Like a fool,I will weigh in on this topic. I shoot rifles in the field that are topped with both a Leupy VX3 and a Vortex PST. On some days, I would swear the Leupy has better glass. On other days, it seems the Vortex has it by a nose. I'm not sure why, but both seem to be very good - just in subtly different ways.
The Leupy typically will have more MOA travel and is lighter weight. But then I have had problems with some of my Leupy's internal tracking mechanism (would not return to zero). That is how I came to own the Vortex. Leupold has always stood by their warranty and repaired or replaced scopes for me without question. Haven't had anything go wrong with the Vortex yet, so I can't comment on their customer service, but I hear it is also good. Vortex seems to be the better buy, but then they are the challenger. Leupold has a chunk of market share, so contenders need to offer a good quality scope at a lower price point to pull consumers away and get them to try their product. Overall, I am pleased with both scopes, but neither is a clear winner for me.
I guess you just have to step back and look at the big picture. The internet is one of the best - and worst - things that has happened to us. So much info is now available to us! this deluge of information often dazzles us and we forget to"sift, weigh and measure" what is being said. We forget this and often form an opinion based on the experiences of just one or two members. I am not at all saying these members are wrong in their opinions. But I am saying that statistically, it may be insignificant and not representative of the product or company as a whole.
Read all you can about these companies and scopes on several different forums. If you keep running into the same opinions or problems being encountered by many different members, then maybe the concern has some validity. Ford, Chevy, Dodge: they are all good.......and bad, depending on who you talk to.
