High Middle Cost Scope input needed

[Konrad.INc]

Hello,

Ive been agonizing over a new optic for a 7 SAUM long range hunting rifle/competiton rifle for 3 months now and I am wondering if anyone can help. I've been a Leupold guy my whole life and have not had a problem with their VX-3 target scopes on my target rifles or their VX-3 CDS line for my normal hunting rifles. Having said that, I'm not convinced that the 2K price tag they put on their VX-6HD's really mean they are equal in quality or performance to some other Brand scopes. Currently my rifle has a VX-3 4.5-14X40 long range on it but I would like a little higher magnification but I do not want to give up my low end magnification when I am out hunting. Because this rifle is a field rifle weight is a major consideration. I also built a custom stock for this rifle that fits me perfectly, so 56mm objectives are out of the question but I think I can fit a 50ish mm objective with the current height rings. The scope must absolutely positively track for both elevation and windage!!!! I also cant afford a big dollar scope, it needs to be in the 1000-2000$ range and lower on the scale is better to a point. This has lead me to a quandary between two and maybe three scopes currently on the market. Here is what I am looking at and hoping to get some feedback on.

Zeiss Conquest V6 5-30X50

Leupold VX-6HD 4-24X52

(Maybe) Vortex PSTII 5-25X50

Of those three scopes I like weight of the Leupold, I like the turret "click feel" of the vortex but the Zeiss is a close second. I like the 30X top end of the Zeiss. I like the 4X low end of the Leupold. I looked at the Zeiss, Vortex and a Leupold VX_6HD 3-18 at Cabelas in Portland last weekend and the glass on the Zeiss and Leupold are very close, but the Vortex didnt seem that good.

So what do you guys think? Are the Zeiss and/or the Leupold worth 600$ more? Is there a clear winner for scope tracking?

I see Broz has a review upcoming on the Zeiss but the 15% off sale at midway is today and tomorrow only.

P.S. For love of god, dont tell me that I can go out and buy a Nightforce. I know I can buy an NXS 5.5-22X50 for that money, or a SHV 5-20X56 for half that money. I know I can. The objective on the SHV is too big and the NXS is way too heavy on a rifle that already is overweight in my opinion. A lightweight bipod is in my future to off set the weight of the new scope.

 

[Rich Coyle]

There is one you might look at. I had it Bushnell 4 and 1/2 to 30 by 50, a Swarovski Z5 5 to 25 by 52, and a Leupold VR6 4-24 X 52. There was no difference in low light performance on deer antlers. On an Optics chart the Leupold and a Swarovski needed one power then the Bushnell to see the same thing. I didn't twist church but Leupold the Bushnell moved the correct amount while signing them in.

 

[hunterdan]

For higher magnification I really like the Sightron s111 6-24x50. 24 ozs. I have a Leupold vx6 and Nightforce SHV and like the sightron the best of all. Hard to beat for the price.

 

[gillettehunter]

I have read that the Leupold VX-6HD has had tracking issues. Been discussed over on Snipers Hide a bit and maybe here also. I believe that the VX-5 has same glass and seems to have a better record on tracking.
Bruce

 

[Deleted member 25294]

I just did some shooting and comparisons with a zeiss v6 3-18x50, and my Leupold vx6 3-18x50.
Haven't had a chance to test tracking on the v6 but I am very impressed with this scope. Target acquisition was extremely fast and the clarity is easily twice as good as my vx6.
What really impressed me was that right at dark I could very clearly make out small targets at 800 yards that were dark blurs with the Leopold.
Overall it has the clearest and brightest glass I've ever looked through, also a lot better than the swarovski z5 that I've used.

 

[Konrad.INc]

To answer some of your posts, I dont want to go any higher than 5X on the low magnification for when those deer jump up at 30 yards.

I have heard of tracking issues on all manner of Leupold scopes for 10 years, the VX-6 is no different. Its really hard to figure out if they have an actual problem with tracking (EG lots of people having issues) or if its a one/two/a few people here and there having issues and reporting them to every shooting/hunting website they know. As far as I can tell, vortex has the same PR issue. Having said that, I will also suspect that Vortex and Leupold are selling 10X the number of scopes in the US market as Zeiss so obviously there should be 10X more problems even if the total failure rate is 1% or less.

