In both cases, the scopes offer best-in-class features, ergonomic designs, and field-rugged durability. Why, not sure. I don't like my explanation but I'll try some more. Ultimately, if you're in the market for a scope, your choice will probably come down to personal preference. Athlon Optics was established in 2014, in Kansas City, USA. This involves the use of high-quality fabrics, such as waterproofing and fog-proofing patterns, which are ideal for operating the scopes in inclement weather. Which is better, the Vortex Dead-Hold BDC vs Leupold LRP reticle? Few consumers have reported that the magnification change is too stiff. Vortex Diamondback is designed for big game and slug shotgun applications and it is also a muzzleloading riflescope. The vortex do. This past summer, at the urging of friend, I bought a vortex to mount on my 35 Whelen, not a baby gun. They dont care if youre the original owner or the 15th owner; they will either repair or replace it free of charge. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Overview and Reviews of Different Rifle Scope Models. On amazon Found the Leupolds for normally $149, now $129. It features a rugged design and an oversized eyepiece that. With an eye relief of 3.5 inches, its lenses are multicoated with 91% light filtering capability. Leupold, on the other hand, being the more experienced and seemingly more intense in producing optics that a lot of American hunters appreciate. . These spotting scopes are backed by Leupold's lifetime warranty. Well, if we will summarize the general features of all the Vortex and Leupold riflescopes, these are both excellent in many aspects. There are an unlimited number of power slider settings available to assist you in matching the ballistics of your weapon and eliminating the need for extra measurements. I own a pair of really good binoculars that cover 95% of my glassing needs. The final area where these two brands significantly in the entry-level or budget-oriented scopes is the pricing. My experience with a spotting scope is limited to a 10-20x40 leupold compact mounted on a monopod. In this price range, Leupold features a broader range of scope options. Instead, they redesigned their combat scopes to make them more precise, more heavy-duty and battle ready. If you are glassing with binoculars and the want to use the scope to field judge straight. The topics that I usually focus on with these types of comparisons are the following: When you start trying to compare riflescope brand to riflescope brand, Ive always thought the fairest way was to loosely break the scopes offered by each brand into broad categories as some scope brands have a huge product offering while other brands may have a much smaller product offering. The SX-2 Alpine HD spotting scope is a must have for all serious hunters or shooters who are looking to add HD performance to their optics kit. II'm sure on some lower end scopes it's a gimmick because there's no fine focus to be had. Now, about price, Leupold sells this on large online retails stores at around $230. But in case of Vortex scopes vs Leupold, this quote may not always apply. Essentially, it did not also fail its loyal consumers. The company does not care who owns the product. The Vortex 8x42 will have less magnification, but it will have a brighter image than the Diamondback 10x42. However, Leupold has phased both of those series out, and their new entry-level scope series are the FX fixed power models and the VX-Freedom series. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. it was a police scope we borrowed. Location. Like most rifle scope brands, Leupold does not produce their own glass or lenses. (SX-2 Alpine HD) I got an email today about these spotting scopes, and the prices seem really solid. I would say that it's no good beyond 35x magnification at the most, under ideal conditions. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Angular FOV (degrees) - Low: 1.92. 12/02/19 04:36 AM. These are China, the Philippines and Japan. Required fields are marked *. It means that looking at each brand as a whole; my opinion is Leupold has slightly better glass. Hence, no fundamental differences there other than Vortex offers s few power ranges (like a 3-12) that are not found in the Leupold line. Orion Grandview 20. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the Leupold SX-2 Alpine and the Vortex Diamondback to see how they compare. The power ranges between the two brands in the entry-level category are basically the same. $499.99. Amid some developments, the company also changed its name into Leupold & Stevens. But since we are into assessment and judgment, lets pull up two riflescope for each and compare. During that time, Ive used the Leupold personally and on behalf of customers more times than I care to count. In 1962, the company introduced the classic Duplex reticle which boasts of high definition images thats suited for big game hunting. Examples of this style of reticle are the Vortex EBR-4 and EBR-7 reticles. The entry-level Leupold optics also seem to offer less critical and better eye relief compared to Vortex. The Konuspot's lens is 17.7 inches long and features an exit pupil length of 23.5 millimeters at 20x and 7.43 millimeters at 60x. Vortex Diamondback 20-60x80 Spotting Scope. Ive also had the occasion to engage the Vortex warranty personally and for customers at my day job, and its always been a very smooth and hassle-free process. Leupolds warranty is lifetime. However, the optic is a little tougher, features more dynamic turrets, and a better reticle. i used the exact Leupold as you listed. It features a streamlined exterior for a sleeker profile and a built-in helical focus wheel for fast and fine adjustments. The scope retains its longevity despite weighing slightly more than 12 oz, making it an excellent addition to any weapon. DEWD_STUFF O3 . The country of origin for a product plays a role in supporting US-based business and in relation to the product quality. People always say that you only get what you pay for. I also have a vortex 12-40x60 angled viper spotting scope. Vortex over leupold and kowa over vortex. Just curious if anyone has had any hands on experience with them or comparisons with competition (pricing . If you looked at just the total number of reticle choices offered within each scope brand, Leupold wins that battle as they provide far more reticle variants than Vortex. Leupold and Vortex are both American owned companies and US based. The power ranges between the two brands is relatively even as well, except that Leupold seems to offer more options in this price range that are in the lower power ranges (like 2-10, 3-15, etc.) According to the company, anyone who has the product can enjoy the warranty privilege. The scope models from each brand in this category will be included in the upper-level echelon of US-based riflescope models and will compete with some higher-end European-based optical models. Brightness and clarity head and shoulders better than the viper. $399.99. Its versatile zoom power provides 6070 magnification. Besides the glass being better you get a 60x zoom in the 66. Vortex and Leupold are two excellent scope producers. And actually i have sold off (at a loss) both the 4-12X40 and the Tactical. So, here youll know why Vortex scopes vs Leupold discussions does matter. