2017 Optic of the Year: Leupold VX-3i

by
posted on April 26, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
leupold_3vxi_gba.jpg

Being recognized as “best in class” is much easier said than done, but the companies’ products featured in these stories have outdone themselves, and have truly earned the title.

Optic of the Year: Leupold VX-3i
Leupold & Stevens improved the quality of its VX-3 riflescope line with the VX-3i series. In comparison to previous models, the VX-3i is sharper and delivers more contrast and color saturation, providing a noticeable improvement over its predecessors. Other touchups include a larger thumb projection on the power ring for smoother, easier magnification changes; argon and krypton purging; and exposed outer lenses coated with Leupold’s DiamondCoat 2.

Field Editor Ron Spomer raved about this new line: “Lenses have been treated with anti-reflection coatings balanced to their refractive indices and to all other lenses in the system to maximize light transmission across the color spectrum” (“Hardware,” August ’16). “To check the accuracy of adjustments, I mounted an old-fashioned collimator grid, centered the reticle on it and repeatedly turned both the elevation and windage turrets 20 to 30 clicks left, right, up, down and back in varying combinations. The reticle always returned dead center.”

The 3.5X-10X-40mm VX-3i Spomer tested “is darn near the ideal, do-everything scope.”

Editor's Note: Winning products must be tested by the editors, meet or exceed expectations on innovation, and provide hunters and shooters with value for their money. NRA Publications will present the annual Golden Bullseye Awards at an invitation-only breakfast during the 2017 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Atlanta, Ga., April 28-30.

Latest

Ledetomm Knapp Memorial Scholarship 2025
Ledetomm Knapp Memorial Scholarship 2025

Federal Ammunition Awards 2025 Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarships

Federal Ammunition recently awarded the 2025 Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarships to two 4-H shooting sports teen ambassadors: Lucy Evans from Georgia and John Bruner from Pennsylvania.

Head to Head: 7x57mm Mauser vs. .30-06 Springfield

I’ve had more than a few requests for this Head to Head, so I figured it was high time to pit two of the early 20th century’s most popular military cartridges against one another. Let's dive into the 7x57mm Mauser vs. the .30-06 Springfield.

NRA Hunter Education FREE Online Course Now Available in Louisiana

The National Rifle Association of America’s award-winning free Hunter Education online course is now available in the State of Louisiana, the latest addition as NRA works to make the course available to hunters in all 50 states.

Moultrie Updates Line of Game Feeders

Moultrie has expanded the capacity of its line of feeders, and bettered the cameras' integration with the company's connected technology to streamline the feeding process.

Building the Ultimate Elk Bow

Elk are remarkable creatures that dwell in some of the most hellish landscapes on earth. An elk bow needs to be tough, light, and ultra-accurate. Here's how to build the right one for you.

First Look: Spandau S2 20-Gauge

Spandau Arms, a brand of SDS Arms, has announced that the  Spandau S2 Shotgun is now available in a 20-gauge model in both a Mossy Oak Bottomland and a traditional wood finish.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.