I am planning on ordering a new Leupold scope next week for a Tikka .270. I have my scope purchase narrowed down to the Leupold VX-III 1.75 x 6 standard or the 1.5 x 5? illuminated model. I am actually not very familiar with scopes as I have always hunted iron sights in the past. I live in Minnesota and so almost all of my hunting will be in thick Poplar style forest. Anything over 75-100 yaards would be not very likely. Do these illuminated models make that much of an improvement over the standard scope as to justify the additional price?

Thanks for any possible advice,
Mike

If you hunt in the very early morning, late evening, or on dark days the lit reticle could be of benefit.

If you can swing the price, it would be best to have the illuminated and not need it than to need it and not have it.

If you hunt in the very early morning, late evening, or on dark days the lit reticle could be of benefit.

If you can swing the price, it would be best to have the illuminated and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Thanks Kdub,
Are there any problems with the electronics of this type os scope at all? Would this be a good scope to go with for the illuminated style scipe?

Mike

Dunno about the Leupold illuminateds as to problems or battery life. Leupolds are quality scopes and the 3x9 VXII's I got (a bunch!) are all good scopes.

The only illuminated one I've got is a cheapie made in China and the reticle works fine. Just that it changes Point Of Impact (POI) as I change the magnifying power setting. As long as I leave it on one setting, it does OK. My adivce - don't go cheap on a scope of this type.

The Leupold VXIII is an excellent scope and will work well. I would not consider buying a scope with an illimunated reticle or for that matter any scope with any of the other features that most scope manufacturers now offer. I'd just stick to a traditional scope, theres less that can wrong with them. Yes I know they have warranties on scopes but that will do you no good if the scope packs up in the middle of your hunt.
Have you considered buying a fixed power? It sounds like a low powered fixed scope would certainly do the trick as well. May be it might be worth while having a look at a 2x, 3x, or 4x quality fixed scope.
I find that most of my vari powered scopes tend to live on only one setting only, usually it's higest power setting.
Good luck with making your decision. If you do buy an illuminated reticle scope, it would be interesting to know what you think of it and how it's performed after a season or three.
Rod

I have one of the VX-III 1.75-6x32mm and a couple of the VX-II 2-7x scopes, but none of these have the illuminated reticle. I really like these scopes for closer range (<300 yard) shooting, particularly in wooded or brushy conditions. The 1.75-6x has a really wide field of view, and really long eye relief. I like it a lot. For most of my shooting or hunting, I leave it on the 1.75x setting. About the only time I crank it up would be for really precise shot placement, or shooting for groups on a bench.

I have a couple of the older Vari-X III illuminated reticle scopes. One is a 3.5-10x50mm and the other is a 4.5-14x50mm. The illuminated reticle works great in dim light. The one thing I don't like with these is that they suck the life out of the batteries in a week or so, even when turned off. You have to take the batteries out when you're not using them, or they'll be dead the next time you want to use the illuminated reticle. This is a PITA. IMO. I would hope that Leupold would have changed the circuitry in the newer VX-III's. I also have one of the newer Mk 4 CQT 1-3x14mm scopes on an AR, and this one dosen't eat the batteries like the older Vari-X III's. FWIW.

I would stay away from the illuminated reticle, just isn't needed for your hunting application. The Leupold VX-III 1.75-6x32mm is a great scope. You wouldn't be wrong going there.

I am planning on ordering a new Leupold scope next week for a Tikka .270. I have my scope purchase narrowed down to the Leupold VX-III 1.75 x 6 standard or the 1.5 x 5? illuminated model. I am actually not very familiar with scopes as I have always hunted iron sights in the past. I live in Minnesota and so almost all of my hunting will be in thick Poplar style forest. Anything over 75-100 yaards would be not very likely. Do these illuminated models make that much of an improvement over the standard scope as to justify the additional price?

Thanks for any possible advice,
Mike
Its just like your bike, do you go with something new or what works. A fixed power is clear and easy to use. I'd go with the easy. Keep on shooting,riding. Q-harley. :cool:

I recently purchased a VX III 4.5-14X50 with the Ill. reticle. I asked on several different boards about was it worth the extra $100.00 and never got an answer that satisfied me. My problem with most scopes I own was not being able to make out the reticle in very low light. I was still able to see the deer but really could not see my crosshairs good enough to make a good shot. I needed a scope that had good light at high magnification for shots up to 400 yards right at dusk. The deer would be coming out of a tree line into a field right at dark. Down here in Alabama we have a lot of pines and a dark colored deer against a black background of pines makes seeing a black reticle hard to see. Looking at white or yellow targets makes any reticle look great but put that scope up on something brown or black and you will get an idea of what I was up against. The best scope I had prior was a VariX III with the Heavy Duplex. Thicker reticles are much better for low light viewing but in good light they look almost guady.

For me, the Ill. reticle was the best of both worlds. I get the fine duplex for daylight shots and the Ill. for low light shots. I have not used this scope for hunting yet but I used it on the powerline near my house. I waited until I could not see my reticle but could still make out individual trees before I turned it on and I was very, very happy about what I saw. So for my application, it is going to be great.

For you, you may not need it. It will depend on what kind of terrain you will be hunting. Will there be snow on the ground? Do Poplars have a light colored bark or am I thinking about Birch. The point I am trying to make is to think about the enviroment you will use the scope in, and what light conditions will be to make that decision.

