Is $350 a Good Price for a Leupy 3x10x50 Varix III?

[jasonprox700]

A friend of mine offered me his 3x10x50mm VariX III for $350.  (He needs money)  It's in pretty good shape, with just minor ring marks.  Is that a good price?  

[charles p]

Look at BearBasin.com and SWAFA.com for scope info.

[Old Grizz]

Offer him 300.00, then you have a great deal.

[Graybeard]

NOT in my opinion but then I don't understand why and how a 3-9 can be in the Vari-X III or VX-III line up anyway. Historically Leupold has primarily used a 3X multiplier in the lower priced lines and 4X in the Vari-X III and VX-III lines. So to me the 3-9x50 just doesn't fit.

It's kinda like the same in the Bushnell Elite 4200 line which is otherwise a 4x multiplier while their Elite 3200 line is a 3X. In both cases they just don't seem to fit. I think both are just trying to make more profit cuz of the 50mm objective.

To me the 3-9x40 makes a lot more sense as it can be mounted lower and in line with your eye. Those huge honking objectives have to be mounted higher and for me are way out of alignment with my eye when I mount the rifle.

You can generally pick up a Leupold 3-9x40 for $150-$175 used. Why would you pay double that for a 50mm objective?

[JimFromTN]

A vari-xIII is pretty much the same thing as a VXII.  A brand new VXII 3-9x50 is around $350 to $400 on ebay and you can knock $100 off if you go with the 40mm obj.  I would suggest shopping around and buying a brand new VXII instead or getting him down to at least 300.00 like Old Griz suggested.

http://www.leupold.com/corporate/resources/faqs#questionFive

If you go down to the VXII line, you will see

Beginning in 2004, the VX-II line is fully multicoated and will perform comparably to the discontinued Vari-X III line.

[jasonprox700]

NOT in my opinion but then I don't understand why and how a 3-9 can be in the Vari-X III or VX-III line up anyway.

Sorry, it is a 3-10.

[Graybeard]

In that case the price isn't bad but my comments about those huge honking 50 mm objectives still apply. Most Vari-X and VX III scopes are selling used in that range or higher. Some times if a Vari-X III you can pick them up closer to $250 especially those at 3.5-10 which it REALLY is or lower in magnification.

I've owned a few of the 3.5-10s but never with more than the more standard size objective. One was an AO and others weren't. I found that if it has an AO you MUST use it or the dang thing is out of focus or was to my eyes all the time and for a hunting rifle you just really don't wanna be adjusting it constantly for different yardages. I also found that without it anything about about 6x was blurred to my eyes at anything much under 150 yards.

My conclusion regarding the Leupold 3.5-10 and the Bushnell Elite 4200 2.5-10 is that I'll never own another regardless of price.

Up to 9X you do not need an AO but when the scope moves to 10X as these two do at least for my eyes an AO is about a must to use it at more than 6X and I am not gonna fiddle with an dang AO on a hunting rifle. It's not enough power for anything else but a hunting rifle. Some like them but me I'll never own another no matter the price.

My advice is to pass on it and get a 3-9x40.

[Lloyd Smale]

its a fair price for a dam good scope.

[Old Grizz]

You know, this thing weather it's a 40 or 50 mm lens is a personal preference as is 3-9 or 3.5-10. I own both a see very little difference between them. It's all in what you like on your firearm.