Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Swaro Z3 vs Leupold VX-3 HD

Getting be slim pickings in a proper hunting scope for a walking around deer rifle. Don't want heavy and abhor objectives larger that 40 on a general use rifle. Want something 1.75 to 3.0 max X 6 to 9 max magnification with plenty of non critical eye relief. Have always considered my 2.5 x 8 Leupold's about perfect, but the last one took about five shots to get it to move exactly where I wanted it the last inch low and left at 100 yards. No excuse for that! Is the VX-5 HD series any better and I've read a lot of bad things on here about failures on the Z3 and the Z5 just doesn't have the size and weight I want. Any thoughts on scopes in current production that might be better?

PS I find Burris scopes hard to get behind

I talked to guy at Toric and told him the world would beat a path to his door if he would build something proper and it fell on deaf ears.

I have multiple Z3's and a VX3-HD on the way. I'll hopefully be able to discern any major differences.

Frankly, there's nothing wrong with the Z3.

+1.

My first Z3 3-9x36 was excellent to sight in but my second was a PITA. After making an adjustment, the first shot wouldn't move. The second shot would move but about twice as far as I clicked. So if I clicked two inches left it would move four inches. Once I got it figured out I got the rifle sighted in and it has stayed put. But it took almost 20 rounds to sight in. I have a third but it is still in the box so I shall see how it goes. My last VX3i (2.5-8x36) was brilliant to sight in and took seven rounds (two at 25m, two at 100m and a three shot group to confirm). That was with no bore-sighting prior.

I like smaller scopes and most of my rifles wear (4x33, 2-7x33, 6x36, 2.5-8x36 and 3-9x36).

I'd be happy with either the Loopy or Swarovski.

I too do not like the current trend of sticking large scopes with 50mm and bigger objectives and massive upper magnifications on trim hunting rifles. I've noticed new shooters these days don't seem to understand rifle balance and stalking/hunting skills. One bloke in our club bought a nice trim little Tikka and put a 5-25x scope on it. The rifle felt like it wanted to keel over side ways being top heavy. Even with the massive magnification it still took him five shots to hit a red deer at 100m.

Dc5:

I share your concerns on the status of modern hunting scopes. Likewise, for a long time I thought the 2.5-8 Leupolds were about perfect for most of the hunting I did. I had around 23 of them in service at one point, in addition to a bunch of VX 3, III, and 3i's of various X ranges; most have given good service once sighted in. But, I tired of dancing the Leupold shuffle whilst sighting in, and it never left me warm and fuzzy how inaccurate their adjustments were. Sent a few too many back to Beaverton for expanding groups and wandering zero, and overall just lost the faith.

I had a Swaro 3-9 years back that offered a better view but similar service to the Leupolds. Have a V6 that never got mounted. Heard from guys I trust that they offered more of the same, so haven't done anything with it. For long range shooting with turret twisting, I've had great luck with the SWFA's, Nightforce's, and a couple Bushnell LRHS's. For really rugged, 1", set it and forget it type hunting scopes, I've had the best luck with the Japan (LOW) Bushnell elites from years back and the Japan Sightrons. Of course, they really don't offer those models in what has become "smallish" sizes anymore. I have 2 Meopta's that have been solid, but they haven't really seen heavy use or large round counts.

Bushnell has brought the Elites in "hunting scope size" back this year; from what I can find, they are Korean built. Likely not going to be in the same league as the LOW Elites, but the Korean Bushnells do seem to get good reviews.

Good to know they are back. Thanks. I have a Bushnell 4200 2.5 x 10 on a varmint calling rig and the glass is really good. It's a bit more demanding on eyebox and eye relief than the Leupold but it seems solid.

I can't speak to the Z3. But I have both the VX-5HD 2-10 and VX-3HD 2.5-8.

In terms of glass clarity, I can't discern a huge difference. I'm sure come people can, but I can't.

The VX-5HD is a 30mm tube versus 1" for the VX-3HD. Not sure a 30mm tube is really needed on a general purpose hunting scope. The VX-5HS is a good deal bulkier than the VX-3HD.

I like that the VX-5HD has a separate focus on the ocular lens, while you have to adjust the whole eyepiece on the VX-3HD.

I do like the plex reticle on the VX-3HD a great deal better than the plex reticle on the VX-5HD. The thin lines on the VX-5HD are a good bit wider than on the VX-3HD. So, to me, the plex reticle on the VX-3HD looks heavier than it does on the VX-5HD. In fact, the "wide plex" reticle on my FX-II Ultralight 2.5X is narrower than the regular plex on my VX-5HD.

