With all due respect: the older VX II (Roman numeral) and the new, improved VX 2 are two different scopes. There's a LN 6-18x VX 2 for $425 on another site that's had no responses in 3 days. I wouldn't expect much over 300 for a 4-12 VX II.

What price range?

H S Precision had CZ's first contract for the older design Varmint Kevlar stock and later they went with the same design produced by Bell and Carlson. I have 3 of the HS stocks and really like em a lot but like you, I'm not fond the new look although I'm sure it's still the same great rifle. HS Pre...

If you don't like the looks of the Kevlar stock, just check out some of the wood on the Varmints coming in now. Yuck. That, and the extra stability of the synthetic is making it look better to me all the time. Still don't know what was wrong with the old-style one, though.

Cooper. C-Z Varmint/Target (wider forend than wood version). I'm not a Savage fan, either, but I wouldn't kick their Predator Max 1 (24" fluted bbl., DBM, Accustock) out of bed. If you can find one, the Tikka Varmint might be right up your alley; that'll be my next .204 to slot in between my Co...

If you can't wait and can live with a laminated stock: First Stop Gun is showing an M51 with one in .204 on GunsAmerica. Love my 26" barrel M21 .204, but if I want a repeater real bad I might look at a Sako 85 Varmint first. Less $ than a 51, but not sure of the direction Sako is headed since ...

I'd pick Martina any day.

If you can't wait and can live with a laminated stock: First Stop Gun is showing an M51 with one in .204 on GunsAmerica. Love my 26" barrel M21 .204, but if I want a repeater real bad I might look at a Sako 85 Varmint first. Less $ than a 51, but not sure of the direction Sako is headed since B...

Good old Timneys work for me. Can't beat 'em for the price, and they're easy to install and adjust. The stainless model matches the look of the trigger shoe on a stainless 700 closely. Suppose if I were rich and did more target or competitive shooting I'd try Jards or Jewells. Can't speak for Rifle-...

Saw the name before I read the post and knew I was in for a photographic "treat"; wish I had the patience to do more pics while hunting.
Didn't catch what that C-Z is chambered in, btw.

KLR wrote:how does the sii and the big sky compare to the leupold vx 1 vx2 vx3?

I'd compare them like this:
Sightron SI = Leupold VX1
Sightron SII = Leupold VXII
Sightron SII Big Sky = Leupold VX2
Sightron SIII = Leupold VX3

what would be a better opion than the plain sii? Equal to or better in similar price range: Weaver V-Series or Grand Slam; Vortex Viper; newest Nikon Monarch, or Buckmaster (Midway USA has a 6-18X on sale now, I believe); Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 4.5-14X ... Didn't mean to imply the SII is a bad sc...

You'll want the SII Big Sky , not the plain old SII; big difference in glass quality (and price, unfortunately). As far as the regular SII: there a other scopes as good or better in its price range. I have the Big Sky in 4-16X and can vouch for its clarity and adjustability. One of the "brighte...

No lions around here, but if I were using a .204 on 'em I'd run 45 gr. Hornady soft points, preferably through a faster-twist barrel (or whatever shoots them accurately; my Rem. LVSF squeezed some factory stuff into a bit over an inch, which would probably be good enough under 200 yards for that tas...

I checked into Alpens a while back; mixed reviews led me to look elsewhere.
fwiw, I'm getting one of those closeout 6-20X Weaver Grand Slams from either Midway or Natchez before it's too late.