Leupold 7-42x56 questions ?

[Frankr]

I been looking at a Leupold VX6 in 7-42x56 to top a long range hunting varmint rifle.. I was wondering how they compare to look through compared to a nightforce ect. I also been looking at a Swarovski 5-25x52 Z5 with the BT 4W reticle . they are both around the same price. I have a nightforce SHV 5-20x56 on one rifle now I like it but it is heavy and bulky. I have a VX6 in 3-18x44 and it is nice but it is not a Swarovski . so I was wondering if any one using a 7-42x56 might have some insight in to the quality of it compared to other top scopes. for a play around target hunting rifle..The 5-25x52 Swarovski is a nice scope and it is light and trim.. but I trust the Leupold name.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Gotta go with personal preference on that. If you like the leupold name go with it. The other scopes you named off are twice the quality but you may never see that in your particular situation

 

[JamesnTN]

I would consider either the NF ATCAR or the NF competition, those two will suffice your needs and be more reliable over the Leupold. Secondly they'll be a grand or more cheaper over the swavorski scopes.

 

[alf]

I been looking to top a long range hunting varmint rifle..

I'd take the mechanical superiority of a NF over the slight optical advantage of the others for your purpose.....

 

[Joe Salt]

I have a Leupold 7-42x56 on my L.G. and it's very clear and repeatable. And it gets a beating for the 300 wsm! I also own about three Night force Benchrest scopes that are equally as nice and are cheaper.

Joe Salt

 

[Frankr]

thanks, most of you guys are saying what i'm thinking. the problem is to me they are all so expensive I can have one .
so this rifle is for fun target shooting. hunting whitetail deer. coyote, groundhogs. fun gun. but I do shoot year round and in extreme hot and cold. I been out there chrony n loads at -10 deg F and here -10 deg F do to high humidity is bitter cold. throw in a 5mph wind with 20 mph gust and you think you must be in Alaska.I really would not care if I had a monster buck at 20 yards and could not get him in the scope due to 15x. but I have seen some scopes the lens would externally fog if you even breath close to them in cold weather and that does piss me off.that makes for a poor hunting scope as most of the serious hunting is in the worst weather,Rain,Snow,Fog,Cold. I have seen it so bad dense air cold and rain/snow mix you could barley see 200yrds.So with that said..my eyes are poor...I like as much power as the conditions will allow.
I know the VX6 leupold would be good under tough hunting conditions. but it is a bunch of money to plunk down and not be totally happy.
So looking at the Nightforce 5.5-22x56 and the 15-55x52 competition knowing I would love to have the 15-55comp but I do wonder how it would perform under extreme conditions. I may call Nightfoce and talk to them about it. I personally don't feel the 5.5-22 is enough power on the high end for my poor eyes. so how do you feel between the 15-55comp and the 5.5-22x56 as far as for fun and hunting..

 

[Gabe22BR]

Got my Leupold 7-42 on my dasher, and it's fine for varmint hunting, since that's all I do with it.

 

[JamesnTN]

I'm not real sure how bad your eyesight is but the if this is purely hunting purposes I'm not sure the 15-55 is the right choice. You say the 5.5-22 isn't enough either, I would say all in all the NF ATCAR 5-25 is the best choice. It has a 34mm tube and large obj to let light in. I have three of these and by far they are probably the best scope I own. They are bright and they have enough elevation in my long range rigs that I can get beyond 2000 yards. Locate a dealer and look thru one and be the judge yourself.

 

[dkhunt14]

We shoot out to 2000 yards using an NXS 5.5x22. A lot of people use 25x max power for 1000 yard BR and shoot good. One thing to remember the more power you have the less light it gathers and smaller field of view you have. Both can be bad for hunting. The higher powers also show more mirage. When shooting benchrest I have to turn my higher powers down when shooting in high mirage. You should find somebody and look through the scopes before you buy. It is a lot of money to spend and find you don't like it. Everybody's eyes are different and what looks good to some isn't good to others. I had a 6.5x20 Leupold on a hunting gun and didn't have enough field of view for hunting satiations, especially on moving game. Leupold usually has less field of view by power then some. Matt

 

[Frankr]

