Leupold 2.5-8x36 still worth it?

[stone1642]

Now that Leupod added $100 to all their scopes, I'm wondering if the VX-3HD 2.5-8x36 is still worth it? I know they added the zero lock, which is nice, but for $500 I'm curious what else is out there in the sub-13 oz. range a person should consider.

 

[TN2shot07]

You can still hunt down previous generations, and you’ll pay about what they were new ($300-350). The Freedom in 2-7 is also an option at the lower price point.

It won’t save you any money but I’d definitely check out the Maven RS.2 and if you want to spend a little bit more the Swaro Z3’s have a $100 rebate on them right now.

 

[jrabq]

I had that scope on my 300 WSM for about 20 years, recently replaced it with a Swarovski Z3 3-10x42, which is a bit pricier but just under 13 oz. Nothing really wrong with the Leopold but I'm happy with the newer scope. Still have a 2.5-8x on a back up rifle.

 

[kiwi hunter]

Vixen or a vixen

 

[Robert N]

The Leupold 2.5-8x36 is one of the best straight up hunting scopes out there. Low enough 2.5x to hunt under 30 yards…and 8x is enough to hunt whitetail at 300 yards. Clear and bright enough to hunt right up to 30m after sunset. No bragging, no boasting. Just a straight up hunting scope with a super clean duplex reticle. It’s really wonderful

The thing is, you can get a better scope for Paper. But that never stopped me from dropping .5 MOA groups at 200 yards. Sure, it’s not the best for squirrels or ground hogs. Or extreme long range. But for overall medium sized big game at reasonable ranges (300-ish) it’s one of the best of a reason.

I’ve got one on my favorite rifle - a Remington M7MS in .257 Roberts. I’ve also got one on my Merkel K1 in 7mm RemMag. In both cases, anything under 300 yards is covered. 350 with a smidge of holdover. If I need something different, there’s a real reason why I need it.

What more does one really need?

 

[MTLabrador]

I wish Leupold would go back to offering the VX3 family with capped turrets. I love the older 2.5-8x36 and 3.5-10x40 for simple hunting scopes.

 

[Gut Shot]

Like others here I'd go with a used VX-3 or VXIII or even a Vari-X III.

One of the greatest sins Leupold ever made was doing away with the 1.75-6x

 

[cutty]

I'd like to have the old, true, 3×9×33mm compacts.

 

[1100RemingtonMan]

For 99% of the big game hunting this scope is perfect for size and weight. It is also capable way beyond 300 yards. IMHO as with a 40 year old 3x9 scope I use to average three shot groups of three in a row of under 2.2 inches at 300 yards.

Also a scope with a smaller objective is less likely to get damage in a rifle scabbard on a horse or flying in the back of a bush plane. This is where 1 inch scopes and 40mm or less objectives are better. IMHO

 

[HighDesertSage]

For 99% of the big game hunting this scope is perfect for size and weight. It is also capable way beyond 300 yards. IMHO as with a 40 year old 3x9 scope I use to average three shot groups of three in a row of under 2.2 inches at 300 yards.

Also a scope with a smaller objective is less likely to get damage in a rifle scabbard on a horse or flying in the back of a bush plane. This is where 1 inch scopes and 40mm or less objectives are better. IMHO

FWIW I have an old weaver 4x on my 270 and I hunt out to 400 yards with it.

 

[Robert N]

FWIW I have an old weaver 4x on my 270 and I hunt out to 400 yards with it.

It wasn’t intentional…but I shot my Kudu at 290 yards with my scope set on…2.5x. Oops….still, only took one shot.

 

[elkduds]

My light, short 270 win wears a VX3 2.5x8. All I want or need for hunting @ 300 yds or less.

 

[noharleyyet]

My light, short 270 win wears a VX3 2.5x8. All I want or need for hunting @ 300 yds or less.

When you're on 8 of 12 for a couple of days but thought you were max'd is an 'aha' moment...

 

[Boarmaster]

I have one mounted in Talley LWs on my Winchester XPR 350 Legend. I wanted a lighter weight set up for woods hunting in Wayne National Forest in Ohio. I really like that scope. A year after I bought it we stopped woods ( big timber) hunting and we started hunting farms in NW Ohio. I was a bit skeptical at first as Shots went from 15-50 yards in the woods to 150-200 yards in farm fields and woods edges. It did fine on several bucks out at 170-185 yards. I thought about swapping it out for one of my VX3 3.5-10x40s I have on the shelf but I think I will stick with the smaller scope.

 

[Bonasababy]

I bought a nearly new in the box one several years back for a bit over 200 bucks, been waiting for the right gun.

Planning on putting it on a Ruger RL in 257 Roberts.

 

[kodiakisland]

I've got five of them. I think I have every version of -X3 made in the last 30 years. Just bought a new one from Cabelas this week. $499, 15% off club price, 10% off military discount, 15% points on club card.
So that's $382 with $57 in points earned toward my next purchase. Seems about right.

8X is plenty for my uses. Reaches out as far as I plan to shoot big game. I've got a 1.75-6X that has worked out past 400 yards.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Great scope for hunting, I have several. I also really like the old 2.5 x 7.

 

[Bullshot]

Absolute favorite scope (for eastern or timber hunting) is my 2-7x33 with Leupold Dot. Don’t think that’s been made for awhile.

 

[BAKPAKR]

I have had two of the 2.5-8s — one on a 300 Weatherby that I sold (with scope and regret) and one on a Remington 700 Ti in 270 that I still have. I think they are great scopes. However, for a little more than the current MSRP of the 2.5-8 Leupold, you can have a 3-9 Trijicon Accupoint which I think is a “greater” scope.

 

[Caseknife]

Think I have five of them of all generations, never had a lick of problems with any of them, great scope.