Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics So Leupold are Junk anymore. Now what

I haven't owned a Burris, but they can't be much worse than Leupold.

Leupold isn't anything special in their instruments. What they are is an legacy company or one that has brand recognition. For decades they sat on that and didn't offer anything but duplex and low amount of options till competition moved in. I've always thought Leupold has decent customer service but their products aren't always the best. I'm sure their market share is significantly less than 20yrs ago but that can be a good thing because today there's more choices.

I have Burris scopes and they're fine. Sightron may have what you are looking for. Primary Arms has decent scopes. Your also in a great deal of luck as currently there's a glut ofn1-6x and 1-8x scopes on the market that are compact and in your price range and you can choose FFP or SFP. I would look into one of the 1x-8x low power variable optics and call it a day.

Go Zeiss, young man! I did that, with the older Conquests, when I just couldn’t take Leupold’s mechanical instability anymore. As good as the older Conquests were, the newer ones are a big step up.

Add a hundie to your budget, and take a look at the demo units (they are brand new, hint) at Red Hawk Rifles. If you want simple, the 3-12x44 rocks. A 4-16x50 V4 will make you think you’ve died and gone to heaven.

Swfa 3*9

A Tract Toric 2-10 would surely be difficult to beat for your stated purpose. A Trijicon Credo would be another option I’d consider. I have a couple Meopta Meopro models, a 3.5-10x44 and a 3-9x42. I don’t have any issue with them, but the glass is not as good as my Tract Toric.

Yes, Tract Torics are sleepers. Great glass and well built. Best bang for the buck in todays market.

Without a doubt

Burris FFII, Weaver Classic’s and Sightron SII/Big Sky when they were available, Bushnell Elites, Vortex Vipers and older Leupold from pre-late 90’s.

+101

I was in this same spot not long ago looking for a scope for a hunting rifle. There doesn't seem to be much "in the middle" anymore, there's lots of spendy stuff and lots of junk, but not much middle ground.

I said "ah what the heck"and bought a new Leupold, a VX-3i maybe? 2.5x10x50 . I don't remember for sure. I've only fired about 75 rounds with it so not nearly enough to know one way or the other. But one thing's for sure, they're not what they used to be. The feel and finish is cheap. If it had no name on it, you'd think it closer to the junk side of the divide than the spendy side. I wouldn't trade one of my older Leupolds (15-35 years old) for a new one, I don't care what glass advancements they're supposed to have.

Aint what they once were, but not much is anymore and that's a shame.

I like mine as well, I have an older VXII and VXIII that I have never had an issue with. I sold my Burris FFII and Vortex Viper. I replaced them with a VX5 HD and a VX6 HD that I really like alot. I am also pretty impressed with the new Trijicon Credo that I just purchased. Its a really nice scope with very clear glass. Built like a tank.

I’ve been looking at new scopes and the more I look the more I’ve decided to just keep what I’ve got.

I've got 3 or 4 Burris scopes... Rimfires up to the Veracity. They are good scopes. Everyone has their preferences and experiences... Mine's been great with Burris. The key is the customer service.

I had a Leupold a few years ago had the magnification ring seize up. Couldn't turn it. Took a month or two to get back. Really sucked considering it was right before deer season.

I recently worked with a couple of the new Weaver Classics that Natchez Shooters Supply sells.....one a 3-9 and the other a 4-16. Both were solid, had nice optics and the w/e adjustments were solid and repeatable. On the 4-16, the A.O. showed a big sweet spot of parallax correction which is a good indicator of lens alignment. All in all, pretty nice scopes at decent prices. I believe they are mfgd in South Korea.

Hope this helps. -Al

Did you have to mud them in ?

I think too many reputable companies start turning out sub par products to gain a bigger market share or profit margin. The VX-5 & 6 HD are great scopes, and the Mk 5 I would call a great scope except the price for the illuminated model, which I have. I pulled and sold a SS 5-20 HD for $900 and put the 5-25 Mk 5 on the rifle for $2600 plus tax. Upon reflection I would rather have three SS 5-20s vs the extra magnification and better glass. Better glass is better if you had bad glass, but the 5-20 is no slouch, old technology or not.

Husqvarna bought Poulan and quickly renamed the Poulan Pro as a Husqvarna. It has since ruined the name and you have to see if something was made in Canada or Sweden before you buy.

Nightforce = SHV

Meopta = Optika 6

Zeiss = Conquest Which is actually a great scope but not a Zeiss



These are off the top of my head but the list is long.

Go Zeiss V4, young man!

I know I already said that but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. They are made in Japan. The Japanese do not tolerate crappy products with MiJ on them.

The more I shoot, or see others shoot, the less confidence I have in Leupold. Seems like the vast majority of guys I see having fliers or trouble sighting in their rifle has a common denominator a new Leupold or Vortex scope on top. Ask them if they have tried another scope on top and it's always the same thing..."it's a brand new ____ I just mounted. I just haven't found a load it likes"

Burris, older Leupolds, or Weaver fixed for a cheaper option. The SWFA options are tanks. Haven't tried a Tract yet.

Vortex