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Have been using as of the last 15 years, pretty much Leupold's 1.5-5 on about all my rifles. I've found for myself that if 5 power is not enough for a big game animal, then the animals too far to shoot at.
I do have a few 1-4s, and even a straight 2.5 on a .35 Whelen. All are Leupolds. Even have a 1.5-5 on a Kimber .243.
I also do not see any value with these range finding cross hairs short of about 500 yards, which is a far as I may take a shot anyway. I've never felt the need for more power, but have had at least a half dozen shot's gone wrong up close in the brush (at about 10 feet) when all I saw was fur while using a 3-9 set on just 3 power.
Guess you could say I'm high on low power scopes. Never had one of these Leupolds let me down.
I can not say that for about 4 other brands I've used. I even had a Bushnell drop out it's objective lens as I touched one off from a little .30-06!
My go to test scope is an very old 1.5-5 Leupold that has at one time, been on every hard recoiling rifle I've had, just to test the rifles ability. It's pretty scared up, and have replaced the adjustment caps because of dents a couple times, but works perfectly.
 
Posts: 1324 | Location: Oregon rain forests | Registered: 30 December 2007Reply With Quote
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DWright

I just did a quick count, and I am currently shooting 13 of those Leupold 1.5X5 VX and Vari X scopes. The most excellent Big Bore scope on the market, my opinion. Getting down to smaller bores, 416 comes to mind, I use the 1.75X6. I have also found the 1X4 VX2s excellent little scopes too, pretty much same field of view and eye relief as the 1.5X5s. Perfect size for my big bore B&M series, and of course the 500 MDM.

I had some issues from time to time with them on 458s and 458 Lott. Had to send one back to Leupold from time to time for repairs, but I was doing a hell of a lot of shooting, hundreds of rounds of big bore on these guns. I do recall one number for sure, and that was over 500 rounds of 458 Lott and the 1.5X5 lost it's focus above 3X, so sent it back for repairs. Once on a 458 Winchester, with god knows how many rounds the cross hairs come loose.

When I started test work on the various .500 caliber rifles I really started having some issues. In one 18 month period I sent back to Leupold 13 scopes, some of which were sent back 3 times. All 1.5X5s! I was really becoming seriously concerned about this. Talking to JD about it he of course has some serious contacts in every facet of the shooting industry. He put me in touch with an excellent fellow from Leupold, in fact he called me. At the time I had 3 scopes into Leopold for repairs. We had some really good conversation and we talked about mounting, what the rifles were on and so forth. Almost to the conclusion they could not handle the 50s he asked very nicely, doing his best not to offend, but he asked how many torque lbs I was putting on the ring screws! Well hell, I'd been doing this a long time right? I admitted that I did not use a torque screwdriver and that I put them on pretty damn tight! Very politely told me that this probably was not the issue, but I told him I would get one and give it a go!

Wheeler from Midway! I redid every single scope I had to 25 lbs torque--all of them! Well that has been maybe about 1.5 years ago! I have had one 1.5X5 Leupold go out of focus above 3X and start rattling since then, it was just before leaving for Australia on the buffalo shoot, it had around 350 rounds of 500 MDM at the time. Sent it back, put another on and that is all the issues I have had since. Yes--My own damn fault, and not the scopes!

Never ever not once has the Leupold let me down in the field. Never ever have they lost the Point Of Impact. Even the one with the crooked cross hairs, never lost point of impact. Most of my issues I was getting the ring screws too tight and this was putting too much pressure on the tube, and the recoil of the 50s was busting the erectors, whatever that is, and going out of focus above 3X. I use QRWs exclusively on everything.

It's Leupold and Winchester or stay at home.

Michael


http://www.b-mriflesandcartridges.com/default.html

The New Word is "Non-Conventional", add "Conventional" to the Endangered Species List!
Live Outside The Box of "Conventional Wisdom"

I do Not Own Any Part of Any Bullet Company, I am not in the Employ Of Any Bullet Company. I do not represent, own stock, nor do I receive any proceeds, or monies from ANY BULLET COMPANY. I am not in the bullet business, and have no Bullets to sell to you, nor anyone else.
 
Posts: 8426 | Location: South Carolina | Registered: 23 June 2008Reply With Quote
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Agreed on the scopes. I have a couple 2-7X and one 2.5-8X as well. The CZ 450 Dakota I took buffalo hunting nearly a year ago had a 1.5-5X and worked great.

