Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Leupold wins again!!

I've got 3 in the safe right now. Which ain't the 30 scope cross-section some of you have, but nonetheless........

A '96 model 4.5-14x50 Vari X III on my .25-06. Was the first "good" scope I owned. Of course, everything was set it and forget it back then, but it tracked consistently (something Tasco's and other wally world blister pack optics usually wouldn't), held zero (it did get bumped a couple times after falling pretty hard), and wasn't like looking through a wrapping paper tube at dusk.

An old M8 2.5 that has given good service for a couple hundred rounds on my #1 (light!) .45-70.

A Vari X III 1.5-5 that I picked up for $150 a few weeks back to put on said .45-70 and switch the M8 to my Henry .45 Colt.

Dad's got two in his safe, but I'll not bore everyone with the details. Suffice to say, thus far, they've all worked.

I will say that, aside from Dad's Mark AR, everything is set it and forget it, and Dad shoots his AR very little, and will likely never twist a knob (I bought it for me, originally, then sold the rifle to him).

These days, with all that's out there, Leupold's "tacticool" models don't really appeal to me, especially given that there's lots of "good enough" at better price points, but for "just a deer rifle", I'd buy another Leupy.

Well......
Thats fine...
Given the fact that many others with indepth knowledge bases, testing and experience also have said Leupold sucks the root.

I would rather have a rock solid scope with a gold standard warranty
I might never have ta use.
Than a "iffy" scope with a gold standard warranty I will probably have to use.


JMO.....

Never had one"fail" but have had a few with sub-par tracking issues. Had a Zeiss Victory, Swarovski Z3, Burris (several times), fail. If I could own just one scope, it would be a Leupold VX3 2.5X8x36 with the B&C reticle (that they no longer offer!). I also have one VX6 with custom ballistic turrets on a 300 Win Mag and it seems to be working well. Leupolds are the "Ron Popeil" kings as in "set it and forget it". If you are going to turn knobs, look elsewhere...

I have a few of them. They are kind of like the Chevy's of optics to me. No failures, but they don't really excel in any area for me. I realize they are an aiming device, and not a glassing tool, but the reticles that wash out in sunlight, and the poor light transmission at dusk leave me somewhat underwhelmed, in comparison with other brands in my safe. Not something I lose sleep over, but it definitely influences which rifle I choose to take into the woods for prime time hunting. Disclaimer: none of my Leupolds are newer than 10 years old, but I'm also comparing them to others of similar age, and older.

I'm glad there's still guys that want to buy Leupolds. It makes it a lot easier for me to sell them, when they are attached to rifles I buy...

I have ALWAYS Considered The Older VX2, VX3 Leupolds to be the “Gold Standard” of Quality, Durability, Dependability. I can’t speak for the new stuff as i have no experience with them, But the Older Stuff was as good as it gets!! I use to do lots of Buy/Sell/Trade years ago, I have owned 50-60 Leupold Scopes over the years, in all of those years and that many Scopes i witnessed 1 Failure, and it happened Brand new Right out of the Box, Leupold Replaced it IMMEDIATELY no questions Asked. Leupold is my Scope of Choice

I think I have 4 all older than 20 years. 3x, 6x, and two 3-9-40.

I'm not a twister. They all always work. My 6x rides a horse and various wheelers for quite a few miles every year and hasn't needed attention in 15 years so far.

Holy fugg!!!
Lmfao!!!!

There are solutions to issues like this....

Very well stated post.

Mechanical things. Its not if they will fail but when.

Customer service can be a bit dull lately, but companies like Z and L that I've used are stellar in their service. Buys repeat customers too

I seem to remember my first. It was a 4 power with the CPC reticule. It cost 41.50. They make good reasonable priced
Scopes. With a excellent warranty. Hasbeen

Oh please tell...... mr member of the upright citizens brigade.

What scope do you use now?

Used to buy a lot of Leupold M8's and every now and then send one to Leupold for a reticle change, which was an inexpensive process. That's not the case anymore. I've probably owned 4 dozen from back when I was into gun collecting. Now I'm am down to only two model Leupolds. (Which are my favorites.)

1.) Leupold Vari-X III 1.75-6X (AKA: Leupold “Shorty”) This is a fairly rare and hard to find Leupold. Perfect for short-action rifles where a smaller scope is preferred. IMO it was absolutely made for a Browning SA-22 Short.



...and my Grandson's Fireball:



...a 44 mag



....and another "Shorty" on a Rem 788 44 Mag, and a Leupold M8 7.5X on a Rem 788 30-30.



Still running strong after 40 years!

Funny you mention that....wanna buy a .416 Rem Mag?

I just bought it for the Leupold on top...