I'm starting to build a savage for shooting out to 600 yards and looking for a new scope. Wanting one with external adjustable turrets and side focus with around 15-20x max magnification. Would the leupold or vortex be a better choice? Also open to other suggestions in those price ranges.
Leupold vx3 vs vortex hst or pst
- Thread starter 6.5grendel
- Start date
8x32x56 Sightron
I'll have to find someone that has one to check out. I've never looked through a sightron and no where around here carries them to compare.
I've been shooting a Leupold VX3i LRP 4.5-14X50 FFP Impact-60 MOA. Pleased as punch. One gotcha on the VX3i LRP is the total elevation: while the VX3i LRP has great numbers (110 MOA elevation on the 4.5-14X), the dial only supports 75 MOA from zero. So it turns out the VX3i LRP and Vortex PST have about the same usable elevation. The PST street price is about $150 higher, but it has illumination.
At the $1000 street price range, other FFP options include Burris XTR2, Bushnell LRS, SIG Tango 4, Athlon Ares BTR, Sightron SIII, and Sightmark Pinnacle.
At the $1000 street price range, other FFP options include Burris XTR2, Bushnell LRS, SIG Tango 4, Athlon Ares BTR, Sightron SIII, and Sightmark Pinnacle.
I would disagree with STOMP442. In my experience, a Vortex PST (especially the Gen II) scopes beat out the Leupold scopes in a similar price range. If you are looking for a great deal on one and dont want or need FFP, EuroOptic is closing out of their Gen I PST scopes for a very good price. Here is a link to that scope if you want to take a look.
https://www.eurooptic.com/vortex-vi...4s1-a.aspx?utm_source=eoic2017&utm_medium=KJP
https://www.eurooptic.com/vortex-vi...4s1-a.aspx?utm_source=eoic2017&utm_medium=KJP
This statement is dead nuts. Vortex scopes are complete junk. The useful life of a vortex is pretty much done for when you open the box. Go leupold!i have 8 vx-3 lr-t leupold and not one problem.
Will never own another Leupold pice of junk. If it was free I wouldn't take it. Vortex much better quality.
Steve Donlon
Gold $$ Contributor
I have Leupold scopes on most of my rifles, never had a problem. My VX3 8-25x50 came with a target dot retical and after a year I wanted to get a TMOA retical installed so I sent in back to Leupold and had it installed. No problem.
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Another vote for Leupold. Never been a Vortex fan. Vortex puts out some real junk on the lower end of their line.
Paul
Paul
To be clear, I dont have a problem with Leupold or Vortex. They both make some good products and some bad. They both have fairly decent customer service, but the Vortex warranty is without doubt the best in the industry at the moment. I cant say I am a huge fan of the low end products from either company. If you only have a $200 to spend, then dont buy anything and save up some more, you will be happy you did in the end. But we are discussing the scopes in the mid price range, My experience shows that you pay a lot for the Leupold name at this, and higher price points (although the new Mk 5 scopes seem to look like they may be an exception to this). At the end of the day, I am sure that either scope you purchase will work well for you, but the better value in my eyes is the Vortex. Dont be a brand loyalist. Buy the scope that is going to work the best for your needs. If you get tied down to one brand, you loose out on a lot of great options in the industry.
STOMP442
Gold $$ Contributor
The Warranty is always brought up as a positive attribute to Vortex Optics. The reason being is everyone that has ever owned a Vortex optic has had a chance to deal with those wonderful people over at the warranty center. They are the best in the business because they are the busiest in the business. They get a lot of practice repairing their junk. I have owned and used scopes from just about every manufacturer out there and mounted countless scopes from Vortex, Leupold, Nightforce, Nikon and Sightron on clients rifles and out of those, literally hundreds of scopes I've sent in for repair one Nikon and one Nightforce. I've quit counting how many Vortex Vipers and HSTs/PSTs that I have had to send off. Definitely double digits. Absolute junk in my book.
Warranty and customer service are different. They have great customer service, its true. But I was talking about their warranty. They are going to fix or replace any issue you have with it, even if it is clearly something you did to the scope. No body else is going to replace your $2k spotter because you backed over it with your car. You tell Vortex that story and send them the pancaked spotter and you get a new one.
STOMP442
Gold $$ Contributor
I wonder what the ratio is of optics that just went to hell to ones that have been backed over by a vehicle that shows up in the mail at the Vortex plant every day. Im willing to bet there are a whole lot more optics with loose lenses, tracking problems or other issues show up vs those that have been abused accidentally or not.
I doubted you, so I looked it up. You're right, Vortex has a better warranty.
Leupold warranty:
If your Leupold riflescope, binocular, or spotting scope doesn’t perform, we will repair or replace it for free - whether you're the original owner or not. You don’t need proof of ownership or a warranty card, and there’s no time limit. We do this because we believe in superior quality and craftsmanship, and we’re confident your Leupold won’t let you down.
These warranties do not apply if the product has been modified, misused or has been damaged by accident, abuse, or misapplication. To ensure this doesn’t happen to you, contact Leupold Product Service before having any work or repairs done to your Leupold optics. Call 1-800-LEUPOLD or (503) 526-1400.
Vortex warranty:
We will repair or replace your Vortex product in the event it becomes damaged or defective—at no charge to you. If we cannot repair your product, we will replace it with a product in perfect working order of equal or better physical condition.
You see, it doesn't matter how it happened, whose fault it was, or where you purchased it. You can count on the VIP Warranty for all Vortex Optics riflescopes, prism scopes, red dots, rangefinders, binoculars, spotting scopes, tripods, and monoculars.
Unlimited Lifetime Warranty
Fully transferable
No warranty card to fill out
No receipt needed to hang on to
If you ever have a problem, no matter the cause, we promise to take care of you.
Note
The VIP Warranty does not cover loss, theft, deliberate damage or cosmetic damage that does not hinder the performance of the product.
The best warranty is the one you never have to use. Vortex would be dead and gone a long time ago without the warranty that they have. Having owned Leupolds for close to 30 yrs now, only one has ever had to go back for warranty work. Leopold for the win!! 
Paul
Paul
Well I must say that I have used Leupolds warranty service one time. I slipped and fell backwards on an icy hill when out coyote hunting. Landed on the scope and bent the scope just in front of the scope rings. Sent it in writing what happened and that it wouldn’t hold zero anymore. A couple weeks later they sent me a brand new one in the box. I also have some Vortex scopes and have really liked them. No issues as of yet. The clarity of my Vortex 5-25 Gen II’s is better then my VXIII Leupolds. I would really recommended trying to find someone with both to check them out at the range. Or just buy both, test them out, see which one you like, sell or return the other.
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