Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Leupold FX2 Ultralight 2.5

I bought the above scope from Amazon and it seems to be 1x not 2.5. I’ve compared it to my 2-7 and there is no magnification. Is this what others with the scope have seen? Either way it’s one a Ruger 10/22 and working well, just seems like the wrong glass is in it.

Supposedly some counterfeit stuff out there but the 2.5 according to Leupold is really like 2.3

Thanks for the info. I’ve never seen one in stock at a store but wish I could of looked through one before buying.

Give Leupold a call. They can tell you if you bought a counterfeit by the serial #

Cutlass, I have an older 2.5, I believe early 90's. Comparing it to a couple of my 1.5's my Leupold 2.5 appears to be somewhere near 2.5x. When comparing it to your 2-7, keep in mind that Leupold fudges a bit on that 2x setting (as do some other manufacturers) meaning that the 2x on your 2-7 is probably more like 2.5x or so.
That being said, if it really appears that your 2.5x has almost NO magnification, then you really may have got one that came off assembly that is not right. RJ

Years back I ran a few of the FX 2.5 on levers and a 375 h&h. IME What you are seeing might not be out of the ordinary, and I recall often thinking how objects didn't really look any bigger when scoped; certainly not 2.5x larger than to the naked eye. I guess they were tough enough and light, but I ended up switching them all over to 1.5-5 Leupolds. The FOV is actually 30' larger with the 1.5-5 and you can have some more X if the situation calls for it. For dark timber/low light - quick, close up shots, I found a red dot, holographic sight, or even fiber optic peep sights to be far more usable than the FX 2.5.

While I've never had any trouble with the 6-8 Leupold 1.5-5's I've had, I did have issues with other Leupolds, so I'm in the process of trying different options to scope older or gloss finished levers on which a matte black, 30mm scope with tactical overtones just doesn't look right. The Weaver 1-3 or 3x seems pretty decent, as do Japan made Bushnell's and B&L's. If Matte finish and a 30mm tube don't bother you, there seems to be a lot of good options in LVPO's these days. I really like the SWFA 1-6 hd model. For less money, the Bushnell 1-8 AR has an interesting SFP reticle and seems a good value.

I noticed the same with a few 2.5 leupolds. The view just seemed smaller than the normal non-mag view for some reason.

I haven't owned a more recent Leupold than the old Vari-X lll scopes, but while I've tried a couple of Leupold compacts, I decided that there's no free lunch and to get the few ounce difference in a compact that I was giving up the huge eye box diameter and fov of the lower powered Leupold variables. 1.5-5, 1.5-6, 2-7, 2.5-8, 3-9, 2.5-10 and 4.5-14 Leupold, Zeiss and Swarovski now and no compacts.

I hunted with a Leupold 2.5x Ultralight yesterday on my muzzleloader. It is definitely not a 1X. I would say it is at least 2X plus.

Thanks for the replies. The idea of the little scope is good but there’s better options for a lightweight scope. Live and learn sometimes. I’ll reach out the leupold and see if it is counterfeit, I never thought of that as the problem.

I have one on a Ruger American Ranch in 7.62x39. I set this rifle up as my Jeep and Side-by-Side carry rifle.
I got the 2.5 Leupold compact scope for a nice compact rifle build. The Ruger has a Trigger Job, EGW Scope Base, and AR10 Flash Hider to keep the muzzle out of the dust when carried muzzle down in the Jeep.
The compact scope looks great on the rifle, however it is lacking a little when you look through it. If doing it again I would probably go with a low power variable. Either another Leupold or a Burris. I have several 2.5-10X scopes both older Leupold VX3's and several 30mm Weaver Classic Extreme scopes. All of the variables are a lot more impressive looking through them when set on 2.5X than the fixed power compact scope. It is OK, but could be a little better.

Bob R

I just purchased a FX2 2.5 and I swear it's almost negative magnification. Wonder if Luepold will take the damn thing back? I've got decent eyesight but this thing is a no go. A deer at 100yds looks like an ant.

Are you sure your looking though the right end, maybe try turning the scope around? 😜🤣