I'm an engineer by trade and I understand how those failure rate percentages work and it can take 10X the work chasing that last 1% of failures. Sometimes infant mortality happens, and there really isnt much you can do about it without actually shooting/simulating being shot and dialed a bunch of times for every scope you ship to actually rule it out. This can be extremely time consuming and expensive. You look around enough and you will find failures for every brand and model of scope on the web.

 

[WeiserBucks]

If weight is major factor, consider a March . They also have a huge magnification range .

 

[Rich Coyle]

Here's some info I should have included. Using a postal scale the Leupold VX-6 4-24X52 weighs 24 oz. The Bushnell 6500 4 1/2-30X50 weighs 22 oz. The Swarovski z5 5-25X52 weighs 18 oz.

 

[Canhunter35]

It probably won't fit ur criteria, but the mark 5 is pretty awesome.
Check out a Burris veracity 5-25x. Glass is as good as a vortex.
Like you I'm a leupold fan, but I also like sightron. They track great, better glass than Burris or vortex scopes I've looked through

 

[Konrad.INc]

Well, the decision was made last night. I ordered the Zeiss. Maybe, just maybe I'll have it in time for the Fclass shoot over in bend next weekend. There were just too many question marks on the leupold tracking and too many good things were said for the Zeiss for me not to go that route. I'll give a report back here once I have some rounds under it.

 

[BJH]

I think you have made a good choice. Having handled all 3 of those I really like the Ziess. And I would never hesitate to buy another one.

 

[hunterdan]

Konrad, Post up a review if you don't mind on the scope after you shoot it. Those new Ziess V6 look very good. So far all positive feedback on them. Thanks!

 

[Hondo64d]

Hello,

Ive been agonizing over a new optic for a 7 SAUM long range hunting rifle/competiton rifle for 3 months now and I am wondering if anyone can help. I've been a Leupold guy my whole life and have not had a problem with their VX-3 target scopes on my target rifles or their VX-3 CDS line for my normal hunting rifles. Having said that, I'm not convinced that the 2K price tag they put on their VX-6HD's really mean they are equal in quality or performance to some other Brand scopes. Currently my rifle has a VX-3 4.5-14X40 long range on it but I would like a little higher magnification but I do not want to give up my low end magnification when I am out hunting. Because this rifle is a field rifle weight is a major consideration. I also built a custom stock for this rifle that fits me perfectly, so 56mm objectives are out of the question but I think I can fit a 50ish mm objective with the current height rings. The scope must absolutely positively track for both elevation and windage!!!! I also cant afford a big dollar scope, it needs to be in the 1000-2000$ range and lower on the scale is better to a point. This has lead me to a quandary between two and maybe three scopes currently on the market. Here is what I am looking at and hoping to get some feedback on.

Zeiss Conquest V6 5-30X50

Leupold VX-6HD 4-24X52

(Maybe) Vortex PSTII 5-25X50

Of those three scopes I like weight of the Leupold, I like the turret "click feel" of the vortex but the Zeiss is a close second. I like the 30X top end of the Zeiss. I like the 4X low end of the Leupold. I looked at the Zeiss, Vortex and a Leupold VX_6HD 3-18 at Cabelas in Portland last weekend and the glass on the Zeiss and Leupold are very close, but the Vortex didnt seem that good.

So what do you guys think? Are the Zeiss and/or the Leupold worth 600$ more? Is there a clear winner for scope tracking?

I see Broz has a review upcoming on the Zeiss but the 15% off sale at midway is today and tomorrow only.

P.S. For love of god, dont tell me that I can go out and buy a Nightforce. I know I can buy an NXS 5.5-22X50 for that money, or a SHV 5-20X56 for half that money. I know I can. The objective on the SHV is too big and the NXS is way too heavy on a rifle that already is overweight in my opinion. A lightweight bipod is in my future to off set the weight of the new scope.

Look at the Bushnell LRHSi that GA Precision is running another special on in July for $750. That's half off the MSRP.

I've had the LRHS and currently have the LRTSi which is essentially the same scope. They both have been excellent, maintaining zero, tracking correctly and returning to zero as they should. Their glass is far above their pay grade.

They will be head and shoulders in mechanical reliability above the Leupolds you are considering.

