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VX-6HD 3-18x50 or Vortex Razor HD LH 3-15 or ???

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beelzibub View Drop Down
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    Posted: July/12/2018 at 19:14
I'm looking to update my hunting scope and need some help making the choice. At the moment I'm torn between the Leupold VX-6HD 3-18x50 and the Vortex Razor HD LH 3-15x42, but I'm also open ears to other suggestions. The rifle is a Sako A7 .308 and I hunt in the southern mountains of Idaho so I want something that can stretch out a bit and doesn't weigh a ton. I currently have a Vortex Viper HS 2.5-10x44 that works pretty well, I just want a little more zoom without sacrificing too much in the low end for close shots. I plan on dialing the elevation for long distance shots, so I want something that can handle that without failing too. Thanks in advance!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SageRatSafaris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/13/2018 at 13:46
The VX6HD 3-18X44 is awful nice, but I'd probably consider the less expensive VX5HD 3-15X44 or VX5HD 3-15X56.

The main difference between the VX6HD and VX5HD:
* VX6HD has anti-cant sensor that blinks the reticle (this is main reason behind price difference)
* VX6HD comes with flip-back lens caps and extended lever on power ring
* VX5HD comes with CDS elevation dial (BDC-style dial where you dial range in yards or meters instead of minutes of angle)
* Same glass on both

With the money you save by going VX5HD, you could buy a laser range finder that gives you equivalent horizontal range (EHR) on uphill/downhill shots to dial into the CDS turret.

* Range animal, get EHR
* Dial EHR on CDS dial, Fire

The Leupold LRFs can even give you minutes/mrad to dial into non-CDS scopes.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/13/2018 at 15:03
They both have models with CDS dials.  From factory they come with CDS MOA knobs.  You can then get custom BDC knobs specifically taylored to a load(s) if you want.

I have not used the Vortex.  But own a vx5 and like it a lot.  I got data for my creed all the way to 1100 yards and can quickly dial it in with the CDS ZL2 knob.  Illumination is excellent and the glass is quite good. 

IMO it has some features that put it ahead of the Vortex, but opinions will vary. 

I would pic the VX5 of the VX6 as well, just for the cost savings.  But I would pick up the alumina flip open caps for it.  They are outstanding. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote beelzibub Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/13/2018 at 15:07
The anti-cant sensor isn't that big a deal to me, but the lens caps and lever are pretty useful. Those caps are aluminum and really high quality from what I can tell! From what I read, the VX-6HD comes with a free CDS dial for elevation via a coupon or something like that in the box. I've found it for around $1300 which is quite a bit more than the Vortex I mentioned, but it also seemed a bit brighter comparing the two indoors at Cabela's.

That's a nice list you've compiled for long range scopes! It would be great if it included weights for us hunters who have to carry these things up and down mountains.
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supertool73 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/13/2018 at 16:27
YOu can buy the same caps for the VX5.  Or any Leupold for that matter.  They will cost you between 80 and 100 for the set depending upon where you buy. 

VX3, VX5, VX6 with CDS all come with a standard CDS cap that is in MOA or mil.  If you want you can then send in load data to Leupold and they can custom mark a dial for you with your trajectory data.

The downside to doing that is then they are designed specifically for the exact load you made.  What if you want to change bullets?  Or you created them at 2000 ft elevation and are now hunting at 10,000 elevation.  ANy change you make will affect those.  I prefer to just leave them in MOA and just get your data at the range and dial it in in MOA adjustments.  You can tape a little piece of paper to your scope with all that on there.  But to each his own. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SageRatSafaris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/13/2018 at 16:58
Originally posted by supertool73 supertool73 wrote:

The downside to doing that is then they are designed specifically for the exact load you made.  What if you want to change bullets?  Or you created them at 2000 ft elevation and are now hunting at 10,000 elevation.  ANy change you make will affect those.

Another option is to make free BDC turret labels at turretlabels.com. Enter data, print it out, affix it around elevation dial with scotch tape.

On a hunt, each shot is time sensitive and high stakes - I get why so many hunters like BDC, and some are willing to buy BDC turrets specifically for a single hunt.

For target shooters, I agree that best results are to use moa or mrad turrets with a ballistics program like Ballistic AE or Applied Ballistics.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rancid Coolaid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/14/2018 at 12:28
Custom turrets are a shortcut that a good ballistics program trumps. Once you understand how a specific reticle works, the program works in all situations with all ammos, but - like a custom turret - also requires range verification.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/14/2018 at 14:55
These are very differently priced scopes.  If you are not looking for reticle illumination, go for the Razor HD LH.  It is very good from an optomechanical scope, but is a comparatively bare bones design: covered turrets, etc.

If you need the extra features, VX-6HD is a very nice scope (I have been messing with the 3-18x44 version).

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote beelzibub Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/14/2018 at 15:09
Thats true koshkin, they are in different price points but I suppose that's the range I'm willing to spend. Also, those were the only two on my short list I was able to handle and use at my local Cabela's. Reticle illumination isn't on my list of must haves but that's really only because I haven't had one with it yet. I was also eyeing the 44mm objective version of the VX-6HD as it might be a bit more fitting for my mountain rifle, but I was assuming the 50mm version might be better at the higher mag levels at low light? I really wish I didn't miss out on the deal Cabela's had at the beginning of the year on the Razor for $599, I would have jumped on that price for sure! Any thoughts on the two reticles the Razor is available with? I can see pros and cons for both, so any other input might help push me one direction or the other.

In response to others regarding the BDC turrets, I generally only hunt in one area at the same time of year so I'd think I could get away with a custom turret. I messed around with elevations and temperatures and it doesn't really seem to mess with the point of aim all that much really. I don't plan on shooting anything past 400 or 500 yards at the very most either. I'm also ok with sticking to the MOA turret markings and dialing that way as I can just tape the values into my scope cap like I have in previous hunts.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/16/2018 at 05:47
SWFA has it on sale right now:


I am partial to the G4-BDC reticle, personally.

ILya
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