jimmyjames from United States, NC Public Profile

I own a few 20+ year old Leupold scopes and now I own (for the time being) this 2015 VX3 3.5-10X50 Hvy Duplex scope. It doesn't look the same or weigh the same as the old VX2 and VX3 or Vari X scopes. While the weight thing might be desirable, it is not at the expense of quality and durability. Time will tell. This scope just looks and feels cheap. The elevation and windage knob/wheel are cheap plastic The numbering on the gold ring isn't straight. These scopes are advertised as having a special extended twilight coating that presumably would allow you to see better/longer that last 30 minutes of legal hunting time. I compared this scope at twilight to a 30mm tube 2015 Nikon ProStaff 7 scope and the Nikon has better low light capability for same or less money. I bought 2 of the Nikon's this year on sale. I was thinking about buying the 8.5-25x50 VX3 while the rebate is still available but am having second thoughts. Somewhat disappointed in this purchase.

A shooting buddy of mine bought this scope on another friends recommendation. Initially neither one of us thought this scope was worth the money even though it is on the economy to mid price scale. We both had trouble looking through it and getting our eye relief right at 100 and 300yds. There may be some issue with this particular scope when it is rotated side ways. His scope is also the 45degree angle version. We finally took it out to a 1000yd range with steel at 100yd intervals. I set the scope up with the eye piece up so while sitting in a camp chair and the scope on a tripod, the user must tilt their head down to look into eye piece. Much easier to get the eye relief right and to zoom up and focus. I had no trouble seeing the targets out to 1000yds but very hard to focus at 1000yd steel and a hazy, heavy mirage. I had no trouble seeing the steel move when my buddy shot it out to 800yds. I could not see steel move at 900 and 1000yds. I was however able to see my buds first shot at the 1000yd target hit about 4 feet high into the berm and was able to talk him down in 2 minute increments to where I was not seeing the bullet impact the berm and had to assume it was on the big steel at 1000yds. Several things to take away here. This is a good to great scope for 800yds or less spotting. If you are going to do most of your spotting on a bench and not on a tall tripod, get the straight body/eyepiece design. I think for bench top or tripod top, I would still go wi