John

 

[Havingfun]

Hello,

Ive been agonizing over a new optic for a 7 SAUM long range hunting rifle/competiton rifle for 3 months now and I am wondering if anyone can help. I've been a Leupold guy my whole life and have not had a problem with their VX-3 target scopes on my target rifles or their VX-3 CDS line for my normal hunting rifles. Having said that, I'm not convinced that the 2K price tag they put on their VX-6HD's really mean they are equal in quality or performance to some other Brand scopes. Currently my rifle has a VX-3 4.5-14X40 long range on it but I would like a little higher magnification but I do not want to give up my low end magnification when I am out hunting. Because this rifle is a field rifle weight is a major consideration. I also built a custom stock for this rifle that fits me perfectly, so 56mm objectives are out of the question but I think I can fit a 50ish mm objective with the current height rings. The scope must absolutely positively track for both elevation and windage!!!! I also cant afford a big dollar scope, it needs to be in the 1000-2000$ range and lower on the scale is better to a point. This has lead me to a quandary between two and maybe three scopes currently on the market. Here is what I am looking at and hoping to get some feedback on.

Zeiss Conquest V6 5-30X50

Leupold VX-6HD 4-24X52

(Maybe) Vortex PSTII 5-25X50

Of those three scopes I like weight of the Leupold, I like the turret "click feel" of the vortex but the Zeiss is a close second. I like the 30X top end of the Zeiss. I like the 4X low end of the Leupold. I looked at the Zeiss, Vortex and a Leupold VX_6HD 3-18 at Cabelas in Portland last weekend and the glass on the Zeiss and Leupold are very close, but the Vortex didnt seem that good.

So what do you guys think? Are the Zeiss and/or the Leupold worth 600$ more? Is there a clear winner for scope tracking?

I see Broz has a review upcoming on the Zeiss but the 15% off sale at midway is today and tomorrow only.

P.S. For love of god, dont tell me that I can go out and buy a Nightforce. I know I can buy an NXS 5.5-22X50 for that money, or a SHV 5-20X56 for half that money. I know I can. The objective on the SHV is too big and the NXS is way too heavy on a rifle that already is overweight in my opinion. A lightweight bipod is in my future to off set the weight of the new scope.

Hello,

Ive been agonizing over a new optic for a 7 SAUM long range hunting rifle/competiton rifle for 3 months now and I am wondering if anyone can help. I've been a Leupold guy my whole life and have not had a problem with their VX-3 target scopes on my target rifles or their VX-3 CDS line for my normal hunting rifles. Having said that, I'm not convinced that the 2K price tag they put on their VX-6HD's really mean they are equal in quality or performance to some other Brand scopes. Currently my rifle has a VX-3 4.5-14X40 long range on it but I would like a little higher magnification but I do not want to give up my low end magnification when I am out hunting. Because this rifle is a field rifle weight is a major consideration. I also built a custom stock for this rifle that fits me perfectly, so 56mm objectives are out of the question but I think I can fit a 50ish mm objective with the current height rings. The scope must absolutely positively track for both elevation and windage!!!! I also cant afford a big dollar scope, it needs to be in the 1000-2000$ range and lower on the scale is better to a point. This has lead me to a quandary between two and maybe three scopes currently on the market. Here is what I am looking at and hoping to get some feedback on.

Zeiss Conquest V6 5-30X50

Leupold VX-6HD 4-24X52

(Maybe) Vortex PSTII 5-25X50

Of those three scopes I like weight of the Leupold, I like the turret "click feel" of the vortex but the Zeiss is a close second. I like the 30X top end of the Zeiss. I like the 4X low end of the Leupold. I looked at the Zeiss, Vortex and a Leupold VX_6HD 3-18 at Cabelas in Portland last weekend and the glass on the Zeiss and Leupold are very close, but the Vortex didnt seem that good.

So what do you guys think? Are the Zeiss and/or the Leupold worth 600$ more? Is there a clear winner for scope tracking?

I see Broz has a review upcoming on the Zeiss but the 15% off sale at midway is today and tomorrow only.

P.S. For love of god, dont tell me that I can go out and buy a Nightforce. I know I can buy an NXS 5.5-22X50 for that money, or a SHV 5-20X56 for half that money. I know I can. The objective on the SHV is too big and the NXS is way too heavy on a rifle that already is overweight in my opinion. A lightweight bipod is in my future to off set the weight of the new scope.

I'd take a look at the new Zeiss Conquest V4 scopes. The 6x24x50 only weighs 24 oz. and I have read they are incredible. $1200 (ish) price and there is a $100 credit promotion going on right now too. In fact, I am going over to take a look at them this weekend myself. I might be replacing a couple of NF scopes simply due to weight.