If you're like me anytime a manufacturer introduces an improved version of their existing product line, even when it is a long-time trusted company like Leupold, the first question is always "Is this really an improvement or just marketing hype?".

With that in mind I decided the best first test for Leupold's new VX-III scopes was to do an "apple to apple" comparison keeping the power and objective lens size identical.

When I had my long range rifle built last year by Fite Custom Rifles I chose to have a Leupold Vari-x III 4.5-14x40mm AO scope included. It performed perfectly on the two deer I took, one at 350 yards the other at 76 yards.

But I have to admit I grew weary of listening to other hunters in the deer camps go on and on about their german built scopes while wondering why I'd put a Leupold on a custom rifle. Never mind the fact that I was shooting ½" groups at 100 yards while they shot 1½" groups or larger.

Were their scopes to blame? Of course not. But that's the whole point isn't it. Last year's Vari-x III scopes were definitely up to the task of being mounted atop a custom built long range .30 caliber rifle.

But I will be the first to admit that the glass quality and low-light gathering capability of a Schmidt & Bender, Swarovski or Zeiss scope exceeded that of my Leupold Vari-x III. But so did the price - by two and three times.

So when Leupold announced their new VX-III scopes, with better clarity and light gathering capability, I was excited to see how they compared to the Vari-x III as well as the german scopes.

The first thing I did upon receiving the VX-III 4.5-14x40mm Long Range Rifle Scope from Leupold was to visually compare it to my Vari-x III 4.5-14x40mm AO scope. Three things immediately jumped out. First the size of the objective end of the VX-III is significantly less then the Vari-x III. The second is the reason for the first - the AO adjustment - on the front of the Vari-x III - has been moved to the side of the VX-III. The third obvious difference is tube diameter, the Vari-x III is one inch (about 25mm) - the VX-III is 30mm.

Bigger tube diameter means a new set of scope rings, but the smaller objective end of the scope (thanks to moving the AO adjustment to the side) means I can go with a larger objective lens, 50mm instead of 40mm, without moving the scope higher off the rifle. Which equates to even more light gathering capability and a larger field of view. But we'll save all this for another product review.

The next step was a side by side comparison of optical clarity and light gathering capability.

Optical Clarity? WOW! The new VX-III is significantly clearer! A night and day difference over the Vari-x III. Haven't had a chance to compare it to the german scopes yet, but I'll bet the new Leupold is an easy match for two of them at least.

Low light gathering capability? Not the wow factor like the clarity improvement, but as the sun went down in a side by side comparison at both 4 power and 14 power there was a noticeable improvement.

Bottom line is this. I've never held my head down nor apologized for putting an american made Leupold scope on my custom built hunting rifle. I let my shooting do the talking for me. But I understand why some others feel pressured by their buddys to go with one of the german brands. After all the ooh's and aah's we all get from our friends over our hunting equipment is one reason we buy what we do. There is no doubt the "sizzle factor" is important. And Leupold's new VX-III is "Sizzling Hot!".

Stay tuned for future reviews as next I take Leupold's new VX-III and my Fite Custom Rifle to the rifle range for sight-in, on an exotic hunt here in Texas, then to South Africa and Namibia for plains game, on to Kyrgyzstan for Ibex and finally back to south Texas for Whitetail deer. Leupold's new scope and my Fite Custom Rifle will be hunting with me around the world at different altitudes, temperatures, yardages and game size and I'll report back to you each step of the way.

In the meantime if you're considering a new scope definatley give Leupold a very hard look. I know you'll be as pleased and amazed as I am.

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