Leupold VX3 3-9x50 vs S&B 6x42 Classic ?

.30-06

Well-Known Member
Ignoring the fact that one is zoom and the other is fixed, is there an appreciable difference when looking through them side-by-side ?

I have the former (and I like it) but I have the opportunity of the latter. It's a bit of a hike to go and view it though, and I don't want to waste half a day on a round trip if I will be no further forward as a result.

I got the VX3 in case I started doing range work as well as stalking and, so far, that hasn't happened - it's a coin flip whether it ever will.

So, ignoring the possibility of range shooting for now, is there a major difference when looking through both of the above at deer ?

Typically my shots are 100 yards or under, if that makes any difference, and I know everyone's eyes are different.

Thanks for looking, and thanks in advance for any constructive commentary :)
 
You're trying to compare an escort with an Audi.:lol:

I have both makes and I know which one I would go with though the escort is a useable practical daily runabout.
 
Found the leupold darker than the S&B at last light, also never use the vari mag. All my rifles now wear fixed mag S&B my 8x56 is going to be replaced by another 6x42.
 
Schmidt.
I have the 6x42 and a 10x42 Klassik (the 10x is in classifieds incidentally).

Leupold
I have the 6.5-20x50 VARI-X2 LRT and 8.5-25x50 V3 LRT.

Choice for stalking, the Schmidt every time. Clarity of glass, robustness of adjustments, holding zero and low light capability.

In summary Schmidt is outstanding glass, Leupold is very good; in my experience, and I have both.
 
RickoShay,
As previous posters have said. The Schmidt in my opinion would be the best. Its a quality scope, tough, simple to use with good field of view
 
I cannot attest to the S&B ( great scope), but I did get that exact Leupold Vari-X III on a rifle in trade, and shot it beside a Kahles 6x42, and some Swaro and Zeiss variables at the same power, 42mm and 44mm, in failing light, and did optics pattern test ( Zeiss and USAF charts ) at 400, 600, and 800 yards.

There is no useful difference at 6x in daylight, to my eyes. I could read the finest lines on the chart at 800 at 9x on all the variables. The difference was in looking across bright lit fields into woods at longer range than one would ever shoot game, and after dark, when I would not shoot. If I would, it would be close enough ( 100 yards or less ) that all the scopes would do the job.

One nice feature of this particular Leupold i had was the fine duplex reticle. I almost kept it for that, because it allowed for more precise aiming on targets at all 400 yards or less... very sharp, and only covered 1/4 inch at 100 yards at the very center. A friend has 3 matching rifles in .308, 7mm RM, and .338 Win Mag with this scope, so I sold it to him to round out the third rifle.
 
I cannot attest to the S&B ( great scope), but I did get that exact Leupold Vari-X III on a rifle in trade, and shot it beside a Kahles 6x42, and some Swaro and Zeiss variables at the same power, 42mm and 44mm, in failing light, and did optics pattern test ( Zeiss and USAF charts ) at 400, 600, and 800 yards.

There is no useful difference at 6x in daylight, to my eyes. I could read the finest lines on the chart at 800 at 9x on all the variables. The difference was in looking across bright lit fields into woods at longer range than one would ever shoot game, and after dark, when I would not shoot. If I would, it would be close enough ( 100 yards or less ) that all the scopes would do the job.

One nice feature of this particular Leupold i had was the fine duplex reticle. I almost kept it for that, because it allowed for more precise aiming on targets at all 400 yards or less... very sharp, and only covered 1/4 inch at 100 yards at the very center. A friend has 3 matching rifles in .308, 7mm RM, and .338 Win Mag with this scope, so I sold it to him to round out the third rifle.

true about the reticle. the S&B's (like the 6x42 klassiks) are relatively thick, so not ideal for taking longer shots on small game like foxes or rabbits, and not really good for targets either but excellent and bomb proof stalking scopes. thing with S&B's is they give you the feeling of ruggedness and durability, so you always feel like they are going to be spot on, that's important to me and is one thing less I want to worry about in the field. I also use zeiss and feel the exact same way, but they one-up the S&B's in their reticle thickness.
 
Leupold offers a lot of different reticles, including three duplexes from fine to thick, German #4, plain crosshair, crosshair with a dot. Anything not in their offering, they will do on request or send to Premier. And the VX-R line offers all those reticles with an illuminated dot with 9 brightness levels via a push button on the left side.

Leupold and Burris scopes have forever warranty, not just to the original owner. Leupold are known for recoil proof and holding zero for decades without adjustment.
 
Thanks everyone for the comments, which are all appreciated.

As it happens I am sticking with the Leupold for the foreseeable.

I wasted an afternoon on a round trip to view the S&B - let's just say that my version of mint clearly differs from some others...

That's a chunk of my life I won't get back :(

On the plus side I keep reminding myself that the Leupold is certainly no slouch, so it's not as though I feel hard done by when I'm using it :)
 
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