Leupold Varx-II or Varx-III?
Question:
I’m wanting to buy a Leupold scope and would like to know if anyone could shed some light on the differences between the Varx-II and III models beside the price difference. Is the optics that much better on the III compared to the II? Do you think the difference is worth the extra $200 or more dollars? I am considering buying the 2.5×8 silver Varx-III with the range indicator for my stainless model 70 338mag. However for the $451 I can get the 3×9 varx-II and a fixed 4x leupold for my 308. Decisions, Decisions? Any Opinion? Thanks, Mel
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I’m wanting to buy a Leupold scope and would like to know if anyone >could shed some light on the differences between the Varx-II and III >models beside the price difference. Is the optics that much better on >the III compared to the II? Do you think the difference is worth the >extra $200 or more dollars? >I am considering buying the 2.5×8 silver Varx-III with the range >indicator for my stainless model 70 338mag. However for the $451 I can >get the 3×9 varx-II and a fixed 4x leupold for my 308. >Decisions, Decisions? >Any Opinion? >Thanks, >Mel
The III has more lenses and more coatings–it’s better. Save your money and buy two 4x Leupolds. I have a bunch of them, some old and some new. I’m having one mounted on my new rifle. If you have the same glass on all your rifles, there is less confusion. Binoculars are better for "looking" at big game than variable scopes, and 4x is enough for "shooting" at all reasonable ranges. Varmints are another story. author of CD-ROM "Tim Calvin’s Hunting the West" <http://www.quiknet.com/hunting> is under repair, an on-line recoil calculator is coming soon.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I’m wanting to buy a Leupold scope and would like to know if anyone >could shed some light on the differences between the Varx-II and III >models beside the price difference. Is the optics that much better on >the III compared to the II? Do you think the difference is worth the >extra $200 or more dollars? >I am considering buying the 2.5×8 silver Varx-III with the range >indicator for my stainless model 70 338mag. However for the $451 I can >get the 3×9 varx-II and a fixed 4x leupold for my 308. >Thanks, >Mel >The III has more lenses and more coatings–it’s better. >Save your money and buy two 4x Leupolds. I have a bunch of them, some old >and some new. I’m having one mounted on my new rifle. If you have the same >glass on all your rifles, there is less confusion. Binoculars are better >for "looking" at big game than variable scopes, and 4x is enough for >"shooting" at all reasonable ranges. Varmints are another story.
I have one of the older 2.5×8s without the range finder and love it. I have used fixed 4 powers before and much prefer the variable. First, it’s good in the brush with a wide field of view at 2.5; using a standard 4x sometimes all you can see is fur. And for those times when the critters are mingling at a distance the 8x is nice to pick out the right head and timing a clean shot that won’t hit the non-desired animals. Not so sure I like the range finder gizmos. My ‘06 shoots flat enough for my needs and bullet drop is fairly easy to estimate from time spent on the long distance ranges. Hope this helps! Hafa Adai! Gary Typhoon Duty Officer, Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Guam
Response:
>I’m wanting to buy a Leupold scope and would like to know if anyone >could shed some light on the differences between the Varx-II and III >models beside the price difference. Is the optics that much better on >the III compared to the II? Do you think the difference is worth the >extra $200 or more dollars? >I am considering buying the 2.5×8 silver Varx-III with the range >indicator for my stainless model 70 338mag. However for the $451 I can >get the 3×9 varx-II and a fixed 4x leupold for my 308.
The main difference according to factory specs is the quality of lens coating and, therefore, amount of light transmission. Light transmission of the Vari-X II is average as compared to other good quality scopes. A Burris Fullfield beats it hands down for less money. Look through a Burris Signature or a Pentax and you’ll see brightness that a Leupold Vari-X III cannot equal. No distortion either.
Response:
>I’m wanting to buy a Leupold scope and would like to know if anyone >could shed some light on the differences between the Varx-II and III >models beside the price difference. Is the optics that much better on >the III compared to the II? Do you think the difference is worth the >extra $200 or more dollars? >I am considering buying the 2.5×8 silver Varx-III with the range >indicator for my stainless model 70 338mag. However for the $451 I can >get the 3×9 varx-II and a fixed 4x leupold for my 308. >Decisions, Decisions?
