Seems like every time I see someone post a question about what scope to put on a big bore, he is flooded with recommendations about Leupold products of one form or another.

WHY?

I have about 25 scoped rifles, including several with Leupold. Without exception, my Leupold scopes are the least clear, least sharp scopes I own. In fact, I've got four rifles with Bushnell Elite Series scopes which, IMHO, are head and shoulders better scopes than even my VX III series scopes, and priced comparably.

But on my big bores, I like European and Japanese 30mm optics. I've got three Kahles scopes and one Nikon Monarch Gold that are just plain superior to any American optics. Yes, they are a little more expensive than the local stuff, but, damn, how much do you have invested in your big bore rifle? Two grand? Three grand? More? Why top it with a $250 scope. BTW you notice I didn't mention the REALLY good (and expensive) optics, like Schmidt and Bender, Zeiss, and Swarovski, which are another step up from what I can afford (however, Kahles is about to get there, price-wise that is).

I know I'm treading on sacred ground when I talk badly about Leupold, and I am not usually a controversial poster, but I REALLY just don't get the Leupold hype!

1. Positive experience with customer service.
2. They make a good product.
3. Cheaper than comparable quality european optics - I know you said you like euros better but . . .
4. Made is USA - balance of trade and all that.
5. I don't think they're unionized.
6. They work. They work after abuse. They work in bad weather. They just work.
7. I like the little gold ring on the front. Looks cool.
8. They fit my rifles.
9. In the gun mags, I see 4 Leopold scope pic for every one of all the other brands. Wonder why all those writers put them on their rifles.
10. Positive experience with customer service and warranty. Oh yeah, I said that but I say it agian because I love their warranty service dept.

GAhunter,
I agree with you. Leupold makes good scopes but not the best, even for the money. However, they have the best warranty and product support, hands down.

I had a first generation VX-2, 3-9 that was damaged by my own fault when I fell while hunting goats in the '60's. The tube was crushed near the adjustments. The inert gas leaked and the lens clouded up. It was retired in a drawer in my gun case.

28 years later, a gunshop owner and friend suggested that I send it back to Leupold for repair since they all have "lifetime warranties". I did, explaining that it was my own fault and I would pay for the repair as I was subjectively tied to the scope since it was my first Leupold.

Leupold soon wrote to me apologizing that it was a long obsolete model and parts were unavailable. They hoped that I would not mind and would accept a new replacement without charge. Two days later, a new VX-2 3-9 arrived via UPS.

Leupold has repaired 4 other scopes for me, all rendered unusuable from wear and tear and just plain hard use. I have never been charged a penny. I believe that their reputation amongst users for excellent product support creates the hype you mention.

Geoff

It's hard to beat a simple low powered LEU on a big bore rifle. They are fairly compact and light weight. The optics and reticles are plenty good for such rifle. The eye relief is ample. With the exception of the newer line, none are that expensive and most (especially the 2.5X Ultralight) are very durable.

GVA

Reliability and Durability

Over 90% of the scopes that have passed through my camps during the past quarter of a century have been Leupolds and I have yet to see one Leupold fail for any reason. On the other hand, of the relatively few of the other big name brands, I have seen failed (usually leaking) scopes from every other brand.
Great Optical quality is important in camera lenses, binoculars and spotting scopes but a rifle scope is simply a sight - and hunting optics ( at least mine) need to be rugged.

I have to add a vote for Leupold. I have never had to use their customer service since I started using them in 1982. I have no complaints.

Because when I sent in my Leupold for repair, it didn't cost a thing, and when my buddy sent in his Swarovski, it cost him $278.

Because I trust leupold's not to fail on me in the middle of nowhere. They're rugged, light, have good enough optics, and have very forgiving eye positioning requirements. I've had two of the bushnell elites that you mentioned, the eye positioning was very critical to get a full picture, and one of them was broke when I got it new in the box. I wouldn't take a rifle with one on an out of state hunt because I wouldn't have faith the scope would hold up. I couldn't care less how much better the optics are than a leupold, I've got good binos I use for glassing. From comparing my elite 4200's to my vari-XIII's, there's not a cunt hair's worth of difference in optical quality anyway.

