Leupold Scopes...Do you trust them today?

[jdmecomber]

We left Leupold years ago but I decided to put a Leupold VX6HD 4-24 on a custom rifle we had built. It was mainly because of the weight and options. If Nightforce would have had a lighter model, I would have bought it.

This rifle is 9 lbs with bipod and ammo ready to hunt. Lone peak action, Mcmillian Game hunter, 26" proof barrel, diamond trigger, Leupold Scope. 7/300 Win Mag

We use S&B pm2, Steiner and Vortex.

I would bet that most guys that say the
have tested their scope haven't really put the scope through its paces. A good majority of scopes don't track like you think they should. They could be off .5-5% or more.

I don't care that scope doesn't track exact. One of the biggest questions you need answers for is the scope repeatable.
So the good things about this scope, the glass is amazing. The scope caps are way better then Butler creek. They screw on and have magnets. It has some leveling options and lighted reticle. It was repeatable.

It was off 4% (don't have the exact number on me), so I adjust my turret values and I am done. When I called customer service I got the same response. We don't make our scopes to have that much error, I can send it back in and get another but I chose not too.

I have no intentions of taking it off.

I shot 4 animals with it this year. 2 coyotes at 500-530, a whitetail at 795 yards and a mulie at 730 yards.

If you find yourself truing your data, something is wrong in your setup. It's rarely the ballistic computers. It's most likely your scope, your speed or your zero shifts from different positions. Pay close attention to reliable data.

 

[Gone Ballistic]

The first good scope I purchased was a Redfield Widefield with Accurange. The next 3 were Leupold V-2's. I still have the Redfield mounted on my Sako. 270 but the Leupolds have found their way to. 17 hmr, .22 & .17 Super Mag. My primary scopes now are all Nightforce scopes in various configurations. Why Nightforce? Because they track perfectly and are an exceptional quality scope for the money. Little heavier than others but I have had horses throw them and roll over them without damaging them.
On the other hand, Leupold dropped the quality of the Vari-X2 and never have been good at tracking (at least mine aren't). They also dropped the ball on LR shooting and have been trying to catch up since so many others took the lead. Similar to what Nikon has done only Leupold is almost as old as Weaver. At one time these two companies owned the majority of the scope market. Bushnell has the worst service I've ever experienced so, I would never purchase another item they make. Redfield changed owners and skidded their product and quality into oblivion in my opinion. Leupold still has good service and warranties.
But, for me, I will stay with Nightforce as their products are top-line and their service is exemplary.

 

[338 dude]

there are a lot of nightforce scopes for sale ebay/gb/Lrh makes old guy like me ?

They are expensive and they are heavy but so is an M1 Abrams tank

 

[denobravo]

funny story...
iwas at the range when an old classmate showed up to "help" a freind sight in a brand new scope rifle combo for elk hunting. Everytime he made an adjustment he hit the turrets hard with the end of a screw driver.
I COULDNT TAKE IT !! I said what in the hell are you doing?
He said a Leupold rep told him you have to do it to make sure the scope made the adjustment..."thats straight from the rep" he said
I shoot nf and said why would you own a scope that you cant dial ? His answer was "wow, never heard anyone bad mouth a leupold"
I said "I just did"
Called and emailed Leupold>
first rep said OH MY GOD ..how old is he 100 ??
NO NO NO dont do that !
if the scope doesnt track send it in ..do not hit the turrets
Then same answer on the email from a different rep.
The old needed it , the new dont
send it in!
I didnt think I wpuld ever hear of this ever again ..small world
good luck

 

[Ace Quackhunter]

Have both hunting scopes and target scopes from Leopold and have never had an issue with them. Just got a Vortex for a 6.5 X 284 target rifle and waiting to try at 600 yard and see how it does.

 

[WYO300RUM]

Many people still use Leupold scopes and find them great. I have tried many other brands and always return to the Leupold's. I have every leupold that I ever bought except for the ones that went with the rifles/pistols that I sold.

There will always be someone that likes something else better and that's what makes the world go round. Many will swear that there brand is better and dish the competition. There are many brands that I will never buy again, but I don't spend my time telling the world that they are junk, so the swamp is full of those that don't like one brand or another.

With the trend of buying the latest and greatest scopes, stocks,barrels, actions and cartridges there will always be something "Better". In truth, they are just different and appeal to different people.

I use and trust the Leupold's and have never been disappointed or let down buy them and find them as good as any scope in the same price range and compared them with the highest price scopes and saw no advantage in paying double for the same performance.

Taping on the turrets is a thing of the past that was required because on the design of many scopes not having good return springs on the turret adjustments. With the advent of dialing scopes for impact at distance, things have changed, (Old habits die hard) and it is no longer necessary on good quality scopes.

The only thing I can say is Like a good woman, if you find a good one, stay with it and you will be glad you did. Fads come and go, but I can still depend on the Leupold to do what I want and need.

J E CUSTOM

Well said and totally agree.
I have 4 Leupolds. 2 I've had for ever and never had a problem . I have two VX6 4x24's. One a new HD. No problems so far. Can't say that about Votex scopes I have and a spotting scope I just got back from repair.

