Which Leupold VX-3 do I want??

T

Trapper Luke

New member
Got a 270 I want to put a Leupold VX-3 on but cant decide which one I want. I do know I want the VX-3 4.5X14 with the Boone and Crockett Reticle. Here is what I cant decide on...is the 50mm scopes worth the extra money over the 40mm? Problem two I cant decide if I want the Adjustable Objective Scope or one of the Long Range Side Focus Scopes? Like I was sayin it'll be goin on a 270 and 450-500 yards will be the very farthest Ill probably ever shoot with it. Would like to keep it 400 and under but ya never know.

Thanks,
Luke
 
My 270 WSM has a VXIII 4.5-14x40AO duplex with M1's added. Just about perfect IMO.

FWIW, I don't do B&C reticles or 50mm objectives......

100_0385.jpg

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Thanks. I have yet to figure out what a 50mm does better than a quality 40mm except add more weight and force me to mount my scope higher than I prefer.

Those are Burris Xtreme 1" low rings. They are lapped, as they were just a tad "off". The ones I mounted last week did not require lapping. They're a pretty good deal @ $45......
 
Originally Posted By: bigwheeler If you plan on low light shooting go with the 50, if you plan on a lot of
hiking stay with the 40.

No, 40mm is all you need at any time for hunting.
Do the math.
 
I've found that 40mm is plenty for shooting within the legal shooting hours. Even during the very late and early legal shooting hours.
 
50x50x3.1412=7,853
40x40x3.1412=5,026

There is the math, quite a bit of surface area difference. 36% if I am not
mistaken. That is a lot of light. I night hunt with a 60mm with no illumination.
you would only see black in a 40.
 
Originally Posted By: bigwheeler50x50x3.1412=7,853
40x40x3.1412=5,026

There is the math, quite a bit of surface area difference. 36% if I am not
mistaken. That is a lot of light. I night hunt with a 60mm with no illumination.
you would only see black in a 40.
You miss the point. A larger objective only increases the size of the exit pupil. It does not make it brighter. Only better lenses and coatings do that and all better optics are approaching 100% transmission.
Your eye can not use an exit pupil over about 7mm. Anything larger is wasted. A 40mm objective will give you a 7mm exit pupil up to 5.7 power. Since it is unlikely you will use more power than that under low light conditions a larger objective does not increase useable light.

Jack
 
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Jack you are right on the exit pupil and I do use more power than 6. I have
done a fair amount of varmint shooting at night and we are not even allowed
a spot light in the vehicle up here with guns in the truck. I have Lupys, Swaros
and USO's. You can't begin to hunt with a 40 unless it's a full moon and a
perfectly clear night. The 60 is like daylight on a night like that.
 
I just sighted in my first Luepy with a side focus today, a 4.5x14x40mm LR. So far I like the side focus, seems handier than the adj objective. I'm with 2MG, never had a need for a 50mm objective, even when hunting under a full moon and snow (no lights). That would be pretty low light I reckon.
 
Thanks for all the answers so far guys.

Was lookin around on Midway at their Leupold scopes and found a VX-3 that has that Custom Dial System (CDS) anybody got much experince with these scopes? good or bad?

Thanks,
Luke
 
As Jack stated, the eye can only see what its capable of seeing.... A bigger objective on a scope won't improve that...

A 40 MM objective will serve you well under all normal conditions. Anything bigger is just in the way and not very handy on a rifle..

-BCB
 
Originally Posted By: Bayou City Boy A 40 MM objective will serve you well under all normal conditions. Anything bigger is just in the way and not very handy on a rifle..-BCB

Agreed.....
 
I have a 4.5-14x40 VX3 side focus and think highly of it. It is a fine scope and meets my hunting needs.I believe you would likely be very pleased with one.

Larger objective scopes have their place, but as far as normal sporter type hunting rifles go, I am happy with a 40mm.
 
I read somewhere on-line that the tech. support staff at Leupold were recommending 40mm max. I had one of the Leupold guys on the phone and I asked if that was true. He said it is true because the 50mm doesn't have an appreciable advantage over a 40mm scope.

Makes me wonder why all of those tactical shooters spend all that coin on Nightforce, S&B, US Optics and so forth with objectives of 50mm and up. Are all of those snipers and high speed low drag operators really that ignorant? I guess so...and I got sucked right in with my 50mm Nightforce scopes.
 
Originally Posted By: AnkenyI read somewhere on-line that the tech. support staff at Leupold were recommending 40mm max. I had one of the Leupold guys on the phone and I asked if that was true. He said it is true because the 50mm doesn't have an appreciable advantage over a 40mm scope.

Makes me wonder why all of those tactical shooters spend all that coin on Nightforce, S&B, US Optics and so forth with objectives of 50mm and up. Are all of those snipers and high speed low drag operators really that ignorant? I guess so...and I got sucked right in with my 50mm Nightforce scopes.

It's obvious that Nightforce, USO, S&B, Premier, Swaro haven't got a clue as
to what they are doing. I took my two USO's out last night set on 10 power.
One is a 1.8-10x40 new this summer and the other a 3.8-22x60. Sky was
clear, no moon. I could not see the reticle in the 40 at all (which is why I ordered
it with a lit reticle) The 60 was clearly visible. Sighting on various roof vents
I got very undistinguished blurry images with the 40 and fairly crisp with the 60. It would take moonlight and snow to make the 40 usable at night.
note: the 60 is on a 35 mm tube, the 40 on a 30mm tube.
 


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