Description
Rifle Scope Product Details
Leupold VX-3i 1.5-5x20mm Riflescope
Rifle Scope Product Features
About this item
Model #170675 – VX-3i 1-5x20mm with Duplex reticle and Matte finish
100% Waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof.
DiamondCoat 2 – Ion-assist lens coating for higher light transmission and the greatest level of abrasion resistance
Precision 1/4 MOA finger click adjustments for windage and elevation offer absolute repeatability and dependability over a lifetime of extreme use
Made with 6061-T6 aircraft quality aluminum and punisher tested to guarantee a lifetime of performance even under harshest recoil
Sport type: Hunting
VX-3i 1-5x20mm
Magnification Range: 1x-5x
Weight: 9.3 oz.
Length: 9.5 in.
Maintube Diameter: 1 inch
Eye Relief (in) – Low: 4.4
Eye Relief (in) – High: 3.7
Linear FOV (ft/100 yd) – Low: 68
Linear FOV (ft/100 yd) – High: 23.8
Leupold VX-3i
Relentless Performance
The VX-3i 1.5-5x20mm is one of the most popular dangerous game/safari scopes in the world. The 1.5-5x magnification is ideal for shooting at a variety of distances. And at only 9.3 ounces, it’s built for long days in the wild. The VX-3i delivers outstanding performance in low-light conditions in an incredibly tough, lightweight design. Our Twilight Max Light Management System lets you see details others can’t in those crucial low-light situations at the beginning and the end of the day.
Lightweight, rugged performance
Unparalleled low light performance
Designed, machined, & assembled in the USA
Twilight Max Light Management System
See a more vivid, bright, and clear target image in a wider variation of low and bright lighting conditions. The combination premium edge-to-edge lens clarity, full visible-spectrum lens coatings and glare management provides an extra 20 minutes of shooting light.
Twilight Max Light Management System
Designed, Machined, & Assembled in the USA
Rugged Reliability
Proprietary gas blend and seals are tested by us to a 33-foot depth and a multitude of pressure changes.
Every Leupold riflescope is designed to survive a minimum of 5,000 impacts on the Punisher, Leupold’s recoil simulation machine. The force of each impact is 3x the recoil of a .308 rifle.
All Leupold riflescopes are tested by us to perform from -40F to 160F.
VX-Freedom VX-R VX-3i VX-5HD VX-6HD
Light Management System Twilight Twilight Twilight Max Twilight Max HD Twilight Max HD
Maintube Size 1 inch 30mm 1 inch, 30mm 30mm, 34mm 30mm, 34mm
Zoom Ratio 3:1 3:1 3:1 5:1 6:1
HD Glass No No No Yes Yes
About the Leupold Manufacturer
Leupold is a premium maker for long gun scopes, optics, mounts, and other add-ons used for guns like rifles and long guns. They create and manufacture their scopes, mounts, and related products choosing materials which are durable and long lasting. This includes the Leupold VX-3i 1.5-5x20mm Riflescope by Leupold. For more shooting products, visit their site.
Glass Information
Rifle scopes enable you to specifically aim a rifle at various targets by lining up your eye with the target at range. They accomplish this through zoom by using a set of lenses inside the scope. The scope’s positioning can be adapted to account for various ecological considerations like wind speed and elevation to account for bullet drop.
The scope’s function is to help shooters understand precisely where the bullet will hit based upon the sight picture you are seeing via the optic as you line up the scope’s crosshair or reticle with the intended target. The majority of contemporary rifle scopes have about 11 parts which are found within and externally on the optic. These optic pieces include the rifle scope’s body, lenses, elevation dials or turrets, focus rings, and other parts. See all eleven parts of optics.
Rifle Optic Styles
Rifle scopes can be either “first focal plane” or “second focal plane” type of scopes. The sort of focal plane a scope has decides where the reticle or crosshair is located in regard to the scopes magnifying adjustments. It literally suggests the reticle is located behind or in front of the magnifying lens of the scope. Deciding upon the most suitable kind of rifle glass depends on what type of shooting you intend on doing.
Info About First Focal Plane Scopes
Focal plane scopes (FFP) include the reticle in front of the magnification lens. These kinds of scopes are useful for:
- Quick acquisition, far away types of shooting
- Shooting situations where computations are minimal
- Experienced shooters who have an idea for their aim point “hold over” plus “lead” equations for their weapon
- Shooters who do not mind the reticle is enlarged and uses up more visual sight room than a SFP reticle
About Second Focal Plane Glass
Second focal plane scopes (SFP) include the reticle to the rear of the magnifying lens. This triggers the reticle to stay at the very same dimensions relative to the volume of zoom being used. The final result is that the reticle dimensions shift based upon the zoom used to shoot over lengthier ranges considering the reticle measurements present distinct increments which differ with the magnification level. In the FFP example with the SFP glass, the 5x “zoom” one hundred yard tick reticle measurement would be 1/5th of the non “zoom” tick measurement. These particular varieties of scopes are handy for:
- Long distance types of shooting where shooters have extra time to make ballistic estimations
- Shooting where most shots take place within shorter distances and ranges
- Shooters who select a clearer optic sight picture without room used up by the bigger FFP reticle
Rifle Scope Magnification
The amount of zoom a scope supplies is determined by the size, thickness, and curvatures of the lenses inside of the rifle scope. The zoom of the scope is the “power” of the scope.