Yes it is a lot of money to spend..I shoot a 5-20 NF SHV now and a 3-18 VX6. I been shooting out to 700 yrds mostly but I do want to get out to 1K or a bit farther. I had a 40X Leupold on a Bench gun. I have had 8-32's. I feel the more power the better I can see and I can see my movement better. I do not feel 22 power or even 25 power is enough for target shooting IMO. I have done a good bit of target shooting. I have no where that has these scopes to look threw I have looked threw a NF 15-55 comp at a few target shoots. I liked it..But don't know how it would be in cold weather hunting.
That's why I think the VX6 in 7-42 would be a nice scope for what I would like to do with it. I could do some hunting on the lower powers and some target shooting on the higher power. This is not my main hunting rifle..This is going to be my second 6XC kind of a tac/hunting rifle. just because that's what I like..works well for playing around target shooting and most of the hunting I do. I want to get some opinions and experiences with these kind of scopes...so far I have got some food for thought.. But I keep coming back to that 7-42 I have never seen one.At this point in time i'm really leaning tward the big Leupold...I have a few months to decide,so i'm trying to gain as much information as I can. also trying to sale a few items to make this happen...

 

[alf]

Something else to consider.......

The Leupold only has 55 MOA of total adjustment vs the 100 MOA of a 5.5-22 NXS.

 

[Joe Salt]

alf with 20 min. in the base he won't have any problem going past 1000 yards! I haven't found that to be a problem. I'd love to have one on my hunting gun.

Joe Salt

 

[alf]

With 20 min. in the base he won't have any problem going past 1000 yards.

No doubt........and with the average Joe Blow's definition of long range, can probably get by with a zero base.......

 

[Joe Salt]

alf I have shot 1000 yard since you were crapping your pants, So Joe Blow here says no problem. What is your definition of long range a Mile. I'm sure I could do that also!

Joe salt

 

[alf]

alf I have shot 1000 yard since you were crapping your pants, So Joe Blow here says no problem. What is your definition of long range a Mile. I'm sure I could do that also!

Don't get your knickers in a knot, the Joe Blow reference wasn't directed at you or anyone in particular. Looks like I should have said Mr. Average to save you from blowing a gasket.

FYI, I was out playing this AM out to 1350 with my lowly 5.5-22 Nightforces......

 

[Joe Salt]

I don't ever get my shorts in a knot, just look like it was for this Average Joe Blow, there are guys out there that can do that with Open sights, its all been done or tried before. All I'm saying the 7-42x56 you can use for whatever hunting long range. I have one so I know what it is capable of and it gets the job done just like my Night forces do.

Joe Salt

 

[alf]

Running a 7x42 on a LG and using it on a hunting gun are two different things.....

 

[Gabe22BR]

Running a 7x42 on a LG and using it on a hunting gun are two different things.....

Don't know about that, mine lay's deer down, and punches holes in paper...

 

[Joe Salt]

And the two different things are? : I could put that scope on my shotgun and hunt with it. Why would there be something wrong with it being on a L.G., H.G. or Hunting gun. I'm so use to high power scopes there would not be a problem!

Joe Salt

 

[Frankr]

well guys Thanks for all the information..The rifle will have a 20moa pic rail. I think 22-24 min for 1K depending on bullet/load ect. so I don't think I would have a problem with the 55moa. Most of my shooting is inside of 1K but I do have a range where I can shoot out to 1K..I just normally don't shoot past 700 because Im trying to shoot small groups and learn the wind. I have hit gong's at 900. My best 3 shot group at 700 is three inches outside to outside..Did some missing at a groundhog the other day at 850 Yards. 20 power SHV. light conditions were just poor making it hard to see grass was high could not mark it..and hard to find him when he was not standing. I have had a 8-32 and I know I could see better with more power..I had shot my VX6 3-18x44 on my 6Dasher once at a 500 meter ground hog match because I was sure of it's settings. The mirage was so bad the guy next to me was using a 15-55 NF and we could not see bullet holes at 500 meters. but I know I was at a disadvantage do to being able to see my movement. but I knew my dial and I was kind of sure of my wind hold..Cant remember my score but I think I was second or third highest. You just had to let them fly and hope for the best.I can not wait to get this rifle done..I hope by November. so I do have some time to decide. With you guys pushing 22 and 25 power..More than enough for Hunting and even for putting rounds on target.I looked at the VX6 4-24 power and I think I can get a good deal on one but I know I like the high power magnification. 7-42 in a scope capable of being used as a hunting scope. not just target to me is kind of like maybe the greatest call it varmint/target scope..The Night Forces and a few others that offered High power the down fall was the weight of them.. Have you ever had a 39oz scope on a rifle in the field..I have..If you are not careful and you have your rifle resting on a bi-pod it can turn your rifle upside down. Weight is a BIG issue..so is price..I have looked at March, I have shot BR matches and have seen quite a few of them..IMO I will stick with Night Force or the Leupold's.