Yeah, but if you check out Leupolds specs, the 4.5-14 has 3.7- 5" of eye relief. On its worst setting it has more eye relief than a Ziess or the Swarovski for that matter. I have used Leupolds for years and have never had to crawl up or down on the stock to get proper eye relief, no matter what power it is on. Set your eye relief on the highest power, that is where they have the least ammount of eye relief, and you will never have any problems, it just gets better as you turn the power down.
I will agree with you on the Simmons, I have one, its on my Rem. 597 22LR, the only thing it is good for in my opinion, and that is even questionable. The only reason I have it is because I picked it up at a yard sale for $5, I didnt have a scope on my 22 and decided, what the hell, it would have to work on a 22, especially for $5.

For $5 you could always use it as stake pounder. Thats about all my whitetail classic is good for. It'll get replaced sooner then later. I've messed with my leupolds, and compared them side by side. The 4.5-14 is the pickiest one, the 3.5-10 is alot more forgiving. At the highest power setting, there is still plenty of eye relief, but when you turn the power down, you do have to move your head back to regain sight picture. Both of my vari-x III's are this way. The Conquest, no change at all. I would like to compare the higher power conquests to the leupolds, as that would be a more fair comparison.

One of my major dislikes with Leupy scopes is their rather variable ER. The new VX6 is suppose to be more constant. We'll see.

I hear people say this, but not understanding where they are coming from.

If I personally set the scope up at highest power, at that point, I have zero issues going down power and ER. If I set it up optimally at lowest power, I can see the issue. But if you setup at highest power, you still have complete sight picture at lowest power.

Ive done the same thing with mine, and going from highest to lowest, or lowest to highest, I lose sight picture unless I reposition my head. With over an inch difference in eye relief, I rather have something with less then a half an inch difference, so you can train yourself to put your face against the stock in one spot, everytime, for rapid sight aquisition

I think much of the issue is people compare scopes on range benches which is a very un-natural hunting position.

I myself never loose sight picture either.

Sat at the range today, and did more comparing. On my vari-x III 3.5-10x, its much more forgiving, and at 10x, I can dial the power down to 3.5 and be good to go, as many have said. Now my other vari-x III, a 4.5-14x AO, it wont, plain and simple. It always seemed more tempermental about eye placement, and today re-affirmed that. Now the Zeiss 3-9x, 4" of eye relief that doesnt change at all. God I hate that worthless simmons on the '06 that much more now,lol. Something like 2.8" or less

I have the Leupold VX-II 3-9x40 on most of my firearms, VX-III 3.5-10x50 on one rifle, I also have a West German made Zeiss 3-9x36 it will piss over the American made Zeiss. Overall I love Leupolds, never had any problems with them at all, and if I did, they have the best warrenty

About 5 or 6 years ago Leupold upgraded their Vari X- III scopes and called them VX-III. The put all the features of their Vari X-III Scopes into their VX-II Scopes and sold them for the same price as the old Vari X-II Scopes. It was one of the best deals in mid level scopes. All of VX-II Scopes I've had have been great, I couldn't be happier. I don't have VX-3, VX-R money so VX-II's are great for me. Just my $.02!

I've always owned Leupolds with no issues what so ever. Mike