On the market for an uncompromising scope that is as effective hunting deer as it is hunting squirrels? This Leupold VX-1 review offers you some solid insight as to exactly what you’ll be getting for the upper-end market price you’d have to be willing to pay for the Leupold VX-1 Rifle Scope.
Design & Features
It is officially listed as having a matte black color, but it has a bit more of a sheen to it than the matte black we’re used to. Perhaps a bit more of a metallic black would be a more suitable official color, but it has a functional design aesthetically. If you’re willing to spend over $500 though (depending on where you buy your Leupold VX-1 Scope), the scope’s aesthetics is probably the last thing on your mind. What you want is performance — performance in environments such as deep, dense timber.
The scope weighs 14.1 ounces, so on the usability front that’s pretty much a standard weight for scopes in this class. Featuring a multicoated lens as well, you’d expect nothing but crystal clear sighing and that is exactly what you get, reinforced with unmatched brightness and great contrast. Just looking at the scope and holding it in your hands, prior to bringing it anywhere near your firearm suggests that this scope has the makings of a very special device. The manufacturers are themselves extremely proud of the Leupold VX-1, going as far as dubbing it a class-leader, with very good reason too.
Functionality
Which firearms is the Leupold VX-1 compatible with? Well, if you’re into deep, dense timber hunting then you’d want a scope that is compatible with handpieces such as a lever-action Henry Rifle, a Tika T3 .308 Lite, a .270 Mossberg ATR 100, a 308 caliber Savage Axis, and it perhaps your favorite AR-15 as well. You’ll be happy to know that the Leupold VX-1 fits all of these firearms and more like a glove, but you have to remember to use it in conjunction with original Leupold rings and a base.
This is definitely NOT a quick-fire scope (or a scope you’d ever want to use under quick-fire circumstances), but if you are indeed into hunting it wouldn’t make any sense for you to want to use any of your hunting scopes for shooting purposes such as self-defense and the like. It takes some doing to set it up with your rifle — again, something you’re probably already prepared for if you are into hunting (deep timber).
Did you think it couldn’t get any better than your Nikon scope? Think again — you get much better eye relief with the Leupold VX-1 and you also get quicker target acquisition. The Leupold also gives you much clearer lenses and has no problems gathering light in low-light conditions.
Here’s something you might not have bargained for too — if you have reading glasses, the Leupold can be adjusted so that you can either use it with or without the glasses, which speaks VOLUMES of its magnification range.
It’s really hard to find anything considerably negative to say about this scope and, once again, Leupold has made good on the quality they’ve been known to offer for quite some time now. If you’re really looking to dig deep in order to find some negatives, one would be that it might just fog up a little initially, but wiping it down just once with a proper lens cloth will get rid of the fog for good. The VX-1 also doesn’t have the option of a mil-dot reticle, but if that’s what you’re on the market for, you wouldn’t even be looking at the VX-1, but rather looking in the direction of something like a Tactical Leupold or perhaps even a Tactical Milling Reticle. This scope falls only one or two features short of making our list of the best AR 15 scopes and best rifle scopes all-round. If the true value for money (and perhaps magnification) was the only criteria though, this scope would probably also make the editor’s choice of the best long range rifle scopes.
Pros
- Very durable and of extremely high quality
- Has a surprisingly wide price range so you might be able to sneak a serious bargain
- Super brightness and great contrast and clarity delivered by the multicoated lens
- Probably offers the best magnification you’ll find
- Excellent eye relief
- Simply reeks of pure quality
- Definite value (features and performance) for money
- Is also very good for plinking or at the shooting range
Cons
- May fog up in the beginning
- No mill dot reticle pattern
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The Verdict
Hopefully, this Leupold VX-1 review was helpful in pointing out exactly what this scope can do for you in practical application. It would definitely be a long stretch for anyone to come up with a scope that offers as much value for money, features, and performance as the VX-1. Look forward to a high-quality, durable device that is as much at home hunting squirrels as it is hunting deer.