The key is that I have faith in leupold that I don't have in bushnell, nikon, burris, etc. I don't trust a high dollar hunt to cheap scopes.

If you want to play with the high end optics, I suggest you try the LPS 2.5 X 10. Very sharp image.

I have been using the FXII on my 460 XVR with out a problem. I bought the Leupold because of its very long and forgiving eye relief. It was the best of all I looked at.

I have tried amost every scope made, including all the major European manufacturers.

Some are without a doubt great.

But, when it comes to hunting scopes, for me personally, there is nothing beats a Leupold.

The quality and reliability are outstanding.

And the choice of both physical size and magnification is great.

I have been using the same 2.5 - 8x Leupolds on my hunting rifles for so many years. Some have had knocks and dents all over the place, and have never given me any problems.

I have several hundred rifles, with all sorts of scopes on them. I enjoy shooting them all.

But, when it comes to hunting, I have settled on 3 wildcats we have built ourselves.

2 are the 375/404 on Dakota 76 actions, they both have Leupold 2.5 - 8X scopes in Dakota mounts. They have kept their zero ever since they were first installed.

I have also built a rifle for plains game, chambered for our own 30/404. This one we built on a Sako 75 action. It has a Leupold 4.5 -14 scope in Talley mounts. Again, no re-setting of zero was ever necessary with this one either.

Satisfied GAHUNTER?

The above responses say it all for me too, color me "satisfied with Leupold."

they are cheap for what you get and they work

I dont need ultra crisp low light vision in the middle of the day or under a spotlight

Well I guess that sums that up

the leopolds work ok and ared good value. I would rather have a spare leupold is separate mounts for the same money as one european. all scopes can give trouble so better to have 2 or 3 scopes for the same money.

what Pancho said!!!

I have managed to break two, a 6X, that after many years a horse rolled on...fixed at no charge in two weeks.
Second one was a 6.5-20X I put on an air rifle in the early nineties. It had survived three different 458's a 450 Buhmiller (7.5lbs) and a myriad of lesser recoiling rifles...the Beeman R1 killed it in nine rounds...reticle fell out. They replaced it with a new version that they had reconfigured to take the forward recoil of air rifles and acted embarrassed that a Leupold would ever fail to a puny "bb gun".

I think the "forever" warranty "and made in USA" are the two best reasons to buy one.

Rich
DRSS

PS: Only two companies have that kind of warranty, and the other one is Dillon.

Nightforce scopes are also great scopes, but are a little more expensive. Are they made in the USA? They are also bigger scopes, but they are really rugged and sturdy.

Over the years I have had scopes in many brands, including some expensive European 30mm scopes. Sometimes I would acquire one in a trade, or it came on a rifle I bought. Sometimes the price of the used combo made the scope cost practically nothing. In the last five years, I have gradually sold, given away, or traded most of them, except the Leupolds. I also traded or sold all but one of my older Leupold scopes. Those I have now were mostly made within the last five years.

My nephew has several used scopes that I gave him, and he likes them, but he doesn't own a Leupold, so he doesn't know the difference. Honestly, they are good scopes, but since I had a choice, I wouldn't use them when I could get a Leupold. The scopes I gave him are better than the junk he was using, and they are better put to use than laying in a drawer somewhere.

I don't know for sure exactly how many scopes I have now, but it's more than 25, and only one is not a Leupold. I like some of the Euro scopes a little better, but really don't want to spend the money it would take to own 25+ of them. I have never had a Leupold fail, unless I caused the damage. Once I fell on top of my rifle and the scope hit the slick rock first. Leupold fixed it at no charge.

Several years ago, I was shooting a 458 a lot over the summer and early fall, and the Leupold 1x4 scope took a beating. Then I used it on my 375 for several years. It has always worked perfectly, and never failed. I'm still using it.

The light weight, and compactness , and especially eye relief, makes a lot of difference to me, and although sometimes it's a little tricky, I've been able to find the right combo of rings/bases to get them to fit my rifles. I have not been as satisfied with Leupold rings & bases as I have their scopes.

If I owned only one scope, it would be a 2.5x8 Leupold.

