Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles What on Gods green earth? VX-3

Ok, had my 300wsm all tuned up. 200 grain partitions, Kimber MT, put over 300 rounds through this rig with nary a hiccup. Shoots 1" all day.

I shoot 2 rounds almost touching at 200 yards. Move 1 click left and shoot again.
4" to the left. WTH?
Shoot again at different bullseye. 4" left. WTH?
Move 6 clicks right. Bang, 6" right of bullseye. Shoot again, 6" right. Vertical on all shots is perfect.

Suggestions as to what may have happened?

Thanks

What happened was 300+ rounds on a lightweight 300 magnum.

Nope. Has recoil pad, great trigger. I know the rig, wasn't flinching.

You weren't, the scope was.

Mighta missed the point�.the scope might have gotten rattled by the recoil. Check it on a collimator.

Welcome to the world of Leupold.

So true. I have a VX2 2x7 that I had to send back to Leupold twice for the exact same problem. Really frustrating. I was thinking about moving up to a VX3 hoping that they had cured the problem with the dual erector springs in the VX3 models. Sounds like I should put that purchase on hold. What is so difficult about making a scope that tracks accurately?

I've found if you will always make your last twist of the knob an "R" (right), or "UP" it seems to move exactly where intended. Learned this trick from Cecil Tucker and it works great for me.

If that doesn't work and it continues to act like the OP's, would tend to think erector is bad.

Scope probably went tits up.

I would check mounts, run elevation and windage up and down, left and right, bore sight then shoot a box.

If the scope is dead, you'll figger it out pretty quick.

Yep I sure did. My apologies. Thanks for the advice, I'll do some checking. Already checked mounts, action screws ect, everything's tight as can be.

I've had a couple vx-2s , never a problem. Is this a common problem with Leupold?

Can't speak to the VX-3 models but I have well over a dozen of the VX-II models and about 25% of them either have or develop adjustment and tracking problems as you describe. Shoot a group, adjust elevation up 1" (4 clicks), the next group is 2 1/2" high and 2" over. Move it down 2 1/2" and back over 2" and the group is 1" above the original group and 1" over.

Mule Deer has mentioned that a "well known company's" variables are known for getting adjustment problems and I wouldn't be surprised if it was Leupold.

Just send it back to Leupold and they will fix it for free.

Before anybody asks why I keep buying the VX-II's, I buy them used for a great price and accept the risk of problems - sometimes someone sells it dirt cheap because it has problems. I send'em to Leupold for a free tune up and they run just fine after that.

FWIW, I've never ever had a problem with a Leupold fixed power and have used more than a few of those.

Well, sending my pa on a Wyoming elk hunt in about 3 weeks, suppose to be this rifle. No time for sending scope in right now. If I can make the adjustments to where it needs to be; will it stay there? My vertical adjustments seem to track perfect.

Yep, the good news is, you bought a Leupold. They'll make it right.

I'd at least give them a call they might be able to fast track the turnaround for you if you tell them the circumstances. I've heard tales of the same in the past. Worst that could happen there is you've wasted a phone call if they can't fix it for you in time.

Send it in and tell them you have a hunt coming up.

Bet you get it back in time..

I would not knowingly go on a hunt, especially out of state with a broken scope.

Are either adjustment close to the maximum? I've had adjustments become erratic when either windage or elevation were close to maxed out.

Either swap a scope from another rifle, for the hunt, or send the scope to Leupold.

Leupold customer service is top notch and I like and use a lot of their products. That being said if the scope fails at the wrong point in time (my Dad had a X III fail-turned out to be the erector spring) while on a hunt in Africa. Having them replace it for free was a non issue at that point.

Not bashing Leupold but in some cases you might not want to trade absolute dependability for customer service. Really nice if you can get both.

+1