Both the VX-3HD and VX-5HD are pretty short scopes and it may be challenging puttying either on a long action rifle and still having enough room to get the eye relief you want without using extended bases or extended rings. The VX-3HD 3.5-10 is a little longer than the 2.5-8 and it's easier to span a long action and still have some room to move the scope for or aft to get the eye relief you want.

I think you get a lot of scope with the VX-3HD.

How has the VX-3 HD tracked?

I might get a shot at 300 yards, but everything I've ever killed was 150 yards or under. I sight in for MPBR and leave it alone after that. So I am not adjusting anything in the field then adjusting back, so I have no idea how it tracks. The CDS-ZL dial is superfluous for my needs. If it wasn't there, I'd never miss it.

Yes, forgiving eye box is one thing Leupold had to offer over a lot of other offerings. The Bushnell elites do usually have a pretty good view/glass, and I've found them to be really spot on for adjustments and holding zero, and they seem to take a pretty good knock around without issue. Funny; I used to look down on the Bushnells I'd see at the range or in the field when I was a Leupold fanboy. Getting a couple on used rigs I bought and then buying the LRHS's changed my tune.

If you don't mind SFP, the Nightforce SHV 3-10 is a very nice size scope that fits well and looks nice on a hunting rig. Very non critical eyebox. They are available in standard duplex if that's your flavor. I have them on long actions without mounting issues. Between myself and a couple shooting buddies, we have 6 of them in the various configurations. They've seen a lot of field use and a lot of rounds. They dial reliably, are exceedingly rugged, and the glass will hang with a VX-5/6 to my eyes. I prefer mil and ffp; however, I wouldn't feel too slighted if I were constrained to use the NF in reference for just about all of my hunting. The MOAR is a little light for my taste, but getting it lit easily solves that issue. And, I'll admit that the glass is good enough on them that the MOAR is plenty usable on most game and backgrounds as is.

I have thought about that very NF I'm surprised you say the glass is that good. I was under the impression the glass was below average. Good to know. . Do you like the lighted duplex version?

I have a Nightforce SHV 2-10x42 (tracking is excellent) and the glass seems comparable to my several Leupold VX3i glass, To My eyes the glass on My VX5hd 2-10x42 is a touch better than the Nightforce or VX3i glass but none of these have the quality glass that the Swaro Z3 scopes have....good luck...Hb

Not that it really ranks that high on the list of riflescope attributes - I've had a couple scopes with "great glass" go wonky - but I was pleasantly surprised by the view on the NF SHV. It doesn't have the "pop" that some coating packages deliver, but the clarity is fantastic, as is the actual resolution on game in various conditions

I would definitely get the illuminated version. Parallax correction (which is/used to be the other option if you didn't get it illuminated) on a big game scope that tops out at 10x is kind of superfluous. I'd actually rather they offered it without illumination or parallax correction in the duplex 3-10 because I've found that you don't really need it during shooting hours of the states I commonly hunt. I figure it would save a little weight and maybe drop the price a tad. But, it is very nice in MOAR version.

Do you think the NF would look suited to a lightweight wood stocked rifle like a Kimber or would it look overbearing and top heavy?

I almost hate to render an opinion as there's a lot of equivocality in asthetics.

If the metal finish is matte, I think it'll be ok. I still like gloss on gloss if you can find a scope to match. I don't care for it when it looks like the gun is mounted to the scope instead of the other way around. I still like the looks of a svelt 1" scope like the 2.5-8 on carry around hunting rigs, but I like a scope that holds zero even better than one that looks nice.

The NF 3-10 doesn't have the "tacticool" angular looks and tall turrets a lot of contempory scopes are coming with. I have both of mine mounted on SS/Synthetic hunting rigs, and I find their looks, dimensions and proportions pleasing to the eye.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/gallery/80/full/166798.jpeg

Found this pic here on 24hcf. Looks nice to my sensibilities.

Nice thread so far.
Wishing y'all the best.

Thanks for the information.

Schmidt and Bender 1.5x6, 42mm is the perfect walk around deer scope.

CDS-ZL....dials for dummies.

Dials and how it tracks is great for target shooters and varmint hunters.

Its obvious to me the people that design this crap are not big game hunters.

VX-3HD is probably a tougher scope then the Z3. I have owned 10x as many Leupold scopes as Z3's . I have owned a total of 4 Z3 scopes and only one did not get sent back because they could not hold zero. That was the 3-10x42. Cartridges that caused the Z3 failures, 300 wsm, 7 mag and 25-06.

The Z3 will most likely have better glass then the VX-3HD but it will have issues because Swaro still has not changed their design.

Another lightweight option is a Trijicon accupoint 3-9x40, they have above average glass and are well built.

If you did most of your big game hunting in a state like Wyoming you may have a different opinion on what a big game scope should be.

Pic from my sheep hunt.