I just got my Zeiss Victory HT back from warranty service. It was purchased as new old stock and had an issue with the illumination dial straight from the box. Zeiss fixed it under warranty. My S&B Polar seemed fine but now that it’s mounted, the illumination dial on it is now acting up. It’s going back also. I know this is what warranty is for, but 0 for 2 doesn’t feel so good. So far, I’ve had to rely on my old Leupolds to keep me going through this season

So stick with Leupold if you don’t see the value in expensive scopes. I can’t reasonably afford top of the line Zeiss or S&B but if I had money to burn they would be high on my list.

The value in the best scopes should be Not needing the warranty service otherwise you could just buy Vortex.

Scary thought.

SUPER SCARY. I recently got back a Leupold Vari-x II 3x9 from Leupold warranty service. They sent it back with thje power ring on backwards. When the dial read 3x you were actually on 9x and vice versa. Doesn't get much poorer than that.

That is kind of hilarious...I'd keep it just to mess with my in laws

Very bad luck, in a concentrated form. In the 45+ years I have owned alpha glass, I have not had one issue, ever. I feel bad for you to have to down grade so much to a Leopold after spending so much on alpha glass.

Of all the scopes I ever I owned many of American origin, the only scope I consistently had issues with and gave up on was Leupolds.

You experience is very unusual.

Can’t say it was a downgrade as much as a failed upgrade. I’ve used Leupolds for decades…never had any trouble. But the glass on these newer scopes is another league. So I can stick it out a bit longer. I am surprised to have these issues. And the same basic function (illumination control) is falling on each. I really thought I had a bad run of batteries but that wasn’t it.

So many Leupold haters on hbere. I stick with Leupold for quality scopes. Not the cheap VX 1 or VX2, go with the upper VX 5 or VX 6 and you will have something to last. It was the original Vari X III model that made them what they are. Rock solid and does not move. Find a LPS and it will last forever and built like a tank. Do not buy the low end [bleep] and expect LPS quality. I would put the LPS up against most all scopes. It is right there with Zeiss Divari

Leupold's. I won't trust them.

VariX - II 3x9 , that Scope must be 30 yrs old and your just noticing the X-numbers are backwards?

Sounds like Brandons way of administrating. The op may just be better off with Leupolds. Get rid of those top tier scopes..


Yep, I finally had to give up on Leupold. Too many issues. I have 1 that I hang on to though, as it does alright. Its an old Vari-x IIc Tactical 3-9x40 with target turrets. All the other Leupolds I tried went to hell in a handbasket.

Read the post. Just got it back recently from warranty where it was disasembled and put back together wrong.

What is a Zeiss Victory XT?

HT, sorry

Maybe the electronics parts are outsourced.

So far, I’ve owned lit scopes from Leupold (1), Hawke (4), and Trijicon (4). The only issue was a brief one with the Leupy dial, which may have been dirt or some such as it cleared up quickly. The illumination features and controls have varied, but all have been useful in some way or another. I think it’s wise to pick a reticle that’s good when unlit as well, and have come to prefer ones that have only a small portion illuminated, as the big shiny ones are a distraction and more likely to flare or otherwise obscure the view.

“I had a Toyota that I couldn’t keep out of the repair shop.”
“Ya, Fords suck.”

About the same reasoning as some replies here.

(First rule of the optics forum. The more you bash Leupold, the higher your personally perceived place in the rifle scope knowledge hierarchy. )

“Those other posters will know I’m the real deal.”😂

He's bashing top tier scopes. It's like me saying my Nightforce scopes suck, I'm going back to Barska.. Those that sayu they have never had issues with Leupold, I am highly skeptical of. As they likely do not shoot much..

This sums up this post nicely. I can't imagine a better arrangement of words.

Leupold does make the best ultra light fixed power scope in the marketplace with the 2.5 fixed power. That is the only one I never had any issues with.

Looks more like he baited the water and the fish jumped in the boat....And often the same fish get caught again and again....Had three fish in the boat with the first four posts.

Labor shortage, supply chain issues, working around lockdowns. Seriously, there are a lot of goods that have been manufactured (or repaired) the last couple years where quality has suffered.

