Leupold’s VX-3 Variable Power Scopes Family Will Live Long!

I was standing in the Catskill Mountains on the edge of an old cut where the hemlocks gave place to a grove young beeches. A gentle breeze was blowing in my face. The crunch of the leaves had been dampened by a light rain the night prior, but the sound from an approaching deer was clear. Through the hemlock trees, I could see the deer’s body, but only the lower half. I could tell that it was a buck by the way it walked. I saw his headgear and knew it was on. He was an eight-point mature deer with dark antlers, and was definitely a shooter for Catskills. The Heym Model 26B double rifle over/under was easy to reach his shoulder. The crosshairs settled right behind his shoulder as he crossed an old logging road. The 300-grain Federal HammerDown in.45-70 Government (chosen to protect the healthy bear population in Catskills) was a quick kill that settled his affairs. I was happy.
After admiring the rifle, I started to think about the riflescope that it wore: a Leupold VX-3i. This was the 1.5-5x20mm model that is most popular for dangerous game rifles. There were other priorities and we only had a three-week deer and one buck season. I made do with my cheaper glass. This was my first out of country hunt with my dad. It showed me the limits and set me on a quest for a reliable, rugged optic at a fair cost. I had long longed for those handsome riflescopes with the gloss finish on the tube and the gold ring at the objective end. So when I finally opened the piggy bank and sewed a Leupold to mine, it was a moment when reliability of riflescopes-which we now take as a given–was not in question. My father told me the story about a riflescope that wouldn’t hold zero. He then switched back to iron sights for a few seasons. I used to go to the annual sight-in and check out the more expensive scopes of older men. I loved the Leupold scopes for their beauty as much as they performed. In the mid-to-late 1980s, Leupold was a well-known brand. The Vari-X III line was the flagship of the fleet. It was released in three models with a 1-inch maintube in gloss finish. The lineup included the classic 1.5-5x20mm dangerous game, the versatile 2.5-8x36mm (one the most outstanding whitetail deer scopes ever created), and the long-range favourite, the 3.5-10x40mm. Later models were available in a gloss finish with a 1-inch maintube. This was a remarkable feat for the time. Each 1/4-MOA adjustment was audible and had a coin slot. Six years later, Leupold would introduce what would become my favorite varmint/predator riflescope, the Vari-X III (6.5-20x40mm) AO. The Vari-X III 6.5-20x40mm AO was designed with an adjustable objective that allowed for crisp sight pictures even in extreme heat. The power selector ring was improved with detents. In the 1980s, the first range estimating models were created in the Vari-X III. Leupold VX-3i 1.5-5x20mm was added to the top. This lens coating was updated in the 1990s with Leupold’s proprietary Multicoat 4 treatment. This increased light transmission and contrast, and was also standard on the Vari-X III and Mark 4s. The line was expanded to include the 1.75-6x32mm (possibly the scope that can be used with a.375 H&H), and the 4.5-14x40mm. This lens coating was standard on the Vari-X III line as well as the Mark 4s and a few M8 models. Leupold’s silver-finish scopes were released in 1990 to match the growing popularity of stainless steel finishes in rifles and handguns. The scope tube’s construction changed in 1990 when Leupold engineers made a single-piece maintube instead of five. This gave the scope tube more rigidity and dependability. In 1997, the 8.5-25x40mm Ao was released to give target shooters and varmint/predator hunters some serious magnification. The Vari-X III 3.5-10x40mm M3 long range scope, which was essentially the predecessor of the MK4 line, came onto the market a year later. It featured a 30mm maintube with an adjustable objective and an adjustable objective. The 1/2-MOA adjustments were criticized by some, while others accepted that the scope was intended for rapid elevation changes. In 2004, Leupold made a major change to its product line with the renaming of the entire product line. The Vari-X was replaced by VX. The Vari-X I became VX-I and the Vari-X III became VX-III. Magnum, with a Leupold VX-3 1.5-5x20mm Talley detachable rings. It wasn’t long before the VX era was over, I purchased a scope for my new buffalo rifle, the Winchester Model 70 Safari Express in.416 Remington Magnum. This scope was intended for a Cape buffalo safari in Tanzania. The Leupold VX-III 1.5-5x20mm scope with the heavy duplex reflector was used to find the black crosshairs against the large black bodies in the dappled sun. The Leupold VX-III 1.5-5x20mm scope was used to find the black crosshairs against the large black bodies in the dappled sunlight. The scope doesn’t lose any zero, even though it is mounted in detachable mounts. It also offers enough eye relief that it can be mounted on any hard-kicking rifle. With an increase in lens coatings, the Indexed Matched lens system was introduced. The size of objective lenses increased with the 56mm lens available in the 3.5-10x, 4.5-14x and 56mm versions. Leupold continued to offer the 30mm maintubes, and the illuminated reflectors. There were also several models that Leupold created in association with the Quality Deer Management Association. The Leupold CDS, or Custom Dial System, was introduced to this series of scopes. This system uses an elevation turret that is marked in graduations for a particular load. Leupold would create a dial marking the distance for each load by sending the user information, including bullet shape, make, and model, as well as environmental data. Send the dial, range the target, and hold it steady for the distance. The CDS dial is extremely simple and effective. It can be quickly changed to the standard MOA- or Mil-labeled Turret. Then came the ‘i’. 2016 saw a major change in the history Vari-X III evolution. The VX-3i was released. The product line name’s “i” stands for “improved”, and it is a good choice. Leupold’s Twilight Max Management System offers a completely new look. It takes full advantage the DiamondCoat 2 lens coating and offers a completely new look. This new system uses twice as many lens coatings than the Index Matched method. It is made with lead-free glass. This means that hunters will have to pay twice as much for lens coatings than the Index Matched method, which uses lead-free glass. Twin-bias springs in erector system ensure that crosshairs stay where they are set no matter how much recoil. The combination of high-quality lens coating design, computer-aided optical design, and improvements in Leupold’s manufacturing process have made this lightweight optical system more efficient. Leupold also offers a free custom dial for any scope. The CDS-TZL2 turret will be used for larger magnification models in the VX-3HD series. The adjustment housing for the illuminated reticle models has a push button. All models are available in the standard matte finish. The 4.5-14x40mm is also available in sweet Burnt Bronze. Scope weights range from 9.7 ounces to the 1.5-5x20mm and 20.8 ounces to the 6.5-20x50mm. These are not heavy riflescopes. All VX-3HD models include a magnification throw handle, which makes power adjustments easy even with thick hunting gloves. For those who prefer a more traditional feel, the lever can be removed. Street prices for the VX-3HD range from $400 to $700. This is a fair estimation. These include the Leupold VX-5HD, VX-6HD, and other models. However, this is a fair estimate of where the VX-3HD line will settle in the market. Next Step: Get your Storm Tactical printable target pack 62 printable MOA targets with DOT drills – Rifle range in YARDS. This amazing target pack comes from Storm Tactical and contains 62 printable targets that can be used for rifle and handgun range. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be downloaded in MOA. Perfect for long-range shooting! Get free targets