Leupold VX-3i vs AR 450 CDS, Leupold answers
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 8:06 amI've been looking at the Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40, Duplex, Matte - 170680 vs. Leupold Mark AR Mod 3-9x40 CDS, M450 Bushmaster Duplex, Matte - 173465
Both are similar sized with 40mm objective lens and are close in weight and length. Both are around $300. The big difference I could see was AR M450 has CDS. The 450 is fairly flat 50-100 yards, the 200 yard drop is about 10", not sure why I need a CDS. The bulk of the deer I've shot were 70-120 yards. The longer shots were in terrain that required a 300+ yard gun.
But, is 450 a stronger scope for shock? Are the coatings the same, ('cause I hunt the edges of dawn and dusk)?
So I called Leupold and got thru to Tech Support very quickly.
I was told two things :
1. All Leupold scopes must pass the same shock test.
Internally, the AR 450 is not stronger than other Leupold scopes? 
2. For low light, the VX-3i wins. It has a better glass coating, the Twilight lens system with Diamondcoat 2.
Both are similar sized with 40mm objective lens and are close in weight and length. Both are around $300. The big difference I could see was AR M450 has CDS. The 450 is fairly flat 50-100 yards, the 200 yard drop is about 10", not sure why I need a CDS. The bulk of the deer I've shot were 70-120 yards. The longer shots were in terrain that required a 300+ yard gun.
But, is 450 a stronger scope for shock? Are the coatings the same, ('cause I hunt the edges of dawn and dusk)?
So I called Leupold and got thru to Tech Support very quickly. I was told two things :
1. All Leupold scopes must pass the same shock test.
Internally, the AR 450 is not stronger than other Leupold scopes? 2. For low light, the VX-3i wins. It has a better glass coating, the Twilight lens system with Diamondcoat 2.
