Took the Leica Plunge,,,

[wildcatter]

I've owned a few Leica products camera lenses, Bino's, Rangefinders, and all have been very very Impressive! I've looked many times at their scopes and always went another direction. Vortex, Kahles, Zeiss, Nightforce, Meopta, even the Higher end Sightron, Leupold, and Bausch & Lomb, etc.

But until last night I decided with the Ampus 6 in 3-18x44i, with the ballistic Illuminated reticle, on sale, and needing a short compact scope for a Remington Custom Tomahawk build, to take the chance. It was easy to do, when I could not find a smaller scope with premium optics, near this price. On sale for $949.00 how can I go wrong.

My thoughts, pro's and cons to come. But at this price, anyone looking for top end hunting glass, with proven optics and durrabily, should take a look at this scope while it can be had at this price.

 

[wildcatter]

I got the new Leica yesterday, and took a trip to the LGS, picked up the shortest rings that would work on this setup and a set of Butler Creek scope cover. The Butler Creek covers are my favorite for hunting, instant access, and always dri clean glass on demand regardless of the weather I'm hunting in. Not to mention excellent protection for my glass.

I stayed with the steel Burris front twist in dovetail, rear windage mount and Burris high signature rings. I set it up for 20moa just add more elevation if I ever need it. -10 bottom +10 top on the front, and +10 bottom -10 rop on the rear ring. Using a square I adjusted the rear ring to run parallel with the action I then used a 30mm shaft to tighten the rings with the 0 inserts installed to insure the front ring was seated squarely with the rear, before inserting the scope in the MOA setup rings and final tightening.

I got it mounted last night and sighted in this morning, a little windy with 25 to 30 mph gusts so I'll final zero it tomorrow in calm 30* weather. It was very close with only about 6 clicks needed to be centered for windage, and had to go down about half a turn for elevation. But after I brought it in I tried the zero stop adjustment on this scope, NICE! this is the best, easiest, most accurate zero stop I have used to date! It could not be easier.

Glass is every bit as good as the Zeiss or meopta, and just a tad better than my Nightforce competition. For there entry level scope the Leica runs with the big dogs, sharp enough to cut, great crisp adjustments, and illumination setting are crisp as well. The parallax is a bit stiff but at 22* it was much better in side at 72*. The good thing is the 100 yard mark, which is the only range marked for you and 20 both were dead on.

The illumination is the best I have ever had, and I have had several systems. Many won't like it, if you want to light up the retical just to see it in color in broad daylight, it will disappoint. But if you want illumination in the least light, even twilight, this will please! It will not bleed into the reticle or distract the inside of the tube even on the first 4 settings. If you want a varmint scope for late night hunting, this is BY FAR, the the most usable I have ever had.

The eye box is very forgiving for a scope with this much power, and this much zoom ratio 6X, for a scope with a 12.5" OAL. It is not at all what I would call critical for perfect eye alignment, very useable and easy to get on even at 18X.

When it comes to field of view, it is Killer! I cannot imagine anyone needing more field of view at the closest range, on the fastest moving game, in any lighting situation big game is hunted at.
So far, the tracking is spot on! Not just close enough, but return to zero is exact. I have not stretched it's legs at 200 or 300 yards yet to see if 1/4 moa gives 1/4 moa at those ranges but will soon.

I don't think there is better scope with this much power ratio, at this power, 18X, in a package this short close to the quality and clearity of this scope, for less than twice the retail cost of the Amplus 6. Not even sure if you can find a 3-18 in 44 or 50 mm Obj. in a package this compact, but if you do, I don't think it will tick any boxes the Leica hasn't already ticked!

A perfect scope for my walk around Varmint rig inside 500 yards, as well as if I decide to use it for deer and antelope. Maybe not ideal for a rifle being used on a rest at very long range, but for a hunting rifle, very hard to beat. As I said, perfect, my intended use!

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I'll go along with the glass quality - I own a 4-16 Magnus - astounding optics - but lousy elevation! I'll likely stick it on a varmint gun at some point. I just wish it was a 10-50 with 60Moa!

 

[snod85]

I tried the amplus 3-18x44 earlier this year as well and was very impressed. Then ordered the 2.5-15x50. For me it’s the perfect field scope and a tremendous value. Now have the 2.5-15x50 with the ballistic reticle (that was the one on sale or more likely being closed out) on all of my field guns. Put the 3-18x44 on my 17hmr replacing an old Leupold rimfire.

great glass, good eyebox, good dial on elevation, easy zero set, single illuminated dot, perfect on box test for tracking on all of mine. Excells at last light. Replaced all my old leupold lps 2.5-10x45 scopes with the Amplus. Already helped put meat in the freezer this season.

Just seconding your review. Really impressed and pleased with mine. I got mine for $1,000 from scopelist. They must still have some in stock as my brother picked up a couple last week for his boys for Christmas.

 

[wildcatter]

No buyers remorse, after 3 trips to the range and setting up targets for measure, different yardages, dialing and checking reticle spacings its great! Over a week on the Amplus6 3-18x44i, and everything is spot on! 9x and I have perfect 2moa spacing on the MOA reticle, then take it to 18x and spot on 1MOA spacing. I've confirmed this out to 400 yards, about as far as I care for the 223 with the 47 grain HP's it's digesting at 3770 fps.

I am getting ready to build a 338-06 AI or a 35 Whelan AI and this will be going on it! It has the eye relief needed for the heavier recoiling sporting weight hunting rifles, and low light ability. I have the Meopta 4-20X50 sighting ideal I took off the little 223, and it will go back on at that point. Make no mistake, the Meopta Optika5 is every bit the scope the Leica Amplus is, with the BDC-3 Illuminated reticle shares the same excellent qualities the Leica does. Not quite as compact and as weighty, but superb glass with excellent hunting illumination for twilight hunting hours, as well as spot on tracking and a very usable, and less intrusive reticle.

These european optics are fairly priced and far exceed anything near their price point, tracking, durability, and optical quality, with the best low light Illumination one could ask for, great optics and I won't miss the Leupolds, Vortex, or Burris, they just can't keep up with either of these makers for quality or function, even the NF I have to spend twice the money to equal these optical choices.

 

[Knotwild]

I bought 2X10 ER a couple of years ago, black Friday deal. I love the glass. But the power ring is so stiff it's a pain to turn. I wouldn't buy another because of that problem.