Fixed Power Lens Rifle Optic Details
A single power rifle optic or scope comes with a magnification number designator like 4×32. This implies the zoom power of the scope is 4x power and the objective lens is 32mm. The magnification of this type of optic can not fluctuate given that it is set from the factory.
Variable Power Lens Optic Details
Variable power rifle scopes have adjustable power. These types of scopes will note the zoom degree in a format such as 2-10×32. These numbers indicate the magnification of the scope could be set between 2x and 10x power. This additionally incorporates the powers in-between 2 and 10. The power manipulation is accomplished by employing the power ring part of the scope near the back of the scope by the eye bell piece.
Optic Power and Range Correlation
Here are some suggested scope power levels and the distances where they could be successfully used. High power scopes will not be as useful as lower powered glass considering too much magnification can be a bad thing. The very same idea applies to extended distances where the shooter needs to have adequate power to see exactly where to properly aim the rifle.
Rifle Optic Lens Finishing
All state-of-the-art rifle optic and scope lenses are layered. Lens finishing can be a vital aspect of a rifle when thinking about high end rifle optics and scope setups.
Info on Lens Coatings – HD Versus ED
Some scope brands also use “HD” or high-definition lens coatings which use various methods, elements, chemicals, and polarizations to draw out a wide range of colors and viewable quality through the lens. Some scope makers use “HD” to refer to “ED” implying extra-low dispersion glass.
About Single Finishing Versus Multi-Coating
Different scope lenses can also have different finishes applied to them. All lenses usually have at least some type of treatment or finishing applied to them prior to being used in a rifle scope or optic. Since the lens isn’t simply a raw piece of glass, they require performance enhancing coatings. It is part of the finely tuned optic. It requires a coating to be applied to it so that the lens will be efficiently usable in numerous kinds of environments, degrees of sunshine (full light VS shade), and other shooting conditions.
This lens treatment can offer protection to the lens from scratches while minimizing glare and other less advantageous things experienced in the shooting environment while sighting in with the scope. The quality of a single coated lens depends on the scope manufacturer and how much you paid for it.
Some scope manufacturers also make it a point to define if their optic lenses are covered or “multi” coated. This suggests the lens has had multiple treatments applied to the surfaces of the glass. If a lens gets multiple treatments, it can show that a manufacturer is taking several actions to fight different natural factors like an anti-glare covering, a scratch resistant anti-abrasion finishing, followed by a hydrophilic finishing. This additionally doesn’t necessarily mean the multi-coated lens is much better than a single covered lens. Being “better” is dependent on the producer’s lens treatment solutions and the quality of products used in developing the rifle optic.
Hydrophobic Lens Coatings
Water on a lens doesn’t help with maintaining a clear sight picture through a scope at all. Many top of the line and military grade scope makers will coat their lenses with a hydrophobic or hydrophilic coating which is water repellent.
Rifle Optic Installing Options
Mounting solutions for scopes can be found in a few options. There are the basic scope rings which are individually installed to the scope and one-piece scope mounts which cradle the scope. These various types of mounts also typically can be found in quick release versions which use manual levers which allow rifle operators to quickly install and dismount the optics.
Scope Mounts with Hex Key Rings
Normal, clamp design mounting scope rings use hex head screws to mount to the flattop design Picatinny scope installation rails on rifles. These types of scope mounts use two different rings to support the optic, and are made from 7075 T6 billet aluminum which are created for long range accuracy shooting. This type of scope install is perfect for rifles which require a long lasting, rock solid mounting solution which will not move no matter how much the scope is moved or abused.
Quick-Release Cantilever Scope Ring Mounts
These types of quick-release rifle scope mounts can be used to quickly detach a scope from a rifle and reattach it to a different rifle. If they all use a comparable design mount, multiple scopes can also be swapped out. The quick detach mount style is CNC machined from anodized 6061 T6 aluminum and the mounting levers attach tightly to a flat top style Picatinny rail. This enables the scope to be sighted in while on the rifle, taken off of the rifle, and remounted back on the rifle while retaining the original sighting settings. These types of mounts are useful and convenient for shooting platforms which are transferred between vehicles a lot, to remove the scope glass from the rifle for protection, or for aiming systems which are utilized in between multiple rifles. An example of this mount style is the 30mm mount designed by the Vortex Optics manufacturer. It usually costs around $250 USD
Rifle Glass Tube Sealing and Gas Purging
Wetness inside your rifle optic can spoil a day of shooting and your expensive optic by causing fogging and making residue inside of the scope’s tube. Many optics prevent humidity from entering the optical tube with a system of sealing O-rings which are waterproof. Usually, these water resistant scopes can be submerged under 20 or 30 feet of water before the water pressure can force moisture past the O-rings. This should be ample wetness avoidance for common use rifles for hunting and sporting purposes, unless you intend on taking your rifle on boats and are worried about the scope still performing if it goes over the side and you can still recover the gun.
Gas Purged Glass Tubes
Another component of preventing the buildup of moisture inside of the rifle optic’s tube is filling the tube with a gas like nitrogen. Since this area is currently occupied by the gas, the glass is less impacted by condition changes and pressure differences from the external environment which may potentially allow water vapor to seep in around the seals to fill the void which would otherwise exist. These are good qualities of a decent rifle scope to look for.
