Description
Rifle Scope Product Details
Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14x50mm Riflescope
Let the VX-3i 4.5-14×40 help you reach out further without adding ounces. With a magnification range that’s great for any situation, you’re guaranteed to have the right tool for the job. What do hunters want most in a scope Plain and simple; outstanding performance in low-light conditions and an incredibly tough, lightweight design. The VX-3i delivers this and more. 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. Everything we put into the VX-3i is there to help you tag out.
Rifle Scope Product Features
About this item
Model #170704 – VX-3i 4.5-14x50mm 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
VX-3i 4.5-14x50mm
Magnification Range: 4.5x-14x
Weight: 16.5 oz.
Length: 12.2 in.
Maintube Diameter: 1 inch
Eye Relief (in) – Low: 4.4
Eye Relief (in) – High: 3.6
Linear FOV (ft/100 yd) – Low: 19.1
Linear FOV (ft/100 yd) – High: 7.4
Leupold VX-3i
Relentless Performance
The VX-3i 4.5-14×40 helps you reach out further without adding ounces. What do hunters want most in a scope Plain and simple; outstanding performance in low-light conditions and an incredibly tough, lightweight design. The VX-3i delivers this and more. 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 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 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 Brand
Leupold is a premium company for rifle scopes, optics, mounting solutions, and other components used for firearms like rifles and long guns. They innovate and manufacture their products by choosing elements which are resilient and long lasting. This includes the Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14x50mm Riflescope by Leupold. For additional shooting products, visit their site.
All About Scopes
Rifle scopes permit you to exactly aim a rifle at different targets by aligning your eye with the target at range. They do this through zoom by utilizing a series of lenses within the scope. The scope’s alignment can be adjusted to account for numerous ecological aspects like wind speed and elevation decreases to make up for bullet drop.
The scope’s purpose is to understand precisely where the bullet will hit based on the sight picture you are viewing through the optic as you line up the scope’s crosshair or reticle with the target. The majority of contemporary rifle scopes have around 11 parts which are located within and externally on the scope body. These optic pieces consist of the rifle scope’s body, lenses, windage and elevation turrets, objective focus rings, and other parts. Learn about the eleven parts of optics.
About Scope Styles
Rifle scopes can be either “first focal plane” or “second focal plane” style of scopes. The form of focal plane an optic has identifies where the reticle or crosshair is located in connection with the optic’s zoom. It literally indicates the reticle is located behind or before the magnifying lens of the optic. Deciding upon the most reliable style of rifle optic is dependent on what form of shooting you plan on undertaking.
First Focal Plane Scope Info
Focal plane scopes (FFP) feature the reticle in front of the magnification lens. These types of scopes are useful for:
- Quick acquisition, long distance kinds of shooting
- Shooting scenarios where estimations are very little
- Experienced shooters who have an idea for their aim point “hold over” and “lead” ratios for their firearms
- Shooters who don’t mind the reticle is enlarged and uses up more visual eyesight space than a SFP reticle
Info About Second Focal Plane Glass
Second focal plane optics (SFP) come with the reticle to the rear of the zoom lens. This triggers the reticle to remain at the exact same overall size relative to the volume of magnification being used. The result is that the reticle measurements alter based on the magnification employed to shoot over lengthier ranges considering that the reticle measurements represent various increments which can vary with the magnification level. In the FFP example with the SFP scope, the 5x “zoom” 100 yard tick would be 1/5th of the non “zoom” tick measurement. These particular types of optics work for:
- Long distance styles of shooting where shooters have extra time to make ballistic calculations
- Shooting where most of the shots take place within shorter ranges and distances
- Shooters who choose a clearer optic sight picture with less space used up by the enlarged FFP reticle
Ins and Outs of Rifle Glass Zoom
The amount of zoom a scope offers is figured out by the diameter, thickness, and curvatures of the lenses inside of the rifle scope. The magnification of the scope is the “power” of the scope.
About Fixed Single Power Lens Glass
A single power rifle optic and scope uses a magnification number designator like 4×32. This means the magnification power of the scope is 4x power while the objective lens is 32mm. The zoom of this kind of optic can not adjust since it is fixed.
About Adjustable Power Lens Glass
Variable power rifle scopes can be adjusted between magnification increments. These types of scopes will list the zoom degree in a configuration like 2-10×32. These numbers suggest the zoom of the scope could be adjusted in between 2x and 10x power. This additionally includes the power levels in-between 2 and 10. The power modification is accomplished by working with the power ring part of the scope near the back of the scope by the eye bell.