 

[tnek13]

Leupold is a great American company. They stand behind their product. They are light, have good glass and have improved their internals. There are better and there are worst scopes. Match the features you want, the dollars you are willing to spend, and go hunt.

 

[Gone Ballistic]

there are a lot of nightforce scopes for sale ebay/gb/Lrh makes old guy like me ?

If you find a used Nightforce for sale, one of two things have happened. It has something wrong with it or the owner died and his wife cracked his gun safe!

 

[Quintus]

If I had to win matches to eat maybe I would not trust Leupold...but Probably even then. I have shot most of the major brands and most of their quality levels (ie VX1 thru MARK 8). There are ALOT of high quality scopes out there. They are also a mechanical devise and none are perfect forever. I have not had issues with leupold yet that were not much older Vari-x generation scopes and those have been erector issues. All repaired for the price of the one way shipping. Are there better built scopes, probably depending on model and price point. Can you purchase a Leupold scope and expect it to work as advertised without huge worry it will fail? For sure. As stated back a ways, make sure it is not made in China for $63.00 and your Leupold will give reliable service.

 

[antelopedundee]

Quite simply I hunt with mostly Leupolds but if I absolutely wanted to trust dialing a scope and having it dead on I'd grab one of my rifles with a Nightforce NXS or ATACR on it.

I think Leupold makes great scopes for hunting and they're light weight for the magnification and reasonably dependable but I think Nightforce has a measurable edge once you reach for that reticle adjustment knob.

Would I bet a long range shot at a on a game animal I spent a lot of money to hunt on a Leupold if I had to twist the dials to make the shot? No

Would I bet that same shot on an NXS or ATACR Nightforce. Yes

I'm not bashing Leupold either. For the money they're very hard to beat and they'll be around for a long time to back their products and they're, for the most part, made in the USA.

By the way.... If you're going to buy a new or used Leupold check Gunbroker for pricing. Quite often you can buy a new one on Gunbroker for WAY less than anywhere else and quite often for less than used ones that are sold on the forums.

Out of all of the GB listings for a particular model usually only 1 or 2 are good buys. The rest are list or close to list price that you could pay anywhere.

 

[oldpilot]

I have a bunch of Leupolds, never had a problem with any of them. There are 7 6.5x20x56 on my 257 Wby, 7 mm Wby, 7 mm REM BAR, 7 mm REM T3, 6.5-300 Wby, 300 Wby, & 6 mm REM custom, and VXIIIs on the other 6 rifles, from 222 to 300 Win Mag. I bought one with a B&C reticle and sent it back in for a target dot. Never a problem tracking with any of them including the CDS models.

 

[Possum Cop]

I've trusted my life to them in several nasty places. Never had any issues with them tracking or loosing zero in very hot and harsh conditions. The military still issues them with the sniper systems to include the M107 Barret .50 Cal, the M2010, and the M110. The very elite get to use whatever they want but the rest of us got the "standard issue" equipment.

 

[milo-2]

Leupold took us into the 80's-90's when all that was out there was Redfield, and Weaver. Given their unwavering customer service, it is hard for me to bad mouth Leupold. Hey, they fell behind the times, but are trying to re-enter, is their pricing in line for what they offer, not my job to say. My last 3 Leupolds, 2 VX6 HD's, and a Mark 5, good scopes, no issues, but they are newer.
Who ever thought putting turrets on cheaper scopes was a great plan, by any company here. Consumers demanded it, not by word of mouth, but with their checkbooks, because everyone needs to skimp on glass, which you rarely do. How can anyone compare Leupold to S&B, Kahles, Zero Compromise(new), and new NF heavy hitters. Vortex built a scope to be replaced, and made a name for themselves, PST. And even in this post guys complain, yet say they dumped defective Leupolds to others, were any of these scopes repaired before the sale? That does a reputation wonders.
I shoot 5 LR scopes right now, 4 Kahles, 1 NF F1, why would I compare a Leupold to these. My avg cost on these 5 is around 2800 per.
These posts get to be ridiculous.

 

[WYO300RUM]

Leupold took us into the 80's-90's when all that was out there was Redfield, and Weaver. Given their unwavering customer service, it is hard for me to bad mouth Leupold. Hey, they fell behind the times, but are trying to re-enter, is their pricing in line for what they offer, not my job to say. My last 3 Leupolds, 2 VX6 HD's, and a Mark 5, good scopes, no issues, but they are newer.
Who ever thought putting turrets on cheaper scopes was a great plan, by any company here. Consumers demanded it, not by word of mouth, but with their checkbooks, because everyone needs to skimp on glass, which you rarely do. How can anyone compare Leupold to S&B, Kahles, Zero Compromise(new), and new NF heavy hitters. Vortex built a scope to be replaced, and made a name for themselves, PST. And even in this post guys complain, yet say they dumped defective Leupolds to others, were any of these scopes repaired before the sale? That does a reputation wonders.
I shoot 5 LR scopes right now, 4 Kahles, 1 NF F1, why would I compare a Leupold to these. My avg cost on these 5 is around 2800 per.
These posts get to be ridiculous.

Right on the mark.