Zeiss Conquest HD5 5-25x50 vs VX-3 8-25x50LR

[dan1775]

Friends,

I robbed the VX-3 6.5-20x40 off my 204 to put on the Vartarg, so I find myself needing another scope. I have narrowed it down to two: the Zeiss Conquest HD5 5-25x50 or the Leupold VX-3 8-25x50LR.

Does anyone have any recommendations on the relative pros and cons of these two scopes? I'd be getting the Rapid Z-Varmint or Varmint Hunter's reticle, so on price and reticle it's a push. I like the 30mm tube of the Leupold over the 1" tube of the Zeiss, but that is just about the only difference I can see. Past that it's going to come down to clarity, resolution, eye relief, and adjustment.

I am a Leupold fan but I do have a hankering to try a Zeiss. One thing, actually the only thing, I don't care for about the Leupold 6.5-20x40 that I have already is that the optimal eye relief tends to vary significantly based upon the selected magnification. I'm usually scanning for rats at the near-lowest power and then increasing it once I am dialed in on a target. But that might just be the nature of a high-powered variable, I don't know.

Anyway, if you have a preference what would you choose and why?

Thanks,
Dan

<also posted at 204ruger forum, or wherever else I think I might get an answer..>

 

[calling4life]

vx6 4-24x52

 

[rancilio]

I cannot speak about the Conquest HD5, but all of the Zeiss Victory line of optics beats every high-end Leupold scope I have used. Clarity, crispness and low-light light transmission is far better with the Zeiss Victory line. I have been tempted to find a Conquest HD so I can compare it to my Victory. Hopefully somebody here will post up what they have experienced.

 

[rancilio]

An impressive place to seek info is at Cal's site, PrecisionRifleBlog.com. I find his "DATA-DRIVEN Approach to Precision Rifles, Optics & Gear" quite informative, and it might help with your decision.

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