• Leupold FX-3 30x40mm AO Silhouette Rifle Scope Review

    When someone mentions the name Leupold, people automatically recognize the name for top-notch quality in sporting optics. I was excited to get a Leupold FX-3 competition silhouette scope, and hopefully it would fill my need for a lightweight benchrest scope that would fit 1-inch rings.

    The FX-3 competition line of scopes is made lightweight to meet strict weight requirements in various shooting classes. The Leupold FX3 scope comes in several different models with magnification options ranging from 6 to 30 power. The scope I received is part number 66855 - a fixed 30 power with a 40mm objective. The scope is offered with a choice of two different reticles, a 1/2-minute Leupold dot or a 3/8-minute Leupold dot, the latter being what I received for this review.

    According to Leupold’s web site, “the scope is designed for those hunters and shooters who appreciate the traditional form and function of a fixed power riflescope ideal for hunting in the open country. The FX-3 has a powerful combination of high magnification, Xtended Twilight Lens System with DiamondCoat 2, and Leupold's Full Lifetime Guarantee.”

    The specifications of the scope are as follows: the scope is 13.2 in inches long, has a weight of 14.6 oz., a 1-inch tube diameter, tall target turrets with 1/4-minute click movement, and an eye relief of 3.6 inches. The field of view at 100 yards is 3.4 feet. The scope’s objective lens is 2 inches in diameter, and the eyepiece is 1.6 inches. The front objective has an adjustment from 40 yards to infinity. The maximum ring spacing is at 6 inches. Retail pricing is around $550 dollars.

    The features of this scope, described from Leupold’s web site are the scope has the “Xtended Twilight Lens System” that optimizes the transmission of low-light wavelengths, so you see the details of low-light scenes in greater, brighter detail than with any other riflescope available. With the “DiamondCoat 2”, lens coatings on exterior lens surfaces provide the highest level of scratch resistance Leupold has ever offered. Blackened lens edges reduce light diffusion, so more usable light reaches the shooter’s eye, for a brighter image with higher resolution.

    This scope is available with the Leupold’s Ballistics Aiming System LR Duplex reticle for more accurate long-range shooting. Leupold offers the widest variety of factory standard reticles available, there is even more reticle options available through the Leupold Custom Shop.

    This scope has the finger-adjustable, cryogenic treated 1/4-minute click windage and elevation adjustments with resettable pointer dials marking the zero point. It also features an internally threaded, lockable, extreme fast-focus eyepiece with Alumina rubber eyepiece guard. As a final touch to the FX-3, Leupold mounts a 24k gold-plated ring and medallion to each scope. The Leupold Full Lifetime Guarantee covers the scope.

    My initial impressions of the scope are very high. The packaging is superb with a pair of seals of authenticity holding the two box halves together; you can tell that Leupold is proud of their product. The scope is packed with a neoprene cover, 3-inch sunshade, registration card, and a owner’s manual. The price of this scope is much less that the competition benchrest scopes, which is what attracted me to it in the first place. The adjustment of the parallax feels smoother than anything I have ever felt before. The optics are also very clear.

    I mounted the FX-3 to one of my benchrest rifles and testing was conducted via range shooting at 100 and 200 yards. I found that it was a bit of a chore to wrestle the neoprene cover off and would prefer a set of push on or screw on caps. The first thing I noticed was just how clear the optics are and that the parallax adjustment is silky smooth and extremely easy to fine tune.

    After sighting the FX-3 in to my rifle, I started to shoot at some IBS/NBRSA style benchrest group targets. I noticed that the crosshairs were heavier than what I was accustomed to, and the 3/8-minute dot filled the entire mothball (Bull’s-eye) of the target. I bracketed off the mothball so that I would not take out my point of aim on the target. The scope preformed extremely well in regard to holding its zero and accurate tracking. I did however find that the eye relief was somewhat critical and close attention to head position was needed.

    The Leupold is just in a class of it’s own with no other manufacturer offering anything similar to compare it to. There just aren’t many fixed high magnification scopes to choose from these days, and I would say that the Weaver T36 and the Sightron SII 36x are the two closest scopes to the Leupold FX-3. However, I would still hold them in a different class since both having 36x magnification, 1/8 MOA adjustments, and fine crosshair reticles. Price-wise, the FX3 is in a slightly higher price bracket than the T36 and the SII scopes as either can be had for around $440. I would say quality wise the Leupold is a better-made scope than the other comparable scopes, but I prefer the slightly higher magnification and the finer reticle of the other scopes for a benchrest gun. The Leupold custom shop could easily change the FX-3 to have some of the things I prefer in the other scopes, but that would further raise the price.

    The Leupold FX-3 30x40mm scope is a fine scope that’s well worth the money. The optics are suburb, the adjustments are silky smooth, and the scope just screams Leupold quality. After reviewing this scope it is no wonder how Leupold has attained the reputation and cult following it has. And let’s not forget their best in the industry warrantee.

    A key feature of the FX-3 is its super lightweight which will really help those struggling to make weight in a particular class. This scope would the ideal ticket for someone looking for a fixed power scope for strict weight limit rimfire classes, (like those found up at Camp Perry) or for shooting steel plates at long ranges, “F” class matches, prairie dog hunting, or even shooting IBS/NBRSA shooting. This scope has so much potential it’s not funny, and other than a few personal preference nit-pics there isn’t a thing I could find wrong with it.


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    Leupold & Stevens, Inc
    P.O. Box 688
    Beaverton, OR 97075
    1-800-538-7653
    www.leupold.com