I just received a new Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7x33 scope. The turrets have no "O" rings for the turret caps. The first time I removed and replaced the caps, I noticed that on both the windage and elevation, there was no resistance when the cap was close to the tightened position. It just stopped abruptly. On close examination, I see there are what looks like grooves for "O" rings, but no "O" rings. So my question to those of you who have one of these scopes, Does yours have turret cap "O" rings? Thanks. RJ

i will have to look when I get home, but I can tell you if it is suppose to have them, I am sure Leupold will make it right. I once lost a pair of turret caps while sighting in, I forget to put them back on. Leupold didn't even charge me, they just sent a new pair free.

I never noticed it before but you're right. I have 2 VX-Freedom scoes and neither have the O-ring.

Thanks for your input guys. I am sure Leupold would send "O" rings, if these scopes are supposed to come with them. If this is a cost cutting measure, I think it is a pretty stupid one.

I just got out my scope and in one of my "O" ring assortments, I found "O" rings that perfectly fit the groove. Now when I screw down the caps, the last turn or so, I can feel the cap sealing on the "O" ring.

I am now curious to hear if other VX Freedom owners have "O" rings on their scopes. Thanks, RJ

I have two that I received a year ago as warranty exchanges for older model 2-7 Leupy's and they both have a rubber washer for the caps to seal with.

Mine is an older model, no o rings and no groove for them

Curiousity won out I had to look, I have a couple of Freedom 3-9x40 and I checked them. They do not have an O-Ring but they do have a flat gasket of a synthetic of some sort and when tightening the covers they definitely have a bit of give that can be felt when the cap is tightened.
It actually appears to be a bit of a better solution than an O-Ring, they are wider and likely give a better seal than an O-Ring.

Take a look in good light and use a magnifying glass or hook a finger nail on the gasket and you can feel it, if it is there.

drover

Drover,

I checked the turrets out with a loop, under a bright light before I put the "O" rings on. There was nothing there, naked. When the cap stopped, it was metal to metal. I am sure (almost sure) that the turret screws themselves, have "O" rings on them, but it is much better to have that second layer of water resistance on a rifle scope.

I ordered 2 of these from different sources. 2=7 scopes seem to be going away, so I figured I better grab a couple. After hearing that the turret dials were made from plastic, it made me skeptical of these scopes. I found a brand new Nikon Monarch 2-8x32 on Ebay and bought it I cancelled the order for the other Leupold Freedom. The Nikon is a much better scope with better glass, same eye relief, no plastic, very distinct adjustment clicks, more visible reticle.

I will give the Leupold a chance and will likely keep and use it. I was just disappointed about the "O" ring thing and the plastic dials. RJ

Better check Nikon's latest warranty.......not sure, seems they are DC their scope line, I may be wrong.

Not had any trouble with my Freedoms, and do not expect any.

Yes I know. I took a chance on one because of the scarcity of 2-7 (or 8) scope availability. RJ

I have a Freedom 2-7x33, and it has synthetic gaskets that the turret caps rest upon. CP.

It's looking like somehow my scope missed out on getting the gaskets/"O" rings installed in manufacturing. RJ

This thread has me concerned!

I just ordered a Leupold VX-3i 2.5-8x36. It came new, sealed in box. Mine does not have the rubber gasket(o ring) either that the caps screw down onto...there is a groove for it but no rubber gasket. Definitely a screwup by Leupold! And it looks like it’s not just the Freedom line.

I’ll be calling Leupold Monday morning for an explanation and will be expecting some rubber gaskets sent in the mail pronto...this is just poor quality control.

Leftybolt.

I'm interested to hear what Leupold tells you. It seems odd that they would assemble so many different scopes without the o-rings.

Thanks Leftybolt. I'm sorry that you got shorted on the gaskets too, but at least I know that this old man is not just imagining that the gaskets/"O" rings, did not come on my scope. RJ

If concerned, a bag of neoprene washers or your own o-rings are probably cheaper than the time invested getting with Leupold and waiting on them anyway. I'd imagine they're not included for a reason, and a simple "mod" may be needed.

I have 2 also, and neither one has a washer but to be honest, i am not seeing a groove for one with or without my glasses!

Pahntr760,

I’ve been trying to find gaskets that would fit. Problem is finding one thin enough to fit the groove....everything I can find to purchase online is twice as thick as the one Leupold uses.
To properly fit and look right the gasket needs to be 1” OD x 3/4” ID x 1/32” thick.
If somebody sells this size I’d gladly purchase a few but I can’t find any.

