DeerhoundLurcherMan 997 Posted February 8, 2015 Report Share Posted February 8, 2015 I did a little comparison last night while lamping. I use a Hawke Sport 3-9x50IR and my mate uses an 8x56 s&b, I bought a meopta artemis 2000 7x50 yesterday which I was planning to use in place of the old Hawke.... Now, IMO there was not much difference between the meopta and the s&b, both bright and crystal clear but the ultra fine reticle in the meopta got lost at distance, and 7x mag wouldn't be enough for me to confidently shoot past 200 yards...The s&b at just 1x more mag was noticeably better and the duplex reticle was perfect, it also has a slightly bigger sight picture. The Hawke was not quite as bright as either of them or not quite as clear, but I have still shot a dozen or so foxes past 200 yards. But the real struggle is with Id'ing anything at range....This is where the s&b shines through, and also the real reason for me to upgrade... So the meopta is going back tomorrow, Lovely scope just not what I want, I think it would be spot on for woodland stalking or lamping to 150ish yards... My new purchase tonight from eBay is a second hand leupold vx3 3.5-10x50.....I figure if I don't like it I will just stick it straight back on for sale... I'm hopeful that it will be just what I'm after.... Anyone had any experience with any of the above, I would especially like to hear anyone's thoughts on the vx3...... Quote Link to post
andyf 144 Posted February 8, 2015 Report Share Posted February 8, 2015 I've got 2 vx3's one on a 22.250 and the other on a .22 rimfire, also a Leupold Premium on a .270. Both vx3's are excellent for my application, as they both have the varmint 'ladder type', reticules, so I'm not sure mine would be much good for your use of long range lamping as the 'ret is very fine and is hard to see clearly under the lamp, especially with a red filter which I use, both are fine in good light, and reasonably close at night. The scope build quality is top notch, and adjustments are spot on and repeatable, just make sure you get a suitable (ie thick enough) ret for your needs, I have sunshades and the Alumina flip-ups on both vx3's, I recently got a Leupold VXR illuminated for my 7x57 for woodland stalking in shaded 'green' undergrowth, the Duplex middle dot reticule is very good, and would I think make a very useful lamping scope. By the way although all are variables I keep them on 8x. Anyway, as a confirmed Leupold fan they are my first choice, the only scope I've tried that I would consider would be a NightForce, 1 Quote Link to post
DeerhoundLurcherMan 997 Posted February 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2015 This one I have bought has the duplex reticle, so hopefully its similar to my mates s&b.... Just been on Leupold website, there is a date code in the serial number of every Leupold made after 1972.....Says mine was made in 2007.... Quote Link to post
ianm 2,594 Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 I've got 2 vx3's one on a 22.250 and the other on a .22 rimfire, also a Leupold Premium on a .270. Both vx3's are excellent for my application, as they both have the varmint 'ladder type', reticules, so I'm not sure mine would be much good for your use of long range lamping as the 'ret is very fine and is hard to see clearly under the lamp, especially with a red filter which I use, both are fine in good light, and reasonably close at night. The scope build quality is top notch, and adjustments are spot on and repeatable, just make sure you get a suitable (ie thick enough) ret for your needs, I have sunshades and the Alumina flip-ups on both vx3's, I recently got a Leupold VXR illuminated for my 7x57 for woodland stalking in shaded 'green' undergrowth, the Duplex middle dot reticule is very good, and would I think make a very useful lamping scope. By the way although all are variables I keep them on 8x. Anyway, as a confirmed Leupold fan they are my first choice, the only scope I've tried that I would consider would be a NightForce, Don't bother with a nightforce, i had one and got shut of it quickly. I compared it side by side with my mates meopta at a third the price and the meopta was much better glass. Quote Link to post
Tremo 138 Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 Have you had a look at the Vortex range? I've always found them to be good, and the price is even better. Not that I'm tight mind you. Quote Link to post
charlie caller 3,654 Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 Nikon, as always mate Quote Link to post
Ratmanwan 66 Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 Got a vx111 and a nightforce nxs both used for lampin. The leupold is the best of the two at night. 1 Quote Link to post
DeerhoundLurcherMan 997 Posted February 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 Well, I got the leupold today, its a vx111 not a vx3...... a little confused, but i think its the older model.... I still had the meopta and so had a look through both, and to be honest, I couldn't tell much difference in the daylight at close range, maybe one might edge it in low light conditions or at distance....Anyhow, I needed more mag than the meopta had so the leupy is here to stay with its 10x mag and lifetime warranty, I saved £100 too... If the used leupold hadn't come to my attention, I would have had a new meopta meopro 6-18x50... Quote Link to post
shropshire dan 467 Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 I got a Redfield 4-12x40 made by leupold and it's excellent in low light conditions. With a full moon I only use a lamp to spot and then once I have charlie in the scope I turn off lamp for following it and taking the shot Quote Link to post
Ratmanwan 66 Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 You wont go wrong with the vx111 cracking scope. I found the crosshairs on the meopta to fine at night. 1 Quote Link to post
DeerhoundLurcherMan 997 Posted February 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 You wont go wrong with the vx111 cracking scope. I found the crosshairs on the meopta to fine at night. Exactly my thoughts... Too fine and get a bit lost when lamping at distance, and the 7x mag just wasn't enough for what I need...Would be a great scope for daytime or lamping sub 150 yards... Quote Link to post
Yokel Matt 918 Posted February 12, 2015 Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 At least you've had a look through them and made an informed decision. The number of disappointed shooters with mail order scopes must be significant... I know of at least one.... Me. 1 Quote Link to post
walshie 2,804 Posted February 12, 2015 Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 Get a second hand S&B Quote Link to post
DeerhoundLurcherMan 997 Posted February 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 Great scopes walshie, but looking through my mates 8x56, we both thought a little more mag would be best for what we do...Plus most of them have 30mm tube and I already have some decent 25mm leupold mounts, so a slight saving there too! The variable mag s&bs are rarer and more money than I wanted to spend... Im zeroing mine with this leupold vx111 asap with them 53grn superformance rounds... 1 Quote Link to post
walshie 2,804 Posted February 12, 2015 Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 It's funny, my 8x56 has a 25mm tube but my 6x42 has a 30mm. Quote Link to post
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