Over the past 2 years I've purchased two new Forster seater dies--one barely worked, the other wouldn't work at all. I have 2-3 hours invested in sanding and polishing the parts of the dies to get them to work. I have a dozen or so Forster seaters from the 80's onward that work wonderfully. I probably should have sent the screwed up dies back to Forster, but was afraid I would just get a repeat.

I think this Wuhan Virus era may go down as not the best time period for manufactured goods.

Nothing more than an excuse. One either makes the best product they can or they slow down, make less, while not tarnishing the brand. Amazing that companies such as Apple could still make a quality product, while others use Covid as an excuse.

Not baiting or bashing any product, just sharing experiences. I think it was some extraordinarily bad luck. Zeiss was easy to work with on the repair. Took about 8 weeks because it went to Germany. Haven't moved forward with the S&B yet but will update once it is resolved.

That's interesting. I've owned multiples of Swarovski and Zeiss scopes, going back "only" 30 years, and have had "issues" with several of both.

Saw earlier that somebody regarded Nightforces as "alpha" scopes. Have had two where the adjustments quit functioning correctly.

Any scope can have issues. Some are more likely to, but they all can.

For your future desire to share riflescope experiences. When you share them here on the fire, and they refer Alpha scope failures, it is guaranteed to bring out the Leupold haters. The bait is too irresistible.

Scope failure conversations bring out the Leupold homers too.

Of course, brand loyalty is not exclusive to the Alphas, who beat them up at every opportunity. Most Leupold homers are happy to say they are satisfied with their choice and let it be. The Alpha gang not so much.

Addition: The Leupold homers have been brow beaten to the point that many, hoping to stay acceptable, will say, "Of course, I'm not a twister." If they don't twist, how do they know? It's hilarious.

I use many Leupolds, but I've unfortunately had some trouble with a few.

Sooner or later brand loyalty will bite you in the azz. Companies get lazy, sloppy, change their business philosophy, and quality, service, etc can go in the toilet. How many “Under New Management” signs have you seen, folks trying to bring back disaffected customers?

If stuff I buy works, I’ll buy more. If it doesn’t, or they start to slip, I move on. I don’t defend them, or make excuses. There’s always someone else, just like there’s more pretty girls than one.

No poop 💩

Might also mention that it's pretty easy to not have "issues" with scopes: Don't shoot very much.

No issues to report with my VX-5...will buy another.

Haha, very true!

And many big game hunters don't.

Funny part is and when I asked a question about comparing other scope so Billy here the op just threw a f****** hissy fit multiple times on the thread because it was made in China which I get and I kind of understand and it's top of the line s*** f***** him over that's f****** hilarious

Wow you’re sensitive

Serious question. This gets brought up in every scope XXX sucks thread.

Guy claims scope XXX sucks but all the pics are of pristine looking guns and the rifle/scope combo look new cause the combo spends its life riding the bench with lots of rounds in paper.

Next guy says same scope XXX has held up well to bouncing around in an ATV/UTV, saddle scabbard, falls, etc. Rifle scope combo shows scratches, dents and dings from a lot of time in the field but is only shot 100 times a year.

Who’s opinion is more valid? I lean towards the guy that basses it off of “hunting” conditions vs round count at the range if we’re talking scopes for hunting.

If both guys claim scope XXX sucks, it’s a no brainer. Yes, there are a few guys that fall in to both categories, but most fall in to one or the other.

Both activities test the scope’s zero retention. I expect scopes to stand up to both, and if zero is shifting as a result of either high-volume shooting or bumps and bruises, the scope isn’t performing how I expect my scopes to perform. IMO, the answer is “both,” rather than either/or.

Additionally, small samples are less meaningful than a larger sample size. If a guy has experience with several of a given model of scope and carries/shoots a lot with them, it adds validity to the opinion of the scope.

I would agree with everything you said. In my experience/circle, few can make an opinion based off both hard use and high volume shooting. You’d be one here I’d say has a valid opinion based off both.

It happens.

I had to send a Nightforce NXS back a few months ago after the illumination stopped working, and several years ago, a very expensive US Optics SN3 I ordered (which took several months to get) came with an obvious flaw in the reticle. Both were quickly repaired, no questions asked from either company.