KB

Well I knew I would be stirring the pot when I started this thread, and I do agree that Leupold has good (very good) customer service. But so do many other companies.

My only problem with them has been, and remains, the sharpness of their optic lenses. Maybe it's because I'm getting to be old as dirt and need every bit of optic help I can get.

quote:

Originally posted by geoff:
GAhunter,
I agree with you. Leupold makes good scopes but not the best, even for the money. Geoff

then who do you think makes a better scope for the same money?

quote:

In fact, I've got four rifles with Bushnell Elite Series scopes which, IMHO, are head and shoulders better scopes than even my VX III series scopes, and priced comparably.

I had a Bushnell Trophy handgun scope mounted on a 460 S&W Magnum. The recoil dented the scope tube. Bushnell said it had been "abused." I guess this means they consider heavy recoil abusive. They wanted to sell me another and wouldn't replace or repair the one I sent. That pretty much did it for me with Bushnell.

The reason I now go for Leupold and Thompson/Center products is the lifetime no excuses warranty they actually stand behind.

I've had 2 Nikon golds fail to hold zero, so I scratch them. I have a couple swarovski, excellant optics, but the huge eyepiece rings means I have to mount them higher then is comfortable for me. The Bushnells have to critical an eye relief, no problem on a varmint/target scope, but sure sucks when trying to jump shoot a critter. That leaves Leupold for me. It's like Nosler bullets, the best, no, the cheapest, no, but it's a very good yardstick to measure all others by.

Leupold is an excellant scope but so is Burris.

Burris is just a little less money but has the same qualities leupole has. I have three Burris
and the rest leupole on my rifles.

Leupold +1
I have several and am happy with them.
They work fine for my use in Northern Michigan.
I have a VX-7 on order.
You can not beat their warranty and scope mods available in their custom shop. I've had parallax and reticle changes, as well as turrets installed, and have always had the scope back in two weeks. That's service.

Since my Dad only hunted with peep sights, it was up to me to choose what scope I wanted when I purchased my first rifle. After hearing many customer views on Leupold that are similar to the posts above, I purchased my first my rifle; a Vanguard VGX Deluxe 300Wby. with a 3-9x40 VariX-II. None of the Leupold products I have purchased have caused me to test their warranty and I am satisfied with their performance. My last purchase of a Leupold product was 2.5-10x 45 LPS. Though the 30mm tube makes this scope a slight bit heavy I was impressed with the optics and have no doubts about it's ruggedness. In short.... They plain work and ,if they stop working, you don't have a corporation make you feel obligated to grasp your ankles.

quote:

Originally posted by Pancho:
1. Positive experience with customer service.
2. They make a good product.
3. Cheaper than comparable quality european optics - I know you said you like euros better but . . .
4. Made is USA - balance of trade and all that.
5. I don't think they're unionized.
6. They work. They work after abuse. They work in bad weather. They just work.
7. I like the little gold ring on the front. Looks cool.
8. They fit my rifles.
9. In the gun mags, I see 4 Leopold scope pic for every one of all the other brands. Wonder why all those writers put them on their rifles.
10. Positive experience with customer service and warranty. Oh yeah, I said that but I say it agian because I love their warranty service dept.

Add to that are the relatively long eye relief of Leupolds. An important feature for big bores.

Add to that the relatively short eyepiece, which allows mounting the scope forward away from the eye.

They are just the best all-around scope there is. Some Bushnell scopes may make one or two superior products but they also make crap optics, but Leupold is consistently good stuff.

Leupold is just the biggest bang around for the bucks.

I have lots of leupolds.
I have a few other scopes too. I always go to leupold first. I once droped one right on its top adjustment turret. Dented the twist of cover so bad I needed a pair of pliers to get the cap off. there was a small dent in the top of the turet it self too.
Took the rifle back to camp. Put 3 pop cans on a stump at 50 yards. Knocked each over with one shot holes right where they were suposed to be.
made in america. By the way, I have an elete series bushnell and while it was clear as heck when I bought it ,it is not as good now.
Leupolds are very good, and american jobs are very important...tj3006

I don't have much to add to what the others have said but they work for me. And they have a model that fits everything.

