Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics VX-6 failure couple of days ago

Had a Leupy VX-6 go haywire Thursday when making a final one click left adjustment on Hope's Tikka T-3X 7-08.

We'd both shot several good to excellent groups previous to this, with this load in this gun with this scope, a VX-6 2-12 purchased in Dec 2015. Had her pretty much set up for rifle season coming up, but wanted to just do a final validation. She was doing the shooting, and she shot a good 3 shot group at 100 (slightly over an inch), an even better 3 shot group at 200. All shots were slightly right of center - all shots were <1.5" from center black diamond. She wanted it just a little left, so I took the scope one click left. Next shot was 6 inches left - what the heck! Took it back one click right to original - next shot was over 8 inches right of the last shot - about 2.5" right of any of the first six fired.

Needless to say she was not happy! What followed then was a exercise in futility for about 5 more shots of chasing shots by adjusting both windage and elevation and getting nothing remotely near what was expected. The second target looked like few I've seen the shots were so bad.

The scope was mounted in Talleys, torqued to their specs. Ammo was handloaded, 120 gr Nosler BT, Nosler brass, 2000MR powder, runout checked to less than .002". She was using front and rear rests and it was essentially calm. She's ex-military, expert marksman qualified and is a very good shot.

We were at our farm doing various chores, so the barrel was never allowed to get hot - this occurred over the course of 2-3 hours.

Yesterday (Friday), I replaced the VX-6 with a Trijicon 3-9 I had on hand (had to run to MIdway to get 1" mounts). Gun shot great, after 2 shots it was dead center 2.5" high at 100 yds for me. Turned it over to her, and three shots and a couple of small adjustments for her liking and she was set.

Called Leupold, they said send it in, so I did. We'll see how this turns out.

bludog,

Unfortunately we have had the same experience with our VX6. It was sent to Leupold three times. The last time it was there since last August. According to the info sent with it was completely rebuilt. It would not hold zero and the adjustments were very erratic just like yours.
We have no confidence in this scope at all. Great optics are worthless without reliability.


Lefty C

That is not good news. I bought this before their big discounts and I sure don't want to be out over $1k for a useless scope. Hopefully, it will come back reliable. Thanks for the response.

You screwed up. With Leupold, you never, ever touch the windage adjustment unless you have a lot more time, patience, and ammo.

Yeah, it was her idea, I did have some reservations, but like she said "A thousand dollar scope should be able to be adjusted". Hard to disagree with that.

That sucks, bludog. Someone termed the phrase "Leupold shuffle", which you described above. Funny, but not for those that experience it, especially with a scope that costs that much. Many people here have mentioned/speculated that the erector spring(s) in the Leupo scopes are either weak, break, or slip. Your experience would seem to be in line with that thought.

When I asked about Leupo zero retention and tracking, there were five reports of failures with the VX-6. One by Jimmyp, two by GregW, and two by Beretzs. Now add Leftycarbon and yourself, and that is seven reports in the Campfire community. I don't know what the failure rate is of these scope, but it still makes one wonder if there is a design issue, component quality, or some other problem.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

I’ve sighted in a lot of rifles for people and I’ve experienced this inaccurate leupold adjustments to the point that I quit useing leupolds years ago.

The elevation seems ok on my scopes. Windage is a crapshoot at best particularly with older M8 scopes. After hunting season, I am going to start sending my 6x42 scopes back en mass to address the tracking issues. We'll see what happens.

Careful Calvin, you're going to get the fan boys all riled up.

Possibly, but he is correct.

All these problems will be resolved when they start having them made in China.😜

Nothing is improved by being made in China, it is just cheaper.

Just to be sure, these are the VX6's they cleared out a year or so ago correct? Or the newer HD version? They have different internals.

I am a fan boy...(grin)

What has changed, in terms of internal components or design?

I'm just going by looks. Not sure on tech details. They come with a zero stop/lock feature now too.

On my first trip to Africa, my Leupold had shifted a few inches during travel and when adjusted did the typical Leupold inconsistent tracking thing. I got a sense that it made my PH really nervous about my shooting in that it took eight or so shots to make a 4" adjustment.

Could a baggage handler F up any scope though?

Okay, if not better, then funnier.🤡