Leupold HD scopes w/CDS-ZL

[Rimshot]

Bored so I figured I'd start a discussion/debate.

I don't really have brand loyalty, but after trying one, 4 of my last 5 scope purchases have been some flavor of VX6HD. The turret is the most hunter useful/intuitive/human error reducing design I've encountered to date. Dialing the range is almost as fast yet much more precise than a hold-over reticle. Accidentally knocking the turret is virtually impossible because of the lock button. Return to zero can be done without even looking. It doesn't weigh 2 pounds like other decent glass. The optics are bright/clear/sharp, maybe the colors aren't 100% true but it's for shooting/hunting, not bird watching, and I wouldn't want to pay more for that. The reticles with MOA hash marks make wind deflection adjustments fast and more precise (every scope I bought has this because I think it's useful).

Is there another competing scope that I'm overlooking? So far the Leupold is that only one I know of that checks all those boxes, though I can think of several that have some of the features but then fall short in one or two.

 

[Totoro]

I'll take a stab at this one.

Zeiss V4

I've owned a few/shot behind a few more and have no complaints.

The CDS-ZL does work but I do not like the 1 turn limit and same with the 2ZL; just personal preference.

Granted I may not need a full turn let alone 2 when it comes down to it.

 

[Tgood1]

I agree Leupold HD scopes are rather fantastic

 

[Opposite Pole]

How does Leupold VX6HD compare to say Leica Amplus, Fortis or Zeiss V6? In Europe they cost pretty much the same as Fortis and V6 and roughly 50% more than the Amplus. I have very little experience with Leupold, I only had one of their cheaper scopes (VX2 I think) on a CZ455 but sold it with the rifle. For the money it was ok, but it was on the cheaper spectrum and could not compare in any way, and I mean in any way to the far more expensive euro glass. It was nowhere near as clear, sharp or bright and the eyepiece moved up and down when touched (design flow, not faulty scope).

The reason I’m asking is I have a single shot rifle coming early next year and the 3-18x44 VX6 looks like a good candidate for it. I like the lines of the scope and the fact the ballistic turret is sleek and low, not tall and “tactical” for lack of better word like on Swaro Z8i for instance. Trouble is no one seems to have them in stock so I’d have to custom order it and buy it sight unseen.

 

[Totoro]

In a blind test, I would venture to guess the Alpha tier glass would stand out.

The V4 glass is good enough for me as well as eye relief etc.

Again, no flies in the Leupie HD lineup if you don't tell often.

But, I for one, don't care two bits on color saturation/CA/edge to edge blah blah blah compared to dial repeatability. When it comes down to it I need to now what I dialed is correct; I am focused in on the cross hairs and taking up trigger pressure.

How the scope aesthetics lay out is of personal choice.

 

[Nevada Mike]

I have a number of Leupold scopes on various rifles. They are lightweight and rugged. Their optics are very good - for the price. You can find and buy heavier, more expensive scopes with somewhat better optics and lots of bells and whistles, but the Leupold scopes do the job for me. They also offer a lifetime warranty and service. Hard to beat.

 

[Opposite Pole]

I have a number of Leupold scopes on various rifles. They are lightweight and rugged. Their optics are very good - for the price. You can find and buy heavier, more expensive scopes with somewhat better optics and lots of bells and whistles, but the Leupold scopes do the job for me. They also offer a lifetime warranty and service. Hard to beat.

That's the thing, in Europe the VX6HD costs the same as some Leica or Zeiss scopes and the warranty in EU is two years. I like everything about the scope that I can see in a catalogue but lack the opportunity to look through it in real life.

 

[Nitro375]

I did not have the HD version, but I did have two VX-6, 2-12x42 Leupy's for a while. They were very good, decent weight for size, very good optics, and the adjustments never gave me any trouble. They were so good in fact, at the time I sold a Zeiss Victory and Duralyt. Now the Victory did have a very slight edge in optical quality, but not enough to really matter for hunting. Both would take you long past legal light where I live. The eye relief and eyebox on the Leupold's was very comfortable and forgiving, especially on a hard kicker. And the weight, or lack there of was a big plus. The H.D. can only be better I imagine.

 

[Angelo_orygun]

How does Leupold VX6HD compare to say Leica Amplus, Fortis or Zeiss V6?

I have a VX5 and a VX6 HD, both great scopes and zero complaints. I also have a 3-18 V6 from ZEISS and I will say that the color/clarity/contrast is better with the V6. Some folks say “I don’t care about that” but once you see it, you’ll never not see it! I think ZEISS has the coating game down a little better with their T*, just my hunch.

One interesting thing about the V6 is the elevation travel, the 3-18 has got 103 MOA. The scope tube is actually machined with a lip near the elevation turret to allow more travel for the erector. Pretty cool if you want to shoot long range.

I will give the reticle/illumination nod to Leupold though. ZEISS has no illumination and limited reticles.

If price is close, and you don’t need/want a special reticle or illumination, I’d lean towards ZEISS all day for a 3-18.

 

[Opposite Pole]

I have a VX5 and a VX6 HD, both great scopes and zero complaints. I also have a 3-18 V6 from ZEISS and I will say that the color/clarity/contrast is better with the V6. Some folks say “I don’t care about that” but once you see it, you’ll never not see it! I think ZEISS has the coating game down a little better with their T*, just my hunch.

One interesting thing about the V6 is the elevation travel, the 3-18 has got 103 MOA. The scope tube is actually machined with a lip near the elevation turret to allow more travel for the erector. Pretty cool if you want to shoot long range.

I will give the reticle/illumination nod to Leupold though. ZEISS has no illumination and limited reticles.

If price is close, and you don’t need/want a special reticle or illumination, I’d lean towards ZEISS all day for a 3-18.

Some models of the V6 do have illuminated reticles, the 1.1-6x, 2-12x and 2.5-15x do. As for the price, in Europe they are actually cheaper than Leupold VX6HD even with the ballistic turret which is a 200EUR option on Zeiss.

 

[Angelo_orygun]

Some models of the V6 do have illuminated reticles, the 1.1-6x, 2-12x and 2.5-15x do. As for the price, in Europe they are actually cheaper than Leupold VX6HD even with the ballistic turret which is a 200EUR option on Zeiss.

Correct on those models having illumination, we don’t have the 2-12 or 2.5-15 in the US, I always forget about them.

 

[Inline6]

How does Leupold VX6HD compare to say Leica Amplus, Fortis or Zeiss V6? In Europe they cost pretty much the same as Fortis and V6 and roughly 50% more than the Amplus. I have very little experience with Leupold, I only had one of their cheaper scopes (VX2 I think) on a CZ455 but sold it with the rifle. For the money it was ok, but it was on the cheaper spectrum and could not compare in any way, and I mean in any way to the far more expensive euro glass. It was nowhere near as clear, sharp or bright and the eyepiece moved up and down when touched (design flow, not faulty scope).

The reason I’m asking is I have a single shot rifle coming early next year and the 3-18x44 VX6 looks like a good candidate for it. I like the lines of the scope and the fact the ballistic turret is sleek and low, not tall and “tactical” for lack of better word like on Swaro Z8i for instance. Trouble is no one seems to have them in stock so I’d have to custom order it and buy it sight unseen.

1X6 VX6 set at 6 and my 2.5x15 Amplus set at 6 Amplus wins. Resolution is better gathering light is better but that's a given.

I got a good deal on the VX6 other wise I would bought another Amplus.

To this day Hensoldt has been the best glass I have owned.