Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Leupold rifleman

Who has tried out the Rifleman line? I'm thinking out the 4x12x40. I would love input from anyone that has one.
Thank you <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

don't buy the rifleman!!! I am not sure why its even made, the VX1 is the same scope except it has MC4 coatings and its the same price or very close in price.

Thanks CC... Anyone else have a suggestion? What else compares in price VS quality? It's christmas and I have a 3 week old son so I can't go ape$h!t on a scope. Any help is appreciated.

Not to start a pizzin contest with anyone but, I have 2 Rifleman scopes. Like them both. 2-7x33 and 3-9x40. Cost wise, I couldn't get a VX 1 anywhere near in price to the Rifleman. Mind you, I'm contending with exchange rates etc. For my use, the Riflemans work very well. I use them for my prairie hunting. In the mountains, I use iron sights only.

Personally, I am not impressed wth the rifleman at all. I bought a gun that had a 3-9 Rifleman on it, and was disappointed. Not sure what you are paying for the 4-12, but in 3-9 there are several good scopes in its price range that are or good quality and optically much better. Burris FFII, Bushnell 3200, Sightron S2 are all better choices in my opinion.

Bingo

IH the same price as the Rifleman here in WV. I was also recommended the Nikon Buckmaster for 199.00 which many rated way above the Riflman. I also heard the Burris FF II which you can find on the internet for 159.00. However, some stated that Burris customer service wasn't that good. So in order to stay with a reputable scope with great customer service I choose the Leupold VX I which again cost the same as the Rifleman. It is suppose to be coated better and has the option of having custom service from Leupold done such as reticle changes and such that isn't available on the Rifleman. I am exrremely happy wth my Leupold VX I and feel very satisfied with the purchase of it.
May I also, since you mentioned the youngster and finances not as flexible as they would be without youngsters, reccomend a very good scope that I also bought this year that isn't very expensive and yet I think is probably the best scope you can get for value in its line of cost and presumably count it as good a scope as most costing 100 to 200 dollars more. It is the Pentax Gameseeker. I ordered mine from Doug at Cameraland which sponsors this forum and without putting a price up here I will say I got it for less than 100.00 shipped to my door. You can also do a search for Pentax Gameseeker and see where a scope is currently being rotated among members here reviewing it in the 6x42 model and most are becoming very fond of it and also stating what a great scope it is eventually all buying them. Well they also have the bullet drop hash marks for distance shooting along with being fully multicoated with 95% light tramsmission and water, fog, and shockproof. I would highly encourage you to look at this one also.

I think you have to go to a VX-II to get the MC4. The VX-I does have better coating than the Rifleman along with 1/4" adjustments and the ability to be modified at the factory. For $0-$10 more,it's a no brainer.

that is the way it used to be, before leupold upgraded the Vari-xIII line to the VXIII line, its pretty confusing acutally, the orginal VXI's where what the rifleman is now, the current rifleman is simply that old vari-xII scope, the current VXI is the former VXII but with friction adjustments. The VXI has MC 4 on all exterior lenses,

Yes there are other choices, the burris has great optics, but the power change ring requires moving the whole eyepiece and its also very stiff, also the biggest negative is the paint finish on the burris is poor, prone to scratch and just looks beat up after a while, infact I have one I was wanting to sell but honestly the thing looks too beat up for me to give an honest statement of condition and someone actually want it.

the buckmaster is awesome, its a great choice

From Rick's Leupold section of the Gearshop

Leupold Rifleman 4-12x40 $245.99

Leupold VX-I 4-12x40 $249.99

Leupold scope construction and options

I looked thru a varix 1 a few years ago. poorest image quality of any scope I have ever seen.

Obviously you haven't yet seen the Rifleman series yet.....

It usually works better if you take your hand away from the front of the scope BEFORE you look though it. 'Come on, a VX1 having the worst image quality of any scope that you've ever looked through? You must never have looked through any number of Bushnells, Simmons', and Tascos.

The wholesale price for the Rifleman series and VX1 series are, if not equal, within just a few $$ of each other. For the same $$, I would always recommend a VX1 over a Rifleman, always, always, always!

Jeff

I have a Rifleman 2-7, VXI 2-7, VXII 2-7 and a couple of VXIII 2.5-8. The Rifleman is on a .22LR as I got a smokin deal on it. It is not a bad scope but lacks in really low light. If you want Leupy on the cheap the VXI is the way to go. They are still a good scope for the $.

RH

"It usually works better if you take your hand away from the front of the scope BEFORE you look though it. 'Come on, a VX1 having the worst image quality of any scope that you've ever looked through? You must never have looked through any number of Bushnells, Simmons', and Tascos."
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Yep, I have looked through a lot of scopes in my time. The VARI X-1 was worse than even the cheapest scopes I have tried. I thought maybe that one was a fluke, so I called a friend who really knows his rifles and scopes. I started to tell him just last week about the VARI X 1 that I had looked thru. Before I even said any more he said "Yeh, I know, ya couldn't hardly even SEE through it could ya".

Try opening your eyes next time. I have a VX-1 on my 338 and it works great. I've never missed a shot that I can blame on the scope, unfortunately. I'm planning on getting a VX-1 2-7 for one of my 30-06s.

Hunterbug ,
If you are happy with the VX-1, just think how well you could do with a "decent" scope. Try a Tasco World class or something. If a blurry image is good enough for you, then may as well save a little bit of money. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have a World Class Plus on that same 30-06. But it's a 3-9X44 and I want a smaller scope. It's a Pre '64 model 70 Featherweight and needs a more sleek scope on top and I'm sticking with the 50% of what you paid for the rifle although the VX-1 is more than that But again, the VX-1 works just for me. Maby I just have better eyesight.

Hunterbug,
If it works, no need to fix it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I was joking about the Tasco, and would never buy one myself. My friend from texas with the new Vari-X-1 couldn't see the difference between image quality of his Vari-X-1 versus my Nikon either, but I could see a very big difference. What really matters is what YOUR eye sees when it looks through a scope.

You know I put a VX-1 3-9-40 on a 338.Best glass I could afford at the time.Thought about upgrading but it's been a good scope.

For the 5 bones I'd go for the VX-1 instead of the rifleman.