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Celestron Ultima 65 18-55x65 Spotting Scope - Best Under $200. So, use your own judgement but whatever you do, buy American and if you can afford them,US Optics makes really nice but pricey glass. Leupolds pristine reputation for high-quality optics has risen significantly over the years, especially in the last ten years. Vortex Diamondback 20-60x60 Spotting Scope - Best Under $500. Redfield Rampage 20-60x80 Spotting Scope - Best Under $300. The turrets provide an audible click for fast tuning and provide generous eye relief. Products ( 2) Sort By. TIP: The vortex diamondback comes with a synthetic leather case. Angled ! This label is commonly called the Country of Origin. Diamondback features 3 dot options for its vertical reticle post with particular MOA for each while the Leupold VX-2 never loses its classic super clear Duplex reticle which is an ideal reticle for close range shooting and short distance hunting. On the other hand, Leupold binocular has a 13.7 mm eye relief. In terms of costs within this category, youll also find that the Leupold scopes tend to cost more, and many are right at the top of the $1000 MSRP line. The Leupold SX-2 Alpine Spotting Scope features an ultra-tough, waterproof and fogproof magnesium body, built to handle difficult conditions. I wont dispute that; in some cases, buying a Vortex scope gets more value for the money. For many riflescope brands, the mid-range scopes are the most competitive segment of the scope optics industry because its the industrys fastest-growing segment. The Vortex Diamondback HPs output disparity is due to the use of a second focal plane construction. So only their price range and warranty offers can be your final criteria in choosing. And lastly, though Leupolds are costlier, Americans see them as better with regards to dependability, durability and lens clarity. Both brands are worthy of purchase. How Much Should I Spend on a Rifle Scope? Although finding the right Vortex scopes is difficult, the comprehensive product reviews discussed above will help you decide which scope will fit your style and needs. Chances are, you wont be disappointed at most any scope in this price range. Orangevale, Ca. Having looked through an example of pretty much all the optic models in this category, Id give a slight edge in optical quality to Leupold across the board. When it comes to the work of these two optics, there isnt much of a distinction. One is a 20-60 with a 60mm objective lens, the other a 80mm objective lens. The Vortex warranty is an unlimited lifetime warranty that is fully transferable and does not require any prior registration. My thoughts are don't skimp on glass as they are your eyes and you don't want to miss anything or get a headache if your glassing for long sessions. Put a crick in my neck in no time. Next on our best spotting scope list is the Diamondback HD Spotting Scopes from Vortex. What is it about an angled eyepiece that makes you prefer it over the straight version. Leupold. The comparable Leupold vx-3 and vx-3i scopes I own have been impeccable. As the business grows, more family members came to join. 2. Rugged and 100% waterproof and fogproof. In this section, we will look at Leupold vs vortex scopes. A Leupold scope can cost $400 to $500 more than a comparable Vortex model on the high end. The scope retains its longevity despite weighing slightly more than 12 oz, making it an excellent addition to any weapon. Maybe newer model is better. I have bought Leopold for all my rifles. I typically see customers start asking questions about warranty around the $350 to $400 price and up. As I come across more questions or new information, Ill update this page. 1) for sh*ts and giggles go look at how many of each of those brands is showing up for sale in used items. Sometimes things happen that I cant explain, like most folks. Scopes from that era were allowed to be marked as Made in the USA because the FTC guidelines at that time permitted that labeling. you've probably read it before but I had the diamond back spotter and it was just about useless hunting if you have half way decent binos. The quality of glass just isn't there. Still scratching my head about the broke scope. Our favorite Leupold is the VX-Freedom. Clarity def went down significantly as you increased the magnification. Many that require the ability to change the strength of their lighting would choose the Vortex Razor Gen II. Vortex has the Razor, the Vipers, Crossfire and Diamondback series riflescopes. Optical quality is kind of a catch-all term used to describe the brightness, clarity, and color of the image through a scope. yes it's useful but I've mostly used a meopta s2 and swarovski ats and atx with their larve focus rings which I liked better than the two stage focus on many scopes. They are the bottom of vortex's line and thatshows. To confirm our conclusion, we did a lot of research and even participated in many online forums to know exactly which of these two brands is more popular. If you wanted to buy an American-made scope or as close to American made as possible between these two brands, then the Leupold is your only option. Best Tactical: Bushnell Elite Tactical LMSS2 8-4060. Barska Blackhawk 18-3650 - Best Under $100. Viper HSLR (although the FFP model in this series exceeds the $1000 MSRP criteria), VX-5HD (this series has some models that are right on the upper end of the $1000 limit and some models that exceed $1000), Viper HSLR (within this line, only the 6-2450 FFP model falls into this category), PST Gen II (except for the 1-624 model, all the PST scopes fall into this category), VX-5HD (about half of the scopes in this series have an MSRP that exceeds $1000 and are in this category), VX-6HD (within the VX-6HD scopes, only the 1-624 and the 2-1242 are in this category. If you are a hardcore backpack . I can get the Leupold locally for about $100 more than the Vortex. A 22-48 would be too much magnification for most light use people imo. It continues to manufacture optics/riflescopes that are designed for lifetime performance. MSRP: $269.99; vortexoptics.com. $499.00. Rarely do I say this in the optics industry, but I think its a tie in the warranty category. It's hard to explain but once you do it you'll understand. Good choice for varmint to big-game hunting.