Power Levels and Range
Here are some suggested scope power settings and the ranges where they could be successfully used. Keep in mind that higher magnification glass will not be as effective as lower magnification level optics since increased zoom can be a detractor. The very same idea relates to longer ranges where the shooter needs to have increased power to see exactly where to properly aim the rifle.
Rifle Glass Lens Finishing
All contemporary rifle scope and optic lenses are coated. There are different types and qualities of coatings. Lens finish is an essential element of a rifle when thinking of luxury rifle optics and targeting systems. The glass lenses are among the most essential components of the optic considering they are what your eye sees through while sighting a rifle in on the target. The coating on the lenses safeguards the lens surface and even helps with anti glare capabilities from refracted natural light and color discernibility.
Info on Glass Lens Coatings – HD Versus ED
Some optic manufacturers even use “HD” or high-definition lens finishings that make the most of various procedures, rare earth compounds, polarizations, and elements to draw out various color ranges and viewable definition through the lens. This HD covering is typically used with more costly high density lens glass which drops light’s capability to refract through the lens glass. Some scope producers use “HD” to describe “ED” signifying extra-low dispersion glass. ED deals with how colors are presented on the chromatic spectrum and the chromatic aberration or deviance which is also called color distortion or fringing. Chromatic aberration can be obvious over objects with defined shapes as light hits the item from specific angles.
Single Finish Versus Multi-Coating
Various optic lenses can also have various finishes applied to them. All lenses typically have at least some kind of treatment or coating applied to them prior to being used in a rifle scope or optic assembly. Because the lens isn’t simply a raw piece of glass, they require performance enhancing coatings. It becomes part of the carefully tuned optic. It requires a coating to be applied to it so that the lens will be efficiently functional in numerous types of environments, degrees of light (full light VS shaded), and other shooting conditions.
Single covered lenses have a treatment applied to them which is usually a protective and improving multi-purpose treatment. This lens treatment can shield the lens from scratches while decreasing glare and other less advantageous things experienced in the shooting environment while sighting in with the optic. The quality of a single layered lens depends on the scope manufacturer and how much you spent for it. Both the make and cost are indications of the lens quality.
Some scope makers likewise make it a point to specify if their optic lenses are covered or “multi” coated. This means the lens has multiple treatments applied to the surfaces. If a lens receives numerous treatments, it can establish that a company is taking multiple steps to fight different natural factors like an anti-glare covering, a scratch resistant anti-abrasion coating, followed by a hydrophilic finishing. This also doesn’t necessarily imply the multi-coated lens is better than a single layered lens. Being “much better” is dependent on the manufacturer’s lens treatment technology and the quality of products used in developing the rifle glass.
Hydrophobic Lens Coverings
Water on an optic’s lens does not support preserving a clear sight picture through a scope at all. Many top of the line or premium scope makers will coat their lenses with a hydrophilic or hydrophobic finish. The Steiner Optics Nano-Protection is a good example of this type of treatment. It provides protection for the surface area of the Steiner glass lens so the H2O molecules can not bind to it or produce surface tension. The outcome is that the water beads move off of the scope to maintain a clear, water free sight picture.
Alternatives for Installing Optics on Long Guns
Mounting options for scopes come in a few options. There are the basic scope rings which are separately installed to the optic and one-piece scope mounts which cradle the scope. These different types of mounts also typically can be found in quick release variations which use throw levers which allow rifle shooters to quickly mount and dismount the scopes.
Hex Key Rifle Optic Ring Mounting Solutions
Standard, clamp style 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 mount is excellent for rifles which need a long lasting, sound mount which will not move no matter how much the scope is moved or abuse the rifle takes.
Optic Mounts with Quick-Release Cantilever Rings
These types of quick-release rifle scope mounts can be used to quickly take off a scope and connect it to a different rifle. Multiple scopes can also be swapped out if they all use a similar design mount. These types of mounts come in handy for rifle platforms which are carried a lot, to swap out the optic from the rifle for protecting the scope, or for scopes which are used between numerous rifles or are situationally focused.
Info Around Rifle Glass Tube Sealing and Gas Purging
Moisture inside your rifle optic can destroy a day of shooting and your expensive optic by triggering fogging and producing residue inside of the scope tube. The majority of scopes avoid moisture from going into the scope tube with a system of sealing O-rings which are water resistant.
Details on Rifle Optic Tube Gas Purging
Another element of avoiding the buildup of moisture within the rifle scope tube is filling the tube with a gas like nitrogen. Since this space is already taken up by the gas, the optic is less influenced by temp alterations and pressure distinctions from the outside environment which might possibly permit water vapor to leak in around the seals to fill the void which would otherwise exist. These are good qualities of a decent rifle scope to seek out.
