Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Fixed Leupold vs Variable S&B

This is not true, it's because unlike most we actually use our stuff and expect things to work as advertised. I've shot 3 cases of ammo in the last 30 days, how many rounds you have under your scope in the last month ?

We use scopes like NF, S&B, Hensoldt for a reason, because they work... seeing 2 to 5 Leupolds break per class forms an opinion all its own. It requires no extra help.

As the story been related, and I think fits the discussion, had an LE Officer come to a PR1&2 recently. Long time department sniper with tons of experience, loved his circa 1980's Mark 4. Well by day 3 it was apparent his Leupold had an issue never experienced before. Wouldn't hold zero... Officer clearly not understanding why this is happening. Well simple question, how long would it take you shoot the same number of rounds you have over the last 3 days. Answer: 9 Months to a year -- moral of the story, you can miss a lot when you don't use something to its full potential.

Education on what to look for is key, we promote educating yourself on what to expect, we advocate shooting more, admiring less, and checking your scope's tracking 100% of its intended travel... none of this single sheet of paper, gun writer fare. That is where the difference is, we find the problem others avoid but no understanding what they are looking at. Most just chalk it to other factors, we don't, we route out the source of the inconsistency.

....... My point was/is that a guy can get by just fine on a $270 Leupold 6x42. (That's what I paid for my last FXIII.)

...... The only reason they jump into these high dollar scopes because they read the blather from the "Self Esteem Crowd" and think they NEED a scope like that.

He said many Americans have it all ass-backwards......He likes it when they show up with a decent rifle,in a common chambering, wearing an expensive scope, cause he knows, more than likely,that the big kudu will need to be killed close to dark.....mmmmmm....food for thought?....Maybe?

I'm convinced the majority of hunters don't even purchase medium-priced scopes

He likes it when they show up with a decent rifle,in a common chambering, wearing an expensive scope, cause he knows, more than likely,that the big kudu will need to be killed close to dark.....mmmmmm....food for thought?....Maybe?

With Summit sized scopes, do you think a VX-3, 4200, Viper, Conquest or the like wouldn't let you shoot the Kudu?

JMHO but the second sentence causes acute pain..... I can't relegate anyone to a "self-esteem crowd",criticize them, simply because they can afford gear that I cannot,any more than I can look down on someone who cannot afford what others can.Nor can I regard suggestions about gear of any kind, which comes from those with experience in its' use,as "blather"(there will always be someone who can afford more than me,which does not(should not) open them to criticism).....spend any time on here, or among hunters from various walks of life and income levels,as you travel around a bit, and you soon discover lots of things work under most circumstances...

No evidence is out there showing that a S&B has killed anything that a Leupold couldn't.

I do call em out though when they start acting like the "nicer scope" is going to give the greater success in the field over a $270 scope.

You should try avoiding the optics board for a while. You'll find after staying away for a bit, you actually get smarter. Brain cells long dead, killed by repetitive focusing lessons and false eyebox to resolution relationships, will begin regenerating and your IQ will begin to return to its prior level. Trust me, there are more enjoyable ways of killing brain cells than enduring the same old rants and raves over there for the millionth time.

. . . start acting like the "nicer scope" is going to give the greater success in the field over a $270 scope.

Gentlemen,
I recently bought two FX-III 6x42 Matte Wide Duplexes and had the Leupold Custom Shop put M1 elevation turrets on them. Mounted one on my Anschutz 1717D and one on a GA Precision Sporter in 7mm-08. All I can say, and I hate to say it, is that I'm still waiting to be impressed by anything about these scopes...

fwiw, I wanted to be impressed by this combination...

The scope on the Anschutz felt like it was pulling on my eye during sight in. Dunno what is wrong with that scope but it has been noted by everyone that has shouldered it. You have to make your shot in 3 or 4 seconds or you get extreme eye strain. And yes the reticle has been repeatedly focused to try and correct the problem. Even compared to an ancient Leupold 7.5x with a German No. 1 post and it was like night and day. The old scope was not as bright but it would not give you a headache either... In short it is going back to Leupold for a check up and then into the for sale section...

The scope on the 7mm-08 is identical but does not display the same optical properties. That said it still has yet to wow me in any fashion...

In short there are going to be two LNIB FX-IIIs available in the near future. I'm still waiting on the Alumina covers.



Regards, Matt Garrett

fwiw,
WGM said a mouthful when he said I had failed to see the "'to do' with the venerable 6x42 ..." I did not expect the scope to be a $1500 S&B, however, I've heard of this combination for ten years as being IT. I now have two of them and have yet to see anything other than average performance from the good one... The unit on the Anschutz clearly has problems and I'll exempt it from any conclusions drawn from this setup. It DOES reinforce my impression that Leupold is getting halfazzed...

fwiw, I love my Leupold VX-II 3-9x33 EFRs for rimfires, Vari-X III(s) & VX-III(s) 1.75-6x32Es on my .375 H&H, Mark 4/LR M1 3.5-10x40 SF for general use, VX 4.5-14x40 LRs for walking varminters, VX-III 6.5-20x40 LR on my PPC, and my VX-III 6.5-20x40 EFR on rimfire bench guns and as a slave scope... Not to mention three "real" Mark 4 10xs on my Custom M-14 and various other work rifles...

With that said I endured a comedy of errors to get these scopes and now that I have them in hand they are 1 for 2. One scope is FUBAR from The Custom Shop and the other is a real average performer. Up until the last two years I had one Leupold that could not be fixed by their repair department. A used 4.5-14x50 Long Range M1 that sucked before and after servicing. I've sent many back for service through the years, and barring that scope, never got a klinker back from Beaverton.

Someone is either trying to cut cost or boost production, or both, and quality control is beginning to slip. I've always recommended Leupold when a customer could not afford, did not need, or a Schmidt Bender was not appropriate for their needs, however, that was based on many a year of good service from personal scopes.

I'm going to avoid generalizations and continue to recommend scopes that continue to work, however, the days of my general "Leupold" recommendations are at an end...

Regards, Matt Garrett.

Btw, I thought it was interesting what Kenny Jarrett had to say when the VX-IIIs came out. Words to the effect that he had good performance from several Vari-X III models, however, he'd have to wait a few years to form an opinion on the VX-IIIs. Thought it strange at the time but it reinforces my opinion that he's been around the block a time or two and does not leave much to chance. Smart man...

That's where you and I will agree to disagree. Granted "greater success" is for the most part going to depend on ones ability in the field, general knowledge and skills he or she posses as a hunter. But in the unique circumstance of very low light the right scope can and will make a difference. It isn't hard as I can test em right out my back door and tell you which ones last longer in low light - in some cases you might get another 15 minutes with a better scope.

I do call em out though when they start acting like the "nicer scope" is going to give the greater success in the field over a $270 scope.

I would like to know what wanting to have the best quality equipment has to do with self esteem...