zeiss HD 5 3-15x42 or Leupold vx-3 4.5-14x44?

Putting this on a 280ai hunting rifle and I am down to these 2 choices. Any opinions?

I would take the leupold due to size weight and warranty. Vx3 glass is nice and for a true hunting gun it would be great. You sure it's not a 40 or 50 mm obj?

VX6 3-18 would be even better, but of those two, I would take the VX3...

If I was going to spend 1k or more on a scope it would be a Swarovski over a leupold everyday.


I went to SWFA and looked at scopes this morning and I had to rule out the leupold. That tiny field of view they have just drives me crazy. ZCame home and ordered the zeiss from euro optics. Thanks for the advise guys

You're crazy if you think a Swarovski Z6i 3-18x50 is $2,000 better than the Leupold VX6...Even the non illuminated Z6 is $1,000 more than the VX6... The swaro may have an ever so slight optical quality advantage but it's certainly not $1k-$2k better...and you didn't like how small the FOV on the VX3 is, the VX6 is twice the FOV of the Swaro Z6...

Swarovski:
3-18x50, 30mm tube
$3,300
6.6ft field of view @ 100yds
Illuminated reticle

Leupold VX6:
3-18x50, 30mm tube
$1,300
13.7ft field of view at 100yds
Illuminated reticle

[quote=Precision_Shooter]You're crazy if you think a Swarovski Z6i 3-18x50 is $2,000 better than the Leupold VX6...Even the non illuminated Z6 is $1,000 more than the VX6... The swaro may have an ever so slight optical quality advantage but it's certainly not $1k-$2k better...and you didn't like how small the FOV on the VX3 is, the VX6 is twice the FOV of the Swarovski[quote=precision-shooter]


Actually according to leupolds website...

Leupold VX6:
3-18x50, 30 MM tube
$1624
38 feet at 3 power and 7feet at 18 power
Don't care about the illuminated reticle
21oz

Swarovski z5: ( which is what I was comparing it to in my post)
3.5-18x44 1 in tube
$1547
35.5ft at 3.5 to 6ft at 18 power
Don't need or want a illuminated reticle
16oz


So it has about the same field of view as the vx6, weighs 6 ounces less and has FAR superior glass. I can count points on a buck at dark at 10 power where I would need 12 or 14 to count them with the leupold. Yes I have owned one. So that basically makes the swaro have a GREATER actual field of view. If you disagree that's fine. Maybe your eyes are different. Or maybe your just CRAZY.

I have had both of the scopes and the Zeiss was brighter and had a better fov. For my eyes it was a simple decision, Zeiss.

I like the VX-3 and have two. In low light the Zeiss will blow them out of the water in my experience.

Zeiss would be my choice of these two.
The FOV in the 14x Leupold is terrible. Always has been no matter the model.