I would like to know the true differences between the Vari-XII and IIc scopes.

I have two Vari-XIIc, 2-7x, 33mm Objective scopes and have owned plenty of the non-c 28mm Objective 2-7x models.

The light gathering difference between these two models is quite dramatic at dawn and dusk, with the 33mm just being heads and shoulders above the 28mm.

I recently saw an ad in the Classifieds here that had a 3-9x 40mm Vari-XIIc that was listed as having more Elevation and Windage adjustment built into these than the standard 3-9x 40mm Vari-XII.

I would like to know the true differences between these models, i.e. External Dimensions, Internal Components, Adjustment Features, Manufacture Dates, etc.

Buried somewhere in these two papers there may be the answer to your specific question. Not sure though. Both originated at Leupold. I just copied them in case I had a similar question to yours.
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Originally Posted By: Leupold

This is a bit more than you asked for, but I thought I might cover a few other questions and misconceptions.

The Rifleman scopes are fully coated with a coating of magnesium fluoride on all lens glass surfaces providing 82% of the available light back to the shooters eye. The windage and elevation adjustments are a silent friction adjustment marked in 1/2" inch increments on the dial. The scopes offer a new Wide Duplex with the thin section opening being twice as open as the Standard Duplex. The scopes are matte finish with a new sleek ergonomic maintube design. No Custom Shop services are available on a Rifleman scope. The scopes are waterproof and are covered by the Leupold Lifetime Guarantee. (The Rifleman scope is basically the old Vari-X II in a new body).

The VX-I scopes are MultiCoat 4 on the exterior eyepiece lens and the objective lens and use an industry standard coating throughout, providing approximately 85% of the available light back to the shooters eye. The windage and elevation adjustments are a silent friction adjustment marked in 1/4" inch increments on the dial. The scopes offer a Standard Duplex reticle or a Wide Duplex reticle. The scopes are offered in black gloss or matte finish. The scopes are waterproof and covered by the Leupold Lifetime Guarantee. Custom Shop services are available. (The VX-I is an improvement over the Vari-X II in that it has the MultiCoat 4 external lenses, 1/4 moa friction adjustment as opposed to the 1/2 moa, fast focus diopter adjustment and the eye piece and objective are threaded for Alumina products


The VX-II scopes are MultiCoat 4 providing 92% of the available light back to the shooters eye. The windage and elevation adjustments are an audible click adjustment in 1/4" inch click increments on the dial. The scopes offer multiple reticle options. The scopes are offered in black gloss or matte finish and some models are available in silver finish. The scopes are waterproof and covered by the Leupold Lifetime Guarantee. Custom Shop services are available. (The VX-II line is basically the Vari-X III optics in the Vari-X II body).

The VX-III scopes use the new Matched Index lens system, providing 94% to 98% of the available light back to the shooters eye depending on the particular VX-III model. The windage and elevation adjustments are an audible click adjustment in 1/4" inch click increments on the dial and low profile adjustments are finger adjustable (no special tools required). The scopes offer multiple reticle options. The scopes are offered in black gloss or matte finish and some models are available in silver finish. Some models are available in a 30mm maintube. These selected hunting models, VX-III 1.75-6x32mm, 2.5-8x36mm, 3.5-10x40mm, 3.5-10x50mm, 4.5-14x40mm, and 4.5-14x50mm scopes provide a simple built-in range estimating feature that uses the Duplex reticle. The scopes are waterproof and covered by the Leupold Lifetime Guarantee. Custom Shop Services are available.

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Let me shine a little light on this.

Basically:
Rifleman = Vari X-IIc
VX-II = Vari X-III

The Rifleman is the Vari X-IIc in a newly designed maintube with threading for the Alumina products.

The VX-I has Multicoat4 on the outside lenses and the micro-friction 1/4 MOA adjustments that make it different from the Vari X-IIc. It also is threaded for the Alumina products.

The VX-II has the multicoat4 lens system all the way through and the 1/4 MOA "coin" click adjustments. Basically making it the Vari X-III packaged in a Vari X-II maintube. It has the fast focus eyepiece and is threaded for the Alumina products.

The VX-III has the index matched lens system and the 1/4 MOA finger click adjustments all in the Vari X-III maintube. Of course, it has the fast focus eyepiece and is threaded for the Alumina products.

We re-introduced the AO on the 4.5-14x40mm this year.

There are no real apples to apples comparisons to make here, but the Rifleman price dropped $20 off of the Vari X-IIc price and added the threading. The VX-I added the micro-friction 1/4 MOA adjustments, Multicoat4 external lenses and the threading for the same price as the Vari X-IIc, the X-II has the functionality of the Vari X-III with the fast focus eye-piece and the threading for about $150.00 less and the VX-III has the Index Matched lenses system, 1/4 MOA finger click adjustments, fast focus eye-piece and the threading for about the same price as the Vari X-III.

quote:

Originally posted by airgun1:
I would like to know the true differences between the Vari-XII and IIc scopes.

It denotes a design change that increased the amount of elevation and windage adjustments, around 1984.

JC

quote:

Originally posted by Jcchartboy:

quote:

Originally posted by airgun1:
I would like to know the true differences between the Vari-XII and IIc scopes.

It denotes a design change that increased the amount of elevation and windage adjustments, around 1984.

JC

Correct. Some lenses were rearranged to allow the reticle greater movement within the tube. You can tell the difference by the presence of the gas venting or access hole used in the manufacturing process which is located forward of the turret on the older model.

Also, the objective lens on the 2-7X was increased to 33mm and the objective diameter on the 3-9X was decreased slightly. I'm not certain that the actual objective lenses are any different on the 3-9X (some refer to them as 42mm and 40mm, respectively) but the housing is certainly measurably larger on the older scope. I believe -- but am not certain -- that Leupold also switched to a one piece tube in the II-c.

In the current line, the Rifleman, VX-I, and VX-II all have identical designs to the previous Vari-X IIc. The differences in the three models lie in (what Leupold claims are) different lens coatings and in the addition of click adjustments in the VX-II model (as well as more variations and options being available as you go up the price scale).

In terms of design, Vari-X III/ VX III/ VX 3 models differ freom the II-series by using a slightly modified internal cam and erector system. My impresssion is that Leupold has also adopted the practice in the III-line of other scope manufacturers of slightly filtering the color transmission to highlight the reds, thus providing the illusion of the sight picture being "brighter".