quote:

You just don't see Leupold in European stores. They have not even scratched this market let alone cracked it! Sure there are cheaper scopes than Zeiss and Swarovski in Europe and there is a market for them.

You don't see them because the retailers quiver at the thought of losing a fat slice of the market to Leupold so avoid thinking about the brand, let alone advertising it.

The Germans are probably more "gung-ho" about guns and hunting than the other 3 major contestants. I have had numerous single and groups of European clients (other than German) who had not a clue on how to go about adjusting a scope and relied on the PH (at the expense of his shoulder) to put things right.

The ones who know their stuff when it comes to African game are however in the minority.

Had one group who ALL had their guns sighted by the retailer and ALL had to be re-sighted. One among this group had never even fired his open-sighted 470 double to see how it printed on paper and when he took the plunge, was shooting at Buffalo as though they were clay pigeons. Needless to say he went home thankfully without wounding one.

If anyone wants to know what sort of hunters some Europeans are just look at their rifles, and how the scopes are mounted!

When one tries to look through the scope, only his chin is on the stock, because the scopes are so high!

I have personally seen how well they shoot these in the field

Please, do not bundle all Europeans in one sack!

I believe that hunters from the Scandinavian countries including Finland has a quite good knowledge when it comes to hunting equipment and get it work.

In Sweden, we hunters shot between 80 000 - 100 000 Mooses anually and some 150 000 Wildboars. Taking these numbers in account -I believe the hunters know whats work and what doesnt work.

Personally I hunt more and more with Aimpoint Red dot sights, leaving the big German scopes at home. In bad light or long range hunting, over 200 - 300 meters i use my Meopta or Minox scopes, brands that gives you fantastic value for the money compares to Zeiss or Swarovski.

Scope mounts - Leupold QR of course

quote:

Originally posted by husky:
Please, do not bundle all Europeans in one sack!

I believe that hunters from the Scandinavian countries including Finland has a quite good knowledge when it comes to hunting equipment and get it work.

In Sweden, we hunters shot between 80 000 - 100 000 Mooses anually and some 150 000 Wildboars. Taking these numbers in account -I believe the hunters know whats work and what doesnt work.

Personally I hunt more and more with Aimpoint Red dot sights, leaving the big German scopes at home. In bad light or long range hunting, over 200 - 300 meters i use my Meopta or Minox scopes, brands that gives you fantastic value for the money compares to Zeiss or Swarovski.

Scope mounts - Leupold QR of course

My comment mainly applies to Germans and Austrians!

Personally, I find in impossible to shoot their rifle accurately!

Agree!

quote:

When one tries to look through the scope, only his chin is on the stock, because the scopes are so high!

Saeed, maybe its cause you have a short neck

I think you will find that nowadays the newer set ups are all mounted lower than in the past ..... especially the Blasers !!

.

To Charlie's comments on my post the spare Leupold was only for a back up "just in case" which is the prudent move. It was not because I'd expect there might be a problem with the Leupold scope. The Leupolds just have much longer eye relief and are far lighter in weight. You put a 30MM Swaro on a light rifle and you now have a heavy rifle. Additionally just ask a guy who builds safari rifles which scope he would put on a hard kicker. I don't think you'll find the answer to be a high end Euro scope.

A guy going on an expensive safari often wants to make sure he has the best equipment but a scope that costs as much as a kudu trophy fee with change leftover is unnecessary.

I've used Weaver, Bushnell, Leupold, Trijicon, Nikon, Kahles, Burris, Zeiss plus I have owned and do own several Swaros. They actually were all good but I think without a doubt that the Leupolds are by far the best bang for the buck.

Mark

I own and use them all.

Leupold started way behind, but is catching up with the Euros, largely by copying them.

Leupold’s prices are going way up as well.

Quality in optics, like everything else, costs money to achieve.

I like Swaros and S&Bs the best. Especially in low light conditions.

But I have plenty of Leupold and lots of Zeiss scopes, too.

They all keep getting better and lighter and stronger. It’s hard to go wrong these days with any of them.

This is the best bang for the buck right now

https://www.eurooptic.com/schm...ted-rifle-scope.aspx

A while back Leupold vx6 before vx6 hd came out on clearance were best bang for the buck.

Before that Ziess Diavari on clearance

I have never seen a Swarovski on clearance.

I just find it funny people comp a $500 vx3 to a $2200 z6 and Not a $1700 vx6 hd to a z6. Therefore I assume the VX6 must be overpriced junk too

Mike

I pay any price for anything I consider will do the best job for whatever I want it for.

Being charged extra just for the sake of a name, or something I have no use for, does not work.

I have used scopes from every manufacturer, and still believe Leupold offers the best quality and ease of use for me.

I was given a Nightforce scope and was asked to try it in Africa.

I replaced my 2.5-8 Leupold with this Nightforce on one of my 375/404 rifles.

At sundown at the camp, we thought we would see which has better light gathering features, as Nightforce claims.

Total bullshit.

We could actually see better with a 20 year old Leupold than a brand new Nightforce.

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:

quote:

The Swarovski warranty and service is exceptional. Also with optics regardless of how expensive or modern they are service and warranty matters.

I have had a Leupold for at least 20 years; has not let me or those who have used my rifle down and while Swaroski and Zeiss may be up at the top of the table, Leupold is giving them a run for their money.


I have also noticed that the European market is the larger customer for the Austro/German optics industry not because they are better but mostly through traditional ignorance, ignorant of the fact that other makes have emerged, some of which are par excellence yet at a fraction of the cost.

At this point I feel compelled to tell a warranty story. Way back in 1991, I bought a Weatherby rifle and mounted a 4-12 Leupold VariX scope on it. I think it was a VariX II, but since I no longer have either the rifle nor the scope, I can't verify.
When I was sighting it in, I found that as I progressed through the powers, the point of impact of the bullet changed a bit, to the point that it printed a circle around the first hole. I complained to the shop that sold me the rifle and scope and they called Leupold who told them to send it back and they would fix the problem if there was one. Several weeks later, we received a scope in the mail with a letter stating that nothing was wrong with the scope. I took the rifle to the range and darned if I could make it print that circle. All shots went practically in the same hole regardless of what power the scope was set on.
This puzzled the living heck out of me until I checked the serial number on the scope. Somehow it had changed. My conclusion was that Leupold did not want to admit that they had a defect and sent me a different scope. Would that be considered to be standing behind your product?

I have numerous Z6is and have been looking for a Z6i(EE) for a .458 Lott (to no avail at a price point I am comfortable with) as well as one Exos. I love them both. Then again I have a heavy plex Leupold that is probably 25 years old and it hasn't failed me on a Rigby over the last 15 years. I really like simple illuminated reticles and like the Z6i and Exos a lot. I have a Kahles illuminated on a .375 and it is equal to the others.