Leupold should be willing to mail out the gaskets at their cost....it shouldn’t be a complicated issue.

Leftybolt

I have several newer Leupold scopes like 2-4 years old. I only looked at two, one a VX-2 4-12x40 and one a VX-3i 3.5-10x40. I checked and they have O-rings. Are you looking inside the cap for the O-ring or gasket? Mine are around the turret itself at the base of the turret just above where the turret meets the turret housing. It sounded like you were looking inside the cap, but I wasn't sure. As I said, my scopes are from 2 to 4 years old so they may have discontinued putting the O-rings on them since then. Maybe they decided they aren't needed seeing the threads on the caps are pretty fine. You know bean counters. But I think you'd have to submerge the scope in water to get any liquid inside. However, I still prefer O-Rings or some sort of gasket. The possibility of dropping the rifle in water is slim but not that slim.

How many Navy Seals are on here?

I am the original poster of this thread and my brand new 2-7x33 Freedom scope definitely came to me with a definite groove and no sealing washer or "o" ring on the windage and elevation turrets. Leupold probably uses the washer type gasket on these scopes (when they don't forget to install them), but as I said in an earlier post, I have a few "o" ring assortments and one just happened to have some very thin "o" rings that fit perfectly in to the groove. When I screw the turret cap all of the way down, about a half turn before it bottoms out, I feel the resistance of the "o" ring. This means that it is sealing on the outside of the "o" ring instead of the topside of a gasket/washer as my other Leupolds are equipped with. That does not matter to me, as long as it seals out moisture. Besides, I live in Eastern Europe, so it would take forever and a day for me to get the OEM parts from Leupold. RJ

Point taken, LOL!

With the tight thread pitch on almost every scope I’ve seen, I doubt water intrusion will be an issue unless you toss your rifles in the creek like You Know Who... The seal on the adjustment stem should keep nitrogen in and water out.

Good lord, I've not seen so much ado about nothing in quite awhile.

FIlaman, just ribbin' ya man! Lol.

WAM, you talking about that youtube star who tosses scoped rifles on the rocks?

I've submerged several rifles.

I took it as such, no problem. However, I must confess that I did baptize my old Model 70 .270 Winchester push feed once when I first got it back in 1966. It had a 4x Redfield on it at the time and I went to cross what appeared to be a very small creek, I'm talking about 3 feet wide. But the damn thing was about 5 foot deep. I just stepped right in the middle of it and down I went. Of course I got the rifle back out of the water within about a second so it didn't have long to get soaked. But still I'm not even a Navy Seal, LOL!

BTW, I still have both the rifle and the scope and they're none the worse for wear, though they haven't been together for nearly 40 years. The .270 has had several scopes on it since then and now sports a Leupold VX-2 4-12x40 and the 4x Redfield has been on my Winchester '94 Angle Eject since the early 80s when I bought that rifle.

Amazing how those narrow creeks can be so deep....we have those in LA too.

Just got this email per Leupold Customer Service Dept.:

Mike

None of our riflescopes come with the cosmetic rubber washer anymore starting in 2020. The washer did nothing for function. The washer was only there for cosmetics.

Regards,

Zachary
Leupold Customer Service


I still like having the rubber washer there better(don’t care for the metal on metal contact). And as such Leupold offered to send me a couple pairs of the washers free of charge....Thanks Leupold!

More importantly, I appreciate Leupold’s quick response to my inquiry. And glad to know, rubber washer or no rubber washer, the scope should function fine.

Leftybolt

Here's to the Magnificent HILARITY,of The Wuhan Clan swooning Chinese Reupolds,yet "fretting" a fhuqking O-ring!!! Read that again. Now one more fhuqking time. Hint. LAUGHING!

None of you STUPID Fhuqks can muster the 13 IQ Points requisite,to pitch said Reupold "mechanics" in the garbage,yet you fret a fhuqking rain drop! I'm fhuqking CRYIN'...I'm laughing sooooooooooo hard!!!! HINT. LAUGHING!

You Drooling Fhuqktards NEVER disappoint,due the fact you are doing your hilarious BEST and there has yet to be (3) rounds fire collectively,amongst your ranks! HINT.

Bless your hearts,for TRYING.

Hint.

LAUGHING!...................