Rich
 
Posts: 23062 | Location: SW Idaho | Registered: 19 December 2005Reply With Quote
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Ya, I had also heard that the one's they did have problems with, were clamped too tightly, and mostly right at the objective lens. So the new one's we have been getting in the shop have been longer than the older ones, supposedly to remedy the issue. Not sure if this is fact or not as I have not talked with Leupold myself about it. So is heresay from me at this point, but that IS interesting.

Michael were yours clamped over the objective or. . . . .? I crawl up tight to my rifles, so have them mounted a little further forward than most. Usually my 1.5-5s are as far forward as the eye piece will allow. With my shorter than average arm length, I cut all my stocks off, so that moves my head a litte more forward as well.

I also have a couple of the 1-4 Leupold on a couple lever actions, Great scopes.
Just never found good use, short of on a pure long range varminter, for anything larger than a straight tube objective.
But come to think of it. . . . I am a bit different!
 
Posts: 1324 | Location: Oregon rain forests | Registered: 30 December 2007Reply With Quote
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i prefer bushnell 3200 2x7x32m


opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club

Information on Ammoguide about
the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR
What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR.
476AR,
http://www.weaponsmith.com
 
Posts: 40275 | Location: Conroe, TX | Registered: 01 June 2002Reply With Quote
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DWright

I have been well off the objective, but guess I was putting the damn rings on so tight it put pressure on the tube. Those QRWs are 4 screws each ring too, so guess that is even more pressure than normal. Then put them on those little guns was just more than they could stand. I put a brand new one straight out the box and busted it in 3 rounds. I watched it explode inside. But anyone listening in, bear in mind--my issues were not Leupolds fault--It was mine, The Buck stops with me!

I would not dare use anything but a Leupold! You are correct, the little 1X4s are just as good, I am not so sure they might even be tougher as I have for sure abused the ones I have but never had a problem with them at all????

I am also liking these days the thicker cross hairs. Not quite as good at shooting little groups with, but they sure look good placed on the shoulders of buffalo!!!

Jeffe

Don't know anything about the Bushnell 3200? Eye relief must be good and field of view?

Michael


http://www.b-mriflesandcartridges.com/default.html

The New Word is "Non-Conventional", add "Conventional" to the Endangered Species List!
Live Outside The Box of "Conventional Wisdom"

I do Not Own Any Part of Any Bullet Company, I am not in the Employ Of Any Bullet Company. I do not represent, own stock, nor do I receive any proceeds, or monies from ANY BULLET COMPANY. I am not in the bullet business, and have no Bullets to sell to you, nor anyone else.
 
Posts: 8426 | Location: South Carolina | Registered: 23 June 2008Reply With Quote
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I use mostly Leupold and prefer the 2-7 compact (I think they call it Ultralight now). Their customer service is second to none. I bought a used 1.5-5 a few years back on ebay. When I got it, I could tell it was pretty beat up. On about the second shot from my 375 it went totally out of focus. I sent it back to Leupold to see if they could fix it and they sent me a brand new one.


Have gun- Will travel
The value of a trophy is computed directly in terms of personal investment in its acquisition. Robert Ruark
 
Posts: 3831 | Location: Cave Creek, AZ | Registered: 09 August 2001Reply With Quote
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Hahahahahaha! Ya Michael, I would guess that if anyones rifles would scamble a scope, your's would have about the best chance of doing it!

Short, light, handy, and hard kickin'.
But, what fun! My shoulder never bothers me but after awhile, my big head want's to get pulled off my neck! Are you using anything to buffer all the test rounds?
If I didn't, think I might be talking like Elmer Fud! Abadeee, abadeee, abadeeee!
 
Posts: 1324 | Location: Oregon rain forests | Registered: 30 December 2007Reply With Quote
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The smallest scope that I shoot with is 1-4X and the largest is 6-24X but all of my hunting is in open country and some of my varmint hunting is out to 1,000 yards.


