did find a heck of a deal, $550 for a lightly used VX6(non-HD)6-18x44 with illuminated impact reticle(Horris lite, not too much clutter). What would you think of a deal like that?
 
I’d think someone could be selling you their problem, or maybe just trying to sell it quickly.

I don’t get the guys that say “well they’ll fix it.” I don’t want a scope to go down. I don’t want to wait. I don’t want to pay shipping even one way.

Three times in one year was enough for me, forever.
 
Originally Posted By: Rock Knocker
I did find a heck of a deal, $550 for a lightly used VX6(non-HD)6-18x44 with illuminated impact reticle(Horris lite, not too much clutter). What would you think of a deal like that?

A fool and his money are soon parted.
You should buy it!
lol.gif
 
Originally Posted By: CZ527Optics are kinda a strange animal. Leupold scopes can and will break more often than a Nightforce when dialed. This is a fact I proved 3 times just last year.

The VX6-HD glass is great, not worth the trouble. Ask me how I know.

NXS glass is good, better than average if you buy a new one. Something changed somewhere along the line, my new one is great.

ATACR glass, if you can find a used or demo, is absolutely stunning like the VX6 HD, and the scope won’t break, so that’s a plus.

Zeiss Conquest V6 glass is a strange thing. I don’t get great resolution with it on max power, but I’ve kept it becuase it tracks like a Nightforce and when the sun goes down it’s as good as anything I’ve ever been behind, except its big brother the victory V8.

If I had to pick, under $2,000 MSRP, I’d say a 3-15 NXS. The slight advantage the VX6 HD gives in glass quality does not justify sacrificing reliability.

Good info right there.
 
I have been using Leupold variables since the mid 90's and have never had an issue with one of them. Now that being said there are people who expected certain models to track perfectly when they were never designed to be used this way. If you are going to twist knobs then stay with vx3 and above models that use the twin spring erector system and you will be fine.

I have also used NF scopes and they are bulletproof. My only complaint was the reticles and this problem has definitely changed with some very good reticle offerings now available. I was cleaning out my gun room and was left with choice on whether to sale my NF or my Razor and I chose to keep the Razor because of the better reticle.

All scope manufacturers have duds. I spent almost 5K on a SB PM11 and the glass was horrible. I also owned 2 other SB's and the glass was excellent. I have also wore out the turrets on 2 Vortex HS-T scopes. These innards have a lot of plastic and they were fixed with no cost to me. Doesn't make them a bad scope it just shows you get what you pay for in most cases.
 
Originally Posted By: coyotezapperI have been using Leupold variables since the mid 90's and have never had an issue with one of them. Now that being said there are people who expected certain models to track perfectly when they were never designed to be used this way. If you are going to twist knobs then stay with vx3 and above models that use the twin spring erector system and you will be fine.

I have also used NF scopes and they are bulletproof. My only complaint was the reticles and this problem has definitely changed with some very good reticle offerings now available. I was cleaning out my gun room and was left with choice on whether to sale my NF or my Razor and I chose to keep the Razor because of the better reticle.

All scope manufacturers have duds. I spent almost 5K on a SB PM11 and the glass was horrible. I also owned 2 other SB's and the glass was excellent. I have also wore out the turrets on 2 Vortex HS-T scopes. These innards have a lot of plastic and they were fixed with no cost to me. Doesn't make them a bad scope it just shows you get what you pay for in most cases.



Two Mark 4s, and a VX6, if you were wondering.
 
Originally Posted By: CZ527Originally Posted By: coyotezapperI have been using Leupold variables since the mid 90's and have never had an issue with one of them. Now that being said there are people who expected certain models to track perfectly when they were never designed to be used this way. If you are going to twist knobs then stay with vx3 and above models that use the twin spring erector system and you will be fine.

I have also used NF scopes and they are bulletproof. My only complaint was the reticles and this problem has definitely changed with some very good reticle offerings now available. I was cleaning out my gun room and was left with choice on whether to sale my NF or my Razor and I chose to keep the Razor because of the better reticle.

All scope manufacturers have duds. I spent almost 5K on a SB PM11 and the glass was horrible. I also owned 2 other SB's and the glass was excellent. I have also wore out the turrets on 2 Vortex HS-T scopes. These innards have a lot of plastic and they were fixed with no cost to me. Doesn't make them a bad scope it just shows you get what you pay for in most cases.



Two Mark 4s, and a VX6, if you were wondering.

Not sure why you posted this?? Comments were for Rock Knocker.
 
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