I agree with Saeed and others. I have tried Bushnell, Tasco, Redfield, Weaver, Leupold, Zeiss and Swarovski.

I like the Swaro and Leupold the best. I hunt with Leupold because they are durable and my eye sees very well through them. The Swaro is great but I "babied" it due to the cost of it. The Zeiss Conquest and Bushnell were the worst for me as they would not hold and each bump knocked them off target. Redfield was not as clear, Tasco was cheap "feeling", Weaver was not clear to my eye.

I use Swaro bino's and Leupold scopes totally now.

Leupold is the only scope I've ever had that I can see clearly thru with or without my glasses on.

Leupolds deliver 100% of the performance that 99% of shooters require at a good price point and great warranty service.

George

quote:

Leupold is the only scope I've ever had that I can see clearly thru with or without my glasses on.

Curious to know the magic?

Warrior

I bought a VXI last year cost somewhere around $200. Only to find out that leupold can't be bothered to include lens covers with their scopes. And that if you want leupold covers they cost $75!!! Even the cheapest BSA or NcSstar i've bought has come with lens covers. As for the clarity of the scope it's on par with a bushnell of the same price. Of course there aren't click adjustments and the body of the scope is too short to mount on half my rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by jerkface11:
I bought a VXI last year cost somewhere around $200. Only to find out that leupold can't be bothered to include lens covers with their scopes. And that if you want leupold covers they cost $75!!! Even the cheapest BSA or NcSstar i've bought has come with lens covers. As for the clarity of the scope it's on par with a bushnell of the same price. Of course there aren't click adjustments and the body of the scope is too short to mount on half my rifles.

Leupold has never included lens covers on their scopes; you bought an 'economy' model, not their higher lines, so it does not surprise me that its optics are comparable to a Bushnell (you do not mention which line that scope is from); and, if the scope you bought doesn't fit your rifles, you did not do enough research.

George

I guess they're OK, I put them on all my .22LRs- oops, wrong forum

A friend with whom i hunted Africa got a good deal on a CZ 458 Lott&wanted to put a Ziess.1st shot-instant tube sight!lenses,reticle shattered falling out the objective bell.anyone had a Leupy do this?

quote:

Originally posted by Warrior:

quote:

Leupold is the only scope I've ever had that I can see clearly thru with or without my glasses on.

Curious to know the magic?

Warrior

Don't know about any magic, but its true.

got to agree with the gang here about Leupolds, I have many of them since my ole Weaver 3 x 9 in the 70's gave out on me. Never had a problem whats so ever with them. I literally blew the crosshairs out on one scope by mounting foward on my ATV racks and the G-forces must have been something fierce. Sent it to Leupold and in 30 days had it completely rebuilt-good as new and no money requested. Have one more that my wife somehow inadvertantley banged up somehow moose hunting, tube is abit crushed-must of been dropped pretty hard. I will send this off and do trust wholeheartedly that Leupold will too repair this at no cost--one heck of a good company. I would not hesitate to buy any other scope from them an never concern about customer service and warranty.

quote:

Originally posted by FMC:
I guess they're OK, I put them on all my .22LRs- oops, wrong forum

Wouldn't expect anything less from a ricebird.

The problem with opticks seem's to be that the quality of any given scope brand seams to vary from about one decade to the next.
One thing I can say about Leupold is that they seem to be on an even kiel and continuly improve thruout the years.
I prefer the better Europeion scopes but my love of the Zeiss has wained in the past few years I really feel their quality has dropped S&B are just really expensive and I'd say Swarovski is at the top for the moment but still expensive.
I have at last count 16 Leupold's so I guess you can say they have allways repersented a good product for the money.
By the way I agree the bushnell elite scopes are great this coming from me who swore off bushnell scopes over 30 years ago. Like I said time seems to change everything.
Also if your making your comparison of scopes don't compare a old leupold to any of the newer scopes. I think you will see the new leupolds have gotten brighter as well.

I like Leupolds because I can buy them used for less than $200 and put them on hard kicking rifles. I have M8 2.5x's, 3x's and 4x's and have never had them fail on any of my guns; I have Leupold pistol scopes on my 475 Linebaugh and 454 Casull and they are still going strong after thousands of rounds.