utm fk

RIFLES & GLASS
February 2020 G&A 31
Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14x40mm CDS-ZL
TOM BECKSTRAND
HUNTING MADE EASY
I HUNTED IN COLORADO last fall and was reminded
that really good equipment doesn’t have to cost a bunch
of money. Lower prices frequently mean fewer features
and less capability. That is not the case when reviewing
Leupold’s new VX-3i 4.5-14x40mm scope with Wind-Plex
reticle. Even if I had a lot of money to spend, this would
still be one of my top picks for a hunting optic.
Leupold.com suggests that the retail price of the VX-3i
with 4.5-14X magnification starts at “$844.99.” That
number is expensive for a hunting scope. However, surfing
around the internet reveals that the same scope is available
from select retailers for around $560. That doesn’t
make it cheap, but it does make it an excellent value.
The VX-3i series have similar optical performance when
compared to Leupold’s old Mark 4 scopes — at half the
price. I can see no difference in resolution between the
two product lines. I also think the VX-3i scopes have better
coatings than the old Mark 4 scopes because there is a
slight increase in low-light performance. I compare the
VX-3i to the Mark 4 because the U.S. military still issues
some Mark 4 scopes and many law enforcement agencies
around the country have been using them for decades.
Getting that kind of recognized and vetted performance
for under $600 is a big deal, in my opinion.
Added to the enhancements made to the optical performance
of the VX-3i scope are some huge improvements
made to the mechanical qualities, specifically tracking. This
significant improvement is what’s allowed Leupold to put
their Custom Dial System (CDS) on the scope.
Manufacturing changes over time. Just as cell phones