Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Can someone explain the difference in Rifleman,VX1,VX2

I know the VX3 is the top of the line in their low priced scopes but I can't find the difference in the 3 above. I know the Rifleman is the old VX1 and so on but what is the differences to make them cost what they cost? powdr

The following was posted on this site back in September 2003:

"Here is a Leupold Optics Technical Service post over at www.rimfirecentral.com :

Quote:

...hope this helps.
Trust me, the confusion over these scopes has caused a lot of headache in Technical Service too. Basically, in 2001 Leupold changed the name of the Vari-X II to VX-I and, through economy of scale, reduced the price by about $20 per scope. We then added $198 worth of up grades to the Vari-X II and called it the VX-II and added about $40 to the price.

About mid year 2003 we introduced the Rifleman. For all intents and purposes it is the Old Vari-X II repackaged. The Matte scope is the same price as the Gloss VX-I. We also introduced a Matte VX-I and now offer Pro Shop Options like reticle and adjustment changes on all VX-Is, about $20 more than the gloss VX-I & Matte Rifleman.

To further differentiate between the VX-I and the Rifleman, the VX-I had Multi-Coat added to the external lenses and went to 1/4 MOA friction adjustments. The VX-II has 1/4 MOA click adjustments and is offered in all three finishes and several reticles.

WOW! OK, if you�re still with me let me break it down to the basics. Leupold has reduced the price of, added features to or reduced the price and added features to the nearly 50-year-old tried and true Vari-X II to offer these three new models. Again, none of these models has a lesser quality than the original Vari-X II. All (parts, subcomponent and assembly) are made right here in Beaverton Oregon. And all have Leupold�s Lifetime Unlimited Warranty. THERE ARE NO COMPROMISES.

Sorry for the Marketing flare:

The New Rifleman� Riflescope Series:
Its features make it a Leupold. Its price will make it a legend.
American-made. Accurate. Durable. Rugged. Reliable. These words are those most often said by hunters and recreational shooters when describing the features they most require in a riflescope. These words are also the best description of the Leupold� Rifleman� riflescopes. Just as all Leupold Golden Ring� scopes, they are made in the U.S.A. Accuracy is assured by the use of fully coated lenses for a clear and bright sight picture, and the trustworthy Leupold erector system so long prized by shooters around the world. Hunters will also appreciate the wide field of view, generous eye relief, and the rapid target acquisition offered by the new Wide Duplex� reticle. The durable black matte finish of the sleek, ergonomic maintube resists the nicks, scratches, and abrasions common to field use. Of course, as a Leupold scope, it offers the legendary Leupold ruggedness, ensured by Leupold�s attention to detail in design, manufacturing, and assembly, all proven by our demanding testing procedures. As it�s a Rifleman scope, you know you�re getting your money�s worth, and since it�s a Leupold Golden Ring scope, you can be certain that it�s going to be reliable and waterproof year after year. That�s why, like all Leupold Golden Ring scopes, the Leupold Rifleman riflescope is covered by the Leupold Full Lifetime Guarantee.

Leupold Rifleman Scope Features
� Made in the U.S.A.
� Offered at a price that�s startlingly affordable
� Features the new Leupold Wide Duplex� reticle
� Attractive, matte black finish
� Leupold Full Lifetime Guarantee

Leupold Rifleman is available in the following models:
New! Rifleman 2-7x33mm
New! Rifleman 3-9x40mm
New! Rifleman 4-12x40mm

The VX-I scopes are multicoated on the exterior eyepiece lens and the objective lens and use an industry standard coating throughout. The windage and elevation adjustments are a silent friction adjustment marked in 1/4" inch increments on the dial. The scopes offer a Standard Duplex reticle. The scopes are offered in black gloss or matte finish. The scopes are waterproof, made in the U.S.A. and are covered by the Leupold Lifetime Guarantee.


The VX-II scopes are multicoated on the exterior eyepiece lens and the objective lens and use an industry standard coating throughout. The windage and elevation adjustments are an audible click adjustment in 1/4" inch click increments on the dial. The scopes offer multiple reticle options. The scopes are offered in black gloss or matte finish and some models are available in silver finish. The scopes are waterproof, made in the U.S.A. and are covered by the Leupold Lifetime Guarantee.

