Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Leupold or Redfield

If you were buying new scope and the choices were either a 3X9X40 Leupold Freedom or a 3X9X40 Redfield Revolution, which one would you buy ... and why ? TIA, Ben

They are both made by Leupold. I cannot speak to the quality of the Freedom, but I've shot with probably 10+ Revolutions and have not had a problem yet.

Have used two Revolutions and had zero problems with them. They are very bright and have nice resolution too.

I liked the appearance of the older VX-1&2 better than the Redfields. Can't say yet about the Freedoms. Somewhere I read that the Freedom turret caps are plastic. If so, that's annoying.

My experience with one Redfield 3-9 was typical of other Leupold products at the time: vague adjustments that finally got zeroed and seemed to stay, at least until my son bought the rifle from me. He hasn't shot it much since I gave him an old Forester .243.

The Redfield is has a wide duplex, so that one is out for me.

Same here. I don't like the Redfield's duplex at all.

Nobody makes a 3X9X40 scope. Lots of manufacturers make a 3-9X40 scope. The difference is huge in what the symbols literally mean.


Leupold by a wide margin. When the Redfield was introduced it was a VX-1 rebadged with the Redfield logo. Same scope. But Leupold has since upgraded their line of scopes at least twice. The Redfield is still the same scope as a 10-12 year old VX-1. Which isn't a bad scope at all. But for about the same money the upgraded Leupold is now the better option.

Relax. The language is lost. Sit back and watch it wander.

The difference is 1437 if going by what the symbols literally mean. I hear what you're saying. I usually have to bite my tongue when I hear three by nine by forty in conversation.

I had a Revolution. I was not impressed by it. I've never looked through a Freedom. I shop used or heavily discounted at that price point.

WGAFF?

I'm very familiar with the Redfields.... I own three of them, and they are very-high value. Hard to beat for the quality/price/durability.

Not being very familiar with the Freedom, here's what I suggest:

-- Trot on down to any of the large chains which carry and sell both scopes.
-- Get one of each side-by-side and compare functional qualities of both.
-- Make your choice from your comparisons.

You'll be better off than having others opinions, when they are both good scopes but you have to live with your choice.

The good news: You can't go wrong with either one.

:-)