Leupold Rifle Scopes

[swamp]

I read comments on various forums that Leupold scopes aren't what they used to be as compared to say 5 or 10 years ago... I think part of the operation now is overseas... not sure of any specific details... so I wonder how the current production scopes are compared to scopes before the shift...

[Hi Ball]

Swamp as far as I know, they still do everything here stateside! I do know that the price is getting higher on those Leupolds and I think that is going to turn many to be looking at NIKON or Bushnell scopes.........money wise I think.

[swamp]

apparently only the gold ring products... see faq item number 8

http://www.leupold.com/corporate/resources/faqs/

8. How do you rate your binoculars? (Which models are better than the others?)

Similar to our riflescope product line of VX-1, VX-2, VX-3, etc; we have redesigned the features and performance of our binocular and spotting scope product lines align w/ riflescopes regarding the different levels of glass quality, internal lens coatings, external lens coatings, etc. Our entry level products are labeled as BX-1 for binoculars and SX-1 for spotting scopes; mid level products are labeled as BX-2 and SX-2, High level products are labeled as BX-3; our premium level “made in USA” products will include our familiar “golden ring”.

[swamp]

other articles

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthr ... 792&page=1

http://www.leupold.com/leupoldtv/video- ... dium=email

[Bushman]

Swamp, I anticipated as much. Back when I was looking for a small variable for my son's Savage M99F I could have gotten the VX-3 1.5-5 but I opted instead for the older matte finish VX-III with the heavy Duplex because they had been making that VX-III for a long time. No regrets what so ever for a woods scope. 1/4" adjustments were a nice touch, but not really necessary coarse as that Duplex is. New and improved isn't always the case. The tip off to me was the reduced price of the VX-3 listed in the 2010 Cabela's catalog at $399.99. The 2001 Cabela's catalog shows that VX-III at $439.99. Nine years of improvement and inflation $40.00 cheaper doesn't compute.

[Phil T]

My old VariX III scope wasn't repairable (one little internal part was no longer in inventory), so they sent me a new VX III. Wow, what excellent service! However, I don't like the new reticle as much as I liked the old Duplex reticle.

[Hi Ball]

I have no complaints about Leupolds service, it is the best I have come across in the last 4 decades gents!!!

[Hi Ball]

I must say however, that to the working man, MONEY is something we just don't over look when purchasing a product. I must have spent at least 6 or 7 trips to Bass Pro, Cabelas and several local gun stores in my area while looking at rifle scopes. I kept a journal with me and dated my visits, kept a record of the weather (sunny, clouds, temps etc.) I did notice that Leupold scopes in the same level with turrets, Adj AO were not as clear as Those Bushnell Tactical rifle scopes but were almost a 40% higher in price than the Bushnell Tactical rifle scopes. Leupolds price was $650 and Bushnells was in the $385 price. Now to some perhaps a 40% increase is not much of a deal but to this blue collar worker it is a very big deal, when the scope is brighter and he various levels of power are better than the Luepold brand.

[alphie]

I was at Cabela`s this week. The clerk showed me a VX 2 3x9x40 with CDS system. Price $349.00. He explaned all the features it has. Things that are usually found on much more expensive scopes. Seems like a almost to good to be true deal. Are you up on these scopes? Are they reliable?
Any input will be appreciated.

Thanks,
alphie

[Bushman]

Alphie, I have no experience personally with the newer VX series scopes, but I tend to think that you get what you pay for in optics. I think that most of us tend to judge a scope on strictly how bright it is. Certainly that is one feature that I appreciate in my upper end European scopes, but there are other things to consider too. Eye relief for one. That 1.5-5 Vari-X lll was very popular with dangerous game hunters because it has a huge field of view, great eye relief, and a very large exit pupil. Another thing that I have seen often is that the cross hair adjustments are not consistent on the cheaper scopes. I see it all the time helping guys sight in their rifles with cheap scopes. With the high price of factory ammo, guys are shooting once and correcting. Nothing moves until the recoil of the next shot jars the scope. By that time the guy has made another adjustment and he chases his bullet holes around the target with the adjustments. As kids we had Mossberg .22 Magnum bolt actions with cheap scopes. Before we went varminting we would always need to go to the range to make some scope adjustments. Just putting those cheap scopes in the case would throw them off. Lesson learned early on. How good is good enough? I that my cue from the custom gun makers and their scope recommendations. They want their rifles to preform and they don't recommend cheap optics.