Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Leupold Quality

I often see posts on here that indicate Leupold scopes are overrated or that more can be had for the money. I'm not trying to start any arguments, I am honestly seeking information. I need to buy a scope this summer and was leaning toward a 2-7x VX2. I also hope to need at least one more 3-9x type scope in the next year or so. With that, I want to get the most that I can for my money.

Brief history and impressions: 20 years or so ago, I put a 2-7x vari-xii (I think that is the right model name) on my primary hunting rifle. While we all have different make and caliber rifles, my 2 long-time hunting partners run similar aged Leupolds on their primary rifles to this day. Nobody has a had a failure or a missed opportunity because of their scope. I like rifles though, and as time has gone by, I have accumulated several more scopes, because of my initial success with one, several are Leupolds. I have a vxii 3-9x, a vx2 3-9x (newest), a vx3 2.5-8x and even a Redfield Revolution 3-9x (not on a hunting rifle). I also have experience with the next to last Nikon Monarch, a Nikon Prostaff, some cheaper Bushnell, etc., and about a 10 year old Burris FFii. My old Leupold 2-7x was replaced on my trusty old .30/06 with the VX3. Although the 2-7x isn't as clear as the newer stuff, I plan to use it on another rifle. I find the Revolution about on par with the 2-7x. Serviceable, but not what I am looking for. I think the vxii is a little behind the Burris and definitely behind the VX3. I honestly can't tell any difference between the VX3 and VX2 (my eyes aren't what they used to be, so maybe it is there). My Dad has a Bushnell 4200 and a good buddy has a Conquest (really like it, but don't know how much better it is than a VX3). The above are just my impressions and based on brightness and clarity. When I can, I would like to get all of them together in poor light and look through them successively.

Sorry for the long-winded background, but I thought knowing what I have looked through might help here. Also, of note, I had one QC issue with a Leupold. The VX3 had a blurry spot when I got it. I returned it and it was fixed.

Needs and expectations: I hunt in varied terrain. Shots are often close in the woods, but may stretch out to 250. I like to be able to stretch that another hundred or so for antelope or as needed. I don't shoot long range, although it looks like fun when at paper or a gong. I have no interest in doing that hunting. I do need some light gathering ability for cloudy days, in the woods, at dawn and dusk. I have always been able to get that out of what I have. I want a scope that is dependable and tough. I want a good warranty - I believe if I pay more than $100 for something it should last a while. I need (finances) to stay in the $250-$500 range on my next few scopes so please don't tell me a $2k scope is better. I am sure it is and I wish I had a dozen of them. Maybe I'll start on that when I don't have to worry about raising my family.

With that as the search image, what scopes should I be looking for?

I often see posts on here that indicate Leupold scopes are overrated or that more can be had for the money. I'm not trying to start any arguments, I am honestly seeking information. I need to buy a scope this summer and was leaning toward a 2-7x VX2. I also hope to need at least one more 3-9x type scope in the next year or so. With that, I want to get the most that I can for my money.

Brief history and impressions: 20 years or so ago, I put a 2-7x vari-xii (I think that is the right model name) on my primary hunting rifle. While we all have different make and caliber rifles, my 2 long-time hunting partners run similar aged Leupolds on their primary rifles to this day. Nobody has a had a failure or a missed opportunity because of their scope. I like rifles though, and as time has gone by, I have accumulated several more scopes, because of my initial success with one, several are Leupolds. I have a vxii 3-9x, a vx2 3-9x (newest), a vx3 2.5-8x and even a Redfield Revolution 3-9x (not on a hunting rifle). I also have experience with the next to last Nikon Monarch, a Nikon Prostaff, some cheaper Bushnell, etc., and about a 10 year old Burris FFii. My old Leupold 2-7x was replaced on my trusty old .30/06 with the VX3. Although the 2-7x isn't as clear as the newer stuff, I plan to use it on another rifle. I find the Revolution about on par with the 2-7x. Serviceable, but not what I am looking for. I think the vxii is a little behind the Burris and definitely behind the VX3. I honestly can't tell any difference between the VX3 and VX2 (my eyes aren't what they used to be, so maybe it is there). My Dad has a Bushnell 4200 and a good buddy has a Conquest (really like it, but don't know how much better it is than a VX3). The above are just my impressions and based on brightness and clarity. When I can, I would like to get all of them together in poor light and look through them successively.

Sorry for the long-winded background, but I thought knowing what I have looked through might help here. Also, of note, I had one QC issue with a Leupold. The VX3 had a blurry spot when I got it. I returned it and it was fixed.

Needs and expectations: I hunt in varied terrain. Shots are often close in the woods, but may stretch out to 250. I like to be able to stretch that another hundred or so for antelope or as needed. I don't shoot long range, although it looks like fun when at paper or a gong. I have no interest in doing that hunting. I do need some light gathering ability for cloudy days, in the woods, at dawn and dusk. I have always been able to get that out of what I have. I want a scope that is dependable and tough. I want a good warranty - I believe if I pay more than $100 for something it should last a while. I need (finances) to stay in the $250-$500 range on my next few scopes so please don't tell me a $2k scope is better. I am sure it is and I wish I had a dozen of them. Maybe I'll start on that when I don't have to worry about raising my family.

With that as the search image, what scopes should I be looking for?

If your only criteria is clear sharp glass there are some good scopes made by Nikon, Bushnell, Vortex and Burris that will equal or beat Leupold for less money.

But glass quality is not on the top of my list or priorities. When I look at all of the qualities I want in a scope Leupold and Zeiss Conquest are about a tie. Many of the other scopes have clear glass, but suffer from short eye relief or tunnel vision. Most are much longer and heavier than a comparable Leupold, and none have the well earned reputation for ruggedness.

Leupold has also made huge improvements in their scopes just within the last year. I have a $300 2012 production VX-2 3-9X40 that I'd put up against anything costing 2X the price. It is a far better scope than the $400 VX-3 I bought 5 years ago.

I agree that it's difficult to get good objective comparative information on rifle scopes. Most of the discussion and debate involves optics, which at least are "seeable", but to me the real issue is mechanical reliability, which is more elusive.

Leupold has a fine reputation for customer service. I have not owned as many scopes as some others, but over the years most of my Leupolds, plus a new Vari-X III that my son purchased, have had to go back for service. The problem has usually been failure to hold zero or track, and parallax.

Just the other day I was going through some old papers and came across some Leupold repair orders, listing in detail what had been done. Two Vari-X II 2x7s had broken internal parts replaced. If anything, I baby my equipment, so none of my scopes had rough use. Garden variety hunting rifles, no ultra lightweights or chamberings heavier than .30-06.

It's great to be able to count on warranty service, but that was small comfort when I missed deer on two successive days on an out of state hunt due to one of the aforementioned Leupolds not holding zero.

The customer service I favor most is that which is never needed.

YMMV, as the saying goes.

Paul

Trying to determine just who has the best bang for the buck is a daunting task when it comes to rifle scopes. There are lots of opinions but, when you look and listen closely, you find there is not much in solid, tested, unbiased information.