Mel: If I were you, I’d spend the extra money and get the Vari-X III. The Leupold Vari-X II does not compare to the Vari-x III in optical quality, durability, or creature comforts. Of course, they both have lenses that are purchased from Korea so neither is 100% American made like they claim. First and foremost, The Vari-X II is NOT fully-multicoated, in fact, it’s not even multicoated at all. It’s what they call fully-coated. Which means, one coating on every lens surface. What does this mean to you? Well for starters, you’ll loose a lot of light transmission. How much? Everyone in the optical industry accepts about 17% light loss as compared to a fully-multicoated scope (the Vari-x III for example). The next thing that you will notice with a non fully-multicoated scope is any time you point it towards a light source (range light or the sun) you will get severe "halos" of white light making your target difficult to see. To test this, take a Vari-x II and a Vari-x III out side in late afternoon. Look thourgh them and slowly start panning toward the horizon where the sun is closest. You will notice the fully-multicoated lenses (Vari-x III in this case) will allow you a clearer image, several degrees closer to the light source. If you’ve ever shot priarie dogs in the late afternoon and didn’t have a sun shade, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Or if you’ve ever shot in an indoor rifle range. As far a creature comforts go, most scopes have audible windage and elevation adjustment clicks that help you determine, how much your adjustments will effect you point of impact. Not the Vari-X II. 100 yards, with most scopes you will know exactly how many clicks that is (anywhere from 2 to 8 depending on the scope model). With the Vari-X II you just twist the dial and take your chances. Not a very user-friendly way to sight in your rifle. Further, the Vari-x II uses plastic pieces in the zoom assembly. If that plastic piece breaks or is weakened, you will notice considerable point of aim shift. I wouldn’t want a plastic piece being responsible for absorbing the recoil of my .300 weatherby Mag, that’s for sure. And last but certainly not least, the Vari-X II uses a multi-piece outter tube. That’s right, the same thing that Leupold laughs at in many less expensive scopes, they use in theirs. I think that almost anyone here who has had a lot of experience with rifle scopes will agree that a multi-piece tube is no where near as strong or waterproof as a single piece tube. FYI, the Vari-X III uses a single piece tube. With all of the above being stated, I think one can reasonably conclude, that the Vari-X III is a much better, more durable scope than the Vari-X II. There’s lots of other technical data that I could bring up about the Vari-x II (like the very thin .0004" wide reticle) but for most people, the multi-piece tube and skimpy lens coatings are enough to convince them. And to hold back the inevidble flames from the Leupold faithfull: Would you even consider buying a Tasco with a multi-piece tube, inappropriate lens coatings, plastic internal pieces, no real way of determining windage and elevation adjustments, and lenses that are bought from a Korean company? Then why would you buy a Leupold like that? What’s the old saying, a wolf in sheeps clothing… Not bashing Leupold, just the Vari-x II. <<<Brenen>>> Vice President Trader Mesa Sales, Inc.
Response:
Mel, Go to some gun shows. My brother just bought a new matte 6.5-20×50mm Vari-X III for $425 for his new A-Bolt .300 win mag, he can’t be happier. He also bought a used Vari-X II for $150. The scope didn’t have any scratches, and since I live just down the road from Leupold it wouldn’t be any big deal to have it repaired if it were broke, which I doubted anyway. As far as the differances between a Vari-X II and III, I believe it is optics. But how much better they are I’m not sure. Looking through my bother’s Vari-X III, I like what I see, but this is subjective and it may just be the 50mm objective that makes it look so good as compared to my Vari-X II’s. Just my 2 cents. Mike in Oregon – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I’m wanting to buy a Leupold scope and would like to know if anyone >could shed some light on the differences between the Varx-II and III >models beside the price difference. Is the optics that much better on >the III compared to the II? Do you think the difference is worth the >extra $200 or more dollars? >I am considering buying the 2.5×8 silver Varx-III with the range >indicator for my stainless model 70 338mag. However for the $451 I can >get the 3×9 varx-II and a fixed 4x leupold for my 308. >Decisions, Decisions? >Any Opinion? >Thanks, >Mel
Response:
Look in the Midway Catalogue. The price difference between the II and III is not that great. The number to call for the catalogue is 800-243-3220.
