Lefty C,
I have used a Burris Signature 3-9x, and a Leupold VX-III, 2.5-8x, on my .300 Weatherby for 20 years or so, with nary a failure. Last year, I took the Leupold off the Wby. and put it on my Ruger Hawkeye .375 Ruger, where it continues to operate without a problem.
It may be just a case of getting a bum scope to begin with. Even if Leupold fixes it, you are not going to have a lot of confidence in it. It stands to reason that scopes on heavy kickers may not last as long as on milder shooters, but that's what they were designed for, after all. If it were me, I would list it on ebay, and get another Leupold.
I always carry a spare scope when hunting far afield with my Weatherby or my Ruger, but so far, no need to use it.