... My problem with most scopes I own was not being able to make out the reticle in very low light. I was still able to see the deer but really could not see my crosshairs good enough to make a good shot. I needed a scope that had good light at high magnification for shots up to 400 yards right at dusk. The deer would be coming out of a tree line into a field right at dark. Down here in Alabama we have a lot of pines and a dark colored deer against a black background of pines makes seeing a black reticle hard to see. Looking at white or yellow targets makes any reticle look great but put that scope up on something brown or black and you will get an idea of what I was up against. The best scope I had prior was a VariX III with the Heavy Duplex. Thicker reticles are much better for low light viewing but in good light they look almost guady.

For me, the Ill. reticle was the best of both worlds. I get the fine duplex for daylight shots and the Ill. for low light shots... I waited until I could not see my reticle but could still make out individual trees before I turned it on and I was very, very happy about what I saw. So for my application, it is going to be great.

For you, you may not need it. It will depend on what kind of terrain you will be hunting... The point I am trying to make is to think about the enviroment you will use the scope in, and what light conditions will be to make that decision.

While the illuminated reticle scopes I have are on varmint rifles, I agree with FISHUNT7's statement. They would also definitely help in really low light conditions for hunting rifles. This is why I like heavy duplex reticles on scopes for use in brushy conditions too.

Question for FISHUNT7:
Does the illuminated reticle on you VX-III still draw current from the battery even when it's turned off? This is the one thing I didn't like about my older Vari-X III's, since they would run the batteries down in about a weeks time, even when turned off. I haven't had the chance to talk to someone with the newer VX-III's, but had hoped that Leupold would have fixed this problem.

While the illuminated reticle scopes I have are on varmint rifles, I agree with FISHUNT7's statement. They would also definitely help in really low light conditions for hunting rifles. This is why I like heavy duplex reticles on scopes for use in brushy conditions too.

Question for FISHUNT7:
Does the illuminated reticle on you VX-III still draw current from the battery even when it's turned off? This is the one thing I didn't like about my older Vari-X III's, since they would run the batteries down in about a weeks time, even when turned off. I haven't had the chance to talk to someone with the newer VX-III's, but had hoped that Leupold would have fixed this problem.


Gunslinger, I am testing that out now. I had read a post from you in another thread about the batteries and I wanted to test mine as soon as I got it. The battery has been in mine for about 10 days now and I will be testing it out after the Christmas Holidays. I plan on using it in early January for hunting so I will be able to try it for sure.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you buy the illumanated reticle it works like a standard reticle when it's turned off. You have all the advantages of the standard reticle and just by turning it on you have the advantage of the illumanated reticle.

I haven't used a fixed power scope in lots of years. I like the ability to have a low power wide field of view and then be able to crank up the scope for a long shot. I'd vote for the electronics if I could afford it.

I have 2 Leupold Illuminated Reticle scopes on rifles. I have the 1.5X5X20 30mm tube with the Circle Dot Reticle on my Remington 700 Tacticle in 6.8 SPC and I have the MkIV 1X3X14 with the Circle Dot Reticle on my Bushmaster. I like both of them very much. I have sold several of the 1.5X5X20 with the Circle Dot Reticle and the German #4 with the Circle Dot. Have not heard any complaints from those customers. The battery life is about 40-45 hours. They do not drain from the battery if the Reticle is not turned on.


I also have 2 Burris Illuminated Reticle scopes and they are of good quality.

I recently purchased a VX III 4.5-14X50 with the Ill. reticle. I asked on several different boards about was it worth the extra $100.00 and never got an answer that satisfied me. My problem with most scopes I own was not being able to make out the reticle in very low light. I was still able to see the deer but really could not see my crosshairs good enough to make a good shot. I needed a scope that had good light at high magnification for shots up to 400 yards right at dusk. The deer would be coming out of a tree line into a field right at dark. Down here in Alabama we have a lot of pines and a dark colored deer against a black background of pines makes seeing a black reticle hard to see. Looking at white or yellow targets makes any reticle look great but put that scope up on something brown or black and you will get an idea of what I was up against. The best scope I had prior was a VariX III with the Heavy Duplex. Thicker reticles are much better for low light viewing but in good light they look almost guady.

For me, the Ill. reticle was the best of both worlds. I get the fine duplex for daylight shots and the Ill. for low light shots. I have not used this scope for hunting yet but I used it on the powerline near my house. I waited until I could not see my reticle but could still make out individual trees before I turned it on and I was very, very happy about what I saw. So for my application, it is going to be great.

For you, you may not need it. It will depend on what kind of terrain you will be hunting. Will there be snow on the ground? Do Poplars have a light colored bark or am I thinking about Birch. The point I am trying to make is to think about the enviroment you will use the scope in, and what light conditions will be to make that decision.
i see you live across the bay. if you have any problems with battery life you might consider a night force scope. i have four of them. most of the batteries have been in them for years. in fact the only battery i remember replacing was one i left on all summer.sounds like leupold has a problem, which is not the norm for them.

Hi Road king
I bought a Leupold 1.5x5 , Illuminated for my 9.3x62 to use in hunting in Europe , Red Deer and Boar . You won't go wrong by getting the Illuminated model . If you don't need the Illuminated reticle it works as a normal scope but it sure helps in the dark woods on a cloudy day . mine is a circul-Dot reticle and I'm real happy with it .

I have had the batteries in my scope for about 5 weeks now and they still work. It seems that Leupold got the problem fixed if they ever did have one. The light switch does not click (I would not want it to or it would spook a nearby deer!) when it is turned so it took a little getting used to. It is easiest for me to go from the lowest power to OFF to the highest power then back to OFF. I am very pleased with this scope so far.