Due to recent rumors that the popular for Silhouette Leupold VX-3 6.5-20 x 40 mm EFR model scope was discontinued and nobody had any in stock, I phoned Leupold technical yesterday. Leupold technical told me that the tooling was being updated to produce this model as the new "VX-3i" like the rest of the new VX-3i product line. They expect to be manufacturing this new version EFR mid-2016.

Does the "I" signify that we will have to plug the scope in to recharge it and for occasion software updates to an electronic reticle?

"i" actually stands for Improved -Cheaper manufacturing process. So scopes will be made faster and cheaper, and I'll let you guess if that is better for tracking and durability. I am pretty happy that I have some extra new in the box old school VX3 EFRs. I think they should have made the VX3 more robust, and left the less expensive market to the VX2. I have the VX6 for hunting, but they are a bit heavy but I appreciate the step up in quality.

Until we have some scopes in the hands of silhouette shooters and received some feedback "i" could mean inferior and not improved?

There will not be a 6-20X 40mm anymore according to the catalog. The replacement is a 30mm tube 50mm lens. I would think the 6-20 was popular enough to make it to the new line, but Leupold seemed to cancel it. I just read this on 24 hour campfire web site.

I just hope they did not get rid of the FX series of scopes. I like my fixed power FX-3,12x40mm.

As Leupold technical stated per phone conversation on January 19, 2016 the 6.5 to 20 X 40 EFR will be produced again starting mid 2016. I did not ask why it is not in the 2016 catalog. I speculate that it was not included in the catalog to prevent people from ordering a scope that they cannot supply until mid-2016. I did not specifically ask the main tube size. Perhaps somebody else should call them to see if a different technical person gives a different answer or more specific answer.

The new model has made its way to their website:

https://www.leupold.com/hunting-shootin ... ds-target/

They also offer 6.5-20x40mm without the EFR and a 6.5-20x50mm scope. Now we wait for someone to actually buy it. Reviews are scarce so far.

Did the previous generation Vari X III and VX-3 have dual erector springs like this "i" version that just came out?

atomicbrh wrote:Did the previous generation Vari X III and VX-3 have dual erector springs like this "i" version that just came out?

I can't speak to whether the mechanics are identical, but the VX-3 also had a dual bias spring. I don't know the Vari-X III model line as well, but I think it only had a single erector spring and the addition in the VX-3 was touted in their marketing material.

Has this new "i" scope reach the hands of silhouette shooters yet?

Do we know if "i" means improved or inferior yet?

Interesting that it's listed as 1" when everything else VX3i has gone with 30mm.

BCloninger wrote:Interesting that it's listed as 1" when everything else VX3i has gone with 30mm.

5/23 of the listed VX-3i scopes have 30mm tube diameter; the other 18 in the new model line have 25.4mm diameter.