Frank



"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money."
- Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953

NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite

 
Posts: 12834 | Location: Kentucky, USA | Registered: 30 December 2002Reply With Quote
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I certainly have no problem with the 1.5X5 leupold. But I think the 20mm objective might cost you some early morning and late evening shots.
But in some parts of the world, the sun rises and falls mighty quick and there is very little twilight.
here in the states i like the 2.5X8 power range.
I have probably 8 leupolds. On every thing from a 6mm to a 45/70 and I love them.
I do try others from time to tme though...tj3006


freedom1st
 
Posts: 2450 | Registered: 09 June 2005Reply With Quote
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DWright

I reckon recoil from the 50 B&M with the 510s at 2100 fps is probably equal to maybe a little better than 458 lott. The 50s come in at 7.5-8 lbs depending on the wood stock. Now with the Ultimate stock they come in at 6.5 lbs. At 6.5 lbs the 50 and the 458 with heavy bullets start to get a little aggravating. The bolt knob knocks the bark off my trigger finger every time. When I am shooting those I wrap that finger with duct tape to solve that. Yeah, when doing a lot of test loads in 458 + I wear one of those sissy pads.
The 416s don't have any recoil so I don't worry with them.

Hey Thomas what I did to solve the low light issue was use a bigger light, you know, one of those big million candlepower things? hilbily
YOu should check one of those babies out--won't have any trouble at all seeing through that 20 mm objective then! You are welcome in advance, always happy to help out!

Michael


http://www.b-mriflesandcartridges.com/default.html

The New Word is "Non-Conventional", add "Conventional" to the Endangered Species List!
Live Outside The Box of "Conventional Wisdom"

I do Not Own Any Part of Any Bullet Company, I am not in the Employ Of Any Bullet Company. I do not represent, own stock, nor do I receive any proceeds, or monies from ANY BULLET COMPANY. I am not in the bullet business, and have no Bullets to sell to you, nor anyone else.
 
Posts: 8426 | Location: South Carolina | Registered: 23 June 2008Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by jeffeosso:
i prefer bushnell 3200 2x7x32m


Well at last! There's something that Jeff and I agree on! Big Grin

Bob

www.bigbores.ca


"Let every created thing give praise to the LORD, for he issued his command, and they came into being" - King David, Psalm 148 (NLT)

 
Posts: 849 | Location: Kawartha Lakes, ONT, Canada | Registered: 21 November 2008Reply With Quote
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I'm not a major rifle owner. I only own seven rifles, two of them small bores and unscoped. But I have a .375 that I've had the 1.5-5 mounted on for four years, with a German #4. Two buff hunts and a Canadian hunt and 1500 rounds of max loads under it on QD mounts that return to zero every time and it's still ticking.

I've made shots out to 300 yds with it, and I'm going to move it over to my .458 and install a Leupy 2.5-8 on the .375. I have three LPS's, 3.5-14's, on another three rifles and they have performed flawlessly.

I had a 7mm Remmy slip off my shoulder in Manitoba at minus 25 F while I was closing the farm gate and the rifle landed on the scope. Bent the tube. Leupold sent me another with no questions asked. At that time, the LPS was Leupold's top of the line scope. Ain't no flies on Leupold, although I did hear of a rather obnoxious attitude from one of their employees when dealing with a forum member. Angered him so that he will never buy another Leupold.
 
Posts: 11729 | Location: Florida | Registered: 25 October 2006Reply With Quote
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Yup I sure like the Leupys.
I also know that most use something along the lines of a 3x9 power scope for general hunting.
Fact is though, I find the lower power better for actual hunting.
Had a bit of friendly competition out to 500 yards with my straight 2.5 power Leupold on a .35 Whelen against a .280 rem with a 14 power Leupold.
We had about a 5mph crosswind. I was able to connect with a paper coffee cup 2 out of 6 shots, where the .280 could not get within a foot of it. Funny thing is that I could not hit it with the .280 either, so was not so much the shooter.
My only point here being that I have never felt under scoped with a low power, but have for sure been handicapped with a higher power scope for some close in shots.
 
Posts: 1324 | Location: Oregon rain forests | Registered: 30 December 2007Reply With Quote
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Leupold 1-4, 2.5X and Zeiss 1.8X5 are what I use. The Zeiss is on the 416. Have a couple Zeiss 3X9 they are on the 308 and the 375.
 
Posts: 1662 | Location: USA | Registered: 27 November 2003Reply With Quote
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Sounds like a great match Scott.
We actually had a guy bring in a old Marlin 336 .30-30 and have us mount a Leupold 4.5-14 scope on it. Said he was tired of missing the long shots. When I asked him how long he was talking about, he pointed to a truck in the parking lot about 100 yards away.
I kept my mouth shut at this point I just and just sold him the $479 scope!
 
Posts: 1324 | Location: Oregon rain forests | Registered: 30 December 2007Reply With Quote
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