Home Nikon Snap Shot #2: Leupold VX3i LRP, Nikon Black X1000, and Bushnell Engage

Snap Shot #2: Leupold VX3i LRP, Nikon Black X1000, and Bushnell Engage

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After being sidetracked by Bullet-Drop Compensating (BDC) reticles, the mainstream optics manufacturers are coming back around to the sort of scopes I prefer.

I’ve never had a desire to buy a rifle scope with a BDC reticle. I understand them, and I can see how they would work well for deer hunting, but to me they’re just too limited. They provide rough drop estimates, and some include windage markings. They don’t, however, provide the precision I want when it comes time to estimate range or accurately place a shot on a small target.

That’s where these new scopes come in. Instead of continuing the BDC trend, these employ precise milling reticles in the first focal plane or second focal plane. Shooters will also have the choice of Milliradian (MRAD) or Minute-Of-Angle (MOA) measurements. I’ve been using Falcon scopes for years that employ this same formula; it’s nice to see Bushnell, Leupold, and Nikon releasing budget-friendly scopes in a similar vein.

The Leupold VX3i LRP scope series occupies the highest price bracket, followed by the Nikon Black X1000 scope series (which includes some illuminated-reticle models). The Bushnell Engage scope lineup is the most budget-friendly, but it still has some impressive features, like a zero stop and locking turrets.

Become a Patron of the Destructive Arts and help me get my hands on some of these scopes for testing!

– The Social Regressive

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24 COMMENTS

  1. Great information, I always shoot matched Mil scopes, but i picked up a Vortex Diamondback Tactical , its moa/moa sfp, but calibrated for max zoom. and i am enjoying using it, Everything has its place as long as its matched up.

  2. I have MOA and Mill as well as FFP and SFP. For precision I like second focal plane with a mill quad reticle. The reticle is sharper with more aim points, I use for precision air guns or long shots with .204 on small targets. For Deer I think I like the simple cross hairs. I'm going to try a leupold CDS (custom dial system) to see how I like it vs using hold overs.

  3. G'day mate I'm fairly old and new at shooting especially rifles with scopes I recently purchased a Howa 1500 mini action in a 223 it was a gun shop package it came with a Nikkon 3×9 x 40 now the thing is as I wear glasses I find that I need to move it 9 power to see my target at 50 yards the rifle is great my groups a pretty good I shoot indoors here down under as we are limited by laws what would you recommend for closer magnification
    Cheers
    Sam

  4. Awesome video, I have used mrad for many years now but moa is what I learned on and it will certainly be easier for me to teach my son moa to begin with. I was looking at these 3 exact scopes to put on his lr rifle. If one of each model in the highest magnification range were all laid out in front of you which would you choose?

  5. Great video. I bought the Nikon Black X-1000 6-24×50 for $450.00. It's a fabulous value, that easily equals, if not betters everything else in that price range. In my experience, it is basically on par with a Leopold VX-3 and it has an illuminated reticle. Speaking of Leupold, please remember that the name is pronounced Lou-pold, not Lee-o-pold.
    Thank you!

  6. Great info! I just wish Nikon would step up on their AR optics magnification. Every other company has 1×6 or even 1×8 now. For that price I'd probably choose vortex or even primary arms.

  7. Can anybody help me I'm new to long range shooting and have a 300 win mag but I need a scope I already have a leatherwood hi-lux 6-24×44 on my 22 but I was wondering if this would work on the 300?

  8. The scopes are so much easier to use. In the 60s I used to shoot marmots down to ground squirrels with a 220 swift. The only way to do it was know a marmot fully standing was around 13-14. Inches. From that you would count the number of marks to estimate distance. From that is was knowing your dope and holding over accordingly. Real range finders I never saw.

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