Leupold VX-5HD CDS 3-15x44 $899 or VX-6 SD CDS 3-18x50 $899?

Thanks to all of your help in my previous thread I had decided to go with the VX-5HD. However, I stumbled across a vendor closing out VX-6 non HDs. I do not know which is the better buy, so I could use some help again.

You probably couldn't screw up with either but I'm extremely happy with all of my VX6's. I have them both in the 3-18x50 and 4-24x52.

The only thing you're not getting in the VX-6 that you are in the VX-5HD is the extra power at max and the new Extended Twighlight Max and the Guard-ion coatings. The new coatings are nice for sure, and they do give you a little more low level light. Personally having all 3 (VX-6, VX-6HD and VX-5HD) I'd lean towards the VX-5HD, but we're really splitting hairs here.

The VX-5 3-15X56 beat the VX-6 4-24X52 by six minutes in my low light test on deer antlers with both set on the same magnification at 12X. Of course when the VX-6 could not "see" the antlers I just turned up the magnification and viola I could see the antlers again. A very interesting observation is the reason I set them to 12X is because below that the higher magnification scope couldn't "see" the antlers but the VX-5 could clear down to 7X. I am truly amazed at this new Leupold offering.

I mentioned it to a guy at the range who has lots of high end stuff. He said, "Yea, but it stops at 15X. That's not enough."

Besides for the good points above, I'd go w/ the VX-5HD also because of the new ZL2 dial.......depending on the model, the VX-6 may not even have the ZL1 dial (only a few do).

lilharcher said:

Besides for the good points above, I'd go w/ the VX-5HD also because of the new ZL2 dial.......depending on the model, the VX-6 may not even have the ZL1 dial (only a few do).

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I just looked, and the model for the VX-6 is 3-18x55 SF CDS-ZL. Can anyone decipher?

qwerty11 said:

I just looked, and the model for the VX-6 is 3-18x55 SF CDS-ZL. Can anyone decipher?

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I would go to the Leupold website and look up the product information for that specific model.

If you can't find what you need there call their customer service dept. I've always found them to be great.

If it's a "ZL" model, it's a version 1 (one revolution), as they didn't make a vx-6 in ZL2 (two revolutions on dial)......this was a new feature of the HD models. Nice to have, not need to have. More importantly, is the reticle in the vx-6 what you want? I believe there is very limited options in the Vx-6 if indeed it's the ZL model. I personally prefer the windplex model for LR hunting/shooting.

lilharcher said:

If it's a "ZL" model, it's a version 1 (one revolution), as they didn't make a vx-6 in ZL2 (two revolutions on dial)......this was a new feature of the HD models. Nice to have, not need to have. More importantly, is the reticle in the vx-6 what you want? I believe there is very limited options in the Vx-6 if indeed it's the ZL model. I personally prefer the windplex model for LR hunting/shooting.

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I read what I could find on the two revolutions vs the one. Does the two revolutions allow for more total elevation adjustment, or more incremental adjustments because the same total elevation is spread out over two rotations instead of one?

Leupold will upgrade the VX-6 to the ZL2 dial for like 80 bucks. I have the VX-6 3-18x50 firedot windplex and it is probably the nicest scope I own. It's pretty light weight for the power range and tube size, and has great features. I'm sure they would both be great.

I recently purchased a VX6 3-18x50 w/TMOA reticle from Natchez that will be going on a 20-250 build. I considered the VX5 HD but wanted the 3-18 power range which narrowed it down to the VX6 or VX6 HD. I'm sure the new HD models are very nice but, for me, I'm not sure they are nearly twice the cost nice so I cheaped out and went with the non HD VX6.

B23 said:

I recently purchased a VX6 3-18x50 w/TMOA reticle from Natchez that will be going on a 20-250 build. I considered the VX5 HD but wanted the 3-18 power range which narrowed it down to the VX6 or VX6 HD. I'm sure the new HD models are very nice but, for me, I'm not sure they are nearly twice the cost nice so I cheaped out and went with the non HD VX6.

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I have the same reticle on two of them and on two of the 4-24x52's. Really like it.

I also have a couple with the B&C reticle and out to 600yds or so they are great.

How would the vx-2 6-18 cds compare to these? I like the low $400 price point of it.

IMO it is a solid scope but isn't comparable for clarity to the HD or vx6. Just my .02

qwerty11 said:

How would the vx-2 6-18 cds compare to these? I like the low $400 price point of it.

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