Vortex LH HD or Leupold VX5 HD?

7mmremmag · #1 05-13-2018, 08:36 PM

I am looking for some input from guys who have experience with either of these optics.
I have a Cooper 92 Back Country in 7mm mag on order from Prophet River and am now looking at optics to top it with.
I have it narrowed down to either a Vortex Razor LH HD 3-15x42 or a Leupold VX5 HD 3-15x44.
Just want to hear some input either way, what guys like/dislike about either scope.
Also possibly open to other options in the same price range if you have a recommendation.
As of right now im leaning towards the Leupold due to reticle options and their warranty shop is in Alberta which is super convenient.

Knotter · #2 05-13-2018, 08:56 PM

What are you planning to do with it? What is your max distance you plan to shoot? Let your eyes do the talking, Turn the turrets. I’ve looked through both and the Leupold is a touch easier on the eyes and the turrets don’t feel cheesy. It you plan to set it and forget it to mbpr there are others to consider.

7mmremmag · #3 05-13-2018, 09:15 PM

Everything will be under 600yds.
I do like the CDS option for the VX5. I have not personally looked through either of these scopes yet. I do have plenty of other Vortex and Leupold glass. And like them both.
I find both of the Vortex reticles a little too busy for me, and am leaning towards the Illum firedot reticle in the Leupold.

SakoShooter · #4 05-13-2018, 09:50 PM

I have never looked through the Vortex in question, but I do have a Leupold VX-5 2-10. If I'm not mistaken the Vortex is a capped turret design with a couple of holdover type reticle options, the VX-5 is obviously meant to be dialed for elevation and it's reticle options (duplex, windplex, firedot) reflect this
Personally, I like to dial at range, mainly because all of the ballistic reticle options have their own idiosyncrasies that need to be thought through in the heat of the moment. I suppose one was to stick to one and learn it well they could gain a lot of confidence with it, feels a bit gimmicky to me though.

As to the glass, the VX-5 is very good for the money, clear and has decent contrast....Vortex scopes seem to generally have poorer contrast in my limited experience with them.

7mmremmag · #5 05-13-2018, 10:30 PM

Awesome thanks for the input.
How does your Leupold track when you dial it out and back in etc at range?

SakoShooter · #6 05-13-2018, 10:41 PM

It tracks well enough to give me confidence, haven't put it through any kind of scientific testing, but I can hit at different ranges a lot more confidently than with different ballistic reticles I've tried.
As I said before though, I haven't ever really dedicated the time to get confident enough with a ballistic reticle to trust it on game.

catnthehat · #7 05-13-2018, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7mmremmag

Awesome thanks for the input.
How does your Leupold track when you dial it out and back in etc at range?

I turret the crap outta my scopes that I have on my long range target rifles , one of them is a Leupold , never had an issue with amy Leupold as far as the turrets go
Cat

gtr · #8 05-14-2018, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7mmremmag

Everything will be under 600yds.
I do like the CDS option for the VX5. I have not personally looked through either of these scopes yet. I do have plenty of other Vortex and Leupold glass. And like them both.
I find both of the Vortex reticles a little too busy for me, and am leaning towards the Illum firedot reticle in the Leupold.

Go have a look at them both, inside and out in the sun. That will tell you which one suites you. The VX5 HD suites me just fine.

7mmremmag · #9 05-14-2018, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtr

Go have a look at them both, inside and out in the sun. That will tell you which one suites you. The VX5 HD suites me just fine.

That is definitely the favorite.
30mm tube
Turret with zero stop
great glass
Seems like an easier decision than I had originally thought

YoteStopper · #10 05-14-2018, 09:44 PM

For what its worth, I have the 3-15 Vortex LH. Very light, and if you like simple reticles the G4 BDC is about as simple as it gets. Glass is very nice, I have yet to use mine but happy so far. They are being discontinued and Great North Precision is selling for $899.99.

YoteStopper · #11 05-14-2018, 09:47 PM

I was comparing against the Z3 from Swaro and the Conquest HD5 from Zeiss at time of purchase, preferred the Razor LD for the money. Picked it up when WSS was going down so saved well over $500 vs the other scopes.

stob · #12 05-14-2018, 09:50 PM

Leupold. Maybe check out swaro - Leica - S and B. Justa thought. I really like the Leica recently. My. 02

SakoShooter · #13 05-14-2018, 11:06 PM

I'm all about Leica scopes myself, I have three and they are all just beautiful to look through. I like contrast in a scope, Leica is tops in contrast of any scope I've seen, but the Leupold VX-5 and VX-6 scopes also have a deep contrast image compared to Razor or Swarovski, which seem "whiter" to me.
For the price of a VX-6 you may as well buy a Leica of course, the VX-5 is a significant value though.

Dean2 · #14 05-19-2018, 11:48 AM

There is no choice between the two you are looking at. Leupold all the way.

7mmremmag · #15 05-19-2018, 12:54 PM

That is the route im going to go.
Thanks for the help guys

st99 · #16 05-20-2018, 11:41 AM

Question for you guys with a leupold CDS. Did it ever happened that the dial moved while hiking or quadding?. I still hunt a lot in thick bush and often don't have time to check the dial. I'm worried to have the zero shift without noticing and maybe miss an animal on a quick shot

SakoShooter · #17 05-20-2018, 05:07 PM

The turret moving will be a non issue for all VX-5 and 2nd generation VX-6 scopes which have the 2 rotation locking turret, assuming it's sighted in at the desired distance and zeroed out, you must depress a button for it to rotate. The old cds system I have no experience with, but I would hesitate to carry an exposed turret afield without a locking feature, or at minimum, a zero stop.