Note: Leupold does not monitor this string for questions or comments. To contact Leupold Technical Service concerning this or other topics please call (503) 526-1400, e-mail productspecialistleupold.com or visit the web site at http://www.leupold.com."

The VX-I and VX-II lens coating were upgraded in 2004, but the series kept the VX-I and VX-II name without any obvious way of differentiating between those with the original lens coatings and those with the upgraded lens coats unless you know that the serial numbers with J, K, and L suffixes have the original lens coatings, while those with M thru V suffixes have the improved lens coatings. In 2012, the VX-I became the VX-1 and the VX-II became the VX-2 with lens and lens coating upgrades.

Leupold won't change reticles in the Rifleman line, so what you buy is what you keep.

Optically speaking, the current VX-1 is probably equal to the upgraded VX-II and the VX-2 better yet.

I prefer VX-2 on my 1st tier rifles, but have around 50 other rifles mounted with a variety of Vari-X, Vari-X II, Vari-X IIc, Vari-X III, Rifleman, VX-I, VX-II, and VX-1 scopes.

Thanks so much Remy. Looks like a guy would be good to go w/a VX1 on one of his 2nd tier rifles. powdr

Really bad, bad, and kinda bad...

Ringman?

Another PT Barnum move to sell more scopes and confuse the public.. Aside from their excellent warranty and C/S record, no really redeeming qualities.

The last few scopes I have purchased were Zeiss and I seriously doubt I'll go back.

The VX line using roman numerals have long been discontinued. The VX-1, VX-2 and VX-3 with Arabic numerals are the most recent generation of scopes.

The original Rifleman was the same exact scope as the VX-1. It just came with fewer options and no custom features were available. The Redfield Revolution is basically the same scope with slightly different features.

In 2012 Leupold upgraded the entire VX lineup except for the Rifleman with no name change. The easiest way to tell a pre 2012 scope is that older VX-1's and VX-2's had friction adjustments. Newer scopes are click adjustable in both the VX-1 and VX-2.

Since 2012 a VX-1 is essentially a pre-2012 VX-2. A current VX-2 is essentially a pre-2012 VX-3. The VX-3's were upgraded at the same time and recently again as the VX-3i.

For my money a $300-$350 VX-2 is as much scope as I need and I can be happy with a VX-1. The VX-3 is better, but for that money I think there are better options.

http://www.opticstalk.com/uploads/298/SWFA_Vari-X_to_VX.jpg

I think that Leupold failed their customers twice in recent years when they changed their scopes without changing or clearly changing their naming scheme for those scope lines.

In the first case, Leupold changed the lens coatings on the VX-I/VX-II lines in 2004 and didn't add a lower case "c" to the name as a means by which to signify that a change had been made, like they did when the Vari-X II became the Vari-X IIc, so that those scopes made both before and after the change could be easily differentiated from one another.

In the second case, Leupold changed the Roman Numerals I and II to the Arabic Numerals 1 and 2 in 2012. Although the change from Roman to Arabic is obvious in print, it is totally transparent when spoken. Many, perhaps even most, people don't differentiate between the two when speaking and/or writing and the upgrades to the lenses and lens coating are probably the large leap forward in optical quality to occur during the entire history of the line. This is a big deal when you are buying a used Leupold scope in those series, since the value of the scopes with the improved lenses and lens coating, the VX-1/2, is (IMO) significantly greater than those with the lesser lenses and lens coatings, the VX-I/II. I still buy a fair number of used Leupold scopes annually and always ask the seller to provide the serial number suffix, so that I can be sure of what the VX-I/II or VX-1/2 is actually the scope that I THINK it is. The serial number suffix for 2012 was "W". I have found that on eBay, about one-half of the Leupold scopes being advertised as VX-1/2 are actually older VX-I/II series scopes. Mathematically speaking, "2" is equal to "II", but in the universe of Leupold scopes, they aren't.

Or so it seems to me.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^


This.

Ive got both VXI and VX2...happy with both, must admit to liking the VX2 a tad more but can't really say why.....

^^^^^ Agree ^^^^^

I usually put VX-2 or better scopes on rifles that I consider "1st tier or serious", the sort of rifles that I would carry afield when hunting when/where an exceptional trophy might come along or in places/situations where the slightly higher light transmission could make a difference, like at dawn/dusk or in deeply shaded cover.

I usually put lower grade, less expensive, scopes on rifles that I consider 2nd tier or lower. Those are the sort of rifles that I would carry afield when shooting a trophy is off the table, such as shooting late-season whitetail does here in Nebraska, or squirrel hunting, or varmint hunting, or casual paper punching.

Other than the Lyman Targetspots on my "serious" target rifles, all of my better hunting scopes came from B.Nickel, Leupold, Zeiss, and a couple of rebuilt Denver Redfields. Since I'm not much of a turret twister and not at all a tactical shooter, I only have a couple of those types of scopes, Leupold Mark AR Mod 1 4-12x40AOs that I bought because they were on sale for $250 and that looked like a good price at the time.

If I read it right then the Rifleman uses coated whereas the VX1 has at least some multicoated lenses. I would never buy anything that was not fully multicoated. Do yourself a favor and don't go less than VX1.

In the past the VX1 tier was not FMC and did not have click adjustments. All of them have clicks now so the differences, while not what I would call subtle, are less obvious. Optics are a much better bargain these days but you still get what you pay for by degrees. VX2's are what most consider the bargain in bang for buck and while plenty of folks are very satisfied with their VX1 no one I have ever heard wished they would have saved a few $$$ and went with it over their VX2. I opted for a VX3 and a VX2 user said he saw a noticeable difference. Happy I waited and saved. For me I just can't buy a next piece of optics that is not better than the last - but it isn't really necessary.

When Leupold changed from duplex to Windplex on the CDS reticles they priced the VX2 models to move. I bought 4 last year for $250 each, I wish I had bought a couple more.





P

When Leupold upgraded the VX II line by adding better lens coatings but still called it the VX II, they changed the style of lettering they used in "Leupold" printed on the turret housing. The early version of VX II had lettering(the white "Leupold" on the turret housing) that resembled italics font(lettering slightly slanted to the right). The later version had a more blocky/slightly bolder lettering style. Very subtle change but also very easy to differentiate between if you know what to look for. Anytime somebody lists a VX II in the classifieds for sale that I'm interested in purchasing I ask for pics and look for the style of lettering on the turret housing(easy peasy).

Leftybolt

VxII's are pretty good

Prolly cuz friction adjustments suck. Clicks are where it's at . . .

I have a 25 year old Vari-XII (friction) on my old Model 70 30-06, I hunt with every year and never had any issues. I have also owned VX1's and VX2's - all never any issues. For my money The VX1's are plenty good. I'm not a turret spinner and like to keep my shots on game within 1/4 mile. So standard duplex reticles and good optics are all I need. I also own a older 3.5-10X40 AO Vari-XIII, it is a very nice scope. It resides on my .17HMR. Depends on what you are going to do with them.

I just picked up a VXI, a 3-9X with the 'long range' reticle. This will be my first VXI, and I admit it was the price that made my decision. I expect it will do just fine atop a Howa 6.5X55 I recently purchased.

This has to be the most confusing marketing I have ever heard of... Does Laurel and Hardey run the marketing department?? Who's on first...???

I don't think that Leupold cares, 'cause they're only concerned with selling new scopes and didn't consider that the ambiguity of their naming scheme might cause used scope buyers some aggravation.

I think that Leupold did a poor job of differentiating the early VX-I/VX-II from the later scopes with the exact same name and then by changing from Roman Numerals to Arabic Numerals which look different, but still sound the same. Quite a few of the used Leupold VX-I/VX-II scopes being sold on eBay are being advertised as the newer, optically superior, and more valuable VX-1/VX-2 scopes.

Previously, Leupold did a good job of clearly differentiated their scopes when they were upgraded. For example, the Vari-X became the Vari-X II when it was upgraded, then the Vari-X II became the Vari-X IIc when it was upgraded, then the Vari-X IIc split into both the VX-I and